AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jesska didn’t fully understand everything Adalyn was saying, but nodded her head and stayed where she was. She managed to give the police a statement, at least she thought she did, and then Adalyn was guiding her to the bathroom and helping her wash her hands. She held out a bright green hoodie someone had retrieved from Marilyn, and Jesska stared at it, not sure why she needed it. Adalyn helped Jesska remove her blood-soaked shirt and then, much like a mother did for a child, slid the hoodie over her head and guided her arms into the sleeves.
“Jess?”
“Hmm?”
“I called your parents.” Adalyn shoved Jesska’s soiled clothing into a plastic bag and handed her her purse. “They said they’ll meet you at the hospital, okay? Come on, I’ll drive you.”
Jesska nodded. “Yeah, okay.”
She prayed the whole way to the hospital, truly believing that Seth would be fine. He’d come out of surgery a little battered and stitched up, and maybe they’d have to postpone Paris, but they’d just go a little later in the summer. Everything would be okay.
“We’re almost there,” Adalyn said.
Jesska smiled. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
“Always, buddy.” Adalyn glanced at her with a smile and then focused back on the road.
“Seth’s going to be so mad.”
“About?”
“Having to postpone Paris.”
“Huh?”
“He’ll probably need some time to recover,” Jesska said. “Even as much of a badass as he is, I don’t think he’ll be able to go to Paris in two weeks.”
“No, I wouldn’t expect so,” Adalyn said.
Jesska pulled her compact out of her purse. “Why didn’t you tell me how bad I looked?”
“Jess, it doesn’t matter what you look like.”
“I can’t have Seth waking up and seeing this.” Jesska didn’t know if Adalyn said anything, more interested in fixing her appearance for Seth. Jesska focused on making herself look as perfect as possible. She wiped at a wrinkle on the borrowed hoodie, grabbed a wet towelette from her purse to try to get some of the blood off her jeans. Her need for everything in its place was on overdrive and anyone watching her would have understood why her siblings had taken to calling her “Messka.” She hated disorder or dirt of any kind.
“We’re here,” Adalyn said, and opened her door.
Jesska climbed out of the car, shoving her compact back in her purse as she followed Adalyn into Emergency and to the nurses’ desk. “We’re looking for Seth King.”
“Jess.”
She turned to find her half-brother, Cameron, rushing toward her. Cameron Shane was tall, dark, and one of the nicest people on the planet. A musician by passion, but having graduated the police academy a few years earlier, he was working towards his detective’s badge and played at church on the weekends to “always remember what was important.” He was just about perfect in Jesska’s mind. The epitome of the best big brother a girl could ever hope for. She’d always had a bit of hero worship toward him.
“Cam, what are you doing here?” she asked.
“I was close by, but Dad’s on his way.” He pulled her in for a hug. “What happened?”
“Seth and Jason were arguing, and Jason stabbed him,” Jesska said. She refused to feel anything beyond this bare fact. There was only one possible outcome. “I just need to know how long his recovery time is going to be and how soon they can throw Jason in jail.” She looked up at him. “We’re going to Paris.”
“I know, sissy.”
“Seth King? We’re looking for Seth King.” A woman’s frantic voice broke through Jesska’s haze.
“If you will just take a seat, ma’am, someone will be out to speak with you shortly,” the nurse said.
“Mrs. King,” Jesska called.
“Oh, Jess, honey. Do you know anything? What happened?”
