Searching for Winslet (Fallport Rescue Operations #5)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Winslet sat at the small table in the waiting room with Weston. It had been four hours since they wheeled Jett into surgery. Deep down, she knew Jett was going to be just fine. They needed to get in, get the bullet out, and assess the damage. But at the end of the day, he wasn’t going to die.

“You need to know we found remains in your father’s backyard. State called in another forensic anthropologist,” Weston said. “You’re too close to this one.”

“Yeah. I’ll agree with you on that one.” She swallowed.

“I interviewed your dad. He admitted to me that the body buried in his backyard is his father, but we have to go through the motions.”

“Jesus.” Her stomach twisted and churned. Bile filled her throat. “We’ve lived in two homes since I was born. Did he bring his dad with him wherever he went?”

Weston nodded. “He moved Hannah about fifteen years ago. But he felt like he needed to keep his dad close. I know that’s weird and feels like a trophy, but he’s not a serial killer.”

“But he is a murderer.”

“He signed a confession. He’s using a public defender, which is fine, but it’s almost like he’s given up. Resigned to the fact he’ll most likely spend the rest of his life in prison.” Weston took her hands. “I wish we got to Jett’s place sooner.”

Her mom and sister came barreling through the doors. “Winslet.” Her mother yanked her from the chair and hugged her so tight she could barely breathe. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been so worried about you.”

“I’m fine. It’s Jett who got shot,” she mumbled as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“I can’t believe all this is happening. That your father… my husband… I’m… I… I just don’t… Oh my God… What are we going to do?”

The impact of her mother’s words slapped her heart like a runaway train. She held her mom while she sobbed in her arms. Her poor mother’s world had flipped on its head.

“Mom, it’s going to be okay.” She stroked her mother’s hair. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Dad did and no one in this town is going to hold you responsible for his actions.”

“I’ve been living with… living with… a monster.” Her mother hiccupped.

Winslet cupped her mom’s face and stared into her bloodshot eyes. “Don’t go blaming yourself for something you can’t control. You didn’t know. None of us did. Not even the cops. And they have been looking for years. All we can do now is pick up the pieces of our lives, hold our heads high, and keep living.” Damn, there was something to Jett’s way of thinking. To his pragmatic way of life.

She still needed to go through all the grief. All the emotions. All the feelings of what was to come. And she knew it would be hell.

But living her life would be the best medicine.

“I don’t know how I’m going to be able to even leave my house,” her mother whispered.

“Mom.” Tammy wrapped her arm around their mother’s shoulders. “We have each other. We’ll be okay no matter what.”

A doctor appeared in the doorway.

Winslet turned, squeezing her mother’s hand. “Is Jett out of surgery?”

“Yes.” The doctor nodded. “Everything went well. The bullet landed in some scar tissue. We removed it, cleaned everything up, and Jett will be as good as new in no time. It’s amazing what that man has endured in his life. While this wasn’t a life-threatening injury, Jett is damn lucky to be alive.”

“Can I see him?” Winslet asked.

“He’s doped up, so he’s feeling mighty good right about now. But he’s asking for you,” the doctor said.

“We’ll leave you to visit your boyfriend.” Her mother gave her a big hug.

“No. I don’t want you to leave.” She took her mom by the forearms. “We all need to heal, and we need each other. I need you. I want you to stay. Both you and Tammy. That is if you want to.”

“Of course I do.” Her mom kissed her cheek. “I love you girls so much.”

“I love you too.” Things were far from good with her family. But she was going to make damn sure that she had a decent relationship with her sister.

And her mother.

This dark cloud that lived over their heads for decades was going to disperse. It would take time. But Fallport had seen its fair share of scandal. The Payne girls were strong. They would get through this.

And she would find a way to have Jett in her life.

Jett desperately wanted to push the pain med button. But he knew the second he did that, he’d be higher than a kite and probably half-asleep.

Or more than likely, completely passed out for a good hour.

He knew the drill.

Been there. Done that.

Too many fucking times.

The curtain swung open.

Thank God.

He smiled. “Boy, are you a sight for sore eyes.”

Winslet sat on the edge of the bed and took his hand. “This better be the last time you take a bullet—for anyone.”

He chuckled. “I can get down with that plan.” He reached up with his good arm and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Why are you crying?”

“I just saw my mom. She’s a hot mess. She’s so worried about what everyone in this town is going to think of her. Of us.”

“And what about you?”

She cocked her head. “I used to always worry about that. I hated how my father was openly cheating on my mom. Or the rumors about my grandfather. But now that the truth is out there—for everyone to judge—I seem less concerned. People have an opinion of me. They are going to whisper about what happened. But eventually, it will die down. Another scandal will happen. I mean, look at Haven. She went through hell when she came back to this town. But no one ever talks about that anymore.”

“You’re starting to sound like me now.”

“I’m beginning to think there’s something to your pragmatic approach to life.”

He took her hand and kissed the palm. “As long as you don’t go and do what I’ve done and stuff those emotions so deep you don’t feel them.”

She arched a brow. “What does that mean?”

“While your dad was waving his gun around, mostly pointing at you. And then in here waiting for you to come see me. I’ve had some time to ponder my life.”

“Should I be scared?”

“Maybe.” He was utterly terrified she was going to go running out of the room and disappear from his life forever. “When we first met, you accused me of what most women have. Being emotionless. And you wouldn’t be completely wrong. While I feel like everyone else does, I don’t allow those emotions to linger. Especially painful ones.” He pressed his finger over her lips when she opened her mouth. “For example. When Kiki left me. I was honestly devastated. I did love her. I won’t deny that. Same with Becky. But I stuffed that pain. I chose to ignore it. I chose not to fight. And I chose to close myself off. I won’t do that again. I love you. I know it’s fast. I certainly know you’re dealing with a lot. However, I want to be the guy who helps you through it all. I don’t care if it’s here in Fallport or somewhere else. Geography doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we do it together.” He spoke so fast that he could barely understand the words that tumbled out of his mouth. Jeez, he hoped he made sense.

“Are you trying to tell me you’d quit your job and follow me if I decided not to take the professorship?” Her lashes fluttered fast and furious over her big, beautiful eyes.

“Yes. Because I love you. I want to be with you. I want to create a life with you. I want a future with you and I won’t let you walk out of my life without putting up a fight.”

“You couldn’t take me right now if you tried.” She wiped away the tears and smiled.

He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Are you seriously not going to respond to the fact that I’ve said I love you now three times?”

“You’re totally drugged. I want to hear you say it when you’re not in this hospital bed or on any pain meds.”

“That’s kicking a man when he’s down.”

She leaned over and kissed him tenderly. “The doctor said he’s releasing you tomorrow. If you want me to nurse you back to health, that’s the way it’s going to be.”

“You drive a hard bargain.” He raised the button that would release more of the good stuff into his system. “I’m going to hit this and I’ll be asleep in a matter of seconds.”

“I’ll be here when you wake up,” she whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good to know.” He tapped it. Warmth filled his veins. A numbness came over his body. He stared into her loving eyes. Whatever this woman wanted, he’d give it to her.

He’d been searching for Winslet his whole life. She was his soul. His heart. His world.

“Sleep,” she said.

His eyelids grew heavy.

“I do love you, Jett.”

Or at least that’s what he thought he heard her say as he drifted off into a blissful dream state where the world made sense and Winslet would always love him.