Page 66 of For Love & Torture
Chapter 29
Grant
She said yes!
Kissing her again, I feel the connection we share and know we can only get closer. I’ve never known anything as profoundly as I know that this woman is the one for me.
After making sure the house is locked up tight and all the windows are closed, we leave the house my parents made their home. I know it can’t be left as a shrine to their marriage and our upbringing any longer. It deserves a nice family to bring life to it again.
Taking my fiancée by the hand, I lead her out to the car. Of course, I grabbed one of Mom’s old robes to cover her with before we left, as the dress she’s wearing barely covers anything, and anyone who might be out and about this late would’ve caught a glimpse of her in a bra and panties.
“I want to do it at the Halloween Ball. I want everyone to know about us. What do you think about that, Bell?” I ask as I watch her reaction.
I’m not a hundred percent sure she’ll want that, but the smile that covers her gorgeous face tells me she does like it. “I think that would be fantastic, Grant!”
“That way everyone will know it’s me and you baby. No more hiding. And that will show everyone that you are respectable and I’m going to be respectable just like you. You’ve changed my life. You’ve changed me.” I take her hand and kiss it before pulling out of the drive to head back home. Back to the place this woman really belongs.
“We should sell my house, Grant. There’s really no reason to keep it. Let someone else enjoy the massive space the club bought for me.”
“I bought that for you. I know I let you think it was the club, but it was me. I bought you that and the car, the clothes, the jewelry. I wanted to give you more than that, but at the time, I couldn’t.” I turn out of the subdivision and head to the highway. “I need to ask you this, but I don’t want to scare you. Do you think Bart will be able to find you again? I mean, I know we can keep him out of the club, and I’ll make sure to set the security system at the house, but will that be enough?”
I see her eyes close and her head drop in defeat, and it kills me. “I can’t know for certain. He said his master wants my blood. I don’t know if he has the power to deny whoever the hell his master is.”
“What is this guy?” I ask, perplexed by it all.
“I don’t know. I can’t pinpoint him. I know he made me drink his blood several times.”
My stomach clenches. “He did what? God, baby. I’m taking you to a hospital. You’ve got to be checked out. God only knows what the hell you may have been given.”
Changing directions, I head to Providence Portland Medical Center. I will not be taking any chances with her. Never again.
“Grant, I think I’m fine,” she tries to argue.
“No, ma’am. I’m sure you feel elated to be free of that man, but if he made you eat or drink anything… well, you know. We have to make sure you’re one hundred percent okay and get the help we need to make that happen.” I take her hand and hold it as I head towards the hospital.
“If they make me stay, will you promise not to leave me?” she asks. As if I’d ever leave her side.
“Baby, I’m glued to you. You won’t leave my sight. And I’m going to employ a demonologist, an exorcist, a psychic, whatever I need to, to get this thing off your back. Bart Mason, or whatever his real name is, will never bother you again.” Kissing her hand once more, I give her my most commanding smile. “If I have to get a bunch of silver bullets or a few stakes and a hammer then I will. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Don’t you worry about a thing. And I’ll never leave you alone until we know for sure that thing can’t get to you.”
Laying her head back on the headrest, I see the relief flooding her. Her body is less tense as her eyes close. “Thank God for you, Grant Jamison. Thank God for you and for your sweet mother.”
“I can’t wait for you to meet my father. He’s going to come live at our place. I’m going to hire nurses to care for him. Not that he physically needs anyone, but I want to be sure he knows he’s being taken care of.” Patting her shoulder, I wink at her. “I’ll need your expertise in hiring them of course.”
She laughs quietly. “And I will give you that, of course.”
The exit for the hospital comes up, and I take it. Pulling into the parking lot of the emergency room, I’m happy to see there are only a few cars here.
“I’m so tired,” she whines. “I just want to go home and sleep in your arms for the next few days.”
“And I just want to make sure you don’t have anything creepy running through your veins. Now come on.” A horrific notion of someone snatching her up fills me, prompting me to add, “Let me help you out of the car. I want to make sure you’re okay every step of the way.”
I can see I’m going to be more than a bit over-protective of her.
Helping her out of the car, I wrap my arms around her and hold her as close to me as I can. When we go inside we find it dead quiet, as no one is in the lobby.
“Wow, that’s weird.” She looks around then her eyes go wide. “Grant, am I really here? Pinch me, please.”
“What? I’m not going to pinch you. You’re really here.” I chuckle then stop as she hits me in the chest really hard. “Ow…” I give her a look that says, ‘what the fuck?’
