Theo jogs away from the group to walk beside me. “So, Jessie showed up unexpectedly.” He drawls. Tension radiates through my body. He flinches when my head snaps in his direction, clearly seeing how absolutely furious I am that her departure got past all my security without them noticing. That will be an issue quickly addressed when we get home.
“Where isshe?”I grit out, my voice gravelly.
“Kelsey’s with Alice and Hayden.”
“And…Hayden?” I repeat slowly. Surely, I didn’t hear him correctly. Because the way he made it sound as though Hayden iswithKelsey during her exams, and that just wouldn’t be acceptable. My anger is growing more into a boil from the simmer when I learned Jessie had driven all this wayalone.
It’s not Theo’s fault, but my brain doesn’t work rationally when I’m this infuriated. I snatch the front of his bulletproof vest and fist it close to his arm, jerking him closer until we’re nose to nose. “Do not tell me he is in therewithher!” I growl.
Theo’s lips thin into a tense line, and that was all it took before I marched my ass straight to that van.
“Wait, man! Just hold on a minute.”
“So help me God if you try stopping me, it’ll be your ass on the line next to Hayden’s.” I threaten, my voice dripping venom.
Theo backs away with his hands in surrender. He remains a safe distance behind me, following silently. Swinging the door open, it reverberates off the side of the van, causing everyone inside to freeze like deer in headlights.
“You can’t…” Alice begins.
“Don’t,” I growl, pointing my finger at her, and she gulps loudly—the IV bag shaking in her trembling hands.
Hayden stands abruptly, walking from behind the gurney. “Let’s take this outside.” He says in that pacifying tone of his that I hate.
“How about we don’t? How aboutyoutake yourself outside, considering I had already warned you about this.”
“If you won’t listen to me, maybe you’ll listen to her, but she asked me to stay by her side. She’s been terrified.” He explains. My eyes shoot to Kelsey, and hers immediately drop to her fidgeting hands in her lap. For a split second, I follow her gaze. Seeing her bloody hands sends a pang of guilt through my chest, and I fight the urge to rub my chest at that pain.
“Well, I’m here now, and your presence is no longer needed.”
Hayden looks to Kelsey, who’s still heavilyconcentrating on her butchered fingers. “Do you want me to leave?” He asks her.
She doesn’t look up, doesn’t even acknowledge his question. She seems lost in her own world, hopefully not reliving whatever happened during the hours she was trapped at that house.
“Kels?” He prods.
“Perhaps this is too much for her. May I suggest…” Alice chimes in.
“No!” Hayden and I snap simultaneously. Alice sighs heavily and returns to hanging the bag of fluids connected to Kelsey. She lays a gentle hand on Kelsey’s shoulder and squeezes. Alice has the most calming effect on people. It’s fitting for her job, considering she has seen the worst of the worst working with my team. When you have somebody on the brink of death in your gurney, you need that calmness, so you can work efficiently and quickly. Right now, her calmness is doing me no good, though. I’m too far gone to come back from this fury with calm words and rationalizing.
“You need to leave, Hayden. I have things I need to discuss with Kelsey—alone.” Emphasis on thealonepart.
He leaves hesitantly, slamming the door shut behind him. The doors we’ve encountered today have taken one hell of a beating.
“Kelsey. Can you hear me?” I speak softly. “Please nod or look at me.”
She nods once, and that’s good enough for me. “Can I tell you the reason why I wanted to keep you from us?”
Her glossy, dull eyes slowly trail up to meet mine. “I just want to sleep.” Her voice flat, and scratchy.
“Okay, we can talk tomorrow.”
After Kelsey drifted to sleep with the help of a low-dose sedative, I asked Alice about Kelsey’s health. Kelsey has suffered a minor concussion, three broken ribs, a broken nose, and several superficial injuries, such as cuts and bruises. Alice gave her a strong pain medication and instructed her to rest as much as possible. By the look on Kelsey’s face when Alice said that, I can tell I will have the time of my life ensuring she gets the rest she needs.
I know it was hard for Kelsey to talk about what she endured at the hands of Rocky, but I’m glad she did. Now, I know precisely the first thing that will be done to that fucker when we get back to the office.
Alice quietly clears her throat before whispering, “Once this bag of fluids finishes, she will be good to go to her room.”
“Thanks.” I resume bouncing my leg, arms crossed, while lying back in the bench seat, staring at the beautiful woman in front of me. She may hate me now and may hate me forever, but she no longer has a choice but to deal with me. I’m not going anywhere, and she won’t leave my sight again.
