Page 123 of Ruin

Hayden opens the back door for me, and I lay her down, and get in slamming the door shut, Hayden gets in and speeds off.

My finger moves to her neck feeling the pulse against my fingers, it’s getting weaker, I close my eyes and shake my head. “Come on Trixie, fight. I found you, I know I was late, and I will spend every day making it up to you, but you need to fight for me.” I whisper, not moving my fingers, needing to feel the beat against my fingers. Because it’s the only thing helping me to keep going, knowing there is hope and that she is fighting. The moment the beat stops, it means she’s given up. Given up on me.

* * *

Hayden parks and opens the back door, and he picks up Trixie into his arms. I run in front of him and open the door, and he takes her to the couch. As I walk toward the couch, I watch Hayden put her down. Doc is moving to her, and I stand at the side of the couch. Lileah walks over to me and wraps her arms around me. I hug her back knowing she’s okay now, but my eyes are locked on Trixie at the moment.

“Declan your ble-”

“Not my blood,” I cut Lileah off before she worries about me. “Doc?” I question. Silence, give me something, fucking anything.

“Let him do his job,” Cain tells me. I didn’t even notice him in the room. I glance over to him and see Autumn and Lincoln are here, too. He looks better than he was before.

“Declan I’m sorry.” Lincoln walks over to me.

“For what? He outplayed us, and you were outnumbered. This isn’t your fault, you tried, I can’t be pissed off about it.” I turn back to Doc. “You’re not saying anything,” I shout at him, and he places his finger on her neck then looks at his watch. “Fucking hell.” I kick the couch and walk away. Fucking silent treatment.

“Declan.” I look behind me and take a deep breath in.

“Mom.” She wraps her arm around me, and I wrap mine tighter around her.

“She needs you to be strong, she will fight through this.” Mom rubs my back then pulls me away from her, but I don't let go, I just need to hug her a little longer. They’ve come back from their trip early, and I don’t care, because when your heart is breaking slowly, there is nothing better than hugging your mom.

“I’ll stitch her up, give her some fluids, she doesn't look like she’s had any drugs in her system. Her pulse is weak, but I think that’s from the loss of blood, and lack of water. Once her body has recovered, she will be awake. Nothing to wor-”

“Nothing to fucking worry about.” I turn to face Doc. “You have to be smoking something; she was with him for over a day. He has raped her more than fucking once-” I stop talking when Cain stands in front of me. “Cain, that crazy fucker wouldn’t have used anything.”

“We know,” his voice is low and soft. “We know Doc will take blood from her and test it. If anything comes out of it, he will fix it. In three weeks he will do another test, and then you two can go from there.” Cain keeps his voice low and soft, trying to calm me down, and I look over at Trixie.

I know for a fact if she is pregnant from the bastard, she won’t keep it, and I don’t blame her. She would never have a reminder of what Robert did to her.

“Take her to the room over there, then Doc can get everything set up for her.” Cain takes a step to the side for me to get to Trixie, and I give him a nod.

I should have known the family thought of everything, my head is in a clouded space, and I’m not thinking straight.

“I’ve got the bedroom ready,” I hear mom behind me, as I kneel moving some of Trixie's hair.

“You want to wake up, and put me out of this misery.” I give her a gentle kiss, then pick her up.

When she wakes up, there is no way she will ever leave my side. Laying her on the bed, I stay kneeled by the side of the bed, and look at the cuff mark on her wrist, it has cut her skin from her fighting against them. Closing my eyes I take a deep breath, trying to keep my anger down as much as I can.

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I open them and look up. “Dad,” I whisper, not sure why.

“Here.” He hands me a key, and I take the handcuffs off her. “Got yourself a pretty one, how?” Dad jokes, and I let out a small chuckle.

“I have no idea after what I did to her. But she gave me a chance. I’m one lucky man.” I glance over at Doc working on getting the fluids into Trixie. “I let her down, I didn't protect her from him.”

“Declan, you can’t blame yourself for this.” Dad sits down on the end of the bed next to me. “This was no one's fault, it was a man willing to do anything to make sure you suffered. Once she wakes up, you’ll be there for her, and will show her every day how much she means to you.”

“I will.” I lean closer to her, and kiss her check, and stand up as Doc finishes.

“Her body will recover, the stitches will heal, physically she will slowly get back to herself, mentally you will need to be there for her.” I give Doc a nod, and he leaves the room.

“Declan, go shower, clean up. We’re here to look over her.” Dad pushes me out of the room, probably because he knows I would say no, but now I don’t have a choice.

I look over his shoulder at my beautiful sleeping beauty, but a kiss isn’t waking her up.

THIRTY-SEVEN

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