Текст книги "Protecting Her"

Автор книги: Alexis Noelle

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 10 страниц)

Chapter Twenty Eight

Samantha

I hold the single white rose in my hand as I stare at the coffin. A tear runs down my cheek as I mourn the man who gave his life for mine. A man who was one of the few people that showed me loyalty. I have never been to a military funeral but I’ll never forget it. The flag is draped over the coffin, thanking the man inside for his service. The shots ring out to honor their veteran one last time. I had never even known that he served in the military. I line up to toss my rose and say one final goodbye, wishing I could thank him for what he did.

As I walk away from the grave site, I cross my arms over my chest, trying to hold in the tears. The paparazzi show no limits and have even followed me here. I saw a few behind the trees as I was listening to the pastor says the final blessing. I sit in the car and let the tears flow down my face. These past four days have been absolute hell. I have spent most of them mourning and crying.

I pull up to the hospital, clinging to the box I picked up before the funeral. When I walk into the room, a wave of disappointment hits me. He still isn’t awake.

I sit down and stroke Hunter’s face with my hand. The monitors beep steadily, indicating that he is okay, but I can’t accept that until he wakes up. The fact that it could have been Hunter’s funeral I was attending instead of Joe’s, is not lost on me. I thought he was gone for a while. He was in surgery for hours and even after that, it was touch and go in the ICU. The bullet just missed his heart, thank God, or I would have lost him. Everything happened so fast that night.

The door flew open and Joe was there with Ryan and the police. My mother panicked and fired a shot at Joe, causing him to fall into the sea of people behind him. Before anyone could get to her she fired a shot at me. Hunter had caught her movement, though and jumped in front of me. He sacrificed himself for me. I held him until the EMT’s could make their way into the room telling him how much I loved him. My mother was shot by the police, and my father and Detective Marks are awaiting trial on numerous charges.

The image of him and that girl still haunts me. I know now that it wasn’t his fault and he wasn’t himself during it. That doesn’t mean that the image is erased from my mind. I’m working past it. Working to forget.

I have sat by his bed every minute that they would let me. Jules, Lacey and all of the boys have been by but he hasn’t woken up yet. The longer he stays asleep, the more I worry that he won’t wake up. That’s when I feel it. A slight pressure on my hand. I stare at his hand on top of mine to make sure that I hadn’t imagined it and I see his fingers flex. I stand up, the chair behind me crashing to the floor.

“Hunter? Hunter, open your eyes. It’s Sam. I’m here.” My voice is full of hope and wishing.

I press the call button to alert the nurses and when I look back at his face, I see his eyes open. My chest feels like it might burst from the intense feelings rolling through me. I can’t stop myself, as I lean down, kissing him, needing him to realize that I still love him. That I never stopped.

“I knew I was irresistible, but damn girl.” His voice is hoarse and I can tell it hurts to talk, but that doesn’t stop his smartass instinct. I smile at him, knowing I wouldn’t have him any other way.

“You really scared me, you know.” I feel like this all may be a dream, like he is really still asleep.

The nurse comes and begins to assess his current state, noting all his vitals and asking him different sorts of questions. When she leaves, I return to my place beside him. He sets down the glass of water she had given him on his bedside table.

“You’re too beautiful to cry, you know.” His hand reaches out, and his thumb brushes away a stray tear that is falling down my cheek.

“I missed you so much. I wanted to reach out to you and to ask you for help but it was like I was a prisoner. They took my phone and my father shadowed me everywhere I went. I never had a minute alone. I didn’t mean what I said. Even when I thought you had betrayed me, I never stopped loving you.” I need him to understand how much he means to me and how much I wish nothing had ever come between us. I wish I would have let him talk that day and maybe we could have figured out that things didn’t add up. I was just so mad and hurt that I couldn’t bear to even listen to his voice.

“I would’ve never done anything like that to you. I love you with every inch of me, Samantha Baker. You are the only girl aside from my sister and my mother who has ever held a place in my heart.”

I kiss him again, wanting to make up for all of the time we were apart. “I got you something. I had a feeling that you would wake up today. I don’t know why it just felt right, so I stopped and picked this up.” I hand him the box but then realize he isn’t sitting up, so I raise his bed a little more. “Do you want me to open it for you?”

“No, I’m not a cripple. Just a hero.” He winks at me before focusing on opening the box. I’m glad that he is in good spirits and that the injury hasn’t affected more than his body. There was a time when they were saying that the bullet may have caused nerve damage in the spine, which could affect him mentally. “You think you’re cute, huh?”

I look back up at him with a smile. In his lap is a pink cupcake.

“Don’t know if I’m allowed to eat this yet, but I get your symbolization and I don’t take well to teasing. Once I’m all healed, you will be in for it.” He grins at me before reaching for my hand. My core tightens at his promise. “Are we okay again?”

“We are more than okay.” I lean over the bed, taking his face in my hands. “You, Hunter Stone, are never getting rid of me again.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that.” He leans up and kisses me. It’s a kiss full of promises.

A promise of love.

A promise of caring.

A promise of forever.

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Also check out other books by Alexis Noelle

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About The Author:

I love reading romance books! I feel like being able to lose yourself in a book in one of the more exciting aspects. The books I love to read and write will be ones that make you feel for the characters. You should have an opinion on every character in a book. Whether you love them, hate them, or think they are up to something.

I live in Philadelphia Pennsylvania with my husband, and three kids. On top of starting a writing career I am a full time student, and a full time mom. I love spending time with my kids, although I have to hide the computer from them when I am writing! I love being active and being able to do any activity outdoors.

I have always thought as an author the most important critic is your reader, so I would love to hear from you. If you read the book and loved it or hated it, tell me. As long as it is in a constructive way I will always answer and interact with you. I want fans to feel free to tell me what they want for the characters in the story and what they want to see happen.

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