The thought of leaving saddened me. I didn’t know how I was going to cope without Taylor. Her friendship had been my savior. I knew we’d never lose touch, but the thought of not seeing her every day depressed me. She’d always been there for me. Then, there was Jamie. Although I couldn’t put a term to our relationship, we had a connection on some level. We found it hard to stay away from each other. When I was with him, I felt whole; I felt safe, and I felt happy. I couldn’t imagine a life without him now, and I couldn’t stomach the thought of telling him I was leaving. Visions of his gorgeous grin and chocolate brown eyes melted into my mind until I felt too sleepy to keep my eyes open.
A clinking sound next to my head woke me up; a different nurse was detaching my drip. “Good morning, I’m Jean.” She smiled politely.
I rubbed my eyes and tried to keep them open. My night was disturbed by the nurses popping in every now and then, checking on me. “What time is it?”
“It’s seven o’clock.”
I groaned at being woken up so early. I was not a morning person.
“Can I take the IV out of your hand?” I nodded and she took my hand, skillfully removing the tube. My stomach lurched as she did it; I hated needles. “Breakfast will be here shortly,” she said, before leaving the room. I was starving. Sitting up, the candy striper came in wheeling a cart and handed me some breakfast, and I wolfed it down in no time.
“Holy hell.” A gasp came from the door, and I turned to see Taylor there with a large duffel slung over her shoulder. She put her hands to her mouth in shock then rushed over and threw her arms around me. “How are you?” she asked, eyeing the bandage wrapped around my head.
“I’m okay. I’m glad you’re here.” I smiled. Her presence was a welcome comfort. She sat on the bed beside me and demanded a full recount of what happened to me, and I lied, telling her I was mugged. I was doubtful she believed me, but she never let on.
“We need to wash your hair.” She drew attention to my bloodied mane, grimacing as she felt the matted strands. She let them fall from her fingers then stood up and set the used breakfast dishes back onto the tray, which was soon removed by the candy striper. “I brought you some things you might need.” She placed the duffel she’d brought onto my lap.
“Thanks, Taylor,” I said appreciatively, and I began to look through the contents. She had literally thought of everything: clean clothes, shower stuff, makeup…. The nurse entered the room to hand me some more painkillers, and I took the opportunity to ask if I could shower. She wanted to look at the cut first, so she carefully unwrapped the large bandage from my head, leaving just a taped piece of gauze. Peeling it back, she inspected the cut, and I was happy when she told me it was starting to heal. I was allowed to shower from the neck down, and I could wash the ends of my hair. When the nurse left, I turned to Taylor. “How big is the part where they shaved?”
Immediately, she began inspecting it. “Not big, a few inches or so.” She indicated the length with her fingers. “I’ll help you cover it for school.” She gave me a sympathetic smile.
I couldn’t believe I’d actually had some of my hair shaved. I was contemplating not going back to college until it grew back, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen with finals. Sensing my mood, she nudged me. “It will be fine, I promise.”
I sighed and grabbed a hair tie, gently putting my hair up. After I showered, I changed into the fresh clothes she brought for me. I wiped my face with the wipes she’d packed, and I was feeling much better and cleaner by the minute. Washing my hair was a job in itself. I had to lie on the bathroom floor with a towel around my shoulders and just my hair in the shower. Taylor rolled up her jeans, standing in it holding the shower-head. We looked absolutely ridiculous, and we couldn’t stop laughing, which made light of the situation.
She managed to wash my hair and got most of the dried blood out, although my blonde hair now had a pink tinge to it, but it was miles better than it was. “You could start a new trend with this color,” she laughed, as I towel dried it.
I truly was grateful for having such a best friend like her in my life, someone I could rely on to be there for me, and I would do exactly the same for her. Once I was done, I almost felt like myself again. I walked to the nurses’ station and asked when I could be discharged. Again, they asked me if I wanted the police to be called, and I told them I didn’t. Thankfully, they listened to me and it went no further.
I signed all the necessary forms and gave them back. I asked if I could make a call since my cell was dead, and I rang Kal and told him Taylor was taking me home and for him not to worry. He had reservations about me going home and offered to pay for a hotel for a few nights, but I declined and promised I’d go see him later at the club.
I gathered what little things I had, including my bloodied purse from the little cabinet. Taylor froze and her jaw dropped at the sight of my bag. It looked like it had been part of a murder scene. She made me put it into a brown paper bag so I didn’t stain Betsy. I shook my head at the loyalty to her car. We thanked the nurses, and Taylor linked my arm and walked me to the car like I was an invalid.
The drive home was quiet, and I could sense that she wanted to say something, but she never did. She asked me if I wanted to stay with her, but I knew I needed to face Dad, and he needed to see what he did to me. When we pulled up outside, I felt nervous about seeing him. The car in the driveway was gone. I stared at the empty spot and wondered if he’d left too.
“You can come and stay at my place, you know?”
I turned to look at her and was met with her blue eyes pleading with me. “You’ve done more than enough. Thank you, you don’t know what it means to me.”
She smiled in response, but it didn’t reach her eyes. I knew she was worried about me. She walked me to the door and hugged me. “Love ya, girl.”
I promised to call her later and watched as she drove off. Dread filled my stomach as I unlocked the front door. The first thing I noticed when I walked inside was the blood marks across the wall. The kitchen was a mess; everything turned upside down. He’d completely trashed it. I walked quietly to the front room and could hear him snoring from his chair. Peering inside the room, I saw empty bottles lying on the floor next to him. I closed the door and went up to my room.
Pushing the dresser across caused pain to sear through my head. I had to stop and breathe through it. Once I’d done it, I put my phone on the charger and crawled into bed. All I wanted to do was sleep.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
My cell ringing woke me up, and momentarily, I forgot where I was. Sitting upright in bed, I forgot about my head, which throbbed at the quick movement. Glancing around the room, the familiar pink walls of my surroundings confirmed I was at home and in my own bed. I reached for my cell that was still ringing and swiped my finger across the glass, holding it to my ear. Before I could say hello, Kal’s anxious voice came through. “Lauren, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I am,” I croaked, looking toward the rays of sun shining through my windows. It was early morning; I must have slept right through.
I heard him let out a long sigh. “Thank God for that. You said you would call me again yesterday, and when you didn’t, I panicked. I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“Sorry, Kal. I was so exhausted I just wanted to sleep,” I said as I yawned.
“I was ready to send the boys there.”
“Don’t do that. I’m fine.”
“As long as you’re okay. Will you come in today? I can come pick you up or get one of the guys to get you?” I heard a voice talking to him in the background before he came back to me. “Jamie said he’ll come and get you in an hour.”
Butterflies fluttered in my belly at the thought of seeing him. I’d missed him. I wanted to ask him why he was gone. “Okay, thanks.” I tried to hide my anticipation.
“No worries, kiddo.”
I ended the call then made a quick one to school to tell them I’d been in the hospital, and I’d call in for my
class notes this afternoon. I got in the shower, making sure not to get the top of my head wet. I had to keep the gauze pad on my head for a few more days. I felt a bit embarrassed letting Jamie see me like this. The bruise under my eye was now purple and blue, but the graze on my face was starting to heal. I put makeup on in the hope it would make me look better, and pulled on my work shirt and jeans.
Digging out an old purse from the bottom of my closet now that my favorite one was ruined, I transferred my belongings into it. Then I painfully moved my dresser back and went down the stairs, where I met Dad in the hall. He jerked as he saw me, and his eyes went straight to the gauze pad taped to my head. I walked past him and he said nothing. No apology, nothing. I was angry that he really didn’t care enough to apologize to me, and I briefly had second thoughts about my decision not to call the police. He quickly made himself scarce, and I fixed myself some toast in the kitchen, which was still a mess, ate my snack, and went outside to meet Jamie.
My heart leaped when his truck roared up, and I had to stop myself from practically running to see him. Opening the door, I climbed in and sat down next to him. Lord, I’d missed his handsome face. “Hey.” I smiled at him, and he gave me the tiniest effort of a smile, but he didn’t say anything; his eyes just darted around my face and head.
My smile soon turned to a frown at his silence. What was wrong with him? He began to drive, and I wondered why he was giving me the silent treatment. Fear set in that it was something to do with why he went back home. After a few yards, he came to a stop on the side of the road, shut his engine off, and turned in his seat to face me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking because his face was emotionless. I felt sick to my stomach and readied myself for his confession.
“He really laid one on you, didn’t he?” he finally spoke, the anger in his voice palpable. I should have guessed this would be related to Dad.
I sighed as he started his speech. “Jamie, it’s okay.” I didn’t want him being angry about the situation; it wasn’t going to help.
“No, it’s fucking not,” he shouted, slamming his hand against the steering wheel. I winced at his loudness, and he quickly apologized. “Look at you.” He gestured to my face with his hand. His jaw tensed and his eyes flashed every time he spoke. “I have a good mind to drive back there and beat the living shit out of him, teach him a lesson.”
“Stop it, Jamie,” I pleaded quietly.
“If he touches you one more time, that’s it. I will gladly do jail time for it.” He glared at me, shaking his head. He folded his arms across his chest and looked out of the windshield in front of him, just staring ahead. I hated seeing him so wound up. Turning in my seat toward him, I put my hand on his forearm, gently stroking it with my thumb for a while. It was nice he felt protective of me, but I didn’t need him threatening to hurt my dad. He looked back at me, and his expression softened. “You don’t deserve this.”
I knew I didn’t, but there was little I could do about it. I lifted his hand and gently kissed the back of it. His knuckles looked grazed and sore from training.
“You don’t have to stay there,” he muttered.
“Where am I going to go exactly?”
“Stay with your friend.” He shrugged.
“I don’t want to stay with her family. It’s not up to them to look after me.”
“So you’re just going to stay with him until it happens again?” He narrowed his eyes at me.
I shook my head. “I have a plan. I’m not going to be there much longer.” I didn’t want to tell him about my plan to move to Texas. I didn’t want anyone knowing yet.
“When I got back into town, I drove straight to your house.”
Ice slid down my spine and I widened my eyes at what he was telling me. “What? Why?” I snapped.
“Waiting for him. Luckily, he never came outside.”
“Jesus, Jamie.” I felt the blood drain from my face. I was glad he didn’t go outside. What he could have done wasn’t worth thinking about. “What did you do when he didn’t?”
“I went back to the club and took it out on the punching bag.” He flexed his grazed knuckles. “Broke it.” He laughed quietly.
I wondered what Kal thought of his mood. He knew the guys too well. I hoped he hadn’t figured it had to do with me. “What did Kal say?”
“He asked me why I was so pissed.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I didn’t say anything to him. What could I have told him?” He shrugged. I agreed with him. Kal would want to know why he was so angry, and if he told him the truth, Kal would question why he was angrier about it than the others, and that would have led him to the right conclusion. “I think he knows something’s going on because he just shook his head at me the way he does when I disappoint him. And because he never forced it out of me, why I was angry enough to break the bag. I’ve never done that before.”
He looked upset that he’d disappointed Kal, and it pissed me off. As much as I didn’t want Kal to know, it annoyed me Jamie couldn’t have a bit of freedom. “For God’s sake, Jamie, he’s not your bloody father. You’ve got to have a life too. Since when has your screwing around upset him?” They went out to clubs every so often, and I doubted he stayed celibate. So it was okay to hook up with random girls, but not to stay with one girl?
“Probably when it’s done on his doorstep with his staff.” He raised his eyebrows at me.
“I’m just staff now, am I?”
“You know what I mean.” He cocked his head, looking at me. I let out a sigh, and he slipped his hand over mine and brought it to his mouth, kissing it tenderly. “I’m so glad you’re okay though.” He gave me a small smile and started the engine again.
When we got to the club, I stepped out of the truck and onto the gravel. My feet crunched on the white stones as I walked toward the entrance, and the noise started to make me feel nauseous. Flashbacks of me stumbling here began to play in my mind over and over. My walk slowed, and I started to feel more and more sick. I covered my mouth with my hand, frightened I was suddenly going to vomit.
“Hey, are you okay?” Jamie grabbed me gently by the elbow.
“Yeah, I feel dizzy, that’s all. Just the sound of the gravel, the memory.” I winced.
Keeping hold of my arm, he gently guided me to the side of the club so I could stop and get myself together. After I took a few deep breaths, he moved in closer to me and placed a soft kiss on my lips. Craving more of him, I pulled his hips, pressing him against me, and eagerly deepened his kiss. I’d missed him so much.
He pulled away from me. “Whoa, Kal’s right in there.” He pointed to the corner, grinning.
“You started it,” I pointed out.
“I did it to stop you from feeling ill, not to try to fuck you against the wall.” He raised a cocky eyebrow. I narrowed my eyes at his curse. “Sorry.” He chuckled, putting his hands up playfully. I shook my head at him and watched as he adjusted himself in his shorts. “Goin’ in there with a hard-on, great.” He flashed a smile through clenched teeth. Laughing at his predicament, I walked to the club entrance while he trailed behind.
“Hey, there she is,” Kal greeted me, as I walked inside. He pulled me into a one-armed hug then briefly glanced at Jamie, who came to a stop behind me. Marc and Cam stood at the desk, and they both straightened with worried looks on their faces when they saw me. I felt really self-conscious about how I looked.
“Are you okay? You scared the shit out of me. I thought you’d been shot.” Marc’s eyes were wide as he looked at the cut on my head.
“I’m okay and thank you for what you did for me. I owe you one.”
“You look like one of us now,” Cam joked. “Glad you’re okay though.”
Jamie stayed by my side, quietly listening in to the conversations, and Kal offered to make us drinks. I grabbed Jamie while the others went to sit down. “Where did you go? You weren’t here on my last shift.” Seeing him now, I realized just how tired he looked. He had a few days
worth of stubble, which was unlike him, and he had dark circles under his eyes. He didn’t answer me. “Where have you been?” I asked him again.
He thought about his answer for a second. “I went home for a few days.”
“How come?”
“Just family stuff.” He shrugged, looking away from me. He exchanged glances with Cam, and I hated that he knew but I was being kept in the dark.
“What’s with the stubble?” I stroked the rough hair with my thumb, and his breath faltered. I then realized what an intimate touch that was in public and retracted my hand quickly.
“Going for the rough and ready look.” He smirked, rubbing the stubble between his own fingers.
“Makes you look more rugged,” I quipped.
“More rugged? What you trying to say? I look more of a man with it?” I nodded. I liked the facial hair. “Are you saying I look like a boy clean-shaven?” He rubbed over his jaw again. Marc let out a laugh, followed by Cam. “Fuck you both,” he scolded playfully. Not being able to contain my humor, I laughed along with them. Kal came out of the kitchen with our drinks on a tray, and I took my coffee from him, taking a sip as I rounded the desk to sit at the computer.
Kal handed the guys their waters before joining me at the desk, where he leaned over so he could see the guys. A few minutes later, Leon came walking into the club and came right up to me, wrapping his arms around me tightly. I hugged him back, and he asked how I was doing. I was tired of saying, “I’m fine,” but it was all I could say.
“Do you remember laying your head on my knee?” he said, lowering my face to inspect the cut. I shook my head. I couldn’t believe how little I remembered of the whole thing. “You ruined my best shorts,” he teased.
“I am so sorry,” I apologized profusely. I felt awful for the whole fuss I’d caused. I wondered whether they all knew it was Dad, or whether just Jamie and Kal knew.
“It’s fine, honestly.” He winked at me then joined the guys at the couches ready for their team meeting. Kal started to address them from over the desktop, which was ridiculous.
Reckless Retribution (West Warriors Book 1) Page 20
