Finding Jordie: Things aren't always what they seem. (The Love Lies Bleeding Series Book 1)

by Harley, HJ

  “Goddamn it, Jordie. Calm down, please,” Nathan pleaded. “Yelling isn’t going to change the situation, and you need to be calm, the bay...”

  I widened my eyes and tensed up to stop him from finishing his sentence.

  “It isn’t good for you, baby,” he changed his words.

  Jason turned to me, his eyes furious. “Go on. Finish what you were saying...The baby? What baby?” he roared, turning to Charles.

  “I don’t know anything about a baby.” Charles’s eyes met mine.

  I knew he was standing with us that day we told Frank. He was standing there. He knew. Fear and sadness instantly churned into anger from the depths of my insides. I closed my eyes and concentrated on calming down. Behaving like a raving lunatic was not going to get us out of this.

  Nathan’s phone rang and Charles picked it up, looked at it. “It’s Frank.”

  “Ignore it for now,” Jason ordered.

  As soon as Nathan’s stopped ringing, mine started.

  “It’s Rachel.”

  “Oh, that pesky bitch will come the fuck over here if she doesn’t get a hold of her. Fuck, one more body to hide,” he muttered. “Fuck. Fuck! Answer it now. On speaker,” he demanded, shoving the phone in my face. “You say one thing I find even remotely suspicious, and I blow his pretty fucking head off.” He held my gun to Nathan’s head.

  Emma let out a small gasp but covered her mouth quickly. Jason hit the speaker button.

  “Jordan? Jordan?” I heard Rachel’s voice but there was an echo and the call wasn’t clear.

  “Hey, Rach,” I answered listlessly.

  “Hey, Rach?” She sarcastically questioned me. “What’s wrong with your phone? Where the hell are you guys? Our flight like leaves in an hour.”

  “Hold on. Let me get this off speaker. I can’t understand you with the echo.” I looked up at Jason and he nodded.

  “Much better, okay what now?” I sounded annoyed.

  “Frank has tried Nathan a few times—all right, Frank, yes more than a few—like thirty times, but he hasn’t answered. He wanted to let Nate know he had to meet up with Richard so he was sending Charles to come get you guys. Here, hold on, seriously—” Her voice faded.

  “Jordan, did Charles make it there to pick you guys up? Why isn’t Nathan answering his phone? What is going on? Talk to me.” He was panicked.

  “I will if you stop talking for a moment.” I tried to sound lighthearted and amused, but I didn’t know if it was enough to convince him. I pressed the phone closer to my ear so Jason wouldn’t hear Frank’s voice.

  “Everything is fine, just running behind. Charles is here, be there soon. Just get on the plane. I don’t think we’ll miss our flight, but if we do we’ll get the next one.”

  He sat silent for a moment. “All right, Jordie. Holler.”

  Score! He didn’t buy my story and was looking for a holler back.

  “Okay, bye.” I pushed the end button, praying I was right about my assumptions. “Satisfied?” I hissed at Jason.

  “Is that any way to speak to your husband?” He cocked his head to the side and flashed a devilish grin to Nathan. His words made me sick, and I hurried to the kitchen sink. Jason followed me to the doorway, laughing. I vomited twice, and my phone started ringing again.

  “Who is it now?” he demanded, aiming the gun at the back of Nathan’s head.

  My stomach churned again. Stay calm, Jordan. “Rachel.”

  “She is still a raging pain in the ass. Answer it. On speaker again. Make it quick.”

  “What, Rachel? I’m trying to get done here!” Skipping the hello and getting right to the conversation.

  “Fine then. Just get here. Jesus Christ, you’re in bitch mode today.” She hung up.

  “Same ol’ Rachel.” I tried to sound playful, looking at Jason. “She wants to borrow a pair of boots, but she never returns shit she borro—”

  “I don’t care, Jordan.”

  It worked. Frank knew we needed help, A-effing-men. Help would be on the way. Frank had probably notified the CIA, FBI, and National Guard by now so they’d be busting through the windows and doors at any time.

  “Go get my daughter’s suitcase and bring it to the car, Charles,” Jason demanded. His eyes never left mine. “Rudy, I’ll need those documents now.”

  I jumped to my feet in a panic, bringing Emma up with me. There was no way on God’s green earth he was taking my daughter anywhere.

  “What documents? Jason, you can’t...” I could hear the terror in my own voice. Stay calm, Jordie, stall him. I composed myself. “You are not taking my daughter anywhere.”

  “Your daughter?” He cocked his head to one side.

  Oh, shit. I know that look.

  His eyes were filled with rage. He was going to blow at any moment.

  Be strong, Jordan. It’s now or never. You know how this works.

  “Yes, my fucking daughter! You know, while you were off playing war hero gone terrorist I was here alone raising my daughter. My daughter! You were simply a sperm donor as far as I’m concerned!”

  Oh fuck.

  “Jordan, please,” Nathan pleaded.

  I looked over and mouthed, “I love you” to him and stuck my chin out and held my head high and stared right into Jason’s rage-filled eyes. “Nathan, no. I’m not allowing this terrorist to take my daughter anywhere!” I tucked Emma even closer under my arm.

  “Stay out of this!” Jason pistol-whipped Nathan on the side of his head. Nathan slumped over, unconscious.

  “No! You spineless son of a—” I was cut off by the back of his hand across my cheek.

  “Mommy!” Emma cried as Jason snatched her from my arms.

  “Get her bag now!”

  “I will kill you, motherfucker!” I lunged at him, not recognizing my own voice. It was as if I had left my own being in attempt to save my daughter from that maniac. I jumped on Jason and dug my nails into his face. My legs were locked tightly around him as I tried to gouge his eyes out of the sockets. The element of surprise was the only thing I had working in my favor at that point. He was so stunned it took him a moment to realize what was happening. Once he found his bearings, though, I was fucked. His strength was too much for me but his shrieks of pain fueled my adrenaline, giving me the vigor and stamina to hang on. He grabbed me by the back of my head and yanked my hair out. I didn’t budge. I continued to claw at his face. I could feel his flesh under my nails, and I began to dig them in deeper, screaming like a lunatic.

  BANG!

  My guts twisted as I tore my hands away from his flesh in horror. He’d fired the gun. I searched for Emma. Charles was shoving her out the door as Frank and Richard barreled in. They disarmed Jason so quickly, I couldn’t process how it all happened. Charles detained Rudy. I couldn’t think clearly, my mind was shrouded and frenzied.

  “Emma? Nathan?” I muttered.

  “Emma’s safe,” a voice assured me.

  “Nathan? Nathan?” I staggered in Nathan’s direction. Frank caught me as I collapsed next to his slumped body, tied to the chair. I heard a horrific shrill scream that cut right through me as if I had been stabbed in the heart. It was only when I focused on Nathan’s bloody torso that I realized the heartbreaking cry had come from me. Nathan had been shot.

  “Nathan.” I tried so hard to grab on to him, but I was too weak. I managed to drape my limp body over his knees. The room was spinning. There were so many voices but they were distant and fading into the blackness.

  “Jordie, Jordie, open your eyes, Jordan.” I felt a light tapping on my cheek. As I drifted back into consciousness my mind went in a tizzy again.

  “Emma? Nathan? Jason? What’s happening? Did that really happen or was it a dream? Please, someone tell me what is going on.” Confused and disorientated, I scanned my surroundings for any piece of the puzzle.

  “Frank, please help me. Where is Emma? Nathan... Nathan was shot? Is my baby okay? Was that Jason? How was Jason here?” I bawled and wondered if I h
ad made any sense.

  How was anything that just happened real? Where is my daughter? How was Jason alive and here? Was Nathan really shot?

  “Frank, where is Nathan? Was he shot? Is he alive?” The questions continued to spill straight from my mind out of my mouth in an unfiltered mass of words.

  “Calm down. You’re not badly hurt. You seem to be all right,” an unfamiliar voice tried to calm me. It was then I noticed the EMT taking my blood pressure and checking my pulse.

  “Frank! Frank!” I screamed, darting my eyes everywhere for a familiar face.

  “I’m right here, Jordie. Here, sweetie.” Frank reached out to me and took my hand.

  “Where’s Emma? How is Nathan? Is he alive? My god, Frank, what’s happening?” I started my frantic tizzy from the beginning.

  “Jordan, focus on staying calm. Emma’s with Richard and three officers downstairs, safe.”

  “Jason? Was that for real Jason? Frank?”

  “Yes, it was,” he answered, seemingly ashamed. I couldn’t tell if it was because he felt sorry for me or if he was feeling guilty for not preventing what had happened.

  “This isn’t your fault, Frank. Nobody could have known—”

  “Let’s not discuss this now, Jordan. You and Emma are safe. That’s what matters right now.”

  “Where’s Nathan?” I mashed my eyebrows together.

  “He’s en route to the hospital. He was shot along with head trauma.” Frank hung his head, I guessed to hide his misty eyes.

  “We need to go now.” I sprung out of the gurney and held my head because the pain shot straight through it and made me dizzy. I quickly sat back down.

  “After you’re medically cleared,” the EMT said, his voice stern.

  “Fuck off.” I snatched my arm out of his grip. “I refuse medical attention. Let’s go now, Frank,” I spit out through clenched teeth. I struggled again to stand up and Frank helped me this time.

  “Jordie, he’ll be in surgery by the time we get there. I promise to have you there before he gets out. You need to be checked over before you go anywhere, please? They’re bringing up a portable sonogram to make sure the baby isn’t in distress. Just give us fifteen minutes. You know Nathan would want you—”

  “Oh, Jesus Christ, Frank. All right,” I put my hand over my belly. I knew it was what I needed to do. “Can you please get Emma at least? Can I see for myself my daughter is unharmed and safe?”

  Frank nodded to Charles and my insides went ballistic.

  “You! I will kill you, you traitorous son of a bitch!” I jumped off the gurney again. This time I was out for blood.

  “Jordie, stop.” Frank restrained me. “He was planted there. Calm down. My god, would you relax for one goddamned minute!”

  I stood there stunned, not because Charles wasn’t a terrorist’s right hand man but because Frank yelled at me. I lowered myself down slowly and slinked sheepishly into the gurney.

  “Dammit, kid. You’re killing me.” He sounded exasperated. “Once you and the baby are checked out and cleared I’ll explain everything to you. Until that happens, sit there, relax with your mouth shut, and wait. I’ll summon Emma so you can see for yourself she’s unharmed.”

  I stared at him, mouth agape, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Thank you. Charles, will you please get Emma for her mother?” Frank’s face softened.

  “Sorry,” I mouthed to him, lying back down.

  “Everything will be okay, Jordie. One thing at a time.” He winked and attempted to give me a reassuring smile.

  I wasn’t buying it though.

  “Mommy,” Emma shouted as she ran through the door.

  “Emma, sweetie. Let me see you.” I took her in my arms, then pulled away so I could give her a thorough once over.

  “I’m fine, I promise, but we went from some pretty boring people to the whoa factor, Mom,” she said as the EMT turned on the sonogram machine.

  “This will be cold. We don’t have portable warmers.” He squeezed some gel out of a bottle onto my belly. He pushed the reader down over it and almost instantly I heard the swooshing. Listening closer we could hear the faint sound of the baby’s heartbeat.

  “Let me just send these to the hospital and have the on-call take a quick look and you’ll be free to go. Give me about five minutes. For now you can get up and get some water and stretch if need be, nothing strenuous, and I’ll be right back.”

  I thanked him and turned to Frank. “Have you heard anything about Nathan’s condition yet? We need to get down there. What kind of shape was he in when they transported him? Honestly, Frank. I need to know what I’m in for.” I was stone-faced serious, and Frank knew I meant business.

  “I’m not a doctor, Jordie. I’ll call Rachel for an update if you’d like. She and Tyler followed the ambulance. I’m sure they’re there by now.”

  “You’ll need to explain all of this on the way.”

  The EMT came back with the okay from the doctor on call. My apartment was still flooded with I don’t know how many different agencies of law enforcement. I couldn’t think about speaking to any one of them until I knew Nathan was alive and doing well. My insides were wrenched and twisted at the thought of Nathan hurt. I couldn’t even fathom the thought of him being dead.

  Why? Why did this happen? Why to Nathan? He is good to the very core, he would never hurt anyone. Please, please, please, let him make it through this.

  Frank, Emma, and I got in a car and headed to the hospital. I held my daughter’s hand and laid my head back to close my eyes. I would not lose this man. I knew he loved us enough to fight his way through it. He had to, he was a part of me. We were a family. I refused to lose him.

  “MOM, WE’RE HERE.” Emma squeezed my hand.

  Frank opened the door and a swarm of paps surrounded us. They were taking pictures and screaming questions at us from every direction. Frank did his best to keep them away from us, but there were just too many. I reached my breaking point.

  “Just get her inside,” I yelled to Frank.

  He nodded and kept moving.

  “You guys have got to be fucking joking, right?” I screamed. “Nathan is in that hospital right now fighting for his life and this is what you scumbags do? Harass the people that love him?” Another flash went off in my face and I reflexively grabbed it by the lens and smashed it on the ground. “Here’s a quote. Go fuck yourself, you worthless piece of shit. Get a real job and contribute something other than being a drag on society!”

  I broke down, and Todd and Isobel caught me just before I crumbled to the ground.

  “Jordie, it’s all right. Come on, I’ve got you.” Todd threw something over my head as they guided me into the hospital.

  Rachel was at the door waiting for me. “Holy shit, Jordan,” she croaked out.

  I walked into her already open arms and we busted into tears together as she petted my head. Frank came over and led us to a private room on the third floor. Nathan was still in surgery.

  “Have you guys eaten anything?” Todd turned to me.

  “No, we haven’t,” I managed to peep out between the last of my sobs.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’m going to grab a few sandwiches and drinks from the cafeteria,” he told us as he hurried out. Isobel was right behind him and stopped to touch my hand. I forced a small smile before she left. I looked over to see Emma lying on the small couch, curled up in a ball watching television. I turned to Frank.

  “What are his injuries? Why does he need surgery? How long has he been in there?”

  “The bullet entered through his stomach and exited his back was all we could see at your place. He also has blunt force trauma to his skull. He’s lost a lot of blood.” Frank spoke softly so Emma couldn’t hear him.

  “He was pistol whipped. That’s where the head injury came from.”

  “Just hang tight, kid. I’ll go get the rest of the details.” Frank patted my leg and stood up.

  “Wait for me.
Rachel, do you mind keeping an eye on Em for a few? Please.”

  “Sure, just don’t be too long. You need to eat something, Jordie.”

  I was grateful Frank had Nathan’s medical records with him at all times. If it were anyone else I’d think it was strange, but this was Frank we were talking about, Mr. Fine-tooth Comb. He carried them in that man-purse of his. Actually, he carried all of Nathan’s important paperwork with him. I guess it made sense. Sure as hell made me feel unprepared.

  “Mr. Rockford, does Mr. Harper have a living will?” the nurse asked Frank kindly.

  “Please, call me Frank, and yes, here are all his medical records, along with the necessary paperwork.”

  “Frank, what does his living will say?” Panic ripped through my voice. The thought of losing him was just too real.

  “It says do whatever medically possible to save him, but he does not wish to be on any life support if he’s deemed brain dead.” He handed the nurse the records.

  “How is he?” I blurted out to her.

  “I’m sorry, Miss, I can’t...”

  “You may. This is Ms. Jordan Spagnato.” He pointed to my name on Nathan’s paper work.

  He added me on there? When?

  “Oh yes, I apologize.”

  “Don’t worry about it. How is he?” The thinning of my patience was clear. Frank rubbed my back in an attempt to soothe me.

  “The paramedics had the bleeding under control for both wounds by the time they reached us. He was brought right into surgery when he arrived.” She gave a weak smile.

  “The best surgeons are working on him. From the update I received approximately seven minutes ago, they’re almost finished and he’s doing well. They had to repair his upper intestine and remove his spleen. They were worried the bullet nicked his lung upon exiting but he was very lucky it didn’t. I’ll come get you when he’s out of recovery.”

  “Thank you.” Frank nodded as I stood there frozen like an idiot with my mouth wide open. I couldn’t believe what had happened. I just wanted to wake up from the nightmare.

  “It’s decaf.” Isobel handed me a sandwich and a cup of coffee when we got back to the waiting room. Tyler was on the phone over in the corner away from the rest of us. Emma had fallen asleep on the couch. I covered her up with a hospital blanket and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.