Chapter 72

**Artemis**


We finally make it to the gas station and I spot the security guys waiting in the parking lot for us. I pull in the spot beside them and turn of the engine. They stand up straight when I walk around the car to meet them.

“Did you find anything?” I ask them.

They look at each other while I wait for someone to answer my question.

“Well?”

“We didn’t know what you wanted us to do once we got here.” One of the guys says.

Oh fuck me…these men are idiots.

“Check the perimeter you idiots!” I yell at them.

They quickly move their asses to do as I ask just as Bryant and Dane pull in.

“We drove down the closest streets leading back into the closest town but didn’t spot her.” Dane says.

“Fuck.” I whisper under my breath and the urge to pull my hair out in frustration is so severe that I end up running my fingers through it but stop before I make a show of how I’m really feeling.

What I’m feeling is fucking worry. Where could she have gone? If she was seen here and not seen leaving then she has to be close.

“Help the idiots search near by, I’ll talk to the owner.” They nod and climb back in their car to go look for the others.
I take a minute to let myself feel everything and blow out a long breath before pulling on my businessman mask on. Feeling more like my old self I walk into the gas station store with my back straight and my head held high. The man sitting behind the counter stands and eyes me warily.

“Can I help you?” He asks.

“Did a young woman come in here? She would have looked sick.” I say.

He hesitates to answer me but eventually he nods. “Yeah she came in for some pain killers and the code for the bathroom.”

“What’s the code?” I say sharply and far too panicked than I meant it to sound.

“991967.” He says and I’m walking off before I can hear what he yells after me.

I walk around the side of the building where the air pumps are set up until I spot a door with a bathroom sign on it. Just in case I pull the handle to see if it’s possible it’s unlocked, but it isn’t. I knock next.

“Blue? Are you in there?” I call out and knock as hard as I can.

I don’t hear anything, so I decide to use the code. The green lift flashes when Ive entered the code and I push the door open. My heart drops at the sight of Blue’s passed out form slumped against the wall.

“Shit. Blue?” I rush over and kneel in front of her.

I cup her face and shake it a little hoping that she will wake up. “Blue? Can you hear me?”

Her skin feels so cold and she looks too pale.

“Come on baby, talk to me.” I whisper to her before scooping her into my arms and running from the bathroom.

Alan is heading my way when I turn the corner. “What happened?”

“She’s not responding.” I tell him as I run the best I can to the car.

He keeps up with me and opens the backseat door for me. I set her inside and he holds her up so I can climb in too. Once I’m inside I pull her fragile body onto my lap.

“The hospital is about half an hour away.” Alan says but I shake my head.

“I have someone who can check on her. Take us back to the house.” He gives me an unsure look but closes the door and climbs into the front seat.

We pull out of the lot and I take my phone out to tell the guys to end the search. I tell Bryant and Dane to fetch the doctor and meet us back at Alan’s place. The other guys I tell them to go back home. They are no use to me and I don’t want them anywhere near Blue if they are this unreliable.

Alan doesn’t bother with traffic laws as he drives us back to his house. I’ve already messaged the doctor to be ready when Bryant and Dane arrive. Blue’s head is limply laying on my shoulder and I wonder how the way my heart is racing isn’t waking her. Why does she look this pale? How long had she been passed out like that? What might have happened to her if I didn’t find her? Unless something did…

I frantically examine every part of her clothing to see if they’ve been tampered with in any way and I can’t describe the relief I feel when there’s nothing.

“I’m sorry man. I don’t usually have much need for security at this place but I had planned on getting a few guys here tomorrow” Alan says but I don’t care about that.

It would be easy to explode and blame everyone for what’s happened but all I care about is Blue. If I lose her…

I don’t even want to think about it.

“Forget about it.” I tell him.

My eyes roam over Blue’s face. If she didn’t look so pale it would be easy to think she’s only sleeping. Fuck she’s beautiful. Every part of her is a map of everything she’s survived. I’ve noticed the scars on her and every time I see one I want to hunt the bastard down who did it to her, but I don’t want her to have to remember that tike. I want to be the only thing she thinks about. Selfish maybe but I want to be everything to her because she’s quickly becoming the same to me. Today just showed me that I need to do better and I won’t let this happen again. Even if I have to chain us together then I will. She won’t be leaving my sight for a fucking long time.

When we reach the house Alan opens the passenger door and reaches out to take Blue from me but I shoot him a look that has him backing up quick. I turn us around and slide out of the car without dropping the still limp and unconscious Blue. I storm toward the front door and stop short when I see Rhea and Athena standing in front of me.

“Oh my God! Is she okay?” Rhea asks before rushing over and looking at Blue the best she can. “Artemis what the hell?”

“Not now.” I say in warning.

“But-“

“I said not now Rhea!” I yell at her and move past her toward the stairs.

I heat her trying to grill Alan but I ignore them all and carry Blue back to our room. I kick the door open and carefully lay her down on our bed. I’m not sure if it’s because of body heat from me holding her but she doesn’t look as pale as before. Actually her face looks almost flushed.

“Artemis?” I soft voice says from behind me.

It would be so easy to ignore the people around me bit I keep hearing Blue say that I need to be nice. So I turn to look at Athena over my shoulder. I nod to tell her it’s okay for her to come in. She does as quietly as possible and stops to stand next to me.

“I’m so sorry you guys have been through so much.” She whispers. “ She’s so sweet. I’m glad she found you.”

“I found her.” I say correcting her.

She shakes her head and I see a hint of a smile. “She chose you. She saw something in you that she wanted to be a part of, but you let yourself be open with her. I never thought you would ever meet someone who could break through that hard shell dad created around you.”

I’m not sure what to say so I just stand there and look down at my wife. She looks so peaceful that it’s making me even more nervous.

“Artemis. Our family is about to break apart around us but I want you to know that I’m with you. Rhea and I both. Of course your brother-in-laws too, but you have us in your corner. We should have broken the hold long ago but now we can make things right. Grandma would be so disappointed to see what s become of us. Do what you have to do to protect Blue and your company, but I’ll handle the rest.”

I turn to face my sister and for the first time I see a strength and determination in her face that I’ve never seen before. It’s as if I’m meeting her for the first time. She isn’t noise in the background or a silent presence in my life that goes over looked.

She’s my sister and she’s asking me to let her be one.

“I won’t let you fight this alone. We do it together. Besides Blue will kill me if I don’t accept your help.”

My sister chuckles. “ She’s probably the only person other than grandma that could make you listen and put you in your place.”

“My wife can be a ballbuster when she wants to be.” I say with a slight smile that I hope my sister doesn’t catch.

She does anyway. “You lover her don’t you?”

I do. “Yeah I do.”

“Good. Because if you screw up I’ll be on her side.” She turns and leaves while I wonder who the fuck that just was.

I guess Blue is bringing out a change in all of us. How does she do that?