Page 201 of Split You Open

Ledger’s jaw clenches tight as his eyes travel over my face. “We found you just in time. Dixie’s dead and the hit on you and Anchor is over. You’re safe now.”

A weak smile pulls at my lips. “Always. Been. My. Hero.”

Rather than smile back, Ledger’s expression darkens.

“It wasn’t just me. It was a team effort but…” He sucks in a deep breath. As he lets it out, he admits, “We almost didn’t make it in time, Blair. It was the scariest fucking moment of my life.”

I roll my eyes. It doesn’t matter when he showed up, just that he did. Reaching out, I find his hand and cover it with mine. Ledger flips his over and intertwines our fingers together.

“You are the thread that holds my soul together,” he mutters. “Without you… I’ll unravel. I can’t lose you, Blair.”

My heart swells at the admission. God, I thought I loved this man before I came to Gnarly Pines but every day that passes, I realize I’m just falling more and more in love with him. Ledger is not an emotional man. He’s not even sweet. For Ledger to admit such a thing is big for him.

And it means the world to me.

“You should’ve never gone through any of this,” he continues. “I’m sorry about Dixie and that I wasn’t there sooner.”

Before I can force out how grateful I am that he came and that Dixie isn’t his fault, Dad returns. In his slinged arm, he gingerly holds a glass of water. In his other hand, a bowl of oatmeal by the smell of it. He limps across the room and places both items on the nightstand.

I frown—how hurt is he?

“Let me help you sit up,” Dad offers.

I blink in surprise, then look at Ledger for answers. He shoots Dad a bewildered look, too, before waving him off.

“Don’t worry about it, I got it,” Ledger says and moves to help me.

Dad’s hand slams down on Ledger’s shoulder, preventing Ledger from going anywhere. The two men glare at one another.

“I said I would do it,” Dad growls.

“Since when have you ever been doting?” Ledger counter with a scoff. “Relax, Anchor. I know what I'm doing when it comes to my girl.”

I can’t help but beam with pride at his possessiveness, ignoring the fact that Ledger hasn’t quite ever been doting either.

My reaction goes unnoticed as Dad’s expression turns murderous. “She’s not your girl, Ledger.”

“Oh, she definitely fucking is.”

“Who do you think you are, stopping me from⁠—”

As the two of them argue, I reach out for the glass of water. The motion hurts and my hand trembles but I manage to grab the glass and bring it to my lips. The cool water instantly soothes the dryness in the back of my throat. After taking a few more sips, I place the glass down.

“—and you think you can just step in now and take over?” Ledger snarls. “Besides, you should be taking it easy.”

“I can do whatever the hell I want when it comes to my daughter!”

Ledger scoffs. He opens his mouth to reply but I beat him to it.

“This has already grown old. Dad, if you want to help me up, you can.”

Dad would never lower himself to gloat or smirk—that’s too much wasted energy and emotion on his part. But he does dramatically turn his back on Ledger to help me sit up. By the time there are pillows propped up behind me and I’m upright, I’m sweating profusely and trembling.

Both of them notice immediately.

Ledger gets to his feet at once. “I have some heavy-duty pain meds ready for you, but you’ll just end up throwing them up if you don’t eat something first.”

“That’s why I brought up the oatmeal,” Dad tells him coolly.