Chapter 55 Come Back To Me
"Boss!" Jeffery appeared beside me, blood splattered across his face. "We've cleared the rest. Building's secure."
"Good." I holstered my gun and moved back to Celene. "We're leaving. Now."
I cut the ropes binding her wrists and ankles, then carefully lifted her into my arms. She was so light. Her head rested against my chest, and I could feel her shallow breathing.
She was alive and that was all that mattered.
Bone and the others had the helicopter ready. We moved quickly through the warehouse, stepping over bodies. I didn't look at them because I didn't care.
On the helicopter, I held Celene in my lap the entire flight back. Jeffery tried to check my wound, but I waved him off.
"Focus on her," I said.
I knew basic first aid from years of patching myself up after fights. I grabbed the medical kit and started working on her injuries as best I could. Cleaned the blood from her face, bandaged the worst cuts and checked her pulse every thirty seconds.
My hands were shaking. I couldn't stop them from shaking.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to her unconscious form. "I'm so sorry, Celene. I should have protected you. I should have been faster. I should have known."
She didn't respond. Just lay there, limp in my arms.
Something wet hit my hand. I looked down and realized I was crying. Tears were falling down my face, landing on her bruised skin.
I hadn't cried in over twenty years. Not since I was a child but now I couldn't stop.
I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand because weakness had no place here. I had to be strong for her.
"Jeffery," I said, my voice rough.
"Yes, Boss?"
"I'm going to find whoever's really behind this. The person that bastard mentioned. And when I do, they're going to suffer more than anyone has ever suffered before."
"We'll find them, Boss. I promise you that."
I looked down at Celene again. "They did this to her. They hurt her because of me and because I was selfish enough to want her in my life."
"Boss, this isn't your fault."
"Isn't it?" I touched her cheek gently. "She was safe before me. Happy and normal but then I came into her life and brought all this darkness with me."
Jeffery didn't respond. What could he say? We both knew it was true.
When we landed, I carried her straight to my mansion. Not to a hospital, I couldn't risk that. There will be to many questions and exposure.
I took her to my personal bedroom, the one room in my entire house that was truly mine. I'd never let anyone in here before but she belonged here. She belonged with me, even if I didn't deserve her.
I laid her carefully on my bed, arranging pillows around her head.
"Get Dr. Moretti," I told Jeffery. "Tell him to drop everything and get here now. I don't care what he's doing."
"Already called him on the way. He'll be here in ten minutes."
Dr. Moretti was the mafia's best doctor. He was discreet and skilled. He'd patched up more gunshot wounds and stab injuries than any ER surgeon.
True to Jeffery's word, he arrived quickly. I stood back while he examined Celene, my fists clenched at my sides.
After what felt like an eternity, he turned to me.
"She has a broken rib," he said. "Hairline fracture on her left arm. Her right leg has significant bruising and possible ligament damage. Multiple contusions on her face and torso. She's been through severe trauma."
"Can you fix it?" My voice was barely a whisper.
"Yes. She'll need time to heal, but she'll recover. Physically, at least."
"What do you mean, physically?"
"Mr. Ryder, she's been kidnapped and tortured. The psychological trauma from something like that doesn't just go away. She'll need support and therapy, probably."
I nodded slowly. "Do whatever you need to do. Money isn't an issue."
He set to work, and I stayed by Celene's side the entire time. Watched as he set her arm in a cast, wrapped her ribs and applied ointment to the cuts and bruises.
When he was done, he gave me a list of medications and instructions for her care, then left.
And then it was just me and her.
I pulled a chair up beside the bed and sat down, taking her hand in mine. Her fingers were cold and I rubbed them gently, trying to warm them up.
"I wish I'd never fallen for you," I whispered to her sleeping form. "Not because I don't want you. God, I want you more than I've ever wanted anything. But because you don't deserve this. You don't deserve to suffer because of me and my world."
I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it gently.
"You're too good for me, Celene. Too pure and too bright. "
My throat tightened.
"But I can't let you go because I'm too selfish and broken. I need you, even though needing you puts you in danger."
I leaned forward, resting my forehead against our joined hands.
"I love you, Celene," I said quietly.
A tear rolled down the side of her face from her closed eyelid, trailing down her bruised cheek.
As if somehow, even unconscious, she'd heard me.