His body must still be in shock. He'll be fine. Liz hugged her waist as she sat next to Rafe's hospital bed, holding his hand. At least Miami PD hadn't used traditional bullets to apprehend Jose or else Rafe might have been hit with a shot that killed him. The plastic rounds and the taser-like XREP were both fired at Jose, but Rafe had been taken down as collateral with him.
She studied his unconscious body. Rafe could have died if the police had made different choices. The ambulance had arrived within minutes—Liz had demanded to ride with him.
Her brother, Doctor Luke Morgan, waited for them at Miami Jackson, so he could check Rafe out personally. She had believed him that Rafe would be okay, but as the minutes ticked past, she wondered if her brother wanted to appease her. Wake up, Rafe.
She squeezed his hand, then, Rafe squeezed hers back. She inhaled and stared at him. Rafe blinked as he opened his eyes. "Where am I?"
For the rest of her life, she'd believe he was her hero. No one else had ever done anything as brave for her. Those minutes, alone, in the armored car with Jose had been a hell she'd never want to think about again.
Rafe had ended the nightmare just as he’d brought Brandon back. She scooted closer to him on the edge of his bed. "In the hospital. Luke said the plastic bullets knocked you out but did no serious harm."
Rafe patted his body checking for injuries. Once he was satisfied, he reached for her hand again. "That's the point, but that taser machine hurts. Did they get Jose?"
Anything might have happened. "Yes. He's in jail. The woman he shot at the bank is also in this hospital. Jessica."
"Is she okay?"
Always the hero. It was in his blood. She nodded and brushed back his thick, coarse hair similar to their son’s. "Luke said yes, but he's keeping her overnight to monitor her."
"Good."
She brought her hand to her lap and smiled for the first time, though it was small. "Luke did a complete evaluation of you. He told me you have a hard head."
Rafe's lips curled into a smile as well. "Now that is the complete truth."
Thoughts raced through her mind about what might’ve happened. Her hero could be dead. She glanced at the linoleum floor. "Rafe, I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you."
He sat up and tugged at her fingers until she met his gaze. "I'm fine. Where is Brandon?"
Of course. He wanted to see his son. She'd want the same thing. "With our mothers. Brandon needed some exercise. They'll be back shortly."
There was a storm in Rafe's eyes. Why? He couldn't be upset over Brandon not being in the room. “When I saw Jose with you..."
"Don't." The black cloud of what had happened needed to disappear so she could breathe. She whispered what was in her heart. "You saved us."
He cupped her chin. "Liz, at the party..."
"I don't want to think about that either." She shook her head and scooted away from him. If he said he was still in love with Jennifer right now, she'd break apart into a million pieces.
He didn't blink. His dark eyes were hypnotic as he stared at her though his cheeks were red. "Jen kissed me. I leaned forward to kiss her cheek good-bye, nothing more."
She jumped off the bed and hugged her waist. Would it always be about Jennifer? Liz backed toward the door and then heard Luke and Caro in the hallway right outside. "I don't want to discuss that right now. Here comes your sister. I should let you talk to her. "
She went into the hall and pulled Caro into the room so they could switch places. Her heart was racing. Luke and Caro shared a startled look but then Caro joined Rafe by his hospital bed. “Hey, bro. I brought you clothes.”
Liz could hardly breathe as Luke led her toward his office. Her mind swirled as she followed him, but once the door slammed, Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulder and asked, "What's going on Liz? You look like you’re ready to pass out.”
Her brother then checked her pulse.
“I’m fine.” If she could tell anyone, it would be her brother. She paced the small room and curled her hands into fists. If she could trust anyone, it was her brother. Hot tears formed in her eyes. "Rafe is in love with Jennifer."
"The actress who almost married Peter?" Luke's blue eyes widened the same as Rafe's had a minute ago. Her shoulders slumped. It wasn't that hard to believe. Rafe and Jennifer dated. Caro had told them both.
"Yeah."
Luke sat behind his desk and picked up a paper without reading it. His cheeks flushed and he looked at his sister. "I doubt it. Caro says they go back a long time. She thinks he's in love with you."
Love was something Caro and her brother clearly shared. "No, he is knee-deep in love with Jennifer and I don't stand a chance."
Luke dropped the paper. "Don't let what our father did to us ruin your future."
Mitch Morgan. She clearly hadn't kept far enough away from him. Her own father had kidnapped Brandon. "How so?"
"In boarding school, you always thought we were alone because you didn't deserve love. Though you never said anything, you always friended the underdog and took care of strays. You told me many times."
Wow. Her brother blew her away with understanding. She glanced at her feet. His psychoanalysis was like a beam of light that she hadn't noticed but now blinded her. She stared harder at her ruined blue high heels. "That was a long time ago."
He got up from behind his desk and came around to stand beside her. "So? It's still affecting you now. If you don't let that belief go you won't see the truth. You deserve love, sis."
If he was right, then maybe she had made the wrong connections. Wrong choices in the men she’d picked. She glanced at her brother's face. "What truth is that?"
He pointed to the door. "The man in there took a bullet to save you."
"He’s my hero. It’s his job." Not that what she said made anything smaller, he had, but Rafe was the guy who charged in to save the day. He'd always be.
Her brother lifted her chin. "Doesn't change what I mean. You deserve the best, so don't let your self-esteem get in the way now, sis."
Luke was the best older brother by ten minutes. He always cheered her up on those rare times she got to see her brothers. Being alone in all female boarding schools meant she never had anyone in her corner except in those rare instances staff hosted a coed school event. "Yes, sir."
"Sir? I'm supposed to look out for you."
She had always called him sir whenever he acted like her father instead of just her brother. She wrapped her arms around him. "I remember. I love you."
He hugged her back and rocked her gently. "I love you too, sis."
Once the hug ended, he opened the door and led her toward Rafe's private room with a small window next to the door. Caro sat on the edge of the bed with him and they laughed.
Somehow Rafe had managed to put on a pair of clean pants that his sister must have brought him.
She stepped back to not interrupt, but her brother said, "Caro, my love, Liz needs to speak to Rafe. Come with me to dinner."
Liz noticed Caro's eyes twinkle as she met Luke's gaze. Caro stood, but then told her brother, "Rafe, be nice to Liz."
Rafe’s jaw went slack. "I'm always nice."
Caro winked at Liz who stood inside the door and nodded her head. Liz stared at Rafe. There was nothing she could say. He was amazing. If only he thought she was too, at least a little. "He is."
Caro shook her head and briefly brushed her hand against hers. "Don't defend my brother, not until he apologizes for whatever made you cry at the party yesterday."
Liz came all the way inside the room. Neither of them said anything as Caro and Luke left.
The room stayed silent. Liz was unsure what to say or if she should sit or come closer to the bed.
Rafe stood and offered his hand so she’d sit with him on his bed. “I didn't kiss her, Liz. It was a cultural good-bye, nothing more."
She came closer but motioned for him to sit—she chose the chair next to the bed. It had been on the cheek. While she never liked people to touch her, she knew other cultures greeted each other as he said, and he’d never lied to her. "I want to believe you."
"Then do it."
If only it was that easy. She heard her son's voice down the hall and swirled out of her chair to the open door. For a moment, she had a reprieve where she could digest his words. "Here comes Brandon."
Brandon beamed love in his brown eyed gaze as he smiled at Rafe from Elle’s arms.
Rafe opened his mouth like he wanted to say something more but then closed it again as the nanny brought Brandon to his father's arms. Rafe hugged him immediately. "Here is my main man. Where are your grandmas?"
"They wanted to talk to your sister Carolina and Luke Morgan," Elle explained as she backed out of the room.
"Thanks." Liz smiled at Elle.
Liz's heart ached. She wanted him. Her brother told her to be open. Rafe had no reason to come home with her now that Jose was caught. She lowered her hands to her sides. "Rafe, will you come back to the house with us when they release you? I'll want to talk to you alone."
He bounced Brandon on his knee. When he looked at her, her skin electrified. "Liz, yes. Just don't cry. Ever again. I can't stand that."
She had to open her heart to maybe. She tugged her ear as her face felt red. "I can't promise that. I can promise a good dinner."
"Then I'll be there." He nodded and tickled Brandon.
If he was free, then she'd give her heart to Rafe. He already had it though she couldn't say that out loud, not yet. She then went and sat beside him. "You always are."
Rafe picked up her hand and joined it with his and Brandon’s, laughing as their son babbled and jumped on the bed. This was her family.