“We called for an ambulance,” Martin says, but he sounds like he’s gone underwater. Odd since we don’t have a pool.
“They’ll take too long and take her to the wrong fucking hospital. Dani, text me all of her info. Your mom probably has it.”
“What info?! My mom is in Mexico visiting my tía!”
“Find your mom. I need her medical history!”
There’s more they say, but I can’t focus anymore. The sunlight burns my eyes even though they’re closed, and my head throbs, but even as I struggle to stay awake. I’m not scared anymore, though. As Chase carries me out of the house, I only feel one thing beyond the pain. Safe.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Chase,” I mumble as he gets me into the car and buckles me in. “No! I’ll get blood on your seats.”
“Seriously?” He cups my face and I try to look at him, but I can’t figure out which of him I should focus on. “Hang on, Renate. Just hang on, okay?”
He kisses my forehead, and the world goes dark.
CHAPTER21
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
PLACEBO
I climbin the driver’s side, pulling her to me and trying to wake her up. “I’ve got you, Sunshine. I’ve got you,” I hum softly in her ear. As I rub her back, feeling something wet and sticky. When I pull my hand away, it’s red.
I slam the gas and peel out of her driveway, kicking up rocks and gravel. I’ll pay for damages later.
“I’m here, Renate. No one will hurt you, understand? He’s not going to hurt you anymore. Never again. I’m going to take care of you.” I’m making her promises I hope I can keep. The tires squeal as I hit the main road and take off. Tears sting my eyes, but I don’t have time for them, not now. Not with the woman I love bleeding out in the seat next to me.
“Mmm,” Ren moans and tries to move. “Chase? I’m sorry. Please don’t send me to jail. Are you mad at me?”
“What? Fuck,” I whisper and pull her close again. “No, Sunshine. No. How could I be mad at you? This isn’t your fault. Just try to stay awake, okay? We’re almost there.”
I avoid the under-funded, understaffed local hospital and head for Beverly Hills. I keep her awake, talking to her and holding her hand. She's having trouble focusing and I’m trying my best to not panic. When we get to the hospital, a nurse recognizes me and we’re taken to a private room out of the public eye. Ren can’t even fill out her own name, so I take the forms and call Dani to get any information she’s found. Once I get Ren checked in, it all becomes a waiting game I don’t have the patience for.
As we’re both finally coming down from the adrenaline high, Ren bolts off the table and runs for the private bathroom. I hold her hair back, and when she’s done, I clean her up and carry her back to the bed. The black eyes and swelling in her face make her almost unrecognizable. Almost.
Doctors and nurses come in and out of the room. Followed by a detective, more nurses, tests, and more questions. The dread creeps in, and the helpless feelings take over. I should have gotten to her house earlier. I should have picked her up from school.
When the doctor finally comes in and says there’s no bleeding in her brain, I drop hard into the chair behind me, relieved. She’s got a concussion, and they want her to see a specialist as soon as possible. I make the appointment, get the discharge papers, and listen to the instructions to wake her up every two to three hours.
She looks like a shell of herself, and I’m ready to get the fuck out of here. She says the dizziness and nausea have passed, but the doctor said the headaches will last awhile.
She’s not talking—just staring off into nothing.
“Ren? The orderly will take you downstairs so I can pick you up away from the main entrance, okay?” Security chased three people out of the hospital earlier after catching them trying to sneak in for pictures. Ren nods, but she’s not listening, so I step in front of her and tilt her head up. “It’s gonna be okay.”
“I didn’t even tell you about him,” she says in a hoarse whisper that sounds painful.
I sit beside her and take her hand. “Sunshine, I’m going to say to you what everyone says to me, and I sure as hell hope it sticks for you better than it has for me. It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong, not a damn thing. Blame him, but he’s not getting to you again.”
“I…I need to go to work in the morning. I need—we were…I can’t remember.”
“It’s okay. The doc said that will happen for a bit. You’re coming home with me.”
“But Mama and Dani! What if he comes back?”
“Dani packed some things for you, and she’s going to stay with Xander. She convinced your mom to stay in Mexico until we’re sure he’s gone.”
“Chase, we’re not… I can take care of myself.”
