Chapter 35

THIRTY-FIVE

I have ten doctors check Fallon over and say she's okay to be released before I will even think about it. She's annoyed, but I don't care. I nearly—I can't even think about it.

The terror I felt when I heard the crash through the phone, her screams . . . It will haunt me for the rest of my life. She was so happy that morning, so excited and full of life. I never should have let her go alone.

Staring into her beautiful face as she listens to the doctors' warnings, I swallow my pain and fury. She needs me right now. She might appear put together, but I know she's scared. She won't let it out, not here, but she will later, and I'll be there to catch her. She nearly died, but it will be the last time a hair on her head is ever touched.

I will make sure of it.

When I find the person behind the wheel, they will wish they tried to kill me, not her, because I'm going to make them beg for death.

My gaze sweeps over her face, memorizing every single bruise and cut so I can pay them back tenfold. The skin around her eyes is purple and yellow and slightly swollen, and her nose has a strap across it to keep it straight after the break. She has more across her cheek, and the bandage around her head makes me want to hit something. Her hand is in a movable wrap, as is her leg. They are giving her a crutch to help her walk, but they suspect it will be okay in a few weeks at most.

She was very lucky, but she will never have to go through this again.

I can't lose Fallon. I just can't.

I have written hundreds of love songs in my career, and every single one has been for her.

Sometimes, her strength scares me. She might be terrified right now, but she isn't backing down, not even with my warnings or the police's concerns. She's determined to face them down and expose them. I'm with her the entire way, but I'm scared for her and what it will do to her. Someone already tried to kill her to silence her, so what else are they capable of?

It doesn't stop her though. She tugs on a hat, not bothering with any makeup, and then nods at me. "I'm ready."

I take her hand, knowing better than to argue. Outside of the hospital, the area is swarming with cameras. They have been there since the accident was announced. We could avoid them by going out the back, but my girl isn't hiding. She wants them to know. She's going to tell the whole world and make sure they have nowhere to hide.

The lights flash, and the shouts reach us before the door even opens. Once we're outside, the men I hired form a wall, their arms out to prevent the crushing crowd from getting near her. She looks around, wide-eyed, but she stands tall at my side, refusing to cower. That's just who Fallon is.

You hit her, then she hits back harder.

Holding up her hand, she waits for everyone to become quiet, then clears her throat. "I want to thank everyone for their concern and well-wishes. The outpouring of support and love has been crucial in my healing. I am truly thankful for every single person." She sounds so sweet, so kind, while looking bruised and hurt. Yeah, the public will be demanding answers and angry on her behalf. She's really fucking good. "I can't go into too much detail because this is a police matter, but yesterday, at around eleven in the morning, a truck ran a red light and sped up before hitting my vehicle. I was driving alone. It then proceeded to ram me from the road before fleeing the scene. The police are searching for witnesses and the driver, and we are confident we will find them."

"Why did they do it, Fallon?" someone asks.

"The only idea that comes to mind is the fact that I have been very vocal about my unhappiness in regard to the docuseries about my father's life. I have been silently working behind the scenes to bring everyone the real truth about my father and his band's life—one that will be very different from the story they wish to portray. That is all I will say for now, but hate will never win. They can come at me a hundred times, and I will come back stronger. They will not stop the truth from coming out—not this time. Thank you."

Ignoring the flashes and the shouts, my men clear a path to the car. I help her in, and once the door is shut, I open my arms. She collapses into them as I kiss her head.

"You did so well, sweetheart. You can let go now. Let it out, beautiful. It's just me here." She melts into my embrace, beginning to sob. I know she doesn't want to cry in front of them, so I give her the privacy to break down and work through what happened, honored that she lets me be here for this.

She trusts and loves me, even if she hasn't said it.

"I've got you," I promise, letting her cry it out and grieve for everything that happened. My girl is strong, but even the strongest things in the world can break under too much pressure. It doesn't mean she's weak or damaged. It just means she needs to crack before we rebuild.

I offer her my warmth and protection and my lack of judgment.

I love Fallon. I love her strength, determination, and passion, but I love the fact that she turns to me for comfort as well, only letting me see this side of her.

"Why?" she whispers, lifting her head. "Why me?" Her face clouds with anger and heartbreak. "Why is it always me? Why is my life one tragic accident after another and I'm just expected to endure it? What did I ever do to deserve all of this? "

This isn't the woman I love. It's the child who was neglected and hurt.

She's asking the questions she never dared ask, and my heart breaks for her as her eyes meet mine once more, overflowing with tears. I wonder how anyone could ever think she is made of ice. She feels everything so deeply. How can they not see she is begging for someone to save her? To offer her even a shred of decency and humanity, something she's never had?

"Why me?" Her lip trembles, and my heart clenches so hard, I can't breathe.

"I don't know," I whisper. "I really don't. I wish I did. I wish I could change what happened to you, Fallon. I wish I could give you a happy childhood."

Her glassy eyes peer up at me, begging me for something I can't offer. I can't take away her past, but I can atone for it. I can do something they never did.

"You'll never get an apology from them for what they did to you, so let me apologize for them—not because of them, but because of you. You didn't deserve a single thing they did to you. You deserved to be protected and loved, and I'm so sorry they hurt you. I'm sorry they stole your innocence and wonder of this world. I'm sorry they convinced you that everything comes with strings and manipulation. I'm sorry they tainted what love meant to you. I'm so fucking sorry, Fallon."

Her hands grip my shirt as I speak, tugging me closer. "Stop, please stop," she begs, but her eyes tell me to keep going. They tell me to never leave her like everyone else has. They beg me to be the only person who will love her when that is all she's ever wanted.

Cupping her face, I press my forehead to hers, forcing her to look deep into my eyes, into my soul and my heart. "I am not going anywhere, Fallon. Cry and scream all you want. You've been so strong, baby, so fucking strong, but you don't need to be anymore. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. I will never hurt you, but I will spend every day apologizing to you for the way this world hurt you."

Pressing a kiss to her forehead, I pull her into my arms and hold her, resting my chin on her head as she shudders and cries harder. "I'm so sorry, Fallon. I would change the world for you if I could, but instead, I will spend every day loving you like you deserve, embracing the scars you carry. I will kiss and love them until they are healed. I'm here. I'm right here. I'll always be right here. I'd cross oceans and take bullets for you, but most importantly, I will love you when no one else does, not even yourself."

I vow she will never go through this again.

I wish I could shoulder all her pain, but instead, I hold her through it, giving her every drop of my strength when she feels weak.