The Gilded Cuff (30 page)

Emery bent and grabbed Antonio’s shirt and yanked him up, shaking him.

“Who wants me dead?” He shook the man again, but his head fell back and a slow gasping breath escaped him before he went limp and his eyes clouded over.

Emery released the body and turned around. Sophie had crawled over to Hans, leaving a thick trail of blood behind her. She still clutched her side. Emery started toward her, his heart hammering. When Sophie reached Hans, she turned his body over. The bodyguard jerked and sucked in a breath.

Sophie screeched and fell back. Hans pushed up on his elbows and then with a groan sat all the way up. He looked around blearily then ripped his buttoned shirt down the front, exposing the Kevlar vest he wore. A small bullet was embedded deep into the vest.

“Damn it, I think I broke a few ribs. Don’t tell me it knocked me out?” His face turned a ruddy shade as he looked around and saw Emery next to Antonio’s body. “What happened?”

“He’s dead.”

“I can see that,” Hans said, but then froze as he seemed to suffer a wave of pain. “This is going to be fun to recover from,” he muttered.

Emery was so relieved he couldn’t think past seeing Hans alive and breathing. He hadn’t realized until now just how much the man had come to matter to him. In the frenzy of the fight, he’d been battling his own fears and worries for Sophie and Hans.

“Sophie, what happened to you?” Hans’s question jerked Emery’s focus back. Sophie blinked, her eyes glassy.

“She was stabbed. We’ve got to get her to the hospital,” Emery’s words escaped his mouth in a breathless rush as he ran in her direction. She was losing blood…and she didn’t look good. He knew how serious knife wounds were. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.

She tried to stand, but her knees trembled and knocked together like a shaky newborn foal. “I got shot too…when you were fighting…” Her hand dropped to her lower abdomen and she winced.

“Shot?” Both Emery and Hans were running to her as they repeated the word.

“Yeah…it doesn’t hurt, though…” She collapsed right into Emery’s arms.

F
unny, she thought being shot would have been more of an event. But she’d not really felt it after the bullet had entered her and exploded out the back. The snap and burn as it impacted and exited her had left her panting for breath, but now a heavy ache filled her abdomen. Part of her knew it was bad…really bad, but she was so tired and couldn’t’ seem to think clearly.

“Sophie! Hey! Don’t you dare shut your eyes!” Emery was shouting at her, but he sounded so far away, as though across a large field. His voice was drifting in and out as though a breeze teased it and she could only hear every other word. Her eyes swung up to his and she managed a weak smile. He was so beautiful, her sad, tragic love. A fierce wave of longing swept through her with the power of a vast wave crashing on a rocky shore. She wanted to stay awake, to gaze at him forever. She couldn’t look away, but her eyelids were so heavy…

“Can’t I just sleep a little? I’m so tired,” she murmured dreamily.

Warmth was flowing into her from wherever his body touched hers. She liked it when he held her in his arms; she felt safe, protected, loved. She didn’t have to be brave or strong, she could just be Sophie Ryder, a woman in love with a man. She didn’t have to be anything else. Her head was too heavy now and she let it fall back. The world spun around her, moonlight in her vision like creamy streaks across the darkness. Heavy blackness descended, blurring the corners of her vision.

Pain spread through her with the force of a wildfire, so unexpected that she gasped a violent breath. Everything within her, around her, seemed to be slipping away. She clung to the world, the place she was, wherever it was, fighting to stay.

Suddenly above her the sky exploded with light. Sparkling fireworks burst in dazzling patterns, lighting up the dark blue expanse above. The shimmering sparks trickled down through the air, fading away into smoky outlines. A tiny hand slipped into hers, warm and familiar.

“My dad bought us sparklers, Sophie.” The little girl’s voice broke Sophie’s heart. The world around her rumbled and shook as emotions within her echoed the earth’s pain.

Rachel.

Another firework lit the sky and Sophie turned to stare down at the bright-eyed child, the best friend she’d lost all those years ago. Her cheeks were glowing a healthy pink, and when she smiled, she revealed one little dimple. They were both seated on top of a small hill overlooking a field full of other people stretched out on picnic blankets, watching the fireworks.

“Rachel,” she whispered, the name as soft as a prayer spoken at midnight.

The little girl beamed up at her. “We’ve got sparklers, bottle rockets and a fountain!” The joy on her face made Sophie’s heart clench. It was like finding an old photograph of someone you’d loved and lost, and seeing them smile, frozen in that one moment when their smile was genuine and their happiness was true. Sophie had left every photo of Rachel behind at her parents’ home. She’d never been able to look at one without it killing her inside.

“Where are we, Rachel?” she asked as Rachel pointed a delicate finger up at the sky just as another explosion and an answering pop and crackle signaled more fireworks.

“We’re home.” Rachel gave a little unconcerned shrug.

“Home?”

The girl smiled at her. “You know that place, when you’re just about to fall asleep and you feel yourself slipping away…that’s where we are.”

The tip of a sparkler burst into fiery bloom and a wash of silver sparks filled the air. Rachel’s brown eyes were dark but they reflected the sparkler, making her eyes look like a pair of topaz gemstones.

It was all so familiar.

“Fourth of July,” Sophie murmured. It had to be. Rachel held out a sparkler to her and she took it.

“Rachel…”

“Yeah?” Rachel lit a bottle rocket and fired it into the heavens.

“Rachel, am I dead?”

Her little eyes filled with sorrow. It was the sort of expression only a child was capable of. They understood loss so differently than adults. Their sorrow was more pure, untainted by bitterness and memories painted in shades of gray.

“You’re not dead yet. I asked…I asked if I could come to you. They let me.”

“They? Who—”

Rachel squeezed her hand. “I miss you, Sophie, but you can’t come with me, not yet. Do you understand?” The little girl, still only seven years old, had a face full of love and peace. She tugged Sophie’s hand, urging her to lean over so they could hug. Rachel was so small. Sophie had almost forgotten what it had been like to be that tiny. She curled her arms around her friend and squeezed her tight, wishing that Rachel could feel every emotion, every thought she’d ever had about her as the years had passed.

“Rachel…” Her throat constricted and she sucked in a ragged breath. I’m so sorry about everything. I couldn’t catch him…” Tears filled her eyes and she could barely see so she dragged the back of her hand over them to wipe away the tears.

“What happened then…” Rachel’s voice was gentle, so sweet. “It’s over now.” How she could be so strong Sophie would never know.

“I’ll never forgive myself for what happened to you.” Her broken whisper was barely audible.

Rachel reached up and brushed away a lone tear on her cheek.

“I’ll wait for you, Sophie. I’ll be here, always. Every time you close your eyes, there will always be fireworks and there will always be me.”

“Fourth of July…” Sophie smiled. Waves of tears and sadness mixed with bittersweet love. It had been their favorite holiday, the one they’d celebrated together since their first birthdays.

“Don’t cry.” Rachel smiled and it was like the years that had passed between them vanished. They were children again, together. Secrets shared and dreams spun on golden threads
wove tapestries of memories they’d always share. Whatever might have been, the things they might have done together, didn’t matter. The past was sacred in that moment. An instant to be worshiped for what it was.

“Whenever I shut my eyes…” Sophie promised, hugging Rachel close again.

“Always,” Rachel’s answer filled her soul and she drew a deep shuddering breath. The night sky continued to be filled with glorious colors and brilliant bursts of light before it all faded around her.

Rachel’s grip on her hand remained strong.

Sensations began to trickle back to her, piece by piece, and although her lashes felt heavy, she forced her eyes to open. Her tongue felt like sandpaper and her head hurt like the devil. A familiar and unwelcome smell invaded her nostrils. She was at the hospital.

The world around her was white—from the windows and walls to the hospital bed she lay in. Except for the man sitting in a chair next to her bed. Everything about him was so opposite to the stark, bland hospital room. The golden gleam of his hair, the sun-kissed skin. He was leaning forward, one of his hands clasping hers. Proud cheek bones, a faint scar on his chin, and the aquiline nose of a Greek god. A fierce tenderness filled her to the point of bursting when she saw the faint shimmer of dried tears on his cheeks as the morning light caught them. No one had ever cried for her before…She bit her lower lip, her own eyes burning. A lock of golden blond hair fell across his forehead. He was close enough for her to touch. She reached to brush it away, ignoring the stab of pain in her abdomen.

His eyes blinked, revealing their lovely shade of hazel. The world shrank in that single instant. She could see nothing outside his eyes and the same look of wonder reflected in his gaze as his lips parted in a soft rush of air.

“Emery,” she rasped. Her throat was dry and raw but she found she could form his name without much pain. Seeing him here with her filled her with so much joy she could barely contain it. The warm feeling of happiness and relief cut through most of the foggy, drug-induced state she seemed trapped in.

“You okay?” He cupped her cheek and leaned in to brush her lips with his.

“I am…I think…” She chuckled and then winced as her stomach cramped and twisted in knots.

His eyes darkened with worry and anxiety formed tight lines around his eyes and mouth.

“You gave me a scare. I thought I was going to lose you.”

“I seem to recall you kicking me out.” She tried to tease him, but he scowled and looked away. She knew him well enough now to see his fury was directed inward.

“I was an idiot…” He met her gaze again. “If you won’t forgive me, I’ll grovel to get you back.”

Sophie considered this. “How about I get to tie you up and punish you.”

He snorted. “Go ahead and try.”

“Well, I’ll forgive you, but I’ll tell you later how you can make it up to me.” She paused, shutting her eyes, relishing the way he stroked her cheek with his knuckles. It was almost soothing enough to erase the pain. It was then she noticed his shoulder was heavily bandaged and in a sling.

“What happened?” she demanded.

“I got shot in the shoulder. It was a through and through, but my arm’s out of commission for a while.”

Sophie blew out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “What did the doctor say? How long will we be here?”

“At least a day for me. You have to stay a week, unless I can talk the doctors into letting me hire private care for you at home. The bullet passed through your stomach close to your side. They were able to repair the damage. The doctor said you were lucky you didn’t bleed out and the knife wound was shallow, and mostly in muscle, which will heal easily. Hans and I rushed you to the emergency room in time and they were able to get you into surgery straightaway. It was a tough day yesterday; we thought you might not make it, but you did. I called your parents. Cody tracked them down. They’re on their way to see us.”

She warmed instantly at the way he said
us
. Her parents were coming here…Rather than dread their arrival, she was relieved. She missed them like crazy. After everything that had happened, she had so much she wanted to tell them.

“Now I know how you felt when you met my parents.” He laughed softly.

“Oh?” She couldn’t contain her smile. “Terrifying, isn’t it?” The urge to tease him was impossible to resist.

“Yes, well, you had an easier time. As long as you don’t tell your father that I seduced you, tied you to my bed and made love to you, then treated you like my personal sex slave, I’ll probably make it through the meeting alive. Explaining dominant behavior isn’t exactly easy. I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t kill me.”

“I won’t tell him. He’ll only want to know that you love me. That’s all he cares about. Besides, I love it when you get all dominant on me.” She noticed her wrists were bare of the cuffs and she felt naked without them. “Where are my cuffs?” They’d come to mean so much in the last few days, a sign of her and Emery’s commitment to each other.

“They’re somewhere safe for when you’re well enough to wear them.” Emery frowned as he stared at the IV needle taped into the back of her hand. “But you needn’t worry about wearing them anymore.” She put her hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart kick up at his words. Was he done with her? After everything they’d been through, she couldn’t believe it, not when he seemed so sweet and tender now. But what else could he mean?

“Well…actually I thought I’d get a ring, just to make sure you understand my intentions.”

“Which are?” She raised her eyes to his, and her breath caught in her throat as she saw the depth of his heart in his eyes.

“To keep you. Forever.”

His declaration demanded she face the guilt she’d been carrying. “Emery…I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about Fenn. I was going to, as soon as Wes said he’d found him and they were in a safe location.”

His hand moved down from her cheek to cup the back of her neck. His fingers massaged her gently and she relaxed.

“I know. Hans explained what happened. You did the right thing. It’s not your fault. I was an inconsiderate asshole.”

“You were an asshole, definitely. But I have to admit, the sex was amazing.” She blushed remembering the barely leashed ferocity of their coupling in the study on the desk. Even as weak and bruised as she was, that memory made her burn.

“Jesus, Sophie, I’m trying to be all gentle and caring and you’re making me as hard as a rock. I feel guilty as hell about it. How can you even think about sex after what you’ve just gone through? A woman who’s been shot and stabbed needs rest and relaxation.” He laughed darkly and rested his forehead against hers as they shared her pillow.

“Sorry, guess it comes with the territory. I can’t ever see myself not wanting you.” She shut her eyes a moment, savoring the brief rest it brought before she spoke again. “Are you going to Colorado now?” Half of her wanted him to say no, but the other half knew he had to leave and bring Fenn home.

“No.”

“No? Why not? Your brother is alive and we have to find him.” She tried to sit up but he gently pushed her back down.

“We will. After you rest and heal. I’m not going anywhere without you. Fenn can wait until you’re well enough to travel.”