The Unraveling of Raven (The Unraveled Trilogy Book 1)

by Theresa Sederholt

  “Ladies, I need to make a call, I’m stepping out front.” They are so engrossed in baby stuff, I don’t even think they notice, but it’s okay. I’m glad to see Raven having some normal girl time.

  “Tony, what’s the problem?” He’s talking but I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I’m in utter shock. Everything he’s saying sounds like white noise. “Tony, I know my jet is in Miami, but get a private jet ready for me to leave within the hour—at any cost.” I go back inside to collect the ladies, and pay the bill.

  Raven only has to take one look at me to know something is terribly wrong. “Jax, what’s wrong?” I think she can see the fear, I’m feeling, on my face.

  “We need to leave now.”

  She pulls her hand up to her throat, and her eyes instantly fill with tears. “Jax, you’re scaring me, please, what’s wrong?”

  Before I can say anything Jackie, turns white and starts shaking. Fuck! “Jax, its, Maxwell, isn’t it? I can feel it.” Her tears start falling. I’m trying to hold onto both of them.

  “Ladies, I need to leave for the airport, now!”

  Raven, puts her hands on her hips ready to stand her ground. “We are going with you, no arguments, Jax!”

  I want her with me, close to me. I need my lifeline, my beautiful girl. “I’m not going to argue, let’s go.”

  I get everyone settled in the main cabin, and I head to the office area. I need to make some calls. Raven and Jackie are holding onto each other; comforting each other. I can’t. I know I should be strong for them, but right now, I’m best at setting up top doctors, and dealing with the authorities on the ground. All I know is, that Max and Vincent were shot, and it’s bad. My phone rings and it’s Bella. I don’t want to deal with her right now, but I have no choice, I know she won’t let up.

  “Bella, I’m really busy right now.” I try to rush her off the phone.

  “Jax, it’s all over the news, where are you?” she cries.

  I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “I’m on my way to Miami with Raven and Jackie.”

  I hear my mum in the background. “Jax, hold on, Mum wants you.” I don’t want to deal with my mum right now either, but it looks like I have no choice.

  “Jaxson, you go get him and bring him home, and you tell him he hasn’t seen mad!” Her voice cracks and she starts to cry. When my mum cries it shreds me.

  “Okay, Mum, I love you,” I whisper. I hang up and just sit in my chair, with my head in my hands. I don’t hear her come in, but I can feel her; my skin tingles whenever she’s near. She takes me in her arms, and holds me gently. She doesn’t need words, she knows what I need and she knows, right now, that she is my lifeline. I need to be strong for everyone else, but with her I can just be.

  WE TOUCH DOWN AND there are cars waiting to rush us to Jackson Memorial Hospital. We head towards the ICU where the nurse informs me that only family is admitted. I was prepared for this and give her Max’s consent form. We made preparations one night in a drunken state, always hoping they would never be needed.

  “Let me go in and assess the situation, then I will be back to let you know what I find out. Please stick with Jackie and your detail.” I beg of Raven.

  I look over at Jackie, and I realize, she’s not said a word since we left the restaurant. I hope Raven can help her, because I don’t think I can. As I walk into the room, what I see shocks me. It rocks me to my core. My best friend—the man that I consider my brother—looks pale, weak—almost frail. “Nurse, where is the doctor?”

  “I just paged Doctor Scott, and he will be here in a minute. Do you want to see the other man that was shot?”

  I growl, trying to rein in my temper. “Vincent, is here?” I think I just scared the shit out of the nurse.

  “Yes, in the next room. He is under guard.”

  While I wait for the doctor, I call Tony. “I’m here, and apparently, they have Vincent in the next room. I want extra guards put on his room and around this whole fucking hospital!” I inform the nurse that the man in the next room is a murderer, rapist, and kidnapper. She glances at me, but says nothing as she checks Max’s vitals.

  Doctor Scott, finally comes in. “What’s the prognosis?” I ask.

  He is looking over Max’s chart. “The next twenty-four hours are critical. As you know, he was shot in the head. I was able to remove the bullet, but his brain is swollen. I have put him into a coma to give his brain a chance to rest. I also have him on a ventilator. His heart stopped during surgery, but I don’t think there will be lasting damage from that. My concern, right now, is Mr. Fleming’s, brain. As everyone heals differently.”

  I’m not a betting man. I always need to have all the information. I leave nothing to chance. “What are his odds?”

  He begins examining Max. “I can’t really say, if I were a betting man, I would say his odds are good. He is in good health, although, from his scars I can tell he has taken many hits. Like I said, the next twenty-four hours are critical.”

  I’m growling again. I feel my frustration with this man growing by the second. “What about, Vincent? The other man he was brought in with.”

  He nods, “I gather by the amount of government officials that are watching over him, that he’s a very dangerous man.”

  I want to rip this guy in half; he is so fucking calm. “You have no idea how sick and twisted that evil man is.”

  None of this seems to matter to him. “Well he was also shot in the head. However, the bullet can’t be removed. I won’t know what damage he has until he regains consciousness, if he ever will.”

  “Okay. First, the two women outside need to be in here, and second, when can I move, Max?”

  “Sir, do you understand the gravity of this situation?”

  Now the guy is really pissing me off. I know I’m getting louder. “Doctor Scott, let me explain a few things to you. First, I do understand the ‘gravity’ of the situation. Second, that man in the other room kidnapped one of those women when she was seven. He killed her father in front of her. Raped her mother, and then kidnapped her again, just a few months ago. So, now I ask you, do you understand the ‘gravity’ of the fucking situation!”

  He is trying to calm me down but I still want to smack him! “Sir, I understand your frustration, however, I need to consider the well-being of both my patients.”

  I’m not a patient person, and right at this point, I’m thinking about just punching this fucker. “I think maybe, just maybe, you should be thinking about the welfare of all of your patients. Since the man in the next room poses a major risk to this hospital, and before you tell me he’s not conscious, you need to understand that he is a major crime figure with many people that will be gunning for him. So how fucking safe is everyone now?”

  The fucker concedes my point. “Let’s see what happens in the next twenty-four hours, and the two women can stay in here, but the guards need to remain in the hall. Is that understood?”

  I nod. “If that’s all you can do then, I guess that will have to do. I have ordered more guards in and around this whole place.”

  He leaves and I’m left alone with Max. “Max, I don’t know if you can hear me, but Mum said you’re in big trouble so you better get your arse back to us quickly, or she will probably be on the next plane out here. Jackie is here, and I know you probably don’t want her to see you like this, but I’m sorry, there was no choice.” No movement. Not that I was expecting any. I thought maybe the Mum threat might do something though. Fuck. How am I supposed to be strong for everyone else?

  I go get the girls, Jackie still isn’t talking, and she looks deathly pale. Raven is hanging onto her, trying to offer comfort and support.

  “Doctor Scott, said he has been placed in an induced coma for the next twenty-four hours, to give his brain a chance to rest, come.” I put an arm around each of them, and head into the room with Bo, following closely behind us. Jackie moves away from me, and sits on the bed, stroking his cheek. Raven is shaking and crying. Fuck.
I don’t know what to do for either of them. Raven pulls herself together, and goes to be near to Jackie, offering her silent support. Now we wait—something I am never good at.

  I must first thank my husband, Rick. You are my rock, always and forever. You keep me grounded when I need it but never hold me back. After 33 years of marriage, you still don’t know what to expect when you walk in the door. You have always believed I could, even when I didn’t. You’re my better half . . . my soul mate. I love you madly.

  To my mom, Jean, thank you. You taught me so much about life, things that could never be taught in school. You are always there for me, always believing that I can. I’m proud to call you my mom and my friend.

  My beta girls, you rock! Living this crazy journey with me, always listening to my ideas, and yelling at me to write faster. I love you all.

  All my friends and family who have supported me and always encouraged me, I love you all.

  Tracy, you took the picture of what I thought Raven should look like right out of my head and made her come to life with the most beautiful cover.

  Erin, what can I say? This little idea for a book grew from you’re encouragement and support. You might be my cousin by marriage, but you’re my best friend by choice.

  Finally, my son, Leif, for the last 30 years I thought I was teaching you, only to find out, you have been teaching me. You’re my everything; you support me and encourage me. You hold me to a higher standard. You have taught me to except nothing but my best. You never made me feel like I couldn’t do whatever I wanted to do, no matter how crazy the idea. You really are everyone’s wingman.