Page 6 of Dominate
He cuts me a warning glance. “I would know if my son was married. This conversation is over. I have a jet on standby, and we’re bringing him back to London. He can recover at home with me.”
“No!” I bark, squeezing my hands on the railing as hard as I can. I feel so overwhelmingly protective of Gareth in this moment that I can hardly stand the determination searing through my veins. “You’re not taking him. Who do you think you are?”
“I beg your pardon.” Vaughn narrows his eyes at me, then looks over at Vi for support. Vi continues to wither under his stare, which completely confuses me because she had no problem stepping up to me in the bathroom at the gala.
But he can stare me down all he wants. I may not be Gareth’s wife, or girlfriend, or even friend with benefits right now because we haven’t had a chance to discuss our situation, but I know what’s best for him. I’ve been here. I’ve been in his life. And Vaughn’s not taking Gareth away from me before we’ve gotten started.
I pull my shoulders back and push my chest out, lifting my chin high to show all the confidence I’m barely holding onto right now. “You can’t just march in here and take Gareth away to London. Manchester is his home. His house and his life are here. You couldn’t even be there for his award tonight—a truly amazing achievement he has worked so hard for. You don’t get to waltz in here now and play caring father. That’s not how being a parent works!”
“Oh, and I suppose you know so much about being a parent,” he snarls at me, his cold eyes severe on mine.
“I do!” I nearly roar, my body leaning over the bed to challenge Vaughn. “I have a daughter who is my entire world. And if she was unconscious in a hospital, I would damn well hope someone like me would put her health as top priority and not your level of comfort because you’re in a city you’re terrified of for some unknown reason!”
Vaughn’s eyes are lethal on mine as we have a stare-down over Gareth’s hospital bed. It’s dead silent and when a familiar voice cuts in, I think I might be dreaming.
“Did you just dom my dad, Treacle?” Gareth’s voice croaks from below.
My eyes fall down on him as a rush of emotions shoot through my entire body. His stunning hazel eyes flutter open to look up at me, and I swear my heart could burst out of my chest. “Oh my God, Gareth!” I exclaim with a sob, dropping down over top of him and grasping his face in my hands. “You’re awake.”
“Of course I’m awake. Fuck, there’s no way I could have slept through you two rowing like that.”
I laugh awkwardly and run my fingers over his whiskered jaw, taking in the furrow of his brow and his pale complexion pinking up in front of me.
“Why the tears?” he murmurs, lifting his hand and swiping his thumb across the paths of liquid running down my face.
“I don’t like you unconscious,” I reply stupidly because it’s all I can think to say.
“Well, I’ll try not to do it again in the future.” Gareth’s eyes narrow as he takes in the welt on my cheekbone. “Fuuuck, Tre. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I croak, holding back a small sob. “I’m fine because you’re fine.”
“You don’t look fine,” he replies through clenched teeth and reaches out to touch my cheek again. “God, what the bloody hell happened? I remember walking up to my house, but everything is fuzzy after that. Who did this to you?”
“We were attacked, Gareth,” I state quietly, the heaviness of what’s happened to us barrelling in on me full force. “Someone broke into your house and we were both attacked, but I’m okay.”
“Fuck me,” he growls as he slowly sits up while the doctor presses his stethoscope to his chest. Gareth shakes his head slowly and looks over at his brothers, who suddenly seem a bit taller now that their brother is conscious again. “I’m going to murder whoever—”
I press my fingers over his dry lips and shush him as the doctor steps back and reaches for the chart at the bottom of the bed. “Calm down, Gareth. The police don’t know who did it yet. We can talk about everything later. I’m just so glad you’re awake and talking. And that you didn’t get amnesia and forget who I am.”
Gareth’s angry eyes soften at my small attempt at a joke. He cups my face again, stroking his thumb over my cheek. “I could never forget my wife,” he states with a tiny grin.
I drop my face onto his chest with mortification. “This is really awkward.”
He runs his hand down the back of my head and his chest vibrates with his voice. “I must be concussed because I’m certain I would never forget marrying you.”
I look back up at him and expect to see teasing in his eyes, but I don’t see that at all. I see…determination. Stone-cold, determination.
Suddenly, Dr. Howard clears his throat behind me, and I straighten to see Gareth’s entire family watching us. They’re all sort of staring agog, as if what they’ve just witnessed between us was something they’ve never seen before.
Dr. Howard moves past me with his flashlight to check Gareth’s eyes while his brothers step forward and touch his feet under the blanket.
“Glad to see you awake, Gareth,” Booker says quietly with a shy smile.
“You’ve looked better,” Camden adds with a lopsided smile.
Tanner chimes in, “Yeah, thanks for not getting dead on us, big bro.”
“Pupils are good. I’m just going to check your pulse here.” Dr. Howard grabs Gareth’s wrist and stares down at his watch.
