“Here,” I murmur, carefully washing the blood from his skin. My fingers are gentle, tracing over the claw marks with a tenderness I hope he can feel. His body shudders under my touch. I don’t speak much; the quiet is heavy but necessary.
Micah sits on the bathroom floor, his gaze fixed forward. A small sob works its way out of me, and I try to swallow it down. But it’s no use. I’m devastated. Jude’s eyes can’t even focus, and his head keeps shaking as if he’s attempting to wake himself from some nightmare.
He suddenly squints at me, cupping my face in his rough hands. “I love you,” he whispers suddenly, so quietly I almost don’t hear it over the water. My throat tightens, my chest squeezing. It breaks me. Just that. Three words I’ve been starving to hear for seven years. My throat closes up, and I have to clear my throat before I can breathe again.
“I know,” I whisper, my voice shaking.
He exhales a heavy sight and drops his head, allowing the water to pour over his hair.
Once he’s clean, Micah hands over a fresh set of clothes he packed. We help him into his black sweatpants, my hands lingering a moment longer than necessary on his shoulders. I lead him to the bed and settle him against the pillows, tuggingthe blankets around his tired body. Micah collapses on the other bed, exhausted. He runs a hand through his shoulder-length blonde hair, sighing, finally still for a moment.
“He does everything bad, so I don’t have to,” he murmurs quietly, almost to himself, but loud enough for me to hear. “He’s killed so many fucking people, Emma…”
I feel my stomach twist, nausea rising. “He—he never told me,” I whisper, voice breaking. “I didn’t know...any of this.” I choke back a sob, absolutely blown away at what tonight has turned into.
Micah shakes his head. “He loves you. Always has. But he’s trapped. Tours traffic drugs, launder money...he kills for Nolan, now Alexei, too. Gets—fucked by Adriana. He’s a prisoner, Emma. We need to get him out because I’m worried he doesn’t have a lot of time.”
My heart is pounding so hard. I grip the blanket, trying to ground myself, trying to remember that I’m here, that he’s here, thathe’s still alive.
I didn’t know it was this bad…
What can I do?
I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to calm myself even a little bit. Jude stirs, finally. His eyes open slowly, unfocused at first. He looks at me, and despite all of the blood, drugs, and exhaustion tonight, I see the man I’ve always loved, the one who’s ensnared in a hell I never imagined.
I reach out, hand trembling, and touch his cheek. He leans into it slightly, letting the contact calm him. The hotel room is quiet except for his shallow breaths and the hum of the air conditioner.
“Em…” he whispers, barely audible. “I’m so...sorry—”
“Shhh.” I press my lips to his temple softly. “I know,” I whisper back. “I’ve got you. Just rest. Please.”
Surprisingly, he doesn’t fight it. He closes his eyes, his body melting into the bed, finally letting the weight of everything fall off his shoulders. I glance over at Micah, watching him now get into his gray sweatpants. His eyes catch mine, and we stare at each other for a long moment. With a heavy sigh, he comes over and sits beside me on the bed, Jude behind us, passed out.
“I had no idea that he was living this way,” I whisper, sitting cross-legged, my hands fidgeting anxiously in my lap. “I just thought...that they owned him through drugs and money. I didn’t know he…” I swallow, glancing back at him. “Killed anyone.”
Micah leans forward, his hands on his knees. Tattoos are scattered across his shoulders and biceps like Jude’s. “Listen, you can’t tell anyone. It’s very, very complicated. When he’s awake, he’ll explain more.”
I nod, my breathing still shallow.Why can’t I breathe?
“Don’t beat yourself up about anything, trust me. He had his reasons for ending it with you all those years ago, but it’s not my place to explain. I’m sure he will now.”
I pull my lower lip between my teeth to keep from crying.
“He didn’t want to leave you,” he murmurs, sitting up to look at me. His blue eyes are so kind; they bring me comfort. “Ididn’t show up until a couple years later, but I know his story. And he’s regretted that decision every damn day since then.”
I can’t stop them now. Tears fall silently down my cheeks. These people, these horrible fucking people destroyed Jude and robbed us of a beautiful life together.And they have himkilling people?
Micah reaches a tattooed arm and pulls me into a side hug. I scoot closer so my body is resting against his warm skin. I don’t even know this man too much, but right now, we’re united over our pain and love for the damaged soul sleeping behind us. Mybody shakes with the quiet sobs, and he rubs my arm, resting his cheek on my head.
“I’ve never moved on from him,” I say with a sniffle, rubbing my eyes. “Heather’s watched me struggle for years. No one has ever compared to the love we had.”
Micah swallows hard, both of our gazes set forward. “We’ve tried getting out, you know,” he murmurs.
I pull away from his shoulder to look at him. “Hedidtell me that. But he managed to skip over...the rest of it.”
A hint of a smile ghosts the corner of his mouth. “Yeah. Every time we step out of line, they force withdrawals onto us. We’ve been locked in a room, both in fucking insane pain, sweating, crying. We’ve been through hell together trying to figure out how to survive it.”
I wipe another tear, looping my arm through his. “So these people...your manager...they’re criminals?”
