Chapter Ninety-One:

I groaned as my eyes opened. I feel exhausted and sore as fuck. I peered around the room, or tried to. One of my eyes is still really swollen. Where am I? Did Adam move me again? I don’t remember this room being in the house. It’s too white, too clean.

“You’re awake.” A voice said from beside me. I jumped. It sounds like Brian, but I must be imagining things. He can’t be here. He’ll get hurt if Adam finds him. I can’t let anyone get hurt because of me. I can’t. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

“N-no,” I rasped. My hand flew to my throat and I grunted. My throat feels raw. I tried to sit up and pain shot through my body. My eyes flickered down, but I couldn’t see much from under my hospital gown. Hospital gown? “Wh-where am I?” I asked, starting to panic. My breathing quickened and I tried to remember how I got here… Derek attacked me and Adam had him taken care of and… it’s just blank. I don’t remember. I can’t remember.

“Sweetheart,” Doug’s voice filled my ears. I tried to find him with my eyes, but everything is too blurry. Hot, unshed tears filled my eyes and distorted everything into a hazy mess.

“Is she okay?” Zacky asked. He’s here, too?

“She’s overwhelmed. I’m going to give her something to help her calm her nerves.” A new voice said. I felt a hand on my arm and I jerked out of its grip.

“Don’t touch me!” I hissed. I can’t breathe.

“Maybe you should let her be.” Doug tried. I was sobbing, violently, now. I felt the IV in my arm move and I knew someone was giving me some kind of drugs. I didn’t stop crying and gave up trying to calm myself down.

---

When I had cried myself out, someone handed me the remote to my bed and I readjusted myself so I was sitting up. I peered at the people in my room and let out a shaky breath of disbelief. Is this even real? They’re really here?

“How? I… You’re real?” I asked. They nodded. Brian was the first to move to my side. He stroked the side of my face, gingerly. I leaned into his touch and tried not to react to how shaken he seemed. He’s looking at me like he’s terrified. I took a deep breath and winced when I felt that pain shoot through my chest again.

“I’ll give you some time.” The doctor announced, before leaving. I noticed Oliver lingering in the corner of the room, giving us our space. Zacky was standing next to Doug, a few feet from my bed.

“Sweetheart, are you sure you want to know right now? We can wait until you’re feeling up to it.” Doug suggested.

“I need to know what happened.” I pressed. Everyone looked uncomfortable now. It can’t be that bad – can it?

“Tony called me to tell me that he found Adam while he was looking for you. He followed him to an abandoned house and I asked him to wait for me. I didn’t want him to get ambushed going after you alone. When I was about five minutes away, he heard you screaming and went in after you. He texted me to let me know and I called the police. From what he’s told me, he came in for you and Adam caught him before he could hide himself. He was able to shoot him, but Adam didn’t stay down. You saw him drawing his gun to shoot Tony and you tried to block Tony and were shot instead. Tony got you out of the crossfire and I arrived shortly after. The police came and we got you out. Adam started shooting at me and I shot back. I was the better shot. Adam bled out before the ambulance arrived for you.” Doug explained. I felt my chest tightened.

“He’s gone?” I questioned. Doug nodded.

“We didn’t know if you were going to make it. You lost quite a bit of blood and gave us quite a scare. I thought I was going to lose you.”

“What about Derek?” I asked, still trying to process everything.

“He was dropped off at the police station with a written confession of his crimes, along with proof. He’s been arrested and awaits his trial. They were unable to repair his injuries.”

“He’s alive?”

“Yes, but there is no way that he won’t be going to jail for the rest of his life. Your mother has also been arrested. The police found emails on her computer that proved that she knew you had been taken and who you had been taken by.” Doug sighed. “I’m just happy that you’re alright. I don’t care if I have to lock you away in a tower somewhere; I am never letting anyone else hurt you. Do you hear me? There will be no harm to come to you, while I’m around, Sweetheart.” He promised. I smiled at him as new tears fell on my cheeks.

“I love you, Dad.” I whispered. He leaned down and held me and kissed my temple.

“And I love you, Sweetheart.” He vowed, before pulling away.

---

The rest of the day was sort of a blur. I saw and spoke to everyone. I was able to see my friends before I had to give statements to the police. Apparently they had prolonged their questions as long as possible.

Zacky finally got Ollie to leave the hospital to go home and sleep. Holland got the rest of the guys to do the same. Brian stayed with me and waited outside my room, while I answered questions for California’s finest.

---

“Ace, do you have any idea what you mean to me?” Brian asked me, when we were finally alone. I looked at him, not really knowing how to answer his question. He took my hand in his and looked me in the eyes. The emotions radiating off of him are so intense, it’s almost unnerving, almost. The love in his eyes is what’s affecting me the most. “When you were gone, I couldn’t even function. I was out of my fucking mind, Ace. Every time I closed my eyes, I would see you dying or being tortured. Losing you would kill me. I can honestly say that I have never felt this way about anyone else. I know that we really haven’t said it out loud and that our relationship hasn’t been normal and that we’re taking things slow, but I know that I will never want anyone else the way that I want you. I care about you so much, Lydia. I love you, so fucking much. Nothing that happened to you is going to change that. I swear on everything good in my life, that I have never been as serious about something as I am right now.” He confessed.

“Brian,” my voice broke.

“I thought I lost you and I never want to feel that way again. You were so pale when they brought you to the hospital. You looked dead.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I love you.” I promised him, squeezing his hand. He leaned down and touched his forehead to mine.

“You have to be okay. I need to have a future with you. I can’t picture it without you in it. You’re my future, Ace. I don’t care if you never want to get married or if you have weird-ass habits that I don’t know about. I’m yours for as long as you want me. I will be here.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way. I don’t want anyone else. There hasn’t been anyone else since we got together. You’re too incredible to let go of.”

“You mean it?”

“You mean everything to me.”

“God, Ace, don’t scare me like that again. I can’t take it.” He whispered, as he laid down next to me on my hospital bed.

“I won’t, not if I can help it.” I gave him my word.

“I love you.” He told me. I smiled, choosing to ignore just how stiff my muscles felt.

“I love you.” I repeated. “I swear, I’ll never get tired of saying that.”

Notes

Next chapter will be up by Thursday night! We are down to the final chapters - brace yourselves! :)

Thoughts? Comments?

Love and red velvet cupcakes,
Katie