Page 58 of Crossroads

When had that happened? When had the people who had once thought me a murderer, thought to protect me?

I didn’t have any answers to that, and I didn’t want any, so instead I just gave a tight nod and moved toward the back area where I knew Kiera’s room was.

I wasn’t sure there was anything else for me to say to the town that had once betrayed me, but perhaps they were trying to find their forgiveness just as I was. At least some of that. I didn’t know what to do with this feeling, so I did what I did best, and buried it deep down, and let out a breath as Teagan walked out of one of the rooms.

“There you are.” My sister wrapped her arms around me, and I hugged her close.

“That asshole’s in jail, and I hope he rots in it.”

“I agree. I love when you’re feisty.” I kissed the top of her head, and she laughed.

“Go talk to her.”

“I’m trying.”

“Are you okay?” she asked, the worry in her gaze familiar.

“I’ll be okay. As long as she is.”

“I want to say I’m so happy for you, but I don’t know how this is going to go.”

I let out a laugh that held no humor. “Always with the honesty, sister mine. As long as Kiera’s safe. That’s all that matters.”

“Really? Is that true?”

“It has to be.” I kissed her temple and then moved past her toward the hospital room.

Kiera lay in the hospital bed, her chin bandaged, as well as her arm. She had a bruise on her neck but otherwise looked way better than Jeremiah had.

“Hey, you,” Kiera said, worry etched on her face.

I moved forward, so damn afraid I would startle her, and went to the edge of her bed. Then I leaned down and cupped her face—careful of her bandage. “You look beautiful.”

“Liar.”

“Well, I’m always going to think you look beautiful.”

The surprise on her face made me want to kick myself. I was not good at this. The fact that I didn’t even know what this was told me that. But for however long I had Kiera in that moment, I had to make sure she knew how much she mattered to me. I wasn’t sure that either one of us could do long-term or were made for it anymore. But at this moment, she needed to know how precious she was.

“You’re beautiful, Kiera. And if you have scars, yours can just match mine.” I hadn’t meant to say those words, and as her eyes filled, I wanted to kick myself.

“I love your scars. Not why you have them. But I love the man you’ve become.”

Her eyes widened, and I realized that she hadn’t meant to say those words.

“I love you too,” I whispered, the words ripped from me. “I just, I don’t know what that means.”

“I don’t know either.” This time, the tears slid down her cheeks, and I kissed them away.

“Just hold me?” she asked. “You are so massive that it’s going to be a tight fit on this bed, but hold me. Before they kick us out.”

“I can do that.” Heart in my throat, I helped her gently shift, knowing that she was bruised on her side, and did indeed nearly take up the entire bed. But she curled into me, her hand on my chest.

“I was so scared. I’m glad that you were there.”

“I don’t want to think about what would happen if I wasn’t. Others were coming though. This town…they care.”

“Tell me about it.”