Justice Read Online Free PDF Page B

“We’ll bring you something back.”
    He nodded. “Thanks.”
    Melissa squeezed his chin. “She’s going to heal and you’re going to help her.”
    “Wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
    “I know, honey.” She smiled. “You’re a good man, Dallas. She knows it. I know it. We all know it.”
    Not good enough to protect her, he thought to himself, but said out loud, “Thanks.”
    Melissa released him and walked out of the room. Payton turned from the door and rushed to his side, leaning down to kiss his cheek. “I love you, Dallas. So does she.”
    “Thanks, babe.”
    Payton slipped out the door and Dallas lifted Macey’s hand to his lips again. “Hey, beautiful. I’d really like to see you wake up soon. I miss you.”
    She didn’t even twitch. Dallas linked his fingers with hers and settled back in the chair to wait. He was exhausted. After his brief conversation with Macey, he’d stayed up late going over scenarios with his commanding officer, made it to his hotel close to one, checking his phone he’d forgot to charge. He found the voicemail from Brock and shoved what he could into a bag and driven in the dead of night for the hospital.
    He should have stayed.
    “Dallas?” Macey whispered.
    Dallas rose to his feet and leaned over her. “Hey, beautiful. You okay?”
    “I need some water.”
    He released her long enough to pour some into a cup and help her drink it. “Are you in pain?”
    “I just gave myself a dose,” she said, and smiled. “Best drugs ever?”
    “Dilaudid?”
    “Fentanyl,” she countered. “Thank God for pain pumps.”
    Dallas sat on the edge of her bed and stroked her cheek. It was covered with a bandage, but he didn’t care. He had to touch her. “Alec said your surgery went well.”
    “I had surgery?”
    “Yeah.”
    Her eyebrows pulled together. “Why?”
    “Don’t you remember?”
    She stared at him for several tense seconds and then gasped, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t know I had surgery.”
    “It’s gonna be okay,” he promised.
    “I… don’t… I... ”
    “Hey,” he whispered. “Just rest. You’ll heal and we’ll put all of this behind us.”
    “What was the surgery for?” she asked, but quickly closed her eyes. “Wait, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
    “You don’t need to know anything you don’t want to know right now, sweetheart,” Dallas said. “Just rest.”
    After several minutes of looming silence, she said, “He didn’t wear a kilt.”
    “What, honey?”
    “It wasn’t the Highland Hunter. He didn’t wear a kilt.” She let out a quiet cry. “I’m really sorry.”
    “What for, baby?”
    “I forgot to lock the downstairs window,” she said with a sob.
    “None of this was your fault, Mase. It’s all going to be okay. I promise.” He kissed her palm. “I love you.”

    Her even breathing indicated she’d slipped back into oblivion. He wasn’t sure if she heard him or not, but he hoped to God she took it to heart.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    M ACEY WOKE WITH a start. Dallas wasn’t in her room, in fact, no one was. She was alone. No. Not alone. “Well, hi there, pretty.” She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out and then blackness again.
    “Macey! Wake up! You’re having a nightmare,” Alec said. “You’re gonna hurt yourself if you don’t stop thrashing around.”
    She wasn’t entirely sure she wasn’t still dreaming.
    “What the hell is going on?” Dallas demanded.
    Macey swam through the pain and forced her eyes open. “Ouch.”
    Alec nodded and helped her drink. “Pain? One to ten.”
    “Nine,” she rasped.
    Alec nodded and looked for her pain pump wire. “Looks like you got this tangled, Mase.” He smiled and pressed the button for the pain pump. “Better?”
    After the instant relief, she nodded and Alec set the pump button close to her again.
    Dallas leaned over her and smiled. God, he was gorgeous.
    “Hey, beautiful,” he said.
    Macey licked her lips.