AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“They are examining her and the baby now.” Jaylen dragged his fingers through his hair. He was tired to his bones. “She was hit several times in the face, so there is swelling on her left cheek and her jaw is swollen.
There are lacerations on her wrists and ankles and she is suffering from shock and exhaustion. The baby is doing well, but she is in and out of consciousness.” He spun away to the window and shoved his hands into his pockets. It was approaching dawn and the sky had a rosy look about it. “I did this.”
“You didn’t—"
“It was because of me," he cut off his dad. “I knew her a long time ago. Some girl I never even thought of and she had this idea in her head that we had a connection. She was going to kill my wife—"He had to brace against the window as the entire horror of it swept through him.
“She held a gun to Anika’s head and threatened to kill her. Jesus! Jesus!” he pressed his fingers into his sockets. “I could have lost her and I- I want to kill that-that woman, that bitch for doing that to her.” He jerked at the hand on his shoulder and turned to see Corey standing behind him.
“She is not going to tolerate the guilt. She is here and she is fine and yes, I want to put my hands around that woman’s neck and squeeze the life out of her. But I was told she is unhinged and belongs in a psych ward. What is important is that you be there for your wife. She is fine and I am thinking about everything I know about her.”
They both looked up as the doctors came in.
“How is she?”
“Asking for you. Demanding, more like it.” Dr. Reynolds looked at Corey. “Are you Corey?”
He nodded. “She wants to see you too.”
They both followed the man and stepped into a private room to see her propped up against the pillows.
“You look like hell,” Corey told her teasingly as he moved forward to kiss her on the bruised cheek gently.
“Pardon me if I was too busy to put makeup on.” Her eyes drifted to the man standing in the middle of the room. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I will leave you two alone.” Corey kissed her again. “How soon are they springing you from the joint? I guess money shouts. It looks like a damn diamond star hotel.”
“I want to go home and I am kicking up a stink about it. They are releasing me after they ensure that I am good to go.”
“Then I will come and see you at the loft.” He kissed her on the forehead. “If you ever scare me like that again, I am going to kick your ass.”
“I won’t.” She hugged him and then let go.
With a nod at Jaylen, he left and closed the door behind him.
“Are you going to just stand there?”
“Depends.” He had been with her in the ambulance, but now he felt vulnerable.
“On?”
“If I am going to get to hold you in my arms and tell you how damn sorry I am.”
“Will you get over here?”
He moved then and kicked off his shoes, joined her on the bed.
“When was the last time you slept?” She asked, brushing tendrils of hair from his face.
“Twenty-four hours. Who is counting?” he framed her face with his hands, careful of the bruises. “She put hands on you.” He was shaking. “And I want to kill her for that. She hurt you and I—"
“Shh darling.” She placed a finger over his lips. “When I was in that dank and dark cabin that made me want to break out in a rash, I focused on you, my husband, the love of my life, the center of everything, and our baby. And that was what did it for me.”
Her eyes glittered with tears. “I was determined to make it because I said to myself that I did not get enough time with you and I wanted more time. I love you so much Jaylen, if I had doubts before, about anything, it’s gone. I don’t want to think about her, I just want to relish the fact that we are here together. Can we do that?”
“You have to ask?” he asked thickly. His throat was hurting from the tears he was trying to avoid. “Anything for you, my love.” He held her against him and within minutes they were both fast asleep.
