Page 98 of Carte

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“Never fucking again,” Carter growled as he shot out of the prison’s parking lot. “I knew it was a bad idea. Knew it would hurt you, but never again will you talk me into bringing you here.”

I hiccupped, tears glided down my face and neck, pain suffocating me from inside.

“Dynamo,” Carter whispered. He reached over, took my hand and brought it to his lips.

“I’m sorry,” I said brokenly.

He ground, “You have nothing to be sorry about. It’s me that needs to be sorry. I knew we shouldn’t go there, knew she would be like this. I shouldn't have let you talk me into it.”

“I had to try,” I wailed.

“I know,” he murmured. “I just wished it had gone differently for you.”

We fell silent for a moment as he drove. Both lost in our thoughts.

As we neared the hotel we were staying in, I whispered, “I still want to help her. Find her a lawyer. Maybe a shrink who can examine her. She’s not well, Carter.” I looked up at him. “I want to make sure she’s taken care of.”

Carter stopped next to the valet. He turned to me, his face soft, his eyes shining with love, “Just like you did with Jude.”

I bit the inside of my cheek and fidgeted.

After everything settled down, I made Carter track down where the police had taken Jude after the hospital.

He was rushed to surgery, and thankfully pulled through. But, when I went to the hospital to see him, I was informed that he was taken into custody, and would be recovering in prison since he violated the restraining order that was put in place after he scared me in that hallway.

God, that felt like a lifetime ago.

I was in hysterics since I didn’t know where he was, and he jumped in front of a bullet for me.

It took him a few days, and some jumping over red tape, but Carter found him for me.

Once we found out where he was, I was once again stopped and forbidden to see him.

Apparently, he went deep into psychosis and was muttering my lyrics under his breath and talking about how he needed to get to me.

The first thing I did after hearing that was calling Tim, and demanding he found the best facility that could help Jude.

He was now currently staying in a nice place in California, and was well taken care of. However, the restraining order was still in place since Carter didn’t want to take a chance on my security. Not ever again.

I released my cheek, and said, "I had to do something, he saved my life.”

Carter smiled, leaned over and kissed me, “That’s the only reason why I didn’t say anything. But still, you’re not going back to that place and forcing a relationship on a woman that’s clearly unwell, is highly dangerous, and wants to do you harm.”

“I promise, I won’t.” I whispered. “I’ll take care of her in other ways.”

“I know you will, Dynamo.” Carter smiled then got out of the car.

Later that night, after finishing the movie Bodyguard, I turned to Carter.

“I think I’ll go back into the studio soon, Warden.”

“That’s great,” he smiled as he went back to surfing the channels.

We were on a couch, my head was in his lap and he was sifting his fingers through my hair.

“That means another tour.”