Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Three
Lee looked up and for a moment he didn’t understand what he was seeing. He frowned because Kelley was holding Marella in his arms, her shirt was torn, her lip swollen and bloody and in that moment he forgot about his own pain, both physical and emotional. Somehow, Kelley had brought Marella back but his brain was still playing catch up and trying to come to terms with everything that had happened.
Kelley placed Marella on the floor but kept his arm around her. Mason had stood up too, his own eyes red from crying. Connor had called them at six am to give them the news of Blain’s murder. Lee hadn’t been able to process it. It still felt unreal but seeing Marella was like a punch to his gut. It was all real.
He stood up and his hand instantly went to the wound near his hip, the one healing the slowest. Tears now welled in his eyes as he took Marella in, noting the exhaustion on her face. “Marella.” His voice trembled and Kelley nodded his head at Mason.
Lee didn’t even register them retreating or the door closing a few seconds later. Lee took a step towards her and he noted her limp. Against his doctor’s advice of not doing anything, he picked her up and walked towards the bed.
His wound pulled but he didn’t care. He sat down on the bed with Marella still in his arms and pressed her against him. For the first time in almost eight years, Lee truly hugged her, pressed her against his chest and inhaled sharply when her hands gripped his t-shirt.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
The tears on his cheeks mingled with her own as she closed her eyes and inhaled his clean scent. She didn’t even realize that Lee was holding her so close to him or the kisses on top of her head. She was dirty and sweaty but he didn’t seem to care.
Without hesitation or stumbling over the words, Lee told her exactly how he had felt for years. “I love you, Marella.”
Her eyes snapped open and she pushed herself away from his chest to look up into his eyes. “What?”
“I love you.”
“Lee …”
“I love you.”
Marella started to cry then as she threw her arms around his neck and he kissed her. Marella hesitated but Lee didn’t move away. His mouth moved over hers, his tongue invading her mouth. She pushed him away and Lee frowned.
“I’m disgusting and I smell.”
Lee chuckled as he smoothed her hair away from her face. “You do smell but I still love you.”
She lowered her head when another knock fell on the door and it opened. “Kelley said she sprained her ankle, the doctor will be here in half an hour so hurry it up.” Mason’s voice carried easily from the doorway and Lee nodded his head.
“I need to shower,” Marella said and Lee picked her up again and headed to the bathroom. “Put me down, Lee, you’ll hurt yourself.”
“You don’t weigh anything,” Lee replied as he placed her on the counter and opened the faucets in the shower.
Lee quickly disposed of his clothes and undressed Marella as well. He placed her on the built in bench in the shower and took the shower head down. Lee knelt down next to her and started to gently wash her from her toes to the top of her head. It was something so basic yet so special because Lee had never before told her that he loved her, not even once and now he'd said it three times.
Back inside the room, Lee placed Marella on the bed again and walked to the dressing room. He brought her clean clothes and helped her to dress before getting dressed himself. He had just taken the towels back to the bathroom when there was another knock on the door.
“Come in,” Lee said loudly and the door opened.
Kelley, Mason and Ulrich stepped inside the room. Ulrich went straight to Marella on the bed and pulled surgical gloves onto his hands. “Hello, Marella.”
“Hi, Ulrich.”
“Let’s look at that ankle of yours,” he said with a smile.
Lee hovered and Ulrich gave him a look and Lee reluctantly stepped back and Marella had to hide her smile. Lee had always been protective but his actions now seemed a bit extreme. They’d known Ulrich for years and he was the last man Lee should feel threatened by.
Ulrich pressed his fingers on her ankle that was now blue and swollen. Marella winced a few times and she could see Lee clenching his jaw. Ulrich was as gentle as he could be and wrapped a bandage over her ankle.
“There are no broken bones. Walk assisted when you have to and try not to put too much pressure on it. I can give you some pain meds. Ice it and keep it elevated when you’re resting and that’s unfortunately all I can prescribe you. You’ll be better in a week or so,” Ulrich said.
“Thank you,” Marella said as he stood up and peeled the gloves off and threw them into the trashcan.
“How are you, big guy?”
Lee raised an eyebrow as he looked at Ulrich. “I’m fine. Get out now.”
Ulrich chuckled as he picked up his medical bag and Kelley shook his head at Lee’s rudeness. Marella gave Lee a look as well but he just shrugged as Ulrich headed to the door. “Call me if you need anything, Marella.”
“I will, thank you again, Ulrich,” she said and gave him a small smile.
“Can you all leave now? Fuck sakes,” Lee said as he glared at them all.
Kelley stepped toward him and placed a hand on his shoulder, almost looking Lee in the eye but coming up a bit short. “I’m sorry about Blain.”
They hugged briefly and filed out of the room. Lee exhaled and sat down on the bed next to Marella. He shifted and then lay his head on her stomach, his arms around her. She lowered her hand and ran her fingers through his now longish hair.
