AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s okay. You don’t have to. We’ll think of something else.”
He let out a long breath, nodding slowly. “I’m sorry. I’ve never hit a woman before. It goes against my nature to hurt people.”
I could see that. He was a healer. He spent his days trying to stop people from feeling pain, not causing it. It didn’t change the fact that if we didn’t hurry, Carson would show up and I would be worse off than I was now. I looked around slowly for an option. My eyes landed on the railing at the foot of the hospital bed. Sean might not be able to do it, but I could.
“Okay. How about this? I’ll call my brother. He should be able to–”
Knowing that we didn’t have any time to waste, I threw myself against the edge of the bed. It was harder than I intended, my body curling in on itself from the pain, but not hard enough to break something.
“Rosie!”
I took a few steps back and tried again, throwing my full weight into it. Lightning shot up my side and my vision went dark as I collapsed onto the floor. I gasped against the pain, clutching my side.
“Nurse! Call an ambulance!”
Sean’s voice sounded far away, the pain making my ears ring. I couldn’t move, couldn’t open my eyes, but I could hear them as they argued.
“What the hell did you do?”
“Me? She threw herself against the bed! I thought you said she was medicated!”
Nurse Abigail made an indignant sound. “I said she needed to be medicated! You didn’t listen!”
“Bullshit! Get a damn ambulance! She’s having trouble breathing!”
I wanted to stay awake, to make sure that everything went to plan, but the pain was overwhelming and I eventually passed out. Hopefully, this would work. Otherwise, I didn’t want to wake up.
* * *
“You better be prepared for a lawsuit. She was fine in the facility until you showed up. You shouldn’t have even been let into the building.”
Carson’s angry growl stirred my consciousness. I fought to open my eyes, but it felt like they were glued shut. I could only listen as he and Sean argued.
“I was there to help her, Mr Shelby. She was attacked, and the nurses reported she was favoring her ribs and limping. Left unattended–”
“I don’t give a shit what your excuses are, Doctor. Get her ready to go. I’m bringing her to a different hospital. One with people I trust.”
I pleaded in my mind for Sean to keep me here. If Carson took me away, I’d never be able to escape again.
“She can’t be moved right now, Mr Shelby. She’s too unstable.”
Carson growled, and I could almost imagine the look on his face. When he was angry like this, he looked like a different person. The charming politician was replaced with an actual monster, his face screwed up in a snarl. That face meant pain, and I was terrified, even when I couldn’t see it directly.
“I wasn’t asking, Doctor. My wife is leaving with me.”
I felt his hand wrap around my wrist. It always confused me how such a monster could have such soft hands. No callouses to speak of.
After a scuffling sound, his hand disappeared. I forced my eyes open as much as I could, horrified as I watched Sean and Carson grappling with each other. Carson shoved Sean hard, sending him sprawling into the chair meant for family members to use for visits. He spun around and grabbed my arm again, yanking me from the bed.
It felt like my muscles weren’t working. The feeling was similar to the day they brought me to the psych hospital. I could hear and feel everything, but I couldn’t move an inch. My legs were like Jell-O. It worked in my favor, though. Carson probably expected me to stand on my own, but my legs went out from under me, causing me to drop to the floor.
“God damnit, Rosalie! Get up!”
He reached for me again, but before he could touch me, Sean tackled him into the bed, sending a tray crashing to the floor. A nurse came running into the room, shouting when she saw what was happening.
“Security! Call Security!”
Meanwhile, Carson and Sean were still fighting. Sean had wrestled Carson to the floor, but Carson was bigger than him and flipped their positions. He sat on Sean’s chest, raining punch after punch onto Sean’s face. I could only watch in horror as my husband tried to beat my doctor to death.
