Sworn to Protect by Susanne Matthews

Author:Susanne Matthews [Matthews, Susanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MHSLM
Published: 2017-06-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

After what felt like an eternity, Nancy pushed her head off Neil’s shoulder, but stayed in his arms, and looked into his eyes. They were red-rimmed as if he’d been crying, too. There was a hole in her heart she didn’t think would ever heal, and as much as she would like to crawl inside herself and the comforting grayness, she couldn’t. She’d heard the door open and close. Julia must’ve come in and left again. It was too bad because right now, if the nurse had asked her about pain level, it would’ve been a solid ten and rising. Mom was dead. She was married to a stranger, and everything that had happened during the past six years was gone. Maybe knowing more would help her remember.

“How? When?” she asked, when her sobs abated enough that she could speak. If she hadn’t been with her in the restaurant, she could be dead for months, even years. The ache in her heart increased.

“Four years ago.” Neil’s gaze met hers, and he licked his lips. “There was a car accident.”

Nancy pushed away a bit farther. Her mother didn’t drive. She had issues with depth perception, which meant she’d been the one behind the wheel. She felt herself grow cold.

“My fault?” she asked, her lower lip trembling.

Neil tried to pull her closer, but she stayed stiff in his arms. He relaxed his hold.

“No, don’t even consider that. There was a hell of a storm, one of those unexpected spring deluges that come out of nowhere. A drugged-up teenager ran a red light and T-boned you.” He paused as if searching for the right words. “Moira was killed instantly. You were very badly injured.”

She swallowed, fighting the sorrow welling inside her. Her breath came in pants, and more tears ran down her cheeks. The throbbing in her head and heart was blinding in its intensity. Mom was gone. Four years had passed since she’d left her. She didn’t remember the accident, didn’t remember the funeral, didn’t even know if they’d buried a casket or an urn. How could fate be so cruel? She was about to ask Neil for details when some sixth sense told her there was more—something he was holding back. Had she killed someone else when she’d lost control of the car? Looking into Neil’s pain-filled eyes, she knew she was right.

“There’s something else you aren’t telling me, isn’t there? Did I hurt or kill someone else when I lost control?” she managed to ask between sobs. “Where you hurt as well?”

“I wasn’t with you,” he admitted, the anguish on his face and in his voice unmistakable. “I was away on assignment, and not a day has passed in the last four years that I haven’t regretted that.”

Nancy nodded. His job took him away a lot, which made it hard for her to believe she’d married him, but if she had, then they must’ve reached some compromise.

Neil looked away from her, but not before she saw the guilt on his face.

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