by R. M. Sotera
“Jordan—calm down. Listen to me, you can’t touch him. If you do, you are going to get arrested. ”
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Jordan took a breath, one that rattled his chest to the core. “Let me go, now! I don’t give a shit what happens to me. I am going to crush his fucking skull for hurting her.”
Jamison squeezed him tighter. “Damnit, listen to me! He still hasn’t divulged where Cindi is, and—Paige is dead!” Ennisbrooke let out a high-shrilled laugh before he laid his head back against the wall. “You assholes, you will never find that magenta-haired firecracker.”
That was it. Jordan was killing this asshole now.
Jamison reinforced his hold on Jordan again and then pulled him into a bear hug right before he pushed him backward and up against the wall. Inches from his face, he whispered, “Jordan, get a hold of yourself. I know you want to kill him. I do, too. But if we don’t find Cindi, she is going to die. Do you want that? How are you going to explain to your wife that you let her best friend die?” He lowered his head. “Buddy, I know I am asking a lot from you, but you have got to calm down.”
The sweat poured from Jamison’s brow. Jordan sighed. Jamison was right. She would die if anything ever happened to Cindi. He couldn’t let Cindi die. They had to rescue her. With that, his thoughts began to clear, and his heartbeat slowly returned to normal.
“You’re right. I’m not thinking straight,” he admitted, then rotated his head in the direction that Ennisbrooke stood detained, slouching against the wall. Before he could move his lips to say anything, a voice echoed from the basement, “Hey, there is another door down here.”
As if someone had yelled “fire,” Jamison and Jordan raced for the stairs, taking them two at a time. When they reached the bottom, a police officer motioned for them to follow him through a tiny opening in the side of the far wall in the basement.
Jordan stepped through the hole first, then the police officer, followed by Jamison close behind. Standing on the other side was
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another wooden door. All three men stood dumbfounded, staring at each other. None of them had keys.
Jordan remembered the keys in Mia’s room. The ones they didn’t use since he’d decided to break the door down. “Listen, the key ring that had the key that would have opened the room where Ennisbrooke detained Mia, had other keys on it.”
Before anyone could say another word, he was gone. He reached the dungeon holding his wife, and once again, the fury inside him bubbled against his chest. He wanted to rip every inch of tubing and monitors from her bruised limbs. Calm down. She’s going to make it.
Please, God. I know that I’m not one of your believers, but she is.
She’s everything good in this world. I don’t deserve her. Look what I’ve done to her.
For a moment, his gaze transfixed on her lifeless body as the paramedics buzzed around the room, still busy removing the attached devices. Taking a deep breath, he let the air fill his lungs before he asked the chief for the keys. His voice reeked of the sadness spilling from his heart. After a touch of his lips to her forehead, he vanished from the room.
* * * *
The key fit the door like a glove. With one click of the bolt, Jordan and Jamison rushed inside and instantly stopped in their tracks.
In the middle of the room sat an old dentist-style chair with Cindi cowering in the middle, her head in her hands. She wasn’t bound, but her clothes were shredded, and the remains of dried blood covered her arms and legs. A slow, steady whimper filled the drafty room.
Jordan carefully put his arms around her shoulders, and at the same time Jamison clasped her hands. Without warning, like defibrillators crushing her chest, she raised her head and screamed,
“Where the fuck is Mia, you asshole. I am going to give you another ass kicking if you so much as touched a hair on her head.” 216
Like a wild animal she began slamming her body against the cracked plastic of the chair. Jamison tightened his grip. “Cindi, honey, it’s me, Jamison.”
Half crazed, she stopped and narrowed her gaze on them. Then, like nature had released a dam, tears began to run down her face.
“Where is Mia? Oh God, please tell me she is not dead. I didn’t protect her. I always protect her. Always.” Jordan caressed her cheek. “Cindi, sweetie, Mia is in the next room. She isn’t dead. The paramedics are working on her right now.
She should be on her way to the hospital shortly.”
“I tried to fight that asshole. I tried to get to her. He is a coward. I beat the shit out of him, but fighting a door…I couldn’t do. I couldn’t break out of here. I am so sorry, Jordan.” She moved her hands to her face to cover herself from view, but instead Jamison reached in and pulled her into his arms. Like a small fragile child, she hugged him as he lifted her into his arms.
Jordan sighed and stepped back. Jamison glanced at him, smoothing Cindi’s hair with the palm of his hand. “Go be with Mia. I have her. We will meet you at the hospital.” Before he could step through the hole, Jamison cleared his throat.
The lines of his face etched up with deep concern. “Listen to me, buddy, don’t go upstairs. Leave Ennisbrooke to the police.”
“I’ll leave him to the police for now.” He raked his fingers down the length of his hair. “He’d better hope and pray that my wife and her best friend come through this. I guarantee you if they don’t, he is dead. Plain and simple.”
Before Jamison could say another word, Jordan disappeared.
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Chapter Nineteen
Jordan followed the paramedics into the emergency entrance at St.
Rose Hospital. His eyes remained glued to her chestnut hair, watching it glide gently off the gurney as they wheeled her through the ER. Her eyes remained closed, and the compact vital-signs machine hooked to her chest slowly hummed.
He looked around the emergency room. There were very few people waiting. The many times in his life that he experienced the emergency room, it was usually overflowing with people. Strange ones. He continued following the path that the paramedics took until suddenly, two strong hands reached out and forced him to stop.
“Excuse me, sir, but you can’t go any further,” an authoritative voice echoed.
He glared at the figure possessing the voice, and then the young man put a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Young man, I would advise you to take your hands off of me.
That is my wife they are admitting. And come hell or high water, I am not leaving her side.” Back off before I throw you through those glass doors.
“Of course, sir, I understand you want to be with her. But we need to get her admitted and see what we are dealing with. I promise I will keep you informed. And when she is in her private room, I will take you there personally,” the boy said, all the while trying to nudge him back out the double doors.
Angry, he reached up and grasped the black-haired young man’s hand from his shoulder. He tried desperately to control himself, when 218
all he wanted to do was fling the little nurse boy across the room.
Don’t fuck with me now.
“I am not leaving her. End of story. Now deal with it.” He sucked in a deep breath and then glanced into the man’s frightened face. For god’s sake, the boy looked like he was going to cry. He leveled the best compassionate gaze he could muster. “I understand you are doing your job, but like I said, I am not leaving her side.” The man-boy stood for a moment, appearing to contemplate what he should do. He looked like a college student. “Sir, I really don’t want to get fired. This is my second day on the job, and if I lose this apprenticeship, it will take another semester before I can get into another one, if they well even accept me once I am fired. Please—
isn’t there some way we can work this out? I promise I will keep my eye on what is happening with your wife and keep you updated on her progress.”
Jordan sucked in the stale air and tried his best to clear his mind.
He glanced
at college boy again. Oh hell. He was a young kid, kind of reminded him of Tristan. The last thing Jordan wanted to do was get the poor kid fired. “So, what is your name?” The young man gawked at him with big green eyes and nervously licked the top of his lip. “My name is Kyle—sir.”
“Well hello, Kyle. I’m Jordan De L’croix, and that woman in there is my wife Mia.” He reached out, inviting a handshake. Perhaps a little compassion might go a long way.
Nervously, Kyle reciprocated. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Now, I don’t want to get you fired, Kyle, but I need to know everything that is going on with my wife. I am going to put my trust in you. I would advise you not to fuck it up.” Kyle curved his lips into a slight smile. “Mr. De L’croix—I–I…”
“Please, call me Jordan.”
“Okay—Jordan. I’ll make sure that you know everything that is going on in the restricted area. I’ll go right now and be back shortly
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with a report.” The young college man sighed and then released his strong grip.
“Good—I’m counting on you.” He forced a smile. He didn’t want the kid to be too freaked out by him. Jordan was well aware of his scare factor.
Immediately, the apprentice took off through the metal double doors, giving Jordan the opportunity to step backward against the wall. With his heart heavy and his mind exhausted, he closed his eyes.
In the distance, buzzers sounded and faint voices echoed. He forced himself away from the wall and glanced down the long hallway to the glass windows lining the back wall. A few minutes later, he stood at the massive windows looking out over the strip in plenty of time to see the moon slowly moving the sun out of sight, twilight time.
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Chapter Twenty
I stood in the field of wildflowers. The vivid purple, red, yellow, and orange colors danced in my view. Gazing across the vast field, I saw the silver hair of her bun gathered tightly above her head. Then I inhaled the floral scent that was all around me and my legs began to move toward her. She still looked like she did just before she died.
She even wore the same A-line, black dress that slightly covered her knees. Nona?
My body felt light as a feather. The pain was finally gone. But where was I? I looked back at the darkened sky behind me.
Something was pulling me back toward the darkness, but I wanted to go toward her, toward the light that was coiled around her fragile limbs. If I could reach her, maybe she would acknowledge me again.
Accept me into her arms and make the fear that was ripping my soul open disappear, she had loved me…once. I remember the words “Mia, I love you grandchild,” coming from her parted lips. Or had it been a dream?
A low, buzzing sound was ringing through the light-aqua sky like someone was scraping their nails against the chalkboard. What was that sound? I looked back just in time to see the sky changing to ebony. And that sound, now it was piercing my eardrums. I fell to my knees, burying my face in my palms. Please make the sound stop.
* * * *
The door to Jordan’s right flung open and a male nurse came running. “She’s flatlining!”
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Jordan heard the words from the hallway. Flatlining? Without even thinking about his actions, he moved through the open door that lead to the emergency triage area. Fear moved his body faster than he thought humanly possible, and he kept moving until he reached the room with the commotion. Mass hysteria continued to engulf the small room as the nurse yelled to start CPR. With a strong kick, the doctor pushed the metal cart out of his way before he ripped open Mia’s gown. “We need the vasopressin yesterday.” His voice sliced through the pandemonium.
* * * *
Before the platinum-blonde nurse could flip the cap from the syringe, the doctor snatched it. “Come on, pretty lady, don’t die on us.” The clanging of the syringe hitting the floor sounded just before his voice. “Another round of compressions. Now.” The doctor sped through the room. His swiftness would have made any person dizzy. His piercing blue gaze flashed toward the monitor again. “Come on, Mia, come back to us.” He raked a hand through his silver hair.
An invisible force pushed through Jordan’s body, practically knocking the breath from him. What had he done? His body numbed as the pain of possibly losing her became clear. Karma had finally reached him. The only woman that he truly loved was dying, and it was because of him. The doctor gave the order for another round of compressions, and his words battered Jordan, each time like body blows.
Slowly, the doctor raised his hands from her chest and stepped back. Letting out a beaten and battered breath, he glanced at his wristwatch. “We need to call it. TOD 7:30 p.m. Twilight time.” No, no, no. Please not her. As the pain turned into rage, he wished someone would have driven a knife through his heart. Life without her wouldn’t exist for him. He swallowed an upsurge of sobs. Please, 222
Mia’s God, don’t take her. I swear I will make this right if you spare her life. I’ll walk away, take my skeletons with me. Please. Please.
Damn you! She’s a good woman. Don’t let her die like this. Not because of me.
Ennisbrooke would die tonight. That was his final thought as he dashed from the room.
Halfway down the triage hall, commotion behind him stopped him in his tracks. Nurses and doctors ran in and out of Mia’s room, and the young man from the reception area ran straight toward him.
“Jordan, Jordan, wait. They have a pulse.”
“Mia, darlin’.”
When he reached her room, the doctors were hooking her back up to the machines. He went to her side and pulled her hand into his.
“Mia, honey. I love you. Please, come back to me.” She didn’t move, didn’t even flutter an eyelid, only lay as still as death, but she continued to breathe.
She returned from the brink of death. Happiness moved through his body, counteracted by overwhelming sadness. He had made a promise to her God. And now the promise had to be kept.
He stayed by her side for the next few hours as she slept. Her breath was like music to his ears. He kissed her cheek, letting the tears spill in droves down his face. He cried for her, for himself, and for the happiness he thought they could have had. But now the time had finally come, and regardless of the medical staff’s complaints, he needed to feel her in his arms one more time before he walked out of her life. So, with a heart that felt as if someone had taken a butcher knife to it, he slipped an arm around Mia and pulled her against him.
“I will always love you, Mia. Forgive me for what I must do.” He kissed her cheek, etching her face forever in his mind, and walked out of the room, out of her life, forever.
* * * *
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Months had passed. The pain of losing Jordan hadn’t quite registered with Mia, even after he made it clear that their marriage was a mistake. Physically, she’d almost healed completely, but mentally her heart still ached for Jordan. Jamison was there for her during those first few months when Jordan left, and now the two of them spent a lot of time together. He knew that she still loved Jordan, yet it didn’t faze him. He promised her in time she would forget Jordan. But the problem remained that she didn’t want to forget him.
She loved him too much to forget him.
The gang, minus Jordan, had flown back to Florida to lay Paige to rest. Her funeral was beautiful and attended by many House members.
Jordan had phoned Jamison to let him know when he would attend the viewing, just to make sure Mia wasn’t there. During the funeral service, Jordan didn’t even gaze Mia’s way. She remembered that clearly. She also remembered how badly she felt about Paige’s needless death. The woman didn’t deserve to die at the hands of Ennisbrooke. It was a true tragedy. John Ennisbrooke remained in jail, and Cindi was staying with her temporarily. With everything that had happened in her life, Mia was more than willing to take a mini-vacation when Jamison and Cindi suggested one. So the three of them packed a few bags and headed back to Vega
s to spend a weekend on the strip.
They’d checked into the MGM Grand and were waiting for room service when Jamison mentioned a new club they should check out.
Mia was well aware that Jamison and Cindi felt that she needed to get out, so the three of them were going to Rain, a new club on the strip.
On the ride to the club, Cindi and Jamison discussed the upcoming party, but Mia had no desire to jump into their conversation, so she just stared out the window at the neon lights.
Once inside the club, she excused herself to the restroom. What am I doing here? I’m not ready for this. Too late now, she should’ve played the sick card before they left the hotel. She fixed her makeup and headed back to the bar. That was when she saw Jordan leaning 224
against the bar, with a tall, dark-haired woman on his arm. Running felt like the thing to do, but she couldn’t do that. Tonight, she wanted to look into his eyes when he told her to her face that he never loved her. If she could just get him alone for a few minutes, she could change his mind about them. I know I can.
Her chance was arriving sooner then she had anticipated. He was coming across the bar toward the men’s room.
“Jordan.”
He stopped in front of her, dodged her stare. “Hello, Mia.”
“We need to talk. Please talk to me for a few minutes.” Her heart felt like it was about to jump from her chest. So much for keeping cool, calm, and collected.
“No, darlin’, we don’t need to talk. It’s over. I’m sorry if I hurt you, but again…it’s over.”