Breaking into my thoughts, the nurse with the reassuring smile says, “She’s in ICU. You can stay for a few minutes. I can’t tell you about her condition, but she is lucky to be alive.”
Standing at the entrance to her room, I take a deep breath and enter the room.
Nora’s tiny frame is lost in the large bed, hooked up to beeping monitors and several bags of fluids pumping into her.
Nora looks nothing like she did last night. She’s bruised; purple and black color her face. The staff hasn’t even taken the time to clean the blood out of her hair. I’m grateful that the wound on her stomach is covered by a blanket. Honestly, her face is more than enough.
The nurse follows me in and walks over to adjust her IV, making sure she is comfortable.
I finally catch the nurse’s name tag, Betsy. Betsy says softly, “Hun, she sustained a head trauma and she hasn’t opened her eyes yet, but if you talk to her, I’m sure she can hear you.”
A head trauma? Christ, what did this asshole put her through? I sit on the chair beside her and keep my eyes on the nurse finishing up some paper work. Looking at Nora is becoming harder, and I’m not sure why.
Yes, I’m attracted to her, but this feels so different. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s hurt or something else. I need to keep my shit together and do what I’m good at. I’ll find out who this fucker is and make him pay.
Betsy finally leaves. I’m alone with Nora. I’m unsettled and unsure what to do next. I don’t know her, really. I started out last night hoping to get laid and maybe take her on a few dates, like I usually do, but between last night and today something strange has happened. I don’t have the words for it, but I have an overwhelming desire to protect her.
Looking at her blood-stained hands, I reach out without hesitation to touch her hand. It’s soft and warm. I bring her hand up to my lips. This makes me feel better, but the guilt I feel for leaving her last night is overwhelming.
I can’t help but say my thoughts out loud to her, “I’m so sorry, Nora. I shouldn’t have left last night. Things would have been so different.”
I have no idea how long I’ve been in here when Betsy clears her throat to get my attention. “Dear, she needs her rest. You can join the family in the waiting room.”
I nod and let go of Nora’s hand. I glance up at her face. She looks peaceful and content. No sign of pain, but the bruises and blood tell a different story.
I pass Betsy and she points me in the direction of the waiting room. Max and Jenny are sitting on the black leather chairs. The room immediately makes me feel uncomfortable. It’s very sterile and quiet, too quiet. There is no color on the walls other than some medical posters.
I make my way to where they are sitting. Jenny’s head is on Max’s large shoulder. They don’t even see me, so I clear my throat. Jenny’s blonde head immediately pops up.
“Jase, is she okay?” Jenny asks, her voice full of trepidation.
“Nora is stable, but she might be hard for you to look at. You need to prepare yourself.”
Jenny wipes the tears from her eyes. “She’s going to be okay, right Jase? I mean, you can make sure she gets the best care, right?”
“Nora is stable and resting comfortably. I’ll take care of whatever arrangements need to be made.”
Jenny leaps into my arms. “Jase, thank you,” she whispers against my neck. Pulling away from me, her eyes widen, and a gasp escapes her. “Oh, God—Jase, is that…blood?”
With all my attention on Jenny, I just notice Max standing behind her. Luckily he is, because her legs give out and he catches her in his arms.
I forgot; I’m still covered with Nora’s blood.
Acting like I don’t notice Jenny’s reaction, I focus my attention on Max. “Did you get ahold of her parents?”
Max speaks quietly over Jenny’s head, as he strokes her forehead. “I did; they’re on their way.”
“Okay, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get started on some calls.”
Instead of doing what I just said, I enter the men’s restroom. The first thing I see is my reflection in the mirror. My hair is everywhere and I’m filthy. Dirt on my face, jacket and T-shirt. Damn, I look like shit.
I just planned on seeing her again, sleeping with her, and that’s it, but this has turned into more than I could have ever bargained for.
I immerse my hands under the hot water and puddle some in my hands to wash off my face. Damn, that feels better.
I place my hands on the sink to hold me up, as thoughts of her face-down in the car start to flood my memory. I can feel my knees weaken again, so I grasp tighter. A vision of the gash through her silk gown that revealed a knife wound plays in my mind.
I glance up and my face is pale, really fucking pale. I need to pull it together. Christ, this isn’t the way this is supposed to work. She’s just a girl, but I know there is more to her, to us. She’s changed things and I’m not sure what to do about it.
I have to calm down…no emotions, no guilt, or anything else. I protect asshole criminals; a first grade teacher should be effortless. Why the fuck is my brain not processing this? I know everyone in this town from lawyers to politicians, the mob to the FBI. I fix the situations that seem unfixable.
I rip a piece of the paper towel from the holder and throw it in the trash. “Let’s do this.”
The first thing that needs done is to make sure I can see her whenever I want. So, I call the president of the hospital and make arrangements. Next, I call Tucker, my head security officer and get him in on the action. He’s in tight with the local police; Officer Grant’s puppet strings will now be pulled by me.
I stay on the phone for the majority of the afternoon. All my plans are in motion.
Max and Jenny wait patiently by Nora’s bedside, while I stay in the waiting room. Distance is best.
Jenny and Max come from the hall where Nora’s room is. I glance up at Jenny, whose face is red and eyes are fixed on me.
“What is this? I asked for your help, not for you to make all the decisions. You’re supposed to be informed before any procedures or medication changes? No one can enter her room without approval? What the fuck, Jase?” Jenny grabs my arm with an alarming amount of strength.
Looks like someone is pissed at me. I stand back and let her take her anger out over what happened to Nora on me.
“I’m her family; this isn’t how we do things, Madsyn. You can’t just swoop in here and throw your weight around. No one cares how powerful you are; this is my sister. She is not your responsibility.”
“Yes, she is.” I simply state. “I assure you and your family, Jenny, she is. I take full responsibility from now on. All decisions will be finalized by me, and when your parents get here, they can intervene when they feel it’s necessary. Any objections?”
Jenny’s face is in awe. Her mouth is hanging open and she’s speechless. That’s probably a first.
“Who the hell do you think you are? You don’t know anything about her.” She’s yelling louder at me. Max’s arms wrap around her tiny waist and he hauls her back from me.
“Jenny, relax, Jase isn’t trying to hurt anyone,” Max says calmly.
“Did you sleep with her last night after the wedding? What did you do, pull a typical Madsyn—leave her right after you fucked her?” Jenny screams.
Max yanks her back even harder and says, “Jenny, that’s enough, you need to calm down for Nora.”
I can feel my face flame; she’s pissing me off. My voice is louder and firm, “I know you’re upset right now, but I didn’t sleep with her. We talked and danced, and that was it. I know I’m not the most innocent person, but don’t question my motives,” I say coldly, and turn my back to her.
I can hear her crying and Max saying something to her.
Next, Max is behind me; I brace myself for his reaction. When I turn to meet him, his large frame is hunched, his hands in his pockets, eyes red, and face ashen. I’ve never seen him like this.
“Man,
I don’t know what to say. I don’t…we don’t understand why you care so much.” He walks closer, takes one hand from his pocket and rubs his hand down his face, then continues. “I get that I told you to do what you could, but this, this is…I can’t even think of a word for it. Why are you even still here? You don’t even know her. I’m just trying to figure it out. Is it because you saved her or do you feel guilty because you didn’t?”
Leave it to Max to fuck with my head. But I can’t lie to him, so here goes the truth.
I can feel my hard exterior soften. “I’m doing it for her. No one deserves what she went though and is still going through. I need to find out what happened…it was on Uncle Joe’s property…we might all be in danger.”
Max shakes his head, “Bullshit, Uncle Joe can take care of himself. This has to do with Nora. You barely know her, and you don’t usually care about anybody but yourself.”
He’s right, in the past it was about me, but now it’s about Nora.
“I do care; that’s the problem.” I slam my fist on the counter. Exhaling a deep breath, I say, “I care, Max, I don’t know why. I just need to make sure she’s okay. Just give me a break? We’ve been through some tough times, man. You know me better than anyone; you have to know I wouldn’t hurt her. She’s your family.”
Max runs his hand over his bald scalp. “I do know you and I’ve never seen you so worried about someone you barely know. That concerns me. She’s one of my best friends and now my sister. You’re causing problems with my wife and her family. My family.” He sighs, “But with all that said, I did ask you for your help, and there is no one else that can protect her like you. If this just so you can get in her pants, I’ll kill you myself.”
A light chuckle escapes me, “Yeah, I got it.”
Max turns, puts his arm around Jenny, and walks back towards Nora’s room.
*****
“Mr. Madsyn?” I look up into the eyes of a man I’ve met before and he’s wearing the same scowl he wore the last time.
“Mr. Skye. What can I do for you?” I wish I felt as confident as my voice comes across. This guy frustrates the hell out of me.
His hand are on his hips, he’s tall, lean, gray haired and looks like he’s aged ten years overnight. “I don’t even know what to say. I can’t even express how I’m feeling right now. My precious little girl is lying in a hospital bed, unrecognizable. There is no rhyme or reason as to why this happened to her. From what I understand, you found her, so I am grateful on the one hand, but on the other, I don’t trust you.”
“Sir…” I try to interrupt, but he’s not having it.
He holds up his hand to stop me, “I see you sitting here in this chair right outside her room and wonder how you’re involved in this. I’ve heard about you and your family. This isn’t making sense.”
Trying to gauge his expression is impossible. Mr. Skye doesn’t look mad or happy, he’s just blank.
“Mr. Skye, as you know, I found Nora on my family’s property. I’d like to personally find out who would commit this heinous crime on our property, and I feel it’s my responsibility to you and your family to make whoever did this pay.”
He’s just staring at me like I’m speaking another language. He calmly states, “It’s not your concern; let the proper authorities handle it. The police happen to be part of my family; you can stop all of this nonsense now.”
“Sir, I understand that you’re her father and want to take care of her, but with all due respect, I’m not walking away from her. I know what I’m doing, how to keep her safe, and I want this bastard caught as much as you do.”
Again, his face is expressionless. I thought I could be intimidating, but this man may be better than me.
“Luke Saunders is here to see Nora. I know that he hasn’t treated her properly in the past, but he is her boyfriend and he wants to see her. Please put his name on the list for approved visitors. I’ve known him for years. I, on the other hand, don’t know you at all. You let Nora make up her mind who she wants in her life.”
With that, he walks back into her room to join Jane. Nora’s mother hasn’t been out of the room since they arrived hours ago.
Wondering why I hadn’t been notified of Luke’s arrival, I dial Tucker.
“Sir, Luke Saunders has not arrived at the hospital yet; he is staying at a local hotel. When he arrives, I will make sure you are the first to know.” Tucker’s voice is monotone, almost as bad as Mr. Skye’s.
Luke must have called Mr. Skye and asked to see her. The thought of another man wanting to see her does not sit well with me. I felt like punching someone and downing some Jack Daniels and Coke right now.
Feeling frustrated, I leave my post and head to the waiting room. It’s a quiet place. No one to talk to or disturb me. I start making calls again. Uncle Joe informs me that the local police force is processing evidence that includes the knife, but as of right now, no fingerprints have been left on it or anywhere.
Uncle Joe also questioned all the officers on duty last night, and no one saw a thing. That isn’t sitting well with me. Twenty guys and no one saw an innocent woman almost beaten to death and tied to a car.
The security team is composed of some of my best guys, as well as Uncle Joe’s, and a few of Senator Malone’s. Everyone on duty that night had excellent credentials. This should not have happened.
Every guest that entered had to be approved and body searched to enter that damn wedding.
I have several of my guys combing through surveillance videos. The only camera focused on the guest house was disconnected some time before the wedding ended.
I look down at my watch; it’s three in the morning. Checking my phone, there is a text from Tucker. He stomps out of the room like a small child.
Saunders never left hotel; parents left around two forty five.
I decide to peek in on Nora and make sure she’s okay. Dead tired and eager to see her, I trudge down the hall. As the door opens, the sound of beeping machines fills the room.
Again, she looks so small in that bed, but at least she’s been cleaned up. No more blood in her hair or on her hands. Even battered and bruised, she still looks beautiful.
Not being able to stop myself, I sit in the chair beside her bed and grab her hand. I just need to feel her again. Placing her hand against my lips, I whisper, “Oh, pretty girl, who would do this to you?”
Chapter Nine
Nora
Beep, beep, beep. What? Oh, my head. Uh…I try to will my eyes open, but they won’t listen to me. I can hear noises and feel something on my hand. What? Wake up, Nora. I tell myself again. Wake up, damn it.
Finally, my eyes listen and open a slit. Immediately, the light stabs my fragile eyes and the noise amplifies. The beeping gets louder and the pain…there is so much pain. It’s blurry, and before I can focus on anything, I shut my eyes again. Never mind.
“Nora, I’m so sorry.”
I try to concentrate on the voice, but the pain interferes. My head throbs the way my heart beats after a long run. The pain emanating from my side is beyond excruciating.
Why am I in so much agony and what the hell is all that beeping? I try again to wake up. I need to make that noise stop.
As I finally get my stubborn eyes to open, the stupid light intensifies the stabbing feeling and I wince. Automatically, my hand tries to cover my eyes, but someone is holding it. My curiosity overrides the pain. When I focus, I see that a man is holding my hand, his head resting beside it on my bed.
Panic floods my brain. Who is this? What’s going on? Where am I? Oh, God, a hospital? No!
I try to yank my hand away, but he only holds it tighter. My mouth opens to scream, but quickly shuts when I recognize his dark hair and the sexy jaw line I studied for hours the night before.
Jase.
Why is he here? I search my brain for my last memory of him and remember that he dropped me off at the wedding before he drove away. The wedding! Jenny and Max? Are they okay?
; Jase groans and I freeze. Long eyelashes frame his oval eyes and flutter open. When he sees me studying him, they open wider in recognition. He quickly sits up, looking dazed and tired. Somehow, he still manages to look sexy.
“You’re awake! How are you feeling?” he asks.
“Sore,” I croak. “What’s going on?”
“Can I get you anything?” He stands and reaches for a button on my bed rail. When a tone rings, his voice changes from concerned to serious and he says, “Ms. Skye is awake.”
I’m not sure what the hell is going on. Why is he here? Where is my family?
“Jase, where are Jenny and Max?” My voice is so hoarse, I can barely hear what I’ve just said.
His tone changes back to concerned. “Everybody is fine; do you know where you are? How you got here?” he asks slowly.
I try to swallow, but find it very difficult. Jase must notice, because a cup of water is in front of me immediately, but what is even more surprising is that he’s placing the small cup against my lips. I take a sip; the cold liquid feels like heaven.
Once I give up my little piece of heaven, I answer honestly. “A hospital, obviously. How did I get here? What happened?”
Jase places the small cup on the stand in front of me and sits back down. My eyes start to function better. The light isn’t bright at all. In fact, it’s very dim, and the moon shines in the window behind him.
“Nora, someone…attacked you. You suffered a slight concussion, some cuts and bruises and a laceration on your side. Luckily not deep, it didn’t pierce anything, no internal bleeding. I found you,” Jase states very seriously.
“You found me? I don’t remember. Who attacked me?” I’m starting to become frantic. How could I not remember?
“Do you remember anything from last night?” he asks. His hand takes mine as his brows knit in a frown.
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