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“Sir, can you hear me?” I heard a voice on the phone, pulling me back to reality.
“Sorry yes, yes. I’m here,” I ushered.
“Is this Dawson Parker?” she queried carefully as I heard the unmistakable noise of an EMT shouting for assistance. My control started to come apart before my eyes, my body shook with fear in anticipation of what I’d hear next.
I gripped the phone tightly as they said, “I’m Nurse Williamson. Do you know an Everleigh…?”
Before she said her full name, I was screaming, “Yes, I’m Dawson Parker, yes Everleigh Acton, where is she? What’s wrong with her?” My resolve had cracked. I needed to get to Everleigh. I now stood, pacing the apartment. Fear and anger combined raged through my veins. I was losing control.
“If you can just calm down,” she asked in a soothing voice.
“I am calm… please,” I said through gritted teeth as I breathed out and dropped my head towards the ground. “I need… I just...”
“Listen, Mr. Parker… you need to remain calm. Miss Acton was brought in an hour ago and she gave us your name as her emergency contact.”
My mind was in overdrive. Why hadn't I kept her close, listened to my fears? Yes, she had a mind of her own, she was a powerhouse in her own right, but I shouldn’t have let her leave alone. I should never have left her side.
“Mr. Parker…?”
“Sorry… it's just…” I said, rambling through a flurry of emotions.
“Mount Sinai West… accident and emergency.”
“I'm on my way,” I replied. I ended the call and rubbed my hands across my face in an attempt to focus my mind but all I could see was the terror of the darkness.
How hurt was she? What had happened?
Think Dawson, think. Get yourself together. This is no good to anyone.
I slapped myself hard, attempting to knock the confusion out of me and the sense I needed in. This wasn't about me. It was about her. Everleigh. She needed me and fuck everything else.
I dialed Reese, my fingers naturally doing the work of finding his details. I didn't know how my mind could still process. I needed the calmness of a familiar face. I couldn't start doubting my actions now. I had to remain levelheaded and in control, but the devil was pushing for an outing on my shoulder, and I didn’t know how long he could be reined in.
All that mattered was that I got to my girl and saw with my own eyes she was alright. Even though, logically, I knew she wouldn't be in hospital if she was okay. The nurse wouldn't give me any details on her condition over the phone and just told me to get to the hospital. I just hoped that it wasn't serious. I don't know if I could deal with that. Actually, scrap that… I couldn't. She was my all. She had to be fine.
I needed her as much as I needed the air in my lungs to breathe. Without either one, I couldn't function. Why had I let Stone control me all those years ago? He'd stolen all my time with her and now…
I felt the emotion gather speed as I tried to push them into the depths of my chest. The only one who could see them would be her when I finally let my heart fully open to her. The beep of the horn outside grounded me and I had the strength enough for us both.
“Everleigh, hang on sweetheart. I'm coming.”
18
Everleigh
The bright, fluorescent, beamed strip lights flickered above my head. My eyes struggled to focus against the stark contrast of darkness behind my eyelids and the brightness in front of me. A tightness grew across my skull, pressing heavily. It squeezed my temples like a vice as the beeping all around me made my senses go into overdrive. I tried to keep my breathing steady, not wanting to panic and scream but my mouth felt dry. Like the morning after a heavy night on the town with the girls and Freddie.
Stone. Fuck. Flashes of memory hit and thoughts of being at the apartment. Tye not being there and being met by Stone, but it hurt to push the memories. I tried to soothe my temples, but I couldn't reach up properly. My body was covered in wires and I couldn't move without pain traveling across my body.
I managed to open my eyes, but it made everything worse.
What the fuck are you doing here?
My eyes widened in fear as the influx of memories came flooding into my head, screaming to get out. How did he get in here?
“Oh, you’re back with us again,” Stone sneered as he walked towards the bed. I tried to gather my legs into my stomach and curl up in a ball, protecting myself from him but there was nowhere to hide.
I was trapped against the metal sides of the gurney, awaiting the wrath to be unleashed, hoping for someone to disturb us. My eyes flitted around realizing I was in a hospital ward. Had Dawson been called? I couldn’t remember, just images of drifted consciousness. Surely Stone wouldn't risk anything here? I couldn't guarantee it though, especially in my weakened state.
