Page 54 of Shattered
Honestly, how could I forget about my boy? I ran to the room in which Flynn was to make sure he was still okay. I was never more proud of my son. There he was, sitting in the middle of the bed with the earphones still on his ears and his eyes trained on the screen in front of him.
Tears spilled from my eyes as I rushed to him, hugging him so furiously that the earphones slipped off his head. "We'll be going home soon," I promised. "Mommy needs you to wait here just a bit longer, okay?" I cupped his little face in my palms and tenderly kissed his forehead. "I'm so proud of you, my brave little man."
Once the earphones were back on Flynn's ears, I retraced my steps back to the living room; back to the man I loved.
"He's fine," I jerked my head toward the hallway. "Safely tucked away in one of the backrooms."
For the second time, I saw his features relax as relief spread through him. Maybe it was stupid to be making conversation with Drew passed out just a few feet away and Logan in obvious pain, but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to leave his side, not even to find a phone.
"How did you find us?"
Again his lips curled into as big a smile as he could manage. "Told ya, Sugar-"cough, cough. "-two steps behind you. Always."
Just then I heard the crunch of tires over twigs and car doors slamming shut, followed by what sounded like hurried footsteps. My heart started up again as I stared at the open front door of the cabin. I honestly didn't know who or what I was expecting but it definitely wasn't Sheriff Jackson—with his weapon drawn—and Daisy Jackson not far behind.
"Heavens," Logan's mom pushed past her eldest son and rushed over to me and Logan. Over her shoulder, I saw Eli holster his weapon and check on Drew. Daisy dropped to her knees ran her hands over her son's body before kissing him. Then she hugged me tight. She held on for what felt like minutes, but in reality were just a few seconds, before she pulled back a little. "Are you hurt, child?"
Apparently, I still hadn't cried enough because thick, hot tears slid down my face again as I shook my head. "I'm fine," I sniffled and then looked at Logan. "He needs an ambulance, though."
Daisy smoothed her hands over my hair a couple of times before palming my cheeks, "They'll be here soon." Her gray head swiveled as she scanned the disorderly space. "Where's little Flynn?"
"He's-"
"She shot me!" An irate Drew spat. His face was red and the bulging veins in his neck looked they were going to burst any second. "The little bi-" His tirade was cut short when Eli's fist connected with his jaw.
My eyes were huge and my jaw slack when all I could do was stare at the oldest Jackson brother. With a slight lift of his shoulder, he said, "He was yapping too much."
In total disbelief, I shook my head and laughed. Clearly, my emotions were all over the place. It wasn't long before we heard the distinct sound of the ambulance arriving. After I told Daisy where Flynn was, she promised to take my boy home while I went to the hospital with Logan.
While the doctors worked on him, I was being checked out in the emergency room. I hadn't even noticed the cuts on my feet until the nurse started tending to them. There was a small laceration on my forehead and a few bruises on my body too. I didn't mind any of them because I knew that not only was Drew never going to hurt me again but this time I actually fought back.
With a small smile, the nurse turned to pull back the curtain just to be startled when she came face to face with Lizzy and Chase.
My friend wasted no time, she side-stepped the nurse and beelined to where I was sitting on the bed, wrapping me up in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry, Harper. I didn't know." She mumbled into my hair.
I aimed my frown at Chase who was standing a few feet away. He just shrugged and shook his head. "Didn't know what?" I finally asked.
Lizzy let go of me and jumped off the bed before she started pacing, refusing to make eye contact. "The mystery man I was seeing…well…" she stopped pacing and gave me a pained look. "It was…Drew…Harper, I swear, I didn't know."
If my friend thought that I would blame her or be angry with her, she was dead wrong. "Liz," I said. "None of this is your fault." With a sob and a nod of her head, Lizzy wrapped her arms around me again.
"I don't mean to interrupt," The nurse was back. "Mr. Jackson is asking for you."
I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips. After a quick goodbye hug from both Lizzy and Chase, I followed the nurse as she led me to where Logan was. My pulse started to race when we entered the room and I spotted him sitting on the bed with his arm in a sling.
The fact that he'd been in a fight was evident by the bruises on his face. But even with a black eye and a busted lip, he was still the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. The way his eyes smiled along with his mouth when he saw me standing there felt like a tender touch to my heart.
The nurse gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze, "I'll give you guys a minute." With that, she silently left and closed the door behind her.
Logan beckoned me by scooting to the edge of the bed and patting the empty space beside him. I went without hesitation but instead of sitting down I chose to stand in front him. Unhurried, I lifted my fingers to the small patch on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry I shot you."
Gripping my fingers in his, he dragged my hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to my palm. "Sugar, this pain is nothing compared to the pain I'd feel in my heart if I ever lost you and Flynn."
The stinging behind my eyes warned me that those, stupid, tears were threatening to make their appearance again. I had to swallow several times before the lump in my throat went away. "We're not going anywhere."
Logan wrapped me up in his arms and pulled me to his chest. Standing there in his embrace, I knew without a doubt, not only was I safe, I was home too.
