Page 52 of The Black Wife Blessing

"I know what the doctor said. I was there." I shift on the edge of the hospital bed, wincing as my bruised ribs protest.

Henry immediately abandons the paperwork and is at my side. "What hurts? Should I call the nurse back?"

"I'm fine. Just sore." I squeeze his hand. "Really."

His blue eyes search mine, looking for any sign I'm downplaying my pain. "The car is waiting downstairs. I've already had your prescriptions filled."

A nurse wheels in a wheelchair, and Henry helps me into it despite my protests that I can manage. His hands are gentle but firm on my waist, careful to avoid my injuries.

"Mrs. Blackwood, here are your discharge instructions." The nurse hands me a folder of papers. "And your crutches are in the car as requested, Mr. Blackwood."

It still gives me a little jolt hearing myself called that. Mrs. Blackwood. Fake wife to a man who's becoming increasingly real to me.

Outside, Henry helps me into the back of a sleek black SUV. He slides in beside me, immediately adjusting pillows behind my back and placing a blanket over my legs.

"Henry, I'm not an invalid."

"Humor me." He tucks the blanket around my legs. "I've never had someone I care about get hurt like this before."

The simple admission steals my breath more effectively than my bruised ribs. Someone I care about. The words hang between us.

"I've arranged for a nurse to check on you daily," he continues, "and I've cleared my schedule for the next week."

"You what? Henry, you can't put your life on hold?—"

"Watch me." His hand finds mine, fingers intertwining. "I'm not leaving you alone, Monica. Besides," he adds with a hint of that smile that makes my stomach flip. "Who else is going to make sure you actually follow doctor's orders?"

The city blurs past the car window as we head toward our building. Henry takes my hand in his, giving me a gentle squeeze.

"We got him, Monica." Henry's voice pulls me from my thoughts "Leo, Aston, and I were there when they took Benjamin away."

I turn to face him, my heart suddenly racing. "What? When?"

"A few days ago." Henry's eyes are bright with satisfaction. "The police picked him up at his apartment in East Harlem. Three squad cars. They didn't take any chances."

The image of Benjamin being led away in handcuffs hits me like a physical force. After years of him making me feel powerless, the tables have finally turned.

"You should've seen his face," Henry continues, a hard edge to his voice I rarely hear. "All that smug confidence gone in an instant when they slapped those cuffs on him."

"You three went there? That was dangerous, Henry." Despite my words, gratitude warms me from the inside out.

He shrugs. "We stayed back. Leo called in some favors to make sure we'd know when they were making the arrest. The evidence was overwhelming once the police saw the brake line and matched it with the security footage from the parking lot."

"So it's really over?" My voice sounds small even to my own ears.

Henry shifts closer, his arm sliding around my shoulders. "The DA's office is going to throw the whole book at him. Attempted murder, stalking, harassment, property damage. He's going away for a very long time."

I lean into Henry's warmth, letting the reality sink in. Benjamin can't hurt me anymore. The relief is so intense it brings tears to my eyes.

"Hey," Henry says softly, brushing a tear from my cheek. "It's done. You're safe now."

I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. For the first time in what feels like forever, I believe it might be true.

The car pulls up to our building, and Henry's out before I can even reach for the door handle. He circles around and opens my door, leaning in with an outstretched hand.

"Easy does it," he says, helping me slide across the seat.

I grip his forearm, wincing as I put weight on my good leg. The crutches are awkward, and I'm already dreading the stairs and elevator.

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