Attraction Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by J B Heller

  Just then the ambulance sirens filled the air, but my attention was quickly pulled back to Ashlynn’s small frame when she began to seize. He body convulsed against the couch, her back arched up as if she was possessed. I grabbed hold of her shoulders to keep her in place as she continued to jerk and shudder.

  Paramedics bustled into the room. “Help her!” I yelled as one of them shoved me out of the way and I stumbled to my feet, watching helplessly as they tried to help the woman I’d fallen in love with.

  Not even a week had passed and I was again sitting in a hospital waiting room, hanging on to my sanity by a thread awaiting news about a woman that owned my heart.

  And again, I wasn’t alone. Sammy was also here, sitting in the corner chewing on her thumb nail. She’d called another one of Ashlynn’s friends, Liz. I hadn’t met her before and I wasn’t interested in meeting her now either. Sammy had also called Ash’s mum and was keeping her updated on Ash’s condition.

  Abe, Alec, Dad, Gabe, Dex and Kai hovered around me as if they expected me to explode at any second. And they weren’t far off it. If I didn’t get some kind of news soon I was going to go postal. Even Eastman showed up.

  I didn’t speak to him, I couldn’t. He stepped out into the corridor with Gabe then left shortly after.

  Ma was conscious, but still not allowed to speak or get out of bed. Dad asked if I wanted to go see her, but I couldn’t focus on anything other than Ashlynn. Besides, I didn’t need to hinder Ma’s recovery by burdening her with my shit.

  Gabe re-entered the room and came over to me, “Eastman just wanted to apologise for Jimmy’s role in all this. And he said to let you know, Jimmy is being dealt with accordingly.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything. I just gave Gabe a nod to acknowledge I’d heard him. Bringing up Jimmy’s involvement just made my mind travel straight back to finding Ash unconscious in that house.

  Then I thought about how if it wasn’t for my brother, I’d be totally fucked right now and Ash would probably be dead. “All I can think is, if Abe hadn’t of been at the right place at the right time, I would have lost her.”

  Gabe grimaced, “I know man. Lucky your brother took stock of the situation and handled it accordingly.”

  I nodded and rubbed the back of my neck, “Is it just me or is it weird that Abe held his shit together and handled the whole thing like a fucking pro?”

  Gabe’s eyes shifted from me to the floor, “Umm yeah, he was pretty badarse, huh.”

  His reaction bothered me, I didn’t know why but before I could call him on it a female doctor entered the room and called for the family of Ashlynn Murphy. I stepped forward, “That would be me.”

  The doctor eyed me, “And you are?” she questioned.

  I swallowed past the lump in my throat, technically they didn’t have to tell me shit. I was just her boyfriend. So I lied. “I’m her fiancé,” I held my hand out, “Axel Jamieson.”

  She shook my hand than asked me to take a seat with her. I did, and I felt the eyes of my family watching us closely. “Is she alright?” I asked on a shuddering breath.

  The doctor grimaced, “Usually when just one of these drugs enters the system it can wreak havoc on the entire body all by itself. But Ashlynn was subjected to a mass amount of multiple drugs. Her body began shutting down. And I dare say she’s lucky she got here when she did.”

  Bile was at the base of my throat, I clenched my teeth and forced it back down. “But you’ve fixed it, right? She’s going to be fine now.”

  She sighed, “With the amount of drugs in her system we weren’t able to give her a sedative to encourage her body to sleep it off, so to speak. But we were able to give her something to counter the effects. Now, she is still unconscious. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Her body is going to need time to recuperate.”

  My fists clenched by my sides, “Just cut to the chase, is she or is she not going to be alright at the end of this?” I demanded.

  With a small shake her head she looked me in the eye, “I can’t answer that Mr. Jamieson. I’m sorry. For now, all you can do is wait. She could wake up in the morning and be right as rain, or she may not. When her MRI and CT results come back I’ll be able to tell you more. I just wanted to give you an update.”

  Then she stood and left me sitting there, as if my world wasn’t crumbling around me.

  Moments later Stella came bursting into the room, Sloan hot on her heels. Stella was fuming, and her anger was directed at me. She stomped right up to me and started poking me in the chest, “You selfish little man! How could you do that to me, how could you put him in that position? You know how much I need him and you put him in that situation anyway. Why?”

  I’d never seen Stella angry, Sloan, shit yeah, the chick was always raging, but not Stella. She was a gentle soul, and Bray was her soul mate. Fuck. I hadn’t even given Bray a second thought since I’d left the library.

  “I’m so sorry, Stella. I didn’t—” my words fell away. She was right, I had put Bray in that position. If I had just stayed with Ash myself, none of this would have happened. I cleared my throat that was once again clogged with emotion, “H-how is he?”

  Just as the question left my lips Bray came strolling into the room. My eyes widened. And he just grinned at me, and closed the distance between him and Stella. “Stop giving him a hard time Stel, I’m fine.”

  Stella turned her livid eyes on him, “Don’t you dare!” she seethed, “You could have been killed Brayden.”

  He rolled his eyes at her and went in for a quick kiss on her lips, “But I wasn’t.” When he pulled back his expression sobered as he turned his focus to me, “I’m so fucking sorry man. I shouldn’t have let my guard down. I swear I just went to the bathroom to take a quick piss and when I came out the little flirty chick said Ash was just doing some re-shelving. Before I could even go look for her I was down.

  “He came out of fuckin’ nowhere. I didn’t even hear the gun go off.”

  I stood and held out my hand to shake his good one. “Nah man, I’m sorry. Stella’s right, I shouldn’t have put you in that position. It was my responsibility to protect Ash, and I didn’t.”

  Bray shrugged his good shoulder, his left arm was in a sling, holding his arm to his chest. “He missed my heart, and it went straight through, I’m good. Seriously, this isn’t on you. This is on the little fucker that shot me. Speaking of, what ended up happening with him?”

  Rubbing the back of my neck I sighed, “Don’t know, don’t care. I beat the shit out of him. All I know is he was breathing when Abe pulled me off, and when Abe got the info we needed out of him.”

  Bray nodded, but didn’t say anything else as Stella chose that moment to poke him in the ribs and demand his attention. “What flirty chick?” she asked, her eyes narrowed, “You got shot because you were too busy flirting?”

  Bray’s jaw dropped, Stella’s tone had changed from concerned, out of her mind with worry, wife, to, it was your own damn fault. “I was not! She was flirting with me!” Bray shot back.

  Stella raised a brow, “I’m sure. You’re a born flirt Brayden, don’t try playing innocent with me.”

  I tuned out the rest of their conversation as it suddenly took a personal turn and I wasn’t interested in the slightest. Flopping back down in my chair I began the waiting game.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  My eyelids felt like they weighed a ton as I tried to open them. It took me three tries for them to obey. And when they did I found myself in unfamiliar surroundings with no recollection of how I’d gotten there.

  Flicking my gaze around the room it was easy to tell I was in a hospital, and clearly, I was the patient. A cannula connected my hand to a saline drip by the head of my bed and a clip was attached to my index finger, leading to a machine that was beeping steadily.

  I licked my dry lips, my mouth felt like it was full of cotton, and when I went to move my head to look for a drink of water it began to pound
like I’d been on a drinking binge for a month. Not that I’d ever done that, but I imagine that’s what it would feel like.

  Moving was definitely out of the question, so I attempted to call out, there had to be a nurse nearby. “H-Hello.” My voice came out thick and husky.

  It wasn’t a nurse that answered me, it was Axel.

  “Ash? Baby, you alright?” he sounded tired.

  Moving my gaze around the darkened room I found him sitting in a chair beside my bed. I smiled at his dishevelled hair, then frowned at the worry lines that creased his forehead. “I’m okay.” I told him. “What am I doing here?”

  Relief flooded his face, “You don’t remember?” he asked cautiously.

  “Nooo.” I drew the word out, “Why?”

  He ran his hand through his messy hair, “Do I have to tell you? I’d really rather not. Especially if you don’t remember.”

  I narrowed my eyes on him, but it was hard to be mad at him for withholding information when he looked so relieved to see me, and my head was pounding so hard it felt like a drummer had taken up residence inside my brain. “Okay, for now. My head hurts too much for this discussion anyway. Can I just have a drink of water please?”

  He flew out of his chair and across the room to a water cooler in the corner. He filled two cups and brought them over to me. Placing them on the rolling table that sat at the end of my bed he picked up the remote and pressed the button to lift the bed into a sitting position.

  The movement made my head spin violently and I grimaced. “Fuck, I’m sorry, baby.” Axel smoothed his hand over my forehead and down my cheek.

  “It’s okay, I can’t exactly drink while I’m laying down now can I.” I mused.

  He handed me one of the cups and I downed it all then held my hand out for the other. Axel handed it to me and disposed of the first one. I took smaller sips this time, my thirst having settled down a little.

  Axel eyed me curiously, “Why aren’t you freaking out right now?” he asked.

  I thought about it for a moment, but my thought process was sluggish and strained. “It hurts to think, I guess I haven’t thought about what the hell I’m doing here beyond the fact that you’re beside me. And for now, that’s all I need. I’m too tired to think.”

  One side of his mouth lifted in a small smile as he bent down to kiss me softly, “I’m so fucking glad you woke up. But you need to go back to sleep now, Little Minx. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  A contented sigh left me when he’d finished lowering the bed and my head stopped spinning. I snuggled into the pillow and Axel tucked the blanket in around me, then I was out like a light again.

  The weight had been lifted from my eyelids, and I opened them with ease.

  Axel was passed out, his head at an odd angle making me think he was going to have a really sore neck when he woke up.

  I didn’t feel as groggy now as the last time I woke up. My head was as clear as the morning sun streaming through the open curtains of the room. I took a deep breath and tried to remember why I was here.

  But I came up blank again.

  The last thing I remember was Axel dropping me off at the library and meeting Brayden out front. Then Sammy falling over herself every time Brayden would look in her direction.

  I wracked my brain trying to come up with what happened after that, but I kept coming up empty. I felt the panic begin to rise in my chest, what the hell had happened? Why was I here? I searched my arms for signs of scratches or bruises, anything that might give me a clue, but there was no trace of any damage to my body.

  Confusion and panic warred for control. I started breathing faster as the panic clawed its way up my throat, escaping on a wrenched sob.

  Axel sat bolt upright and flew to my side, “What’s wrong, baby?”

  My heart beat faster than a humming birds wings, pushing the air from my body but not giving me enough time to replenish it. I tried to speak, but my tongue felt numb, refusing to curl around the words I needed. My chest heaved and my vision blurred.

  A paper bag was shoved in my face, covering my mouth. “I’m here Ash, nothing can hurt you. I’m here.” Axel had climbed onto the bed and wrapped himself around my body from behind, wedging me between his strong legs. “Breathe, baby, nice and slow, come on Ash, I need you to slow it down for me.”

  My body obeyed his commands, and slowly my breathing calmed, and my heart rate gentled to a rhythmic thump. My shoulders sagged in relief as my lungs filled with air, and I flopped back into Axel’s strong chest.

  He swept my matted hair over my shoulder and rested his chin there, “You’re safe now, baby. I’ve got you, and I’m not going anywhere.” He reassured me, and I relaxed some more.

  But the question still plagued me, “Why am I here?” I whispered.

  I felt Axel stiffen slightly behind me, then he nestled his face into my neck and kissed it softly. “I nearly lost you. Your heart was barely beating when I got to you.” I could feel the tension leeching from his body. “I left you with Bray, thinking Dickwad wouldn’t possibly make a move in broad day light.” He sighed heavily, “I was wrong.”

  Ashlynn’s body went rigid with my words. I stroked my hands up and down her arms to soothe her as I continued to explain, “He was in and out with you in less than a minute. He shot Bray, but he’s okay. His wife Stella ripped me a new one that night. And I deserved it. I never should have left you.

  “He shot you up with a cocktail of date rape drugs to knock you out quickly, he didn’t lay a hand on you though, okay. Not one.” I swore to her. And she released a ragged sigh, “My brother, Abe, was stopped at a set of lights on his way to visit Ma when he saw you slumped against the window of the car in the lane beside him.

  “He started to follow you and called me. We met him at a house that belonged to the family of one of Zane’s old prison friend’s. Abe kept an eye on you until we arrived. He noticed that Zane was trying to bring you around, but you weren’t responding.”

  The feeling that filled my body when Abe had said those words, I would never forget it.

  “When I got in there I beat the shit out of him until Abe pulled me off of him and I got my shit together enough to check on you, Gabe said your pulse was thready and I panicked even more. Then you started seizing. I’ve never been so terrified in all my life.” I had to stop speaking.

  The image of her body convulsing and jerking beneath my palms would haunt me for the rest of my life. I was so helpless, there was absolutely nothing I could do to help her.

  Ash tucked her legs under her and curled into my chest, “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Don’t you ever apologize for this shit. Ever, Ashlynn. This is not your fault. You didn’t ask for any of this.” I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger, bringing her face up to mine, “Do you hear me, Ashlynn? Never.”

  A tear slid down her cheek as she nodded, “Okay.”

  I dropped my face down and ran my nose along hers, “You scared me.” I breathed against her lips, then closed the small space between our mouths and kissed her. I gave her everything I had, all the emotions that had been coursing through me since she had received that damn letter.

  Her small hands dug into my hair, holding my face to hers as she kissed me back with just as much passion. If we weren’t in a hospital bed, I’d have made love to her right then and there.

  Breaking the kiss, I pulled back slightly, and Ashlynn released a shuddering breath. “Thank you.”

  I frowned, “for what?”

  A humourless laugh bubbled up from her chest, “Everything.”

  My mouth was descending to kiss her again when the door to the room opened with a squeak. My eyes shot to the door and saw the doctor standing in the opening. She raised a brow, “It would appear your fiancé has woken up Mr. Jamieson.” She said with a small smirk.

  Ashlynn went rigid in my arms again, then her wide eyes shot to my face. I grinned, then shrugged, “I may have jumped the gun a little. But make no m
istake, I’ll be putting a ring on your finger, sooner rather than later, Little Minx.”

  Instead of freaking out like I expected her to do, she smiled, the biggest, brightest smile I’d ever seen on her. “I love you,” she whispered as a single tear leaked from the corner of her eye.

  I swept it away with the pad of my thumb, “I love you too, Minx.”

  The doctor cleared her throat, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to check you out, Ms. Murphy.”

  Ashlynn turned her face to the doctor, an embarrassed flush creeping up her neck, “Oh, okay,” she murmured.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Ash had to stay at the hospital for another night, just for observation purposes. She was extremely lucky not to have any lasting side effects from her attack. She was grateful not to have any recollection of how things went down, and truthfully, so was I.

  When I picked her up after she was discharged I took her to meet Ma.

  “Are you sure now is a good time? I look awful, and your mother needs her rest, Axel.” She protested as I dragged her down the hallway to Ma’s room.

  I grinned, “Are you nervous, baby?”

  Her emerald eyes widened, “Of course I am! This isn’t exactly how I envisioned meeting your parents.”

  My grin morphed into a full blown smile, “So you’ve thought about meeting them then. Good to know.” I squeezed her hand reassuringly, “You look amazing, as always, and Ma would kill me if she knew you were this close and I didn’t bring you to at least say hi.”

  She released a defeated sigh, “Fine.”

  “Besides, now is the perfect time for introductions, Ma can’t grill you because she’s still on strict orders not to talk more than necessary.” I winked and Ash’s cheeks flushed. And I loved it.