Facing me, p.23
Facing Me, page 23
The ‘Burban damn near skates on two wheels as we round the corner, just in time to see Tad standing in front of Daisy and Cam holding a gun. Jackson and another man lie behind them only adding to my fear. He squeezes the trigger just before being knocked to the ground from behind by event security officers. Time stands still as Cam shoves Daisy out of the way, before she falls to the ground, her head bouncing off a parking block. “No!” I scream, jumping from the car before Henry gets it into park. My feet can’t move fast enough. I fall to my knees next to her, scooping her body up in my arms. “Cam,” I start, then see the blood streaming down her face and more running down her arm, soaking through her black shirt. “Oh God, she’s bleeding.” I shout, “Get an ambulance!”
“We’ve got rescue on the way, Sir.” One of the men who tackled Tad says, crouching checking out Jackson and the other guy that I assume must be Dustin.
“Don’t leave me, baby. Please.” I whisper nuzzling her neck.
Henry kneels beside me, grabbing Cam’s wrist. “Let me have a look, Aiden.” Pulling back, I lay her on the ground yanking off my shirt to support her head. “She has a pulse, let’s have a look at the rest of her.” He lifts her shirt, checking her side, and hisses out a breath. Ripping part of his shirt, he thrusts it into my hand. “Hold that there and apply pressure. We have to stop the bleeding.” Henry’s eyes searching around the van, “Where the hell is Mack?” Jumping to his feet he heads to the stairwell.
“Aiden…” Cam moans, wincing at the noise around us.
“Yeah, baby.” I choke out, “Right here.”
“Daisy, get Daisy.” She mutters.
Looking over, I watch Daisy sob into Gray’s chest. “She’s fine, baby. Everything is fine, it’s over. Are you okay?”
The ambulance pulls up next to the ‘Burban, Cam winces again at the piercing cry of the sirens. “Good, that’s good.” She breathes before going limp in my arms again. This time my heart does stop. Everything whirls around me, people running, lights flashing, as they load Cam onto a gurney and take her into the back of the ambulance.
“I’m coming with her.” I shout to the paramedics, once they have her settled.
“She your wife,” The paramedic asks hooking monitors up to Cam’s chest.
“She’s my everything. She is everything.” I choke out. He nods as I climb into the back and grab her free hand while he attaches an I.V. into the other. Watching as he takes vitals, and radios updates to the hospital I send up a desperate silent prayer, knowing if I lose her tonight, everything I am will die right along with her.
*Camaron*
My head aches, the beeping that echoes in my ears isn’t helping. As much as I want to yell at whichever one of the guys is making that irritating noise, I can’t make my lips move. People are talking around me, I strain to hear, trying to figure out who they are but the words jumble in my head. The pain in my side brings back visions of Tad holding the gun. Aiming at Daisy before I shoved her to the ground; we never should have made it out alive. I’m not dead though and neither is Daisy. The pain is a welcome reminder that I am alive.
The only thing running through my mind was Aiden. I had to get Daisy and I away from the danger and get back to Aiden. In the split second, I saw my life flash before me and everything good was tied to Aiden. Hell, even Chase and Luke are. There is so much I need to tell him, things I should’ve said before. I want to be his, in every way; for him to be mine. Marriage has scared the hell out of me all my life, but now I can’t think of a good reason not to marry him.
“Cam, I’m here baby.” Aiden’s voice soothes me instantly.
I want to tell him, to open my eyes and see his face. Those brown eyes that I know will warm my entire body. To have him kiss me, so that I know this is all real and that everything will be okay now. No more fear that Tad will hurt any of us, it’s all over. He takes my hand in his, kissing my palm. “Wake up, please. I love you so much.”
I force my hand to squeeze his back, I’m weak but I feel his sharp intake of breath when my fingers tighten around his. I force my eyes open, wincing as my eyes adjust to the light bouncing off of the white walls of the hospital room. “Baby, shit, I’ve never been so afraid in my life.” Aiden sighs in relief. Those beautiful browns of his full of worry, but warm once they meet my eyes. “What the hell were you two thinkin’?” He scolds, burying his face in my neck and inhaling deeply.
“I never thought that Jackson would’ve been involved with Tad.” I choke out, tears brimming in my eyes. “God, Aiden, I was so scared I would never see you again. Oh god,” I shriek replaying everything in my head. “Mack, they- oh Aiden, is he?”
His thumb sweeps along my cheek, taking the tear along with it. “You’re not getting’ rid of me so easily Wildcat and yes, Mack is fine. He’s pissed at himself for goin’ down like a bitch, but he’s alright. Just as soon as we get out of here, you and me are havin’ a serious discussion about shit.” Leaning down, he kisses my lips softly. “Long fuckin’ overdue, too, baby.”
“Ms. Allen, you’re awake.” A woman in a white coat walks in the room holding a file. “I’m Dr. Cox, I’ve been tending to you this evening.” She says walking over to the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been shot,” I toss out. She chuckles, Aiden does not. He is too busy glaring me down for my joke.
“Yes, I suppose you would.” Dr. Cox, says sitting the file down to lift my gown. “It seems it was a graze mostly, deep, yes, but didn’t damage much of anything; aside from a scar on your side, you’ll be fine.
“Takes a damn bullet, nearly dies, and she’s makin’ fuckin’ jokes.” Aiden mutters, standing to pace the room. “Unbelievable.” His chest is bare, and he’s still covered in blood, my blood. Memories flood back of him holding onto me, his voice whispering in my ear cutting through the sirens. Telling me that Daisy is okay, that everything is fine, that’s it is over.
“I’m fine.” I say, wincing when the doctor pushes on my bandaged side. “Ouch, at least it wasn’t the side with my tattoo.” I mutter, trying to lighten the mood.
“Well, since your stitches are setting nicely we can get you up and walking. After hearing your travel plans, I’ll admit I’m not happy with them, but I’ve been told you are heading back to Nashville for an extended stay and you will follow up, immediately, with a colleague of mine there.”
“Yes, she will, I’ll make sure of it.” Aiden assures her. “Our hilarious patient will be well taken care of.”
“I’ll get her paperwork started. I see no reason why she can’t be discharged in a few hours.” She replies, before turning to leave the room. “You were very lucky, just mere inches.” I hear her say before closing the door behind her.
Aiden takes three steps and is glaring at me. “I can’t believe you find this funny.” He scolds. “I lost my fucking mind when I saw you bleeding on the goddamn pavement and here you are making jokes.”
“I’m not making a joke out of it, Aiden.” I snap, leaning up in the bed. Pain roars through my side, reminding me to slow the hell down. “Don’t you think that I know how close Daisy and I were to dying in that garage tonight? How close I came to never seeing you again? When I felt that bullet, all I could fucking think of was that I needed to tell you I love you, that I want nothing more than to be your wife!” I blurt, before clap a hand over my mouth.
“You what?” Aiden asks, his lips twitching up into a grin.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I slump back against the pillow. “You heard me. I want it all with you. Probably always have, just too scared to say it out loud or admit it to even myself. Took a gunshot to make me admit it to myself, and to you, but that’s how it is. I want to walk down the aisle to you, wear your ring, have your name, and be yours in every sense of the word. I’ve been yours ever since you asked me my name at that shady ass bar in Louisiana.”
“Well, I’ll be shit.” He says dropping into the chair. My face falls, and I wait for him to say something, anything about what I just said. Looking up at me after a minute, I see his shit eating grin. “Here I was planning to tell you the same damn thing, minus the gunshot shit, once you came back to the bus earlier. Racked my damn brain thinking what I was gonna say to convince you to jump with me and marry me. Here you go, pretty much proposing to me, in a hospital gown no less.”
“I do enjoy putting a wow-factor on things.” I chuckle, when he pushes to his feet.
“So, this means you’re gonna marry me?” He asks, cupping my face in his hands. Aiden’s rough fingers stroke my cheeks, reducing my insides to goo. My eyes flutter closed, and for a split second I consider the damage to my stitches and debate hospital bed dimensions for sexual positions. “I don’t like where you’re thoughts are headin’. I mean I like it, seeing as how I’m now thinkin’ it too, but don’t like that I can’t do it. We will both have to wait it out.”
“Dr. Chesterfield, P-E-N-I-S.” Hunter says flinging open the door. “Have they successfully plugged your hole ma’am? If not, I’m more than happy to glove up and perform the procedure.” Walking in the room, Hunter “Maybe, I can use my cock-ammeter to take your temperature. We can do this orally or anally, you’re choice.”
“Well, thank you, but I’ll have to pass. Dr. Cox has it handled, but thank you for being so helpful Cunter.” I mutter rolling my eyes.
“I’m always here for you, when it’s convenient for me.” Hunter says with a wink. “Update on everyone else. Daisy checked out just fine, and so has Mack. Fucker will learn to hit the panic button before chargin’ in the room instead of doing it while being fuckin’ tased. Dumbass.” He mutters.
“Panic button, what panic button?” I ask curiously. Surely, I would have known about this, right?
“Button that goes straight to Henry if there’s trouble. It’s inside his jacket pocket, was Henry’s idea when Mack was brought on. You know in case of emergencies or crazy ass women tryin’ to handle shit on their own.” Aiden replies, explaining that, while Mack was being tased, he was trying to protect us by getting help.
“Alright bro, cut her some slack.” Hunter teases, before his eyes go serious. “Wait! Did you say your doctor’s name was Cox? This is a great fuckin’ day. I love hospitals!” Jumping up, he runs out the door. “Dr Cox! I need a vagina STAT!”
“Someone needs to explain to him that it’s not going to be very funny to Dr. Cox, when she hears him screaming that shit through the halls.” I mumble.
Aiden slides into the bed, carefully adjusting me against his side. “I don’t give a shit what he does. He can always ice his balls once she’s done stomping on them.” He says, nuzzling my neck. Gah, I love when he does this. “Now, all I want to do is hold the one who holds my heart.” Sliding down carefully against him, I lay my head on his chest so that I can feel his heart beating, thumping like a bass drum, soothing me, with Aiden running a hand through my hair, I drift to sleep.
Chapter Eighteen
Here’s to you Ms. Chesterfield.
*Aiden*
“Get your ass in the ‘Burban, Cam.” I grumble rolling the wheelchair back to the nurse.
“Stop treating me like an invalid and I will, Aiden.” She grounds out. “I’m fine. Don’t make me kick your ass to prove it. I didn’t need a wheelchair, I was grazed by a bullet in the side, not the leg.”
“It’s hospital policy, get over it. Don’t get all feisty, it just makes me hard and you’re in no shape for a spanking, yet.” I toss out, hoisting her in my arms. “Now, since you demanded to go meet my mother, and even talked the doctor into giving her approval, I suggest you behave.” I scold, settling her into the seat before sliding in next to her.
Before Cam was released, Henry drove Mack, Daisy and Grayson back to the bus to rest. There was really no threat now that Tad, Jackson and Dustin are now in custody; Henry was a bit more at ease letting them stay on the bus while we make the trip to see my mother before we head back to Nashville. We are scheduled in the recording studio in the morning, and every day up until the ‘Rock For A Cure Fest’. Hunter will fly out the day after, and if the doctor approves, Cam and I will be joining him, even if she doesn’t know it yet. I need to do something, and it’s only fitting to do it there. Cam settles herself against me, dozing nearly immediately. My arms surround her, adjusting my leg I pull her into my chest.
“Damn, I’m glad all this drama is over. Shit, I can’t believe Tad had that shit slipped in my beer.” Hunter groans from the front seat when we exit the highway. “To think if I hadn’t run into the Ladies’ room when I saw you two makin’ the beast in the hallway…” He shudders. “Fucker, I’ve told y’all my poop chute is a no-go. You two totally saved my ass.” He laughs, “Literally!”
“Your asshole needs a support group.” Henry teases. “No one said that Tad planned to de-virginize your rear-access.”
“Don’t patronize my asshole, he’s sensitive.” Hunter huffs, turning toward the window.
“Just like you, everywhere you go you’re makin’ a stink.” Henry chuckles, turning us onto the road for the prison.
Instantly, my heart starts thumping in my chest at the thought of seeing my mother. I’ve not seen her once since I was eight years old. I have so many things I want to know, so much I want to say to her. Tell her all she missed out on with us. I want her to know everything that she can never be a part of; all because she chose not to be a mom who protected her boys. Cam’s fingers lace with mine. “It’s okay.” She whispers, sitting up to meet my eyes. Those blues meet mine, instantly calming me as the ‘Burban pulls into a parking spot.
***
By the time we walk into the visitors’ room, my nerves are back the moment I see her. Looking up, she blanches a bit, watching the four of us walk toward her. Hunter sits closest to her, before Cam and I take the seats on the other side of the table. Henry walks over and shakes the guard’s hand. “Thanks for accommodating us with the extra visitor, really appreciate that.” He says, the guard just nods in return.
“You boys look like your father.” The words are like a slap to the face, making me wince painfully. “Who’s she?”
“I’m Camaron Allen, it’s nice to meet you Mrs. Chesterfield.” Cam says shaking my mother’s hand.
She just laughs. “I never married Thomas. That bastard didn’t give any of us his name. I’m Nancy.” She replies, before looking to me. “So, you’ve got shit to say, say it.”
I take a breath, of all the things I want to say to her. Years of anger, resentment, that filled me start to dull and I feel only the need to know one thing. “Why?” I ask, “All I want to know is why. I love Cam with everything I am, and I could never hit her, or any children we may have. Why did he do it and why did you let him?” Cam’s fingers squeeze mine in silent support as I wait for her answer.
“I never wanted anything to do with him. When I was fourteen years old, Thomas Waggoner decided he wanted me. His father was a governor; Thomas thought he was entitled to whatever he decided to take. When he raped me and I ended up pregnant, I was forced to be his kept whore. Every time I tried to leave, he found me, raped me, beat me; well you can imagine.” She explains, her hands trembling as she tries to light a cigarette. Her brown hair falls around her face, hiding her eyes. “By the time you came along, Aiden, I was so weak. I would’ve slit my wrists if it hadn’t been for you boys. I just wanted out.” She adds, blowing a plume of smoke out.
“Anyway,” She continues when no one speaks. “Thomas would come and go, he had a wife and children of his own, you see. He came to me first, always me first, take what he wanted; tied me up, gagged me, and then.” Her hand shaking so hard, she nearly drops her cigarette.
“That’s when he went after us.” Hunter bites out, finishing her sentence for her.
She nods. “Then Henry moved in across the street and things changed.” I watch her look over and smile at Henry, who blushes. “The day Hunter broke his window with that damn Frisbee, everything changed. Henry knew things were bad. He came to my rescue more than I ever deserved. That night, I plotted to leave.” Henry walks over, placing a hand on her shoulder, encouraging her to finish. “I was going to leave, start over with you boys and give you the lives you deserved…the life we all deserved. Henry had made plans to get us all out safely. We were going to be a family.”
“You were puttin’ that tow hitch to my mother?” Hunter exclaims.
“Stop being a shit.” Henry growls. “No, I was not puttin’ anything to your mother. I helped your mother, asshole.”
“You two adored Henry; sending you there for the night was a no-brainer, while I packed. That is, until Thomas showed up while I was packing.” She shudders.
“Oh God,” Cam sighs.
“Henry ran over when he heard us fighting. We never expected you boys to run over too and when Thomas lunged for Aiden, I grabbed the whiskey bottle and swung. Thomas fell, somehow hitting his head on the end table and that was that. That bastard never even saw it coming.” She says, taking another draw off her cigarette. “It may have been the only good thing I’ve ever done in my life, other than having you two. That bastard was beating his wife and other children too. She’s been to see me a few times. Bitch thanked me too, even sends me money and everything. Real classy broad if you ask me.”
“Why didn’t you report the abuse?” Cam asks, shaking her head.
“You think that anyone would’ve believed me with the clout his family had?” My mother laughs. “Shit, I’m lucky I didn’t get the goddamn chair for killing that son of a bitch.”
“Shoulda got the Nobel Peace Prize.” Henry bites out. “Once we talked out the story for the cops, I took you boys with me and we got the hell out of Georgia. Nancy called the police and took a plea bargain Thomas’ father arranged so he could look like the forgiving soul. Asshole probably beats his wife too.”
