Page 47 of Shattered Love
“Where is she?”
She needs to hear me. She needs me to hold her, to make her better. She fucking damn well needs me.
I walk into the room, stopping quickly. I grab the bed for support as I see her. She looks so damn small in that bed. There are so many tubes, I don't know where I can touch her. What if I hurt her?
I grab a chair, pulling it over. Threading her dainty fingers through mine, I rub my thumb over her wedding finger.
“Baby, we have a daughter, a beautiful little girl. She’s here. You did it, baby.”
Her heart rate spikes and the nurse who has been watching the machines smiles.
“Keep talking to her. She knows your voice. That’s the first time I’ve seen her heart rate pick up.”
There are a million things I want to say to her, but I can't think of one that means enough. I squeeze her hand tightly. “You rest, beautiful. I’m here, baby. I’m always here for you.”
Avery’s mother walks into the room. Her legs shake as she sees Avery, her hand covering her mouth as silent tears roll down her cheeks. Then, she closes her eyes, straightens her back, and walks to the other side of Avery. Leaning in, she moves Avery’s hair off her face.
I shake my head, stopping her. It’s only my touch I want her to feel. The nurse said she reacts to me. It’s my touch that I want to bring her back and my voice she’ll follow, guiding her out of the darkness. Just like she saved me, I'll save her. I’ll bring her home.
“Juliet is beautiful, like a little angel. You should go see her.”
I shake my head. My heart hurts for my baby girl who is probablyscared and doesn’t know what’s happening, but I can't leave Avery. She needs me more.
I look up at Avery’s mom. “Can you look after her? We promised she would never be alone or scared.”
She sucks in a shuddering breath. “Dominic, she’s not. We've all been with her. Carter is with her now. I promise you, someone will always be there. Okay?”
I nod. I know I should say something or thank her, but instead I trace Avery’s face. It's like I am seeing her for the first time, memorizing every delicate feature, the way her dark lashes lay on her cheeks, the way her bottom lip is pouty than the top. I kiss her cold lips as if she is a princess and I'm her prince, my kiss alone able to wake her, but I was never the hero of our story. I was born a villain. Villains never get their fairytale ending.
A gasp sounds from behind. Turning, I see Cecelia at the door. “I am sorry. I came as soon as I heard.” She walks up to me. “Oh my God, Dominic. Juliet is beautiful, she looks just like you.”
I shake my head. “No, she looks like Avery.”
I don't turn as the door opens. I don't take my eyes off Avery, I know her father is next to me. As he takes a seat, I brace myself for the anger I deserve. I let his baby girl get hurt. I should have protected her. If it was me, I would make the pain slow and torture every last breath out. When he doesn't say anything, I lift my eyes.
He has tears streaming down his face as he studies his daughter. He looks at me. “I’m so fucking sorry, son. When Avery came to us, telling us that you two were together…” He rubs the back of his neck. “You were every father's worst nightmare. Avery never had an interest in men. The only boyfriends she had came from her books. Then she came home to tell us she was in love with you and everyone knows the Stone name.”
He shakes his head. “We asked her to stop dating you, but she wouldn't. She was so angry at us. For the first time in her life, Avery went against us. She snuck out to see you. I knew you always watched her come home until she was safe inside, but that angered me more. I wanted you to be a fucking punk and make her cry so I could beat your ass.”
I open my mouth, but he sits forward. The pain in his eyes stops anything I was going say.
“I will never forgive myself for making her choose between the both of us. I thought I was losing her. She had been my little girl and I wasn't ready to share her. My selfish ways cost so much. I judged you wrongly for that. I never got to walk her down the aisle, to see her marry the man she loves.
“Because Dominic, my daughter loves you in a way only Avery knows how to love. It’s so rare. Even when she was little, you could see it. When she walks into a room, everyone notices. They’re drawn to her because there’s something innocent about her you want to protect, but you can tell she’s strong. Most of all, it's her eyes. They tell you exactly how she's feeling. When she shows her emotions, you can feel them, and the moment she told me she loved you, I knew it was true. I saw it. I fucking felt it. Anyone around you both can feel it.
“Thank you, for loving my daughter like no else could, for giving her the love she truly deserved. I will never be able to forgive myself for these years I missed.”
My knuckles turn up as I hold on to bed rail. “You're wrong. You should have beaten my ass.”
He snorts, raising his eyebrow. “That wouldn’t have stopped you.”
I look at my beautiful wife, shaking my head. “Nothing would have stopped me. The moment I saw her, I knew she was my reason. All the shitty stuff in my life didn't matter because loving her changed everything I knew, everything I believed. She was like seeing the sun after a time of blindness, the star that lightened up a lifetime of darkness, the lighthouse that guided me out of hell to a place I never knew existed, a place I didn't dare dream of. Avery saved me in the school corridors and now she’s lying here, fighting for her life, because she saved me again.”
I bare my teeth and my lips curl up.
Her dad stands. “Because she loves you, Dominic. Are you telling me you wouldn’t have done the same?”
I stand up, my stance wide in a pose I know intimidates most men. “In a fucking heartbeat. She’s mine to protect. Don't you think I've prayed to every fucking God there is for me to be the one lying there?”
Her dad looks at his daughter before turning back to me. “Then don't doubt my daughter’s love for you. To her, you were worth saving. Don't let her down.”
I turn my head away. I don't want to hear anymore. I know Avery loves me. I saw it in her eyes. It gives me the air to breathe, the hope. It's what keeps the monsters at bay. I can already feel them scratching my skin.
I don’t know what time it is only at the sun set or maybe its fallen from the sky? Everyone has gone home saying they be back tomorrow. I crawl onto the bed next to her, needing to be close. I bury my head in her hair, placing a kiss just under her ear.
“Beautiful, if you can hear me, I need you to save me one more time.”
