Page 37 of Derecho

It was true. Nate had earned his spot as an honorary Ford when he helped save Colt’s wife from her stalker. That spot was cemented when Birdie was attacked and fighting for her life. Nate was there every day with all of us, waiting for her to get better.

My legs carried me over to the sofa, and I sat down at the opposite end as Lachlan.

“I want you to walk us through what happened the other night, Lainey. And if this wasn’t the first time, I’d like you to tell us about the other times, too. Once we have everything documented, you’ll sign the report, and Nate will submit your order of protection request. Okay?”

I nodded, my throat sore as I tried to swallow. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to talk about it, but the second the first word left my mouth, I couldn’t stop. It just came pouring out of me.

I couldn’t tell how much time passed as I shared every detail I could remember, but I felt somehow completely drained and lighter than I ever had before when I was finished.

“I know that was incredibly difficult, Lainey, but you’re doing the right thing reporting it.” Colt took the pen back from me as soon as I finished signing my name on the report. “You’re safe here on the ranch, with us. I hope you know that.”

I looked right at Lachlan as I nodded. He’d sat quietly the entire time I’d talked through everything, fists clenched in his lap. But he never exploded. Never reacted in a way that made me nervous. I knew I was safe on the ranch, because I was here with him.

Lachlan

Oh fuck!

I’d thought it was the memory of Lainey talking through everything that asshole did to her that woke me out of the sleep I was barely able to fall into, but I quickly realized I was wrong.

My leg jerked uncontrollably under the covers as searing pain burned its way over my skin and burrowed deep into my muscle. My spasms have been getting better since my last surgery, but they weren’t completely gone. In fact, my surgeon said they might never be. Just another gift I was given when I didn’t die under the weight of that car.

Shit. I didn’t mean it like that. It was a gift to live. But not like this. Not with this pain. This insidious pain that struck out of nowhere. This pain that kept me trapped for so long in my mind. Kept me trapped in my home…

I groaned as I pulled the blanket back, exposing the rippling flesh of my scarred leg to the cold air. It was pitch black in my room, and my hand fumbled as it tried to decide whether I should reach for the light or grab my calf and try to massage the pulsating muscle.

“What’s wrong?” The small voice from the doorway scared the ever-livin’ shit out of me. Christ. We’d spent the day working through getting her things washed and put away. By dinner, I could tell she was exhausted. The last time I’d checked on her, Lainey had still been fast asleep. And that was for the best, because my usual nighttime routine of checking all the windows, and the doors, and the stove, and the toaster, and the oven, and the lights was taking three times as long to do since I needed to be absolutely certain things were safe for her and the baby.

“Nothing. Go back to bed,” I barked. Another spasm had me biting my tongue to stop from screaming.

“No. I’m not going anywhere when you’re clearly in pain. Your groaning woke the alien up, and if he’s up, I’m up. So stop being so stubborn and just tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can help.”

Her voice was closer, pitched higher. I bet she was doing that cute thing with the end of her nose. It scrunched up whenever she got flustered.

“My leg. It hurts sometimes.” My jaw ached from how hard I was biting down on my damn molars. “In the night. I’ll be fine.”

There was no response for a moment, just the slightest hint of air moving next to me before the light of my bedside lamp momentarily blinded me.

“Sorry. Is there anything I can do?” she asked.

Another cramp started, pulling the muscle tighter than before. I groaned, rolling to my side as I tried to flex my foot.

“No. Just go.”

“That seems silly. There must be something I can do.”

Her voice got closer, but the pressure from the muscle contracting had my eyes rolling into the back of my head.

“Are you…”

“Am I what?” I grumbled.

“Are you dressed?” she whispered.

“Yes,” I gritted out.

“Good. Then I’m going to move the covers all the way over and see what I can do.”

“Trouble…”