“We’re going to have to sedate her,” one nurse said.
“Like hell you are,” I shouted.
Shannon immediately stopped fighting and turned her head in my direction. Tears filled her eyes as she sobbed out my name. Hurrying to her bed side, I gathered her in my arms, carefully. My own tears fell to her shoulder. To keep from hurting her, I tangled my hands at the back of her head and held her against me. She had her arms around me, running her hands up and down my back as if to comfort me. Pulling back, I look into her eyes. Her tears still fell, just as mine did. Leaning down, I kissed her lips softly. When I kissed her, I had only intended it to be a reassurance that she was still there and she didn’t hate me for what happened to her, but Shannon had other plans. She pulled me closer to her and kissed me deeply.
“We’ll just come back in a few minutes. Give you guys time alone together.” Someone said behind me.
Next thing I heard was the door close. Cupping her face gently in my hands, she began to sob as she broke our kiss. I held her closely to my chest.
“I’m so sorry, Princess. I never intended for this to happen. If I would have known…”
She sat up looking at me confused. “How are you even blaming yourself for this?”
“Baby, I brought her to you. She only hurt you because she was coming for me. Her husband said…”
Her eyes widened. “She has a husband? Was he one of the men that took me? Oh the bald guy, his name is Ceo. I kept repeating his name over and over in my head so I remembered. Did you catch them or will they be coming after me again? Or worse coming after you?”
Cupping her neck, I ran my thumbs along her jaw line. “Calm down baby. We got them all. We’ll talk about all this later. Right now, I just want to hold you, fill myself with the warmth of you. Maybe then I can convince myself you are alive and with me.”
Stretching out on the bed next to her, I opened my arms for her. She was safe. I breathed a small sigh of relief as I wrapped my arms gently around her.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Shannon
I was safe.
When I felt his arms wrap around me, a fresh bout of tears started to escape. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t stop them. The fear, the pain, the loss, it all overflowed at once. What hurt the most right now was the terror I saw on the girls’ faces and the injuries Colleen suffered. That thought caused me to sit up quickly and groan in pain.
“What?” Jackson asked confused.
“The girls are they okay?”
“They’re fine,” he said softly as he pulled me back into his arms.
My sobs grew more intense. The danger I put them in. How were they ever going to forgive me? How could anyone forgive me? I’ve ruined everyone’s lives. Unknowingly, I brought danger to this family that has suffered far too much.
“Shh, baby. They’re okay. I promise. Everyone’s worried about you. Maybe if you want we can go for a little walk later and go see them.”
“They’re in the hospital,” I shriek shocked. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry.” I swing my legs over the side of the bed, when Jackson’s arms come around me and pull me back into his chest.
“This is one of the reasons I love you so much. Always so concerned for others and never for yourself. I guess it’s a good thing that I’m here. I’m concerned about you and I want you to stay right here, just for a little bit. Please.”
As I melted back into his arms, the doctor walked back in. Rolling over, I curled into Jackson, resting my head on his chest. The sound of his heart beat filled my ears. It was strong and steady. The rise and fall of his chest, slightly raising and lowering my head, lulled me to sleep.
Waking the next morning, I felt rested and the pain had decreased by a lot. Turning a bit, Jackson’s arms still circled around me. I needed his strength. It gave me strength to keep pushing. Trailing my fingers down his face lightly, I slightly ran my finger across his lower lip before lowering my head and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.
“Mmm,” he moaned half asleep.
I giggle.
“I love that sound. It’s like music to my ears especially now,” he whispered opening his eyes, meeting mine.
“Good Morning,” I say with a shy smile.
“Good Morning, beautiful. Did you sleep well?” He asked as he stretched.
“Surprisingly, I did. You?”
“Much better than I thought I would. You missed what the doctor had to say yesterday,” he smiled at me.
“Anything wrong?” He shook his head. “Then I don’t care what he had to say. I am hungry though. I want real food. Can you get me some?” I smile bit at him.
“Of course, anything for you. Do you want anything specific?”
“Surprise me, you know what I like,” I grinned.
“Mmm, that I do, but it can’t be bought,” he said with a wink then climbed out of the hospital bed.
He slipped on his shoes and walked toward the door. Looking back at me, he wore a look of apprehension on his face.
Smiling brightly, “I’ll be fine. Just hurry because I’m starved.”
He stared at me a moment longer before finally walking out the door. Honestly, I knew how he felt. The minute he left the room, I got nervous. My heart beat away in my chest sending my blood roaring through my ears, effectively deafening me.
The doctor came in and was talking to me. I listened but after a bit I zone out and my mind began to race for a whole new reason. It seemed like ages before Jackson came back. When he walked into the room, I ran into his arms and held him tightly. He walked us awkwardly to the little dinner tray setting everything down before wrapping his arms around me.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” He asked as he lightly ran his hands up and down my back.
“I wasn’t ready for you to leave,” I whispered. “I’m sorry…”
“Don’t apologize! I wasn’t ready to leave you either. Actually I think I should warn you, I just might be a bit clingy for a little while,” he whispered into my neck.
I laugh. “We are quite the mess, aren’t we?”
His hot breath danced against my skin as he laughed. “I think it’s to be expected. Now let’s eat before this food gets cold.”
We sit next to each other on the edge of the bed. He pulls out a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit with hashbrowns and an orange juice. He pulled out the same for him only double sandwiches. We ate in peace for a bit. Both of us were just absorbing the fact that we were together, I think.
“I’m being released,” I say in between bites.
He looks at me shocked. “Seriously with all your stitches?”
“Yup. I assured them I’d be well cared for since I lived with a doctor and all. The very doctor that stitched me up no less,” I say looking at him.
He looked shocked. “They told you huh?”
“Thank you Jackson. I know that couldn’t have been easy for you. The only ones that really bother me are the ones on my butt and back. Did she show you the pictures?” I ask quietly.
“What pictures?” He asked confused.
“When I was knocked out, he kissed me and she took pictures. Then she dressed up like me and took pictures of her having sex and other things with him, but made it look like it was me.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see his fist clenched tightly into a ball. “I didn’t see them,” he said slowly.
“She was having sex with all three of them. Ceo talked about payment. I’m not sure if their payment was her body or what but that’s what it seemed like.”
I couldn’t eat anymore. My appetite was gone because of the current conversation. My brain was torturing me with flashbacks. Would I ever stop thinking about that moment? God I hoped so.
“Did they… I mean were you…”
“No I don’t think so. I’m sorry Jackson.”
“Stop that!” He pushed the tray away and stood up. “Come on, we need a reason to smile,” he said pulling me up to stand with him.
“Where a
re we going?”
“You’ll see.” He smiles.
We start to walk out of the room, when the nurse came back in the room with my discharge papers. After a lengthy discussion about care, we were walking down the hall toward the elevators. I was vibrating with excitement for where he was taking me. He couldn’t quit smiling so it was good I just knew it.
We stopped in front of a door, where he knocked before hollering in. “Hey, you up for visitors?”
I couldn’t hear the reply but he smiled down at me and led me in the room. My breath caught in my throat when I saw Mary in the bed and Tobey lying next to her. What really caught my attention was the beautiful bundle in her arms. My hands flew to my mouth.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Tears started falling, I started to back away.
“No, Shannon. Please…” Mary pleaded.
Just as I turned to run out the door, Jackson grabbed me. He spun me in his arms just as I collapsed in tears. My heart was breaking for the little bundle that came far too early. The pain that Mary had to endure and the panic that Tobey must have been in, all because of me and I cried for all of it.
“Shhh baby. It’s not your fault. Calm down,” he cooed in my ear.
“It’s all my fault. I’ve ruined all of your lives. I’m so sorry,” I sobbed into his chest.
“No, Princess. You’ve only filled our lives never taken from it. Calm down. Shhh I love you, we all do. There’s nothing to be sorry for, baby.”
“Shannon?” I look up and see Tobey standing there. “Come here.” He holds out his hand.
Taking it, he pulls me gently into a hug. “I’m so sorry Tobey, for everything.”
“Bring her over here so I can beat her ass,” Mary teased from the bed.
Looking at Mary’s smiling face, “I’m sorry.”
“Girl if you say I’m sorry one more time, I’ll rip every single one of those stitches out.”
That made me laugh and I walked over and slowly sat in the chair near Mary’s bed. Playing with the bandages on my wrist, I asked quietly, scared for the answer. “Is the baby okay?”
“Mitchell is doing great,” she said softly.
My head snapped up and I stared wide eyed at her. “Wh-what’s his name?”
“Well his full name is Mitchell Elijah Young. We wanted to name him after the two people that were a model of strength to us. You, Sebastian, and Atreyu are so damn strong. We hope our son will be too. Would you like to hold him?”
Tobey handed him to me. I sucked in a bit of a breath as his head hit one of my sections of stitches. Looking down into his precious little face, my heart melted. He was so small, so tiny.
“I can’t get over his cute little button nose,” Jackson said beside me, leaning his chin on my shoulder.
I laugh through my happy tears, “I hope ours has his nose.” Turning I smile at Jackson, then I looked up at Mary. “He is adorable. You must be so proud.”
“We are. He is damn cute, isn’t he?” Mary smiles, proudly.
“I’m sorry to tell ya Tobey, but he doesn’t look anything like you.”
“I know and I’m happy for that,” he jokes back.
My arms started to shake a bit. “Can you take him please Tobey?”
Tobey took Mitchell from me and my arm shook a little more. Excusing myself in a hurry, I headed out of the room. Panic started to build from deep within my stomach, my chest constricted making breathing harder to do.
“It’s your fault they died!”
“I hate you!”
“You walking away yet?”
“No!” My hands shot up to my ears, covering them as I screamed loudly.
“I lost my daughter because of you!”
“How dare you come here, you murderer!”
“I didn’t do it!” I screamed, pain shot through me fiercely.
“You think he hurt you? You’re about to fill a whole lot worse!”
“He’s mine! I’m going to kill you slowly, bitch!”
“Stop! It hurts!” I pull at my hair as I screamed.
“You have nice breasts.”
“Look at your body.”
“Don’t fucking touch me! Get your hands off me!”
Nothing around me registered. I couldn’t breathe. It began to feel like everything was closing in around me. Suddenly, I’m lost running through the woods, lost trying to find my way.
“Shannon?”
I could hear Jack yelling from deep within the woods. I ran toward the sound of his voice.
“Jack! Jack, where are you?”
“I’m here. Can you see me?”
As I spun in a circle, I could see nothing but trees. My heart began to race. Was he lost too? It began to get harder and harder to move. Each step was harder than the last. It was like I was being held back.
“Jack! Something’s wrong, please help me!” I fall to my knees.
My head pounded like a jackhammer to cement. Something touched my face causing me to scream. Quickly, I spun my head around and something hit my back, sending a mind numbing pain spreading through my whole body. The trees shifted above me.
“Save me Jack. Please save me this time,” I sobbed, right before everything went black.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jackson
Forty-Eight hours later…
This had to be the worst two days of my life. This has been the most that I’ve paced, prayed, cursed, cried, and screamed. There, lying in the bed, still unconscious to the world around her, was my world. I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve asked myself why she hasn’t woken up. I knew the drill. Everyone here knew me. I frequented here often helping doctors leave less scars. Now the one person who needs the help the most, I can’t help. Running my hands through my already messed up hair, I paced the room for the billionth time.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor, you know?”
“Shut up.”
“You’ll fall through the floor then.”
“Shut up,” I hiss getting more agitated.
“Unless you have some cool super power and can walk on air.”
“Shut up!” I yelled.
“Actually, that’d be kind of cool…”
“Shut the fuck up!” I roared.
“Dude someone’s testy,” He held his hands up in mock defense.
“My fiancée is lying there in a hospital bed after losing it in the hallway of the maternity ward. She hasn’t woken in two fucking days! I have a right to be testy. Why is it that you’re here anyway? To annoy me?”
“I have my reasons,” he says guarded suddenly.
“Yeah? Well, you’re going to start talking now or all this that’s going on in my head is going to be taken out on you,” I hissed.
“You got a problem with me. I, too, have my own things going on in my head. Believe me,” Danger’s voice darkens, “you don’t want me to take them out on you.”
“Stop yelling,” came a scratchy groan from behind me.
Danger forgotten, I ran to Shannon’s side. Taking her hand in mine, I lightly ran my fingers down her cheek, as her eyes flickered opened before she closed them on a groan.
“Princess? How are you feeling?”
“My…” she licks her lips. “My head and throat hurt,” she licks her lips again, pursing her lips. “I’m thirsty,” she says hoarsely.
“Make yourself useful and get some ice water.”
“I’m no one’s slave.”
I turned around and glared at him. “I don’t know what your fucking problem is, but you wanted to be here, now fucking help!”
“Jack,” her voice cracked.
I turned back to her, taking hold of her hand again. “Shh, don’t talk. We’re getting you water right now.”
I heard Danger huff behind me before walking out of the room. That man was pissing me off, but I had to be thankful for him. He allowed me to get to Shannon and took on Ceo. He had to have a few stitches and I’m sure will be bruising, but other than that, he h
eld his own well.
“Jack, what happened?” She asked, opening her eyes again.
When our eyes met, mine filled with tears as relief flowed through me. “They call it a break, a sign of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We were in seeing Mitchell and…”
She gasped and her hand tightened fractionally around mine. “Is Mitchell okay?”
“Yes,” I nodded. “You told Tobey to take him and ran from the room.” Running my finger down her cheek, “Do you remember anything?”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her eyes darted about behind her closed lids. She took another deep breath. “I remember screaming for you. The doctors wouldn’t let me go to you, but then you showed up.” Her eyes moved faster behind her eyelids before they shot open and she gasped for air.
“Princess? What’s wrong?” Tears welled in my eyes. My heart was breaking from the helpless feeling that was taking over me.
Her head turns slowly toward me. She stares at me as if she couldn’t believe who I was. Tears welled in her eyes and she began to shake. Shifting to the bed, I wrapped her in my arms and held her. Just then, Danger walked in with water and a nurse.
The nurse asked me to get off the bed and she went about checking her vitals. Shannon whispered something to the nurse. The nurse smiled and whispered back. A teary smile spread across her face. Whatever the nurse said brought her a sense of peace.
“I’ll be back in a little bit with the doctor. He’ll decide on your discharge, okay?”
“Thank you,” Shannon said in a raspy voice.
Taking the cup from Danger, I sat down on the bed and raised it to her lips. Shannon took a few sips before laying her head back to the pillows. It was then her eyes landed on Danger.
“Oh sweetie, this is Danger. Danger this is my fiancée, Shannon.”
“That’s a real name?” She asked with a smirk.
“Yeah. My real name. From a mother that looked at me, saw my father, and turned away,” he said almost with a sneer. “I need to talk to you, Ms. Mitchell, in private,” he said looking at me.
“I don’t think so. I’m not leaving her side.”
Tough Love (Hidden Secrets) Page 24