“I’m sorry.” I lose it, laughing and crying all at once.
“I forgive you.” His vacant gaze makes him look like he’s on another planet.
I don’t even get a chance to touch him before paramedics are applying pressure to his wound and giving him oxygen.
I slide back helplessly as he’s placed on a stretcher and hurried out of the room.
“Come on, let’s get you looked at, too.” Jett touches my back, and I cry out in agony.
Jett backs off but looks down at me, gravely concerned.
“Can you stand up?” he asks delicately.
I nod, wiping my runny nose on the blanket.
“Let’s go into the bathroom,” he suggests.
“What about CJ?”
“He should be fine. It’s you I’m worried about at the moment.” He glances back at a dead Slade lying on the floor. Phillyshot him right in the temple. I guess he does have a little Nino in him after all. Speaking of . . .”Where’s Philly?” I ask distraught.
“He’s being detained, but he’s fine,” Jett tells me as I stand slowly and shuffle my way into the adjoining room.
Jett flicks the switch, and I squint like I haven’t seen daylight in years. Then I notice his facial expression in the mirror. He looks about as white as CJ was lying on the carpet. The comforter is a light gray color, so I know exactly what he sees. Blood. Lots of it seeping through the fabric.
“I need to look.” He tries to peel the blanket off gingerly. I flinch right before I close my eyes and tremble from pain, shame, and shock.
“Oh shiiiit,” he expels softly.
Tears run freely down my cheeks as all different kinds of men come and go, in and out of the room. I catch sight of Slade’s body through the crack in the door being covered by a sheet and I shudder.
“Tara. I’m going to ask you a question, and I need you to be honest with me.” He turns me to face him, his big turquoise eyes filled with concern and compassion. Ellie told me Jett was one of the most genuine people she had ever met. That he helped her through one of the toughest times in her life. I didn’t understand it then, but I do now. As I stand here completely naked, with only my arms covering my breasts, I feel completely safe.
“Did he hurt you any other way?” he asks, searching my eyes.
“You mean did he assault me?” I sniff.
Jett nods.
“No. It didn’t get that far.” I swallow the bile threatening to come up. “Philly stopped him right before.”
“Well, at least Philly has done one thing right.”
“What’s going to happen to him?” I ask, blatantly worried.
“Probably nothing. He was as much a victim as you were.”
I breathe relieved. “I couldn’t live with myself if something bad happened to him.
“Nothing bad is going to happen to him. I give you myword. Okay?”
“Okay.” I blubber.
“Stay here, sweet girl. I’m going to grab a paramedic so we can get you out of here.”
I don’t know where it comes from, but I suddenly bubble over with raw emotion.
“I’m not a sweet girl!” I unleash a river of tears, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. “I’m disgusting, dirty, filthy. A whore.” I sob into my hands, overcome with guilt and unbearable regret. “It’s all my fault.”
