There was a touch on my shoulder, and I glanced back to find Liam with a sympathetic expression on his face, the question clear in his blue eyes. Taking a steadying breath, I forced myself to pull back from her clinging form, making room for the doctor.
Confusion clouded her eyes as she gripped me tighter. “Where are you going?”
This was killing me. “Baby, the doctor needs to examine you. If you want Liam and me to leave the room, we can.”
Understanding dawned, and Lucy shook her head furiously. “No.”
“I know it’s difficult, but—”
“No,” she stated again. “He didn’t touch me.”
“Baby, it’s okay. We just need to make sure you get the proper care.”
“You’re not listening!” Lucy’s cries rendered us silent. “He tried, but he wasn’t successful.”
“Are you sure?” Liam asked from above. Clearing his throat, we both turned to him, and his discomfort was evident. “He was . . . exposed.”
Lucy never faltered. “Like I said, he tried. I got a good knee in right before he collapsed on top of me.”
That’s my girl.
A mix of relief and pride welled in my chest. My girl was a fighter. I shouldn’t have expected anything less.
The physician asked Lucy, “Are there any other injuries that need to be addressed?”
Lucy shook her head. “No. My face hurts, but I don’t think you can do much for that.”
My entire body tensed when he reached out to cup her jaw, probing the skin gently with his thick fingers.
Frowning, he pulled his hand away. “There don’t appear to be any broken bones that I can tell. Let me know if the pain becomes sharp instead of a dull throb, and we can arrange for X-rays. Other than that, if eating bothers you, opt for softer foods or chew on the other side. I’m sorry I can’t offer more treatment than that.”
Liam escorted him from the room, and Lucy burrowed into my chest. The words were on the tip of my tongue to tell her how much I loved her, but I couldn’t do it like this. Not today. I didn’t want my declaration of love for the woman I intended to spend the rest of my life with to be tainted by the events of the day, to be forever intertwined with arguably the worst day of our lives.
So, I would wait. Instead, I would pour my love into my actions and care for her until the time was right to say the words out loud.
Liam returned, settling into the wingback chair opposite where we sat. His jaw was set so tight, I wondered how he didn’t crack a tooth. I knew my friend, and even though he had killed one of the men involved, he held himself personally responsible for his family’s safety—especially that of his younger sisters.
“Lucy,” he began, causing her to turn her head to face him, still plastered to my body so closely that there wasn’t an inch of space separating us. “I need some information from you to determine if there’s still a threat to our family out there.”
Trembling in my arms, she nodded. “What do you need to know?”
“I don’t know how much you remember, but I took out the man trying to assault you. Leo’s been disabled, and all tunnel access has been sealed, with security teams clearing them now. Was there anyone else?”
“Yes. There were two men besides Leo. One left before you came in. He was—he was—” Her voice broke, and I could feel her start to cry again, but she forced out, “He was going to kill you.”
Liam nodded. “We apprehended a man at the location I was sent via text. Can you identify him as the second man if I show you a picture?” He pulled his phone out and handed it to her.
Peering down at the picture on the glossy screen, she replied, “That’s him.”
“Good. We have him in custody. He’ll never see the light of day again.”
“And Leo?”
Just the mention of that son of a bitch’s name had my body vibrating with rage. What kind of person kidnapped his little sister and watched while one of his accomplices tried to violate her body? If what she said was true and he wanted Liam dead, who was to say he wouldn’t eliminate her as well? The man had no soul.
“A padded cell for the rest of his life is too good for him, but that’s what Mother and Father have decided.”
“So, it’s really over?” Lucy asked, cautiously optimistic.
