“I almost lost her, Trevor,” Keys said, as he paced his thousandth circle in the small hospital waiting room. He glanced at the black wall clock. Two-fifteen a.m. His arms clasped his midsection, and his fingers tapped restless rhythms against his elbows. His muscles jumped and twitched beneath his skin as if he’d overdosed on amphetamines.
“I know you did. But you got there just in time,” Trevor said, his eyes following Keys’ every step.
Keys’ eyes skittered back to the wall clock. Two-sixteen a.m. So far, he’d tracked every minute in the last hour. And each minute lasted a lifetime. “I would have died if I lost her. I couldn’t take another loss. Not like that. Not someone I truly love.” He glanced out the windows which faced the hospital corridor.
The hospital staff had informed him that someone would come and get him the second Mia’s exam had been completed.
Seeing no one, he let out a sigh and flopped next to Trevor. He spread his legs out and lay his head against the unforgiving green chair back. “Fuck. This waiting shit is the worst.”
Trevor patted his arm. “She’s alive, Keys. She’s probably shaken up, is all. She’ll be fine.”
The tromp of soft footsteps jerked Keys to his feet.
A tiny nurse all of about five feet tall strode into the room wearing blue scrubs. “Mr. Johnson?” she said, beaming.
“Yeah?” Keys towered over her.
“Your girlfriend is ready to be discharged. She’s signing paperwork at the moment, but she’s eager to see you.” Her grin lit up her petite features. Crow-black hair framed her heart-shaped face.
“I’ll wait here,” Trevor said.
Keys nodded. “Thanks. We’ll come and get you.”
“Where is she?” Keys said.
“Follow me. She’s down this corridor,” the nurse said. “I’m Julie Wong, by the way. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Thanks. Same.” The words emerged from Keys’ mouth, but his brain only focused on seeing Mia. His footfalls squeaked against the white tile floor.
“Here we are,” Nurse Wong said, indicating room number two-twenty-two.
Keys rushed into the room.
Mia sat at the end of an exam table, dressed in a flimsy blue-dotted examination gown. Dark bruises colored each knee. “Hey,” she said, her features softening.
“Hey,” he said, closing the gap between them. “Can I touch you?”
“Nothing’s broken except my mind. I’ve got a list of counselors to choose from for mental health evaluations.” She tapped the clipboard sitting in her lap.
“Good.” Keys snatched the clipboard and placed it behind her. Then, he helped her from the table and wrapped her in his arms. “Good God, baby. I thought I’d never get the chance to do this again,” he murmured into her hair.
“I know. I’ve never been more frightened in my life,” she breathed against his neck, her arms clasping him tightly. “And you arrived like a bad-ass superhero. Two minutes later, and I’d be as dead as Darion is.” She shuddered against his chest. Then, she leaned back and gazed into his eyes.
He’d never been happier to look at someone in his life. “Let’s get you home, what do you say?”
“Can we go to your place? It might be a while before I can tolerate stepping into my apartment,” she said.
“Absolutely. We can take your cat as long as he stays out of the Muse Groove. No cat hair on the instruments or recording consoles,” Keys said. He kissed the top of her head.
“If we keep the door closed, he’ll manage.” Mia squeezed him tightly. “I’m so happy to be alive.”
Keys’ throat closed. “Me, too,” he choked out.
Mia’s gaze dropped to his hands. “Where are your rings?”
He glanced absentmindedly at his fingers. “Oh. I had to get them all cut off of this hand. My fingers look like fat sausages.” He wiggled them, wincing at the pain.
Mia tsked. “Oh, no. Are you going to be able to play the piano?”
He turned his hand over and back, studying the damage. Shades of purple, brown, and red covered his knuckles, the back of his hands, and his fingers. “Of course. I didn’t break any bones.” And, it gave him sick satisfaction to know the damage he’d inflicted on Darion before the bastard chickened out and blew out his brains. The diamonds and rubies had left their mark on Darion’s slimy face.
“What will happen to your rings?” she said, alarm flashing from her eyes.
“They’ll be repaired by a jeweler,” he said, drawing his finger across her cheekbone. “Mia. They’re just things you’re concerned about. You’re far more important than a thing.”
“I appreciate that,” she said, clutching her hands before her. “But, they’re your things.”
“I can get new things. But you, my angel, are irreplaceable.” His gaze latched onto hers, and for a few long moments, they didn’t look away from one another. All sorts of emotion stirred in his belly and heart. But, instead of running from the feelings inside, he stayed present, with himself and with Mia. Finally, he said, “Let’s get out of here. Would you like me to step outside so you can get dressed?” he said.
“That’s too far. Stay here.” She released him and stepped to the gray melamine and black plastic-trimmed closet.
He studied her as she removed the dumb gown, and she donned her skin-hugging trousers, shirt, and jacket. God, she’s gorgeous.
“These clothes are going in the trash bin once I’ve dressed in something else. I never want to see them again,” she said, without turning around. She reached into the cupboard and retrieved her purse. Swirling to face him, she said, “How’s your motorcycle?” She stepped next to him.
“It will live. A buddy of mine picked it up and has it at his shop. He’s a genius. He’ll have it better than ever,” Keys said, draping his arm around Mia’s shoulder and tucking her close.
“Good. I’d hate for you to have destroyed your bike.” Mia wrapped her arm around his waist.
“Shit, baby. I’d destroy everything I owned rather than lose you. Things can be replaced. You can’t.” His heart squeezed tight in his chest.
He guided her out of the room toward the waiting room where Trevor sat. “Trevor drove me over in his Mustang. He can drop us off at my place. Do you need to pick up anything at your house?”
She tossed her head back and forth quickly. “No. Not yet. Maybe we can send someone up to gather some things. But I don’t want to set foot there.” She paused. “I forgot about Max. We have to get him. He’s probably sitting in the window waiting for me.”
“Okay. Either Trevor or I can run up and gather some clothes and stuff for you, along with Max. Will that be all right?” Keys couldn’t get her close enough to him.
“As long as we’re together, everything is okay.”
Thirty minutes later, Keys helped Mia into the bath he’d prepared for her. As she slid her lovely body into the soothing water, he scanned the bruises along her arms, knees, and hips.
“How’d you get so bruised?” he asked, brushing his fingertips across her shoulder.
“Same as you. I tussled with a madman.” She reached for his hand and kissed the top of it. “Darion kept watching me and swerving into traffic. It’s a wonder we didn’t crash. I kept slamming into the door.” A shiver shook her body. “I’m going to have nightmares for a while.”
“I’ll keep you safe.” Keys crouched next to the tub, gently stroking her back with a soapy washcloth.
Mia cast her gaze at the water rippling all around her. “I…I’m sorry I broke up with you. It’s not what I wanted.”
He took a long, deep sigh. “Yeah. That was a low moment. For both of us. Running scared.”
She nodded her head, and the tips of her long hair swirled in the water.
“But, there’s scared, and then there’s terrified. Me being scared of commitment seems childish to me, compared to you being scared for your life,” Keys said, dipping his fingertips in the water. The heat stung his many bruises.
“Right?” She flashed him an open-eyed look of pure vulnerability. “I simply became terror. Nothing else existed. And, now…now that I’ve survived and Darion is dead….” Her forehead creased as she studied him. “Do you think we can try this boyfriend-girlfriend thing again, for reals this time?”
“Absolutely. I never want to be apart from you again,” Keys said. This time, he knew he’d succeed.