Part 26 (1/2)

”I don't know where to start,” Tucker said slowly.

G.o.d, she just wanted to know. Sucking in a big gulp of air, she tried to control her voice so that it wasn't so pathetic and shaky. But it was no use. She was falling apart, and she couldn't get anything out.

”Abby, it's not her. It's not Marley.”

”Oh G.o.d.” She wrapped her arms around her knees, head c.o.c.ked to the side so that the cell stayed in place, and she could hear him. ”Oh G.o.d,” she said again, wincing at the sound of her crazy voice falling like flat stones in the small, enclosed s.p.a.ce. G.o.d, she was going straight to h.e.l.l, because her prayers had been answered. Straight. To. h.e.l.l.

”Who...How did...how do you know?”

”There's a lot to process and talk about and there are still a lot of questions. I can't get into it right now because honestly I have no idea what's going on. This woman...she had all of Marley's ID. We don't know who she is or how she got Marley's stuff or...”

Her heart dropped all the way to the bottom of her feet. ”So, Marley could still be out there?” Good. She sounded like she had her s.h.i.+t together.

”Abby, we just don't know. We're waiting for the doctor's to bring her out of this induced coma they've placed her in. We're hoping once she's conscious, we'll get some answers.”

The knife in her heart twisted. It twisted hard and she had to wait a few seconds until she could speak, and then she whispered, ”Okay.”

”Babe, I miss you so f.u.c.king much.”

”Oh, Tucker.”

”Look, I have to go, but I had to hear your voice, Abby or I was going to go crazy. We have a lot of stuff to talk about...s.h.i.+t,” Tucker's voice broke, and she knew he was hurting...hurting and confused. A fresh batch of tears fell down her face.

”Tucker, it's all right. Go and deal with what you need to do over there. You know where I'll be.”

”Jack and Marley's parents are returning to the US tomorrow. I'll be here a few more days, until we figure this out. Teague's sticking around. I know it's a lot to take in, but I'll explain everything when I see you.”

”Okay,” she whispered in the dark. ”Tucker?”

”Yeah.”

For a moment, she couldn't speak and then when the lump cleared her throat, she said softly. ”I love you.”

There was static. A buzzing in her ear.

And Abby wasn't sure if she was relieved or hurt that he hadn't heard her. But then the static cleared and he was there again. Right there beside her. His voice warm and full of emotion.

”I know, Abby. I just need you to hold on a bit longer and then...and then I can...I'll see you soon.”

And that was it.

Abby wasn't sure how long she stared into the darkness, clutching her cell phone to her chest. But it was long enough for her to know that nothing had changed. She was all in with this man. She would fight for him. There was no other option.

There were so many questions, and she had no answers to any of them. But there was one that she knew for certain. Even if the words hadn't been spoken.

Tucker Simon loved Abby Mathews.

And that's what was going to get her through.

Chapter Twenty-seven.

Three days later, Tucker was running on no sleep and way too much coffee. He was wound up so tight that he'd gone for a run and he'd kept on running. His half-an-hour jog turned into a four-hour escape and by the time he returned to the hotel he and Teague were staying at, he was exhausted.

It was the kind of bone-numbing exhaustion that sleep couldn't fix. h.e.l.l, for all he knew, there was no fixing him.

He was beyond confused, anxious as h.e.l.l for answers, and at the same time, afraid to hear them.

He'd just entered the lobby of the shabby-looking place they'd called home for the last few days when he spotted his brother near the front desk. Teague was nodding to the manager, and it looked as if they were having an intense conversation.

Pulling his T-s.h.i.+rt out of the back of his shorts, Tucker put it on as he made his way over to them.

”Mr. Simon,” the manager said politely. ”I was just telling your brother that we haven't seen you since breakfast.”

Teague whipped around, his face harsh. ”Where the f.u.c.k have you been?”

”Out for a run. Is that a G.o.dd.a.m.n crime?”

”You didn't take your cell.”

Tucker wiped sweat from his brow, a sarcastic comment bubbling up, but then he froze, stomach clenched.

”Is she...is she talking?”

Teague was already headed outside. ”Yeah, Tuck. She's awake. She's finally conscious and talking, so get your a.s.s in gear....-We're headed to the hospital.”

Tucker followed his brother outside where a car was waiting, and they rode to the hospital in silence. He'd been wanting this moment to happen ever since he'd arrived in Havana. But now that he was so close, Tucker wasn't sure he was ready to face a hard truth.

Or maybe nothing at all. Maybe this woman wouldn't have any answers.

”You ready for this?” Teague asked when they pulled up to the hospital. Mr. Sanchez was waiting for them, his face calm as always.

Tucker sighed and ran his hand over the thick stubble on his chin. ”Nope. I have the feeling that my life is about to change again, and I have no idea if it's headed in the direction that I want it to.”

He sank back into the seat and closed his eyes for a moment. ”G.o.d, for the longest time, I wanted Marley alive and well and home with me. It drove me crazy, you know? Thinking that she was out there somewhere. That she needed me. That she was in trouble, and I couldn't get to her.”

His eyes flew open, and he turned to Teague. ”I bought the old Blackheath place.”

Teague didn't say anything at first, most likely because he was thinking that Tucker was f.u.c.king crazy. The old Blackheath place was a rundown Antebellum mansion up the coast, about an hour from his parents place in Florida. The estate was in ruins and had fallen a long way from its notorious beginnings. Built in the 1800's by a pirate, John Le Black, it was home to his wife, a woman of means herself and a lineage traced back to the court in England.