Cowboy Edition EBook

by Maree, Kay

  Sitting back in my chair, needing to get my dick under control as Lucy rummages through her bag.

  “It’s Sophie, shit, the hospital must have called her.”

  She chews on that bottom lip mesmerizing me

  “Can you go see if you can find anything out about Cora while I take this and try to calm her ass down before she makes Demetri bring her here?”

  “No worries, I wanna make sure Nash is okay anyways.”

  Leaning over, brushing my lips across her forehead, breathing in the hint of sweet cherries, my nose scrunching as the aroma of antiseptic starts to blend into her natural scent.

  Pushing to my feet, I head towards the reception desk just outside the waiting room doors.

  Looking over my shoulder when I hear Lucy telling her sister to calm the fuck down, making me chuckle.

  My girl’s smart mouth seems to have a direct line to my dick, making it twitch in my jeans.

  Running a frustrated hand through my hair after the receptionist tells me that there is no news yet, I head back to the waiting area just as June and Lou race through the front doors.

  Pulling them into a hug.

  I explain what I know so far which is basically nothing and also why we are here to begin with.

  June’s face goes white as she rushes into the waiting room.

  “Well shit, does Jebson have any leads?” Lou asks, shaking his head.

  “Not yet,” I grumble as we head back to Lucy.

  “Where is she?” June pulls my attention to her standing near Lucy’s bag, her phone laying on the floor.

  My heart picks up speed, swinging my eyes around the waiting room.

  But my girl is nowhere to be found.

  “Lucy,” I call out.

  Racing towards the emergency exit doors, pushing them open, they smash against the side of the building but nobody is around.

  “Fuck, what the fuck is happening today? Where the fuck is my woman?” I growl storming back into the waiting room pulling Jebson’s number up on my phone as I go.

  An eerie feeling settling like lead in the pit of my stomach.

  One breath. One smile. One laugh. One step. One touch.

  These One moments in time were enough to seal our fates together.

  I just had to man up and take what was always mine.

  My eyes feel heavy as I try to open them.

  My head lolls forward and I try to take in some calming breaths.

  My mind is whirling with what the hell happened, sucking on my tongue seems like a chore.

  My stomach coils as the taste of mothballs wash through me.

  My mouth feels fuzzy as my head begins to pound.

  My eyes finally cooperate and flutter open, but my vision is blurred.

  What the hell happened?

  The last thing I remember, I was in the hospital waiting room waiting on news of Cora and the babies. Lucas went to get information while I spoke with Sophie.

  But then that's where everything gets hazy.

  I try to move but now it’s my body refusing to cooperate.

  Something bites against my wrists and ankles, making me wince. I’m sitting on something hard. Sharp nails gripped my cheeks forcing my face up making me whimper.

  My vision is still blurry.

  All I could make out is a hazy shadow against what I assume is dim lighting.

  The spike of pain in my cheeks has me biting off a scream, swaying in my seat.

  Blinking a few times trying to clear my vision, but it’s no use and that’s when I realise a thin dirty cloth is wrapped around my eyes.

  “What do you want?” I grate out.

  My words sounding thick to my own ears, my mouth dryer than the desert.

  I jolt in my seat as cold water splashes me in the face, running my tongue across my lips as I try to catch a few stray drops.

  “You thought you could waltz back into town and take him from me?”

  I know that whiny, high-pitched voice, but I can’t place it.

  “What?” I ask, wanting them to keep talking.

  Taking in small breaths.

  Antiseptic, diluted bleach smothered by mothballs fills my nostrils.

  My head spins and a scream tears from my throat as something sharp slices across my wrist.

  “I need to make this look like someone tortured her before I kill her that way it won't come back on me. They would think it was some stranger obsessed with her,” that voice mumbles talking to herself.

  My gut twists, knowing exactly who it is.

  I always knew she was crazy, but this is flying over the cuckoo's nest next level shit.

  Sucking down the pain radiating through my wrist, I try to find my voice again.

  “Kasey,” I choke out.

  “Shut up,” she screeches.

  “I’m not talking to you,” she spits and keeps on mumbling to herself like a full-on conversation.

  “Yes, that’s a great idea I can do that,” she mumbles.

  I hear the smile in her voice.

  Before another slice to my other wrist has a scream ripping up my throat, louder this time.

  “I said shut up, you whore,” she seethes out.

  “We can’t stay here, I need to move her,” it sounds like she is pacing as she keeps mumbling crazy shit to herself, borderline hysteria coating her words.

  “Not safe, not safe at all I need to move her. We can’t stay here. The moon will be out soon, then I can move her. If they catch me I’m sure they will send me back to that place, a place with padded walls and shoot me up with a chemical cocktail for my brain as if I’m just as crazy as the rest of them.”

  Tears are pouring from my eyes; my arms are burning.

  The filthy cloth across my eyes begins to itch as warm blood slowly pools into the palms of my hands.

  “Either she will bleed out before I move her. Oh, God, what if that happens? Did anyone see me here? Kasey, you silly girl. Of course, the nurses and doctors know you're here but no one would put two and two together, would they? Okay, it’s been about an hour. I’m sure they know she is missing. I should have had a better plan in place, but when opportunity strikes and all that shit. I had no other choice. God only knows when I would have had her all alone again,” a slapping sound moves through the room as she berates herself as if hitting herself.

  “We got this. No need to worry, it will all be over soon and then he can be mine. Sure he will mourn her but I’ll be there,” she cackles sending chills down my spine.

  “Oh, yeah, I will be there for him.”

  Holy shit!!!

  She’s a whole lot crazier than I originally thought I need to try and bring her back down to earth.

  Because right now she is painting her own rosy future with my man.

  That shit ain’t gonna happen.

  Being my usual smart mouth self is not going to help me right now.

  I need to play this smart.

  Feeling my body going sluggish, I push through hoping for enough energy to get out of here.

  “Just let me go before they find us,” my voice slowly coming back to normal with each word I say before dropping to a slight whisper.

  “No one will know, I won’t tell anyone,” I promise, feeling everything inside begin to feel lightless, my words rolling off my tongue slowly.

  Shit, this isn’t going to work if I run out of steam, but I need to keep pushing, I can’t let go yet.

  “I said shut up, none of this would have happened if you would have kept your hands off Lucas, he's mine, always has been.”

  A sharp sting to my cheek has my head spinning, a small whimper slipping past my lips.

  “I just needed time for him to see it, but then you came back and ruined all my hard work. Without you, he will have the opportunity to see me.”

  Through her every psychotic word, my body begins to slouch in the chair.

  My wrists are burning from
the plastic binding them to the armrests, I wince as they dig deep. The scent of my blood lingers around me as it runs like a river into my palms and drips between my fingers.

  Everything inside me begins to slow to a snail's pace.

  Oh, no.

  My head swirls, my heart echoes through me, but it’s not steady and strong.

  Instead, it feels stuttered.

  My head droops and once again I have no control over my body, it’s both terrifying and peaceful all at the same time. Kasey’s voice floats around me but I am so focused on what is going on inside my body I have no energy left to keep up with her words.

  Black dots scatter through my vision and I have nothing left to force them open so I give in and let go. I’m floating as images of Lucas’s smile and those eyes wrap around me, comforting my soul as if saying it’s okay not to fight and to rest now.

  I seek out the comfort only he can give me and fall into it.

  Heat travels and curls through me, finding my solace.

  My brain begins to shut down, the deep rumble of his voice against my cheek sings my soul to sleep.

  Silence, darkness, but warmth remains guiding me.

  A silent song travels through me.

  Entwining through every fibre of my being and I relish in the feeling.

  Relish in the warm glow travelling in its wake as it travels straight through me.

  All I hear is Silence

  All I see is Darkness - without it, I couldn’t shine.

  My soul - not perfect but worn and so tired.

  The rawness of my life keeps taking just a little bit more of me.

  My soul just needs a moment to rest before the fight fills me again.

  Stillness has a voice

  Be brave enough to listen.

  “The hospital is on lockdown. Drixen has spoken with all the nurses on call and the paramedics that brought in Cora, but no one saw Lucy leave,” Jebson says.

  “So she has to be still on the grounds?” I ask, running a rough hand through my hair.

  It’s been close to an hour and we still don’t have a clue who has her or where the fuck they could have taken her.

  “Yes,” he nods.

  “Constable,” nurse Bell rushes into the waiting room.

  “What is it?” I rush out, stopping in my pacing.

  Feeling a gentle hand on my shoulder, turning, I see the worry in June’s eyes before scanning the rest of the faces around the space landing on my father’s.

  Lou called him not that long ago and I’m glad he is here, but the grave look in his eyes just about kills me.

  “Easy son,” he husks out.

  I nod before swinging back to the nurse as she speaks quietly to Jebson my gut twists hearing the words a vial of Ketamine and missing.

  A cold sweat breaks out across my brow, my muscles tensing.

  “Are you saying my woman could be knocked out and she wouldn’t know what the fuck he’s doing to her or even worse she couldn’t fight back?” I growl.

  Bell’s face is grave, and it eats at me.

  Knowing I’m right before she even answers me.

  “Fuck,” gripping the ends of my hair, I begin to pace.

  “Where would this sick fuck take her?” I speak to the room.

  “Constable, I think that may--”

  “What,” I snap, coming to a stop in front of her, trying really fucking hard to gain some control.

  I am well known for my control, but it’s not working.

  Blood pumps faster through my veins and my temper is sitting on a knife's edge, just waiting to cut someone. I know this nurse doesn’t deserve it, but I can’t stop the anger coating my words, squinting my eyes at her.

  “Tell me,” I demand.

  “Remodeling is being done in E wing,” she rushes out, taking a step back from me.

  “Knock it the fuck off Lucas and let the nurse talk,” Dad barks out.

  His heavy hand grips my shoulder, giving me a good shake.

  “Dad” I gruff out, his eyes soften.

  “Rein it in, son. I know but we won’t find her if you keep this shit up. You need a level head,” Dad speaks softer now and I feel like shit.

  “Fuck, I’m sorry,” I breathe out.

  “Directions now,” Jebson barks out.

  Rushing towards the reception desk, she pulls out a map of the hospital.

  Quickly handing it over along with a torch.

  “I’m coming,” I snatch the torch from her hand.

  “Drixen stay here and check in with Davis.

  She’s got eyes on Emily in room 106 tell her not to leave her side for any fucking reason until I get back,” Jebson throws over his shoulder as we rush from the waiting room and down another hallway.

  Flicking the torch around the dark corridor, we take our steps on silent feet stepping over plastic sheeting, tools and anything in our path not wanting to spook anyone.

  Coming to an adjoining hallway, Jebson looks around the corner then nudges my shoulder.

  Looking around him he nods towards a splash of light across the floor coming from under a door about fifteen doors down.

  Nodding, letting him know I see it.

  He pulls his gun from his holster at his hip.

  Flicking the torch off, I push it into my back pocket.

  Blowing out a breath, knowing there is enough moonlight coming through the window at the end of the hallway for us to see where we are going, bringing my finger to my lips.

  Jebson nods.

  Quietly making our way towards the door sidestepping a wooden sawhorse and toolbox.

  Stepping to one side of the door, Jebson stands on the other side.

  Resting my ear against the door, trying to listen for voices.

  Muffled panicked words can be heard through the thick wood, but I can’t make out what’s being said.

  Taking a deep breath, I grip the cool metal door handle.

  Putting my fingers up, counting down from three.

  Pushing the door slowly open, I suck in a deep shuddering breath as Lucy comes into view.

  Her ankles and wrists are cable tied to an old metal chair.

  But that’s not what has my heart thumping in my chest.

  Her wrists have been sliced and there is so much blood pooling around her feet, dripping off her fingers.

  My stomach rolls, without thought I race into the room and straight for her.

  Her head is bent to the side, resting against her shoulder, and a filthy cloth covers her eyes.

  Loud screaming behind me fills the space, but I pay no mind as I take in her laboured breathing.

  “Lucy,” I choke out.

  Nothing.

  Stillness.

  Cupping her cool wet cheeks in my palms, ripping the cloth away from her eyes.

  I wait for her eyes to flutter open, but again nothing.

  “No, no, no… Don’t touch me,” a whiny, high-pitched voice screams behind me, grating down my back.

  “Drop the weapon,” Jebson shouts.

  “Don’t come near me,” she screams.

  I flick my eyes over my shoulder seeing Kasey, a scalpel in her hand waving it wildly around in the space between her and Jebson.

  Her wild, crazy as fuck eyes land on mine.

  “Step away from her,” she spits out, bringing her other hand up, and now I’m looking down the barrel of a gun.

  Fuck.

  I knew this chick had issues, but this is fucking psychotic.

  What the actual fuck?

  “Drop it before I shoot,” Jebson says again.

  “Shoot and I shoot her,” she spits out cackling like a fucking loon.

  “Kasey think about this,” I grit out behind clenched teeth, lifting my hands in the air.

  Spinning around on my knees, putting my back to Lucy, hopefully covering her.

  “You just don’t get it, Lucas. Without her, we could
be together.”

  She nods her head like a bobble-head doll, those wild eyes swinging between me and Jebson.

  “We can be together, just you and me,” she pleads for me to get it. She’s jumped from crazy to a complete crackpot in under a second and that shit is not good, not good at all.

  This bitch needs a fucking straight jacket and probably a fucking helmet.

  “Lucy needs a doctor.”

  “No, she doesn’t. She deserves everything and more,” she smirks.

  Shit, nothing she says makes sense.

  I need to get Lucy out of here, but I need to calm this situation down first.

  “Let Jebson take Lucy away so we can be together,” I try to soften my voice and get her to focus fully on me, her eyes slowly taking me in making my stomach twist.

  “You’re just trying to trick me,” she rushes out.

  Shaking her head, her wild red hair flying all over the place.

  “She needs to die, I know this, but I need to make you all see. I’m not crazy, I know I’m not. I know what I want and she came here and tried to take that from me. But I stopped her. Don’t you see Lucas? I stopped her from brainwashing you now we have to wait for her to take her last breath then we will be free. Don’t you see, I have this all worked out. I can make you happy Lucas you just have to let me,” she waves her arms around wildly.

  “Don’t move Jebson, I will shoot her,” she screeches, her hand with the gun shaking.

  Out the corner of my eye, I see Jebson slowly moving.

  He stops about a meter in front of Kasey.

  He quickly jerks back as she swipes the scalpel towards him.

  “I see this going two ways, Kasey,” Jebson growls “and both of them don’t end well for you.”

  Before she can spew another word, my ears ring from the echo of two gunshots being fired.

  Bang.

  Bang.

  Turning, I throw myself in front of Lucy.

  Pain burns through me, gritting my teeth against the pain.

  I watch over my shoulder as if in slow motion, Kasey hitting the hard floor with a heavy thump.

  “Get Lucy out of here,” Jebson shouts, kicking the scalpel across the floor.

  Snatching it up, I make quick work slicing through the cable ties.

  Ignoring the burning pain licking down my arm.

  Pulling her limp body into my chest, I push to my feet, locking my jaw against the burning throb intensifying through my shoulder.