“Do you need to make any other calls?”
Jane startled and pressed her hand to her chest. She’d forgotten the nurse was sitting to her left. “No. Thank you for letting me use the phone.”
“Of course. Now let me show you where you can shower and change and by the time you’re done, maybe there will be another update to share.”
The woman showed her to an empty hospital room. While she could’ve luxuriated under the hot stream for hours, she scrubbed her skin and hair as fast as possible before dressing in the scrubs. She doubted Addison would want the shirt and shorts she’d loaned her, but just in case Jane stored them in a plastic bag. She’d wash them and mail them back to the anthropologist when she had access to laundry facilities.
When she returned to the waiting room, there were no updates on Sully, but there was a delivery for her at the desk. She stared at the large Target bag before taking it to one of the upholstered metal chairs. It was stupid, but she didn’t want to open the heavy bag on the chair next to her. By the weight of the bag, she had a feeling that Sully’s friend had gone way over the top and she was going to be left feeling very indebted to him. She’d been in enough positions where she’d owed others, whether it was her silence, money, or time. Shaking her head, she brushed off the thoughts. She was no longer a scared delinquent. She was an adult. A contributing member of society with her own bank account and the means to pay Red back as soon as she straightened everything out. Besides, if he had sent her a phone, she could use it to call her bank and lock her credit and debit cards, which had been on her when she’d been taken. A shiver snaked down her spine. The idea that traffickers had her personal information was unsettling.
Deciding that the contents of the Target bag were the least of her worries, she opened it and began to carefully rummage through the contents. Her vision glazed over as tears once again gathered in her eyes. Inside the bag was a prepaid phone, Visa gift card, electrolyte drinks, a box of protein bars, ramen noodles, leggings, socks, a couple of cotton T-shirts, and even a six-pack of underwear. There was also a velvety throw blanket, a romance book, a variety of chocolate and a folded canvas tote bag to put all the items inside. To say she was grateful was an understatement. A chuckle escaped her lips as she picked up the book from a popular novelist. She had a hard time picturing any man picking out some of these selections. Jane unpackaged the phone and punched in the number Sully had given her.
Wow. You didn’t have to go to all that trouble, but it’s appreciated, and I’ll reimburse you once my bank situation is squared away.
Not necessary. Addison and Silver reached out when they landed in Virginia and told me you only had the clothes on your back when you left with Sully. Addy also told me the sizes to get for the clothes, so I hope they’re okay to hold you over. My girlfriend will bring a few more things when we fly out. I just gave her this number, so don’t be surprised if she texts you. Her name is Thalia.
Jane began to write a reply, then stopped at the squeak of rubber clogs on the tile floor.
“Jane Laurier?”
She glanced up at her name and stood. Her heart was beating fast and her stomach quivered as she ran through all the worst-case scenarios in her mind. “Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m Dr. Bard, your fiancé’s trauma surgeon. His injury is a serious one, but he did well during surgery. We’ve irrigated the wound and removed the bullet. Due to the infection, there was a lot of devitalized tissue that needed to be removed to allow the site to properly heal. The good news is, your fiancé was in goodhealth prior to the injury and fortunately, the bullet didn’t result in any bone fractures. His medical team’s main concern right now is infection control. We’re keeping him in intensive care and starting multiple, aggressive medications to treat sepsis and preserve his organs from being damaged. How long he needs to remain in the hospital will depend on his response to treatment. Do you have any questions?”
“When can I see him?”
“He’s in recovery now, but you should be able to go back once he’s settled in on the ICU floor.” The doctor looked at her watch and then back at Jane. “I’d say no more than half an hour.”
“Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure. Did someone look at that sunburn you have?”
“Not yet, but I’ll get it checked out,” she lied. All she wanted to do was see Sully. To look him over with her own eyes and make sure he was okay. Jane typed out a quick message to Red to let him know that Sully was out of surgery, then felt the phone vibrate against her palm.
Thanks for the update. Looking at flights now.
A few minutes passed, and the phone vibrated again.
Hi! This is Thalia. Please let me know if you need anything or would just like to talk. Can’t wait to meet you.
She bit the inside of her cheek, uncertainty slamming into her. What was she doing here? It wasn’t that she didn’t like people, but she hadn’t been anticipating Sully’s friends to be so welcoming. They didn’t even know her. She’d come here because she wanted to make sure Sully was okay, but he had a whole army of people who loved and cared about him. Once they arrived, she’d just be in the way. Her mother and stepfather didn’t even know she’d been taken hostage. They touched baseevery few months, but she probably wouldn’t mention what had happened because they weren’t that close. The conversation would turn into what she had done wrong to put herself in a dangerous situation, not if she was okay. Not if she needed support. That was as much her fault as theirs, though. She’d been the one to leave home and drop out of school. She’d tried to tell them what happened under the bridge that day, but they hadn’t believed her. Had said she was making up lies about her stepfather’s boss to divert the attention away from her skipping school. Even now, hurt sliced through her chest. The deep erosion of trust for the adults who were supposed to protect her had shaken her foundations.
“Jane? You can come back now.”
She straightened her shoulders and grabbed the canvas tote bag at her feet, then followed the nurse to the intensive care unit.
Chapter Six
Constant beeping. Wallsof white. The metallic rattle and whoosh of a curtain being drawn. There’d been a reason Sully roused himself from his comatose slumber. He listened closely, then smiled when he heard the sound. Jane’s voice. He could’ve been lying here for days or months, but each time he became aware of his surroundings, he heard her talking to him. Felt her hand running through his hair. Putting pillows under his arms and behind his back to make him more comfortable. For Jane’s sake, he hoped they’d only been in the hospital a short time. He wanted to tell her to leave him and get some rest. To take care of herself. Each time he opened his mouth to speak though, only a croak left his throat.
“Red’s been trying to move heaven and earth to get a flight out here. Turns out it’s summer vacation for schools and there’s a cruise port nearby. I did some asking around and there’s a scrapbooking convention filling up the surrounding hotels, too. Scrapbooking. Who would’ve thought there’s such a big market for that? Anyways, your friends are incredible. Several members of the Virginia SEAL team, Ransom and his fiancée Brynn, Branch and Hannah, and Iron and Vivienne made the five-hour drive to visit you yesterday. They couldn’t all come in because you’re still in the ICU, but they said it was enough just to say hello and see for themselves that you’re all right. Your sisters flew in from Boston. They couldn’t be more lovely. I had no idea you had four of them! They told me all about the wedding venue they own and run together on Cape Cod. Thalia texted me this morning and said your parents managed to get a flight. Shouldbe here later today. Once they’re here, I’m not sure what to do.” She stroked the side of his face, and he leaned into her touch. At least he thought he did, but he couldn’t be sure he was able to move.
“I felt that, you know. How you leaned into my hand.”
He loved that even though he was having a difficult time communicating, whether that was from the medication he was on or something else, she was still in tune with him. Could practically read his thoughts without him having to speak. That was how it had been with her since the moment they touched in the water. They’d moved together fluidly, not just physically but mentally.
It was both startling and comforting at the same time. Startling because he’d just met Jane and yet his feelings for her ran deep. Protectiveness threatened to overwhelm him at times, especially because of the state he was in. If something happened to her, there was absolutely nothing he could do to help her, and that sucked. He hated feeling helpless. Weak. At the same time, he found comfort in their connection. He’d never allow just anyone to see him at his lowest, but she was so tough. He knew she had her own protective streak and would have his back even when he wasn’t able to have hers.
“I think you can hear everything I’m saying and it’s either annoying the shit out of you to hear me yapping on and on or you don’t mind. Seeing you were not only immune to my shrewish, nasally tone on the boat but seemed to somewhat enjoy it, I’ll keep talking until you either tell me to stop or your parents arrive. That’s what I’m hung up about. What would you want me to do when they get here? I don’t want to leave you, but you have so many people to love and support you that you really don’t need me here. The last thing I want is for your parents to feel uncomfortable that there’s this random woman camped out in their son’s room.”
