Colters' Gift

“Mom?” Liam queried.

She’d gone silent, and he wasn’t entirely certain what she was thinking. The last thing he wanted was to cause either his mother or his father worry or pain, but he couldn’t give Lauren up. He loved her. Lauren was his future.

She gave him a genuine smile. “I’m sure we’ll adore her. How could we not when she’s shown such good judgment in loving not one but both of my sons? You’ll just have to give me—us—time to understand. This isn’t something you come across every day. It’s going to take some adjustment in my thinking.”

“That means a lot to all three of us,” Liam said.

She reached over to pat his leg. “Will you at least promise me you’ll rest and take it easy until you’re healed?”

“I’ll try,” he conceded.

“Noah, Liam, she’s coming around,” Seth said from the doorway.

Both men’s heads came up, and then they surged upward from their chairs.

Ignoring the pain in his arm, Liam hurried to the door. His mom caught his other arm, causing him to turn back momentarily.

“Liam,” she said, her brows drawn together. “Your father and I want to meet her, but we realize this isn’t the time. We’ll try to understand, but what you have to understand is that this is hard for me. A mother wants so much for her children, and this arrangement scares me because you or Noah could so easily be hurt.”

Liam’s heart went soft as he stared back at his mom. He pulled her against his chest with his good arm and squeezed tightly.

“Thanks, Mom. But please don’t worry. Noah and I have given this a lot of thought. This is what we want.”

“And is it what she wants?” Lisa asked quietly.

“God I hope so,” Liam breathed.

She patted his face and then reached over to give Noah’s hand a quick squeeze. “Go on. I know you two are anxious to see her. We can talk later.”

Liam needed no further urging. He strode down the hall to Lauren’s room and saw the Colters congregated outside her door. They looked up as Liam and Noah approached.

“How is she?” Liam asked anxiously.

Seth gave him a look that sent Liam’s hopes plummeting.

“She’s awake. Max is trying to get her to talk. She still seems like she’s in shock or at least unaware.”

Noah cursed and then, without another word, pushed past the Colter men and walked into Lauren’s room. Liam hurried behind him.

Max looked up when they walked in, his gaze hopeful. He got up, leaving Lauren’s bedside, and strode over to intercept them.

“Maybe she’ll respond to you,” Max said in a low voice. “I’ve been talking to her but it’s like I’m not even here.”

Noah and Liam glanced toward the bed and then left Max. They took either side, both reaching for her hands. Liam brought her fingers to his lips. They were so cold.

He blew his breath over the tips to warm them and then captured her hand between his palms, rubbing to generate heat. Then he lowered himself to put him in the path of her sight.

“Lauren, baby, can you hear me?”

He waited a moment, and when she didn’t so much as blink, he brushed his hand across her forehead and trailed his fingers down the curve of her cheek. He followed his hand with his mouth and inhaled her scent as he pressed his lips to her temple.

“We’re here, honey,” Noah said, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotion. “You’re safe now. That bastard can’t ever hurt you again.”

Her eyes flickered and slowly she turned her head so she focused on Noah.

“Is he dead?” she whispered.

Joy and hope exploded in Liam’s mind. He gripped her hand tighter, his urge to pull her into his arms overwhelming.

“Yes,” Liam said with savagery.

“Good.”

The simple word conveyed a wealth of relief.

“How are you?” Noah asked. “Are you hurting? Did he . . .”

He didn’t finish because Lauren flinched and looked away, her body immediately tense. Liam wanted to put his fist through the wall. He and Noah exchanged fierce glances even as they tried to maintain their composure.

“My ribs,” she said faintly. “I think I must have broken some in the accident. Hurts.”

Noah turned toward the door where the others were standing. “Get the doctor in here. Or a nurse. Someone who can tell us what her condition is.”

“On it,” Dillon said before disappearing.

“Listen to me,” Liam said in a low voice, his head close to hers. “I want you to rest and focus on feeling better and the fact that Noah and I love you. Joel Knight can never hurt you again. You’re free.”

Her eyes filled with tears and it nearly broke his heart right in two. They tracked down her cheeks in silver streams as she stared sightlessly toward the ceiling.

“I want to go home,” she choked out.

“We’ll take you home,” Noah promised. “As soon as the doctor says it’s safe for you to travel, we’ll take you back home.”

Even as Noah made the quiet vow, Liam knew that it was the right thing to say. Whatever sacrifices he and Noah had to make to ensure Lauren’s happiness was worth it. She belonged in Colorado with her family and the two men who loved her surrounding her. She needed them all. Now, more than ever.

Somehow he and Noah would have to make it work. Love was about sacrifices, and Liam would sacrifice anything and everything to be with Lauren and to see her smile again.

Chapter 41

WHEN the nurse came in, Liam told her that Lauren was in pain, and as the nurse administered the pain medication, Lauren drifted off, her eyelids fluttering closed.

Her lashes were dark against her cheeks and bruises shadowed her beautiful face. As Noah stood there staring down at her, he was struck by the enormity of what she’d survived and escaped.

He knew there was more. He knew she’d endured the worst, but he was so goddamn relieved to have her back that he was weak with it.

“The doctor will meet you outside,” the nurse said in a quiet tone. “He’ll be able to give you the X-ray results as well as tell you how long she needs to remain in the hospital.”

“Thank you,” Noah said.

He leaned down to press his lips against her forehead and closed his eyes for a long moment.

“I love you,” he said against her skin. “I love you so goddamn much. We’ll get through this, sweetheart. I swear there’s nothing we can’t beat together.”

She sighed and turned her face upward as if seeking the comfort of his voice. He ran his fingertips over the delicate lines of her face before finally retreating.

Liam waited at the door and when the two men stepped out, the doctor walked down the hall toward them. His step was brisk, and he stopped in front of the group of men, his gaze sweeping over them.

“Which of you are Miss Wilder’s family?” the doctor asked.

Every single man spoke up.

The doctor cleared his throat and glanced skeptically at the assembled group.

“We’re her family,” Adam said in a grave tone. “We’re her fathers and brothers.”

Max nodded his agreement.

“How is she?” Noah blurted, no longer able to be patient. “When can she go home? She’s been asking.”

The doctor sighed. “I see all manner of things through this emergency room. Some you wouldn’t believe. One would think as often as I see the results of violence that I would be immune to it. And yet it still pisses me off every single time a woman comes through these doors because some bastard used her for a punching bag.”

The others simmered and seethed, their anger a tangible thing that hovered over them like a cloud.

“She fractured two lower ribs and has extensive bruising in that area, whether from the car accident or from abuse. It’s hard to say, and it’s likely that it’s from both.”

He paused a moment before continuing.

“Considering what she’s been through, her physical condition is better than I would have expected. Quite frankly, it’s her mental state that has me the most concerned and why I’m hesitant to release her from the hospital.”

“She needs to be home where she feels safe and surrounded by the people who love her,” Liam said.

“I agree,” Max interjected. “I think the sooner we get her back home, the sooner she’ll come around.”

Noah faced the doctor, his chest tightening with dread. “Besides the fractured ribs, did she sustain any other injury?”

The doctor folded his arms over his chest, trapping his clipboard against his body. “It’s my opinion that she wasn’t sexually assaulted. She’s bruised and she’ll be sore for several days, but given the circumstances, she fared far better than one might expect. She’s a tough young woman.”

Noah let out his breath, nearly light-headed from holding it. “So can we bring her home? How long will you want her to stay?”

The doctor seemed to consider the request for a moment. “If you are indeed going to take her home and see that she gets the proper rest and care, then I’ll discharge her as early as tomorrow morning. I want her to stay at least one night for observation.”

“She’ll have the best care possible,” Max said in a terse voice. “And she won’t so much as lift a finger.”

Noah and Liam both nodded their agreement with Max’s statement.

Movement behind Adam and Ryan made Noah’s gaze veer in that direction. Liam’s parents had come to stand just behind the assembled group and were listening as the others spoke.

“Then I’ll have her moved to a private room so she can rest overnight. If all looks well in the morning, the on-call doctor will see her when he makes rounds and he’ll discharge her.”

Noah extended his hand. “Thank you.”

The doctor shook Noah’s hand and nodded at the others. “We’ll get her up to a room as soon as possible.”

When the doctor turned to leave, Noah motioned for Lisa and Carl Prescott to move forward. He introduced them to Max and the Colters and saw Lisa’s eyes widen when the Colter familial situation was explained.

“Is Lauren all right?” Lisa asked after pleasantries were exchanged.

Liam sighed. “No. Not really. But then she shouldn’t be expected to be all right. She was kidnapped by a monster and subjected to God knows what.”

“She will be, though,” Noah said with determination. “Liam and I are going to take her back to Colorado. Home.”

Noah saw the knowledge in Liam’s mother’s eyes. To her credit she didn’t argue or try to persuade them differently. Her face softened, as only the love of a mother can soften a woman’s face.

“I know you’ll both take good care of her.”

Carl stepped forward. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let us know. And, Liam, don’t forget in all of this to take care of yourself as well. Your mother worries about both of you. A bullet wound is no small thing so don’t treat it as such.”

“I will, Dad,” Liam said as he was pulled into his mom’s arms.

Lisa pulled Noah closer until she stood between the two men she called her sons. The Colters and Max had discreetly moved farther down the hall, affording Liam and his parents privacy.

“When she’s better, I’d like you to bring her to visit and to meet us,” Lisa said in a low voice. “I don’t want to burden her right now and I think it better if we leave. I just wanted to be sure you were okay, Liam.”

“We’d like that,” Noah said. “I think Lauren would like it too.”

Liam nodded his agreement. “As soon as she’s up to it, we’ll bring her for a visit. Promise.”

“Good enough,” Carl said.

Liam’s father pulled Liam into a bone-crushing hug and then did the same to Noah. Noah winced. Liam got his size and build from his father. Carl Prescott was no slouch at sixty years old. He was a former mixed martial arts fighter and had served in the Marines before going to work in the paper mill he’d retired from. Even so, it was amusing to see that Lisa Prescott had the big man in the palm of her hand.

This was what Noah wanted. He wanted what Liam’s parents had. He wanted what the Colters had. He wanted Lauren and her love, and wanted to shower her with his love and devotion so that one day their children could look at them and think that they wanted the same.

“We’ll let you two get back to her,” Carl said in a gruff tone. “Call us when you get back to Colorado and let us know how things are going. Your mother will worry if she doesn’t hear from you.”

“Will do, Dad. Love you,” Liam said.

“Love you too, son. Both of you.”

Lisa kissed them both and gave them one last hug before she and Carl headed down the hallway toward the exit.

Liam turned to Noah, blowing out his breath. “Well. That went a little better than I thought it might.”