A Woman Reborn (sequel to A Woman Scorned)

Part 22

Billy clutched at his chest, shoving his anger and guilt deep down. Now was not the time to dwell on his emotions, not when you just went through hell and appeared shell-shocked from the experience. You were seated on a makeshift hospital bed, your eyes cast downward. As much as he wanted to take you to an actual hospital, both of you knew that would be a terrible idea. First of all, the hospital staff would notify the cops considering the extent of your injuries. That meant an investigation and paper trail for Fisk to follow when he realized his warehouse was in rubbles.

Although it had been a risk, the quickest way to get rid of all the dead bodies was to blow up the place. Unfortunately, that meant if Fisk had goods stored in there he wouldn't spare any expenses to find out who attacked one of his warehouses. But that was still a better choice than leaving direct evidence. So Billy destroyed it all and brought you to Gordie. A medic who once served with Billy, Gordie now worked as a paramedic and didn't mind helping out people with medical stuff for the right price.

You winced, bringing Billy out of his reverie. "Fucking gently!" he barked at Gordie while the man treated your broken fingers. In an effort to comfort you, he took your other hand and kissed the fleshy part of your palm. "Just squeeze my hand when it hurts."

"It hurts now," you griped before squeezing the crap out of his fingers.

"Look at me," Billy ordered, holding your gaze as Gordie positioned a splint along your finger. "Gordie's gonna do his magic and you're gonna be fine, I promise."

His heart lurched, seeing the blank look on your face. There were bandages on your lips, your face, wounds that would take time to recover. Wounds that were put there because he'd failed you, because he hadn't gotten rid of Krista sooner.

You grimaced again, and he reached out to hold you, stroking your hair softly. "You're gonna be fine," he repeated, to himself as much as you, clinging to you out of desperation.

Gordie flashed him a curious look, probably because the man was used to seeing him as Lieutenant Russo barking orders on the field and not panicking like he was now, but Billy ignored him, instead murmuring soothing words to you.

You had to be okay. You had to.

***

Dawn broke, rays of orange splintering across the sky as Billy drove out of the city. The roads were deserted, sharp winds howling outside with the promise of snow coming down in a few hours. During road trips he liked to blast music and speed through, but you were sleeping soundly next to him and he didn't want anything to disturb you. He cast you a long glance, your hair still wet from the quick shower you took earlier, your chin tucked in, the throw he'd picked up from your couch covering your body. His heart squeezed painfully in his chest seeing the bandages on your face. You looked fragile, vulnerable. Broken. His hands trembled, his heart pounding in his chest. All the pent-up fear that he'd compartmentalized so he could plan and plot and get you to safety now came crashing down on him.

He almost lost you.

Not because you left him but because you almost fucking died.