Page 51 of April’s Fool

Hours on the road, April’s phone in my pocket, its screen shattered beyond repair, we’re heading for a hotel she stopped at. We’re still thirty minutes out when we have to stop for gas, and my phone rings.

Reaching into my pocket, I glance at the screen as I pull my phone out, not recognizing the number.

“Yeah,” I answer, holding the phone to my ear.

“Hello?” a woman responds. “Is this Beckham Underwood?”

“Yeah, who’s this?” I demand, my gut tightening. No one ever calls me by my name, except April, when I’m buried inside her.

“I’m Detective Brighton. Your contact information was set as the emergency number on April Underwood’s iPad.”

The knot in my gut tightens the more she talks.

“She’s my wife. Is she okay?” I hadn’t even realized she’d done that. I knew she was waiting for her new ID and whatnot to arrive, but she already started changing her stuff to my last name. Well, our last name.

“Your wife is at the hospital after being attacked in a hotel room. She’s⁠—”

“What hospital?” I demand, cutting her off.

“Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital off HWY 60 in Lexington,” she answers.

“Right, I’m on my way. I’m thirty minutes outside of Lexington.”

“You should know. . .” she pauses. “She’s in rough shape. Brace yourself when you see her.”

“Right,” I growl, clenching the phone.

“I will meet you there.”

“Yeah.” I hang up and look at my brothers, all watching me. “She’s at a hospital in Lexington.”

“What the hell happened?” Rex demands.

“All I know is she was attacked. That was a detective. Evidently, April had me listed as her emergency contact on her iPad.” If it was on her iPad, it’d have been on her phone as well. I could have had Rimfire check that if I’d thought about it. April always took her laptop and iPad wherever she went.

“Then let’s get the fuck moving,” Cannon barks.

I’m already ready to roll, my tank is full. I was just waiting for them to finish up. Guess they did that while I was on the phone.

Together, we pull out of the gas station and back onto the road, heading straight for my woman. I hope, like hell, she’s okay. She better be. When I find out who attacked her, I’ll end them. I don’t give two shits about the law. No one fucks with mine and gets away with it.

Chapter 24

APRIL

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The noise is insistent as I wake up. But it’s not the noise that bothers me so much as the fire in my throat, which becomes overwhelming. Tears fill my eyes as a whimper escapes.

What happened to me? Why does my throat hurt so badly?

“Easy, sweets.” I hear his voice, feel his hand in mine, but I’m not sure I’m ready to face him. “You’re safe. I’m right here with you.”

Hearing his voice puts a crushing weight on my heart. The memory of him in his room with another woman.

Now, he’s right here with me. But why? Why would he want someone like me, who’s stupid and completely foolish?

He could have any woman he wants. It’s a proven fact. I heard him in his room.