Chapter 27 Astrong, rhythmic beeping pulsed between Indie's ears. She squeezed her eyes shut. Where was she? And what was that sterile smell? A deep ache in her head made her want to groan. But it wasn't just the ache that bothered her. Her head felt heavy and foggy, and even with her eyes closed, the world was spinning. Then she became aware of something else. A warmth wrapped around her hand. Fingers. Familiar fingers. Colt. She forced her eyes open, needing to see him. To understand what was going on. His dark hair was the first thing to enter her vision. His head was down, so she couldn't see his eyes, but the tension in his shoulders was obvious. "What happened?" His head shot up, eyes flaring. "Cricket! You're awake." "Yeah." She turned to take in the room. "I'm in the hospital." "Do you remember anything?" She frowned. "We got home from Aunt Pam's. I went into the bedroom. And..." She gasped, her eyes flashing back to Colt. "Gordon!" The frustration on his face shifted to something darker. Something that made him look irrefutably dangerous. "He grabbed you. Put a knife to your throat." "I shot him in the foot." Just the smallest hint of a smile twitched at his lips. "Yeah, you did good." "What happened next?" "I disabled him. He's here, in the hospital. You're safe." Gordon was in the hospital. They had him. "So he won't be able to come after us again?" "After shooting a deputy and Ben, attacking Mom, and then everything that happened tonight, he won't be out for a while." Relief hit her so hard that tears filled her eyes. "Thank God." Colt stroked the back of her hand. "I'm sorry." "Why are you sorry?" "It's because of me that he attacked you. Because you're my wife." "No. It's because of him that he attacked me. You didn't ask for any of this." "But if you weren't married to me-" "I am. And there is nowhere else in the world I'd rather be than by your side." For a second, his gaze bore into hers, and even though she tried, she couldn't figure out what he was thinking. Then he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "I love you." "It can't be as much as I love you." He chuckled, like it was a joke. A knock sounded at the door, and a woman wearing a white lab coat, who had wisps of gray in her hair, stepped into the room. She smiled warmly. "Hi. Is this an okay time?" "Of course," Indie nodded. The woman stopped at the end of the bed. "I'm Doctor Frankie. I've already met your husband, but it's nice to officially meet you, Mrs. Reed." "You too." The doctor pushed her glasses up her nose. "Do you remember how you got here?" "Bits and pieces. I know I was shoved against a doorframe." "That's correct. You had a concussion, which caused you to lose consciousness, and that's why we've been monitoring you. We've done a CT scan, and there's no sign of internal bleeding or serious trauma, which is great news." Indie nodded, but that little movement caused a flicker of pain in her head. She cringed. Colt noticed and his fingers tightened around her hand. "You're probably feeling a bit groggy," the doctor continued. "Maybe nauseous with a headache. That's all normal after a head injury." "Okay." "And the baby's fine." Air stalled in Indie's lungs, those four words hanging in the air, suspended, like they weren't meant for her. For a moment there was silence. A heavy silence that no one seemed to want to break. It was Colt who asked the question. "She's pregnant?" "Yes." The doctor frowned slightly and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I thought you knew." Indie forced herself to breathe before asking, "Are you sure?" "Very. Your beta HCG levels are strong. At least six weeks." Tears gathered in Indie's eyes. "I'm pregnant." The words almost felt too big and heavy for her to hold. She turned to look at Colt. "We're having a baby." Colt's face was a mixture of relief and happiness and shock all merged together. "We're having a baby," he repeated quietly, his eyes locked on hers. The doctor continued to talk. Indie caught some words, like rest and monitoring and symptoms. But most of it was a blur. After years of trying. Years of invasive procedures, blood draws, hormone crashes, and hope that grew, only to shatter, she finally heard the words she'd longed to hear. When the doctor left the room, Colt looked down at her, and there was so much love in his eyes. He was the father of her child. The love of her life. And they were having a baby together. Gently, he set a hand over her stomach before lowering his head and kissing her belly. The small action made more tears gather. This was all she'd wanted for so long. When he lifted his head, he looked at her again. "What are you feeling?" "Happy. God...happiness barely touches the surface of what I feel. But I'm also scared. So much can happen during a pregnancy. I don't think I'll feel safe until I'm holding our baby in my arms." He cupped her cheek. "We'll handle anything that's thrown our way together." "Thank you." He leaned forward, his lips hovering over hers. "You don't need to thank me for loving you." Then he closed the last bit of distance between them and kissed her. At the feel of his lips against her, some of that fear dissipated, and the familiar safety Colt invoked returned. Colt held Indie as she slept, the TV a quiet drone in the background. They were on the couch and had gotten home from the hospital less than an hour ago. Noah had fixed the lock for the window in the bedroom, but he was still on high alert. She hadn't said it, but she'd been hesitant to go into the bedroom. He'd suggested a movie, knowing full well she wouldn't last very long. Hell, it had been almost midnight when they'd gotten home. She'd held out for the first five minutes before falling asleep on him. He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek, a tightness clutching at his lungs when he surveyed the wound on her temple. At the memory of her unconscious on the floor and the panic that had spread through his limbs like wildfire. And all while she was pregnant. The sudden urge to get up and go to the hospital, find his father, and make sure he never hurt Indie again was strong. He wouldn't. Indie needed him with her. But the fucker would go to jail, and if he ever got out, Colt would personally make sure he went right back in. He grabbed the remote and turned off the show. He wasn't even sure what they'd put on. Some romantic comedy on Netflix. Indie had sent a questioning glance his way when he'd chosen it, but she loved that sort of stuff. Besides, it hadn't mattered what they watched, he'd just wanted to hold her. Place a hand on her belly and imagine it swelling with their baby. Gently, he slipped his arms behind her back and knees and lifted her into his chest. Her soft hum made him want to hold her closer. Tighter. But then, Indie had always had a way of making every primal, protective instinct in him come to life. In the bedroom, he laid her beneath the sheets. Her eyes fluttered open, and a small smile stretched her lips before she whispered, "Hey." "Hey, Cricket." He lowered to the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?" "Like I hit a doorframe with my head." A small growl vibrated from his chest. "I'm sorry." "Don't do that. This wasn't on you." She swallowed. "Today was crappy. Tomorrow will be better." "I hope so." "I know so." He lowered his head and kissed her temple. "Sleep. I'm just going to make sure everything's locked up." Her eyes fluttered closed. "Don't take long." "Nothing can keep me away from you for long." He meant that. He loved her too much to lose her. He waited for her breathing to even out before stepping out of the room and texting Jesse. Colt: You've got eyes on Gordon, right? Jesse: I do. He just got out of surgery for his foot. He'll probably be in for another couple of days, maybe longer. Colt's jaw clenched. He wanted the man locked up, and he wanted him locked up today. Jesse: As I mentioned at the hospital, he has a deputy stationed at his door and is cuffed to the bed. He's not going anywhere. So why did Colt have a pit in his gut? Because today he'd seen Indie with a knife pressed to her skin, and it was something he'd take a long time recovering from. Colt: Thanks. He'd just finished locking up the house when his cell rang, his mother's name on the screen. For a second, he considered not answering. But it was late. Really damn late. If she was calling, it had to be important. "Hey, Mom." "Colt, Ben just woke me up to tell me they have Gordon, but you were attacked?" He'd called Ben just so he was aware of what had happened. "Indie was attacked. But she's okay. We both are." "Thank God! I was so worried." "He has a deputy on him now, and the second he's out of the hospital, he'll be locked up." "What a relief." Emotion clogged his mother's voice. "How are you doing?" "I'm okay. Bruising's almost gone and the broken ribs and other injuries hurt less every day." "That's good. Ben said he was doing well when I called." His mother scoffed. "He's acting like nothing happened. I caught him trying to lift a dresser yesterday. Honestly, if I don't chain that man to a bed, he doesn't rest. It's like he forgets he was shot." A small smile tugged at Colt's mouth. "Sounds like Ben." "Can I come visit tomorrow? I'd love to see you." "You mean us." There was a small pause. "Yes. Well, of course." He shook his head. She still didn't get it. And at this stage, if she didn't get it, she never would. "Mom, it will always be us. It's been us since we started dating in high school." "I know. I-" "No. I don't think you do know. I appreciate you checking in, but as I've said before, I need minimal contact right now." "Colt-" "Indie will need to rest tomorrow anyway. I'll try to stop by in the next week or so. I'm glad Gordon's in the hands of the police so we can all be safe now." Then he hung up and leaned his head back, the frustration tugging at every part of him. He loved his mother. What they'd gone through together at the hands of his father had created a bond he'd thought was unbreakable. And his mother had given him the best life after Gordon was gone. It was probably why this hurt so much. Because he'd expected more from her. When the lights were off, he moved back to the bedroom to see Indie curled into a ball on her side of the bed. Damn, she was beautiful. Every time he looked at her, he was reminded that she held his heart in the palm of her hand. He stripped down to his briefs and climbed into the other side. Then he slipped an arm around her waist and tucked her close. She sighed and nestled closer. This. Her. It was everything he'd craved the last year. It was all he needed. All he'd ever needed. And he would do whatever it took to protect her, body and soul.