“Her pulse is steady. Hopefully she’ll sleep it off. She’ll mostlikely wake up sick to her stomach.” Quynh grimaced. “Tomorrow, she should be fine other than a headache and nausea. And she won’t remember anything if it was roofies that the asshole gave her.” Quynh glared at Alex—the venom in her eyes would make anyone fear for their safety—before turning back to Jake, her expression softening into worry. “It looks like he spiked her water, and she didn’t finish her glass, so hopefully it will pass sooner rather than later. Between Emily and me, we can come in and check her vitals throughout the night to monitor her.”
Jake nodded, grateful to be living next to not one but two nurses.
“I’m taking her home now.” The women moved out of his way as he wrapped one arm under Gia’s knees and the other under her head. When she was safely tucked in his arms, he kissed the top of her head, praying he would be fine after this.
Thinking about how often she had been hurt or abused in such a short timeframe infuriated him. For it to happen in his hometown, of all places, was almost too much to bear. A wave of nausea washed over him.
“Thank you, ladies.” His voice cracked, thick with emotion. He hurried out the door, Gia safe in his arms, while Alex’s threats of legal action faded behind him.
Twenty-Nine
GIA
Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out—that’s when life throws you a curveball. A giantfuck youfrom the universe to keep you on your toes so you never get too comfortable. Or worse—behappy. God forbid she find happiness for even asinglemoment.
Nope, her pasthadto come barreling in like a damn freight train to wreck the new life she’d built for herself, right when she started thinking shedeservedto live a life of peace. This day of reckoning was inevitable. What she hadn’t expected was how—or, more necessarily,who—would knock down her house of cards.
The last few weeks played like a movie in slow motion as she reexamined every interaction, every moment, and every emotion she’d experienced. The whirlwind of it all crashed over her. Her heart pounded against her ribs, a frantic beat mirroring the overwhelming sensations coursing through her.
When she was first forced to return to Willowbrook, it felt like a nail in her coffin, signaling the end of her promising career—but instead of finding shame, she found redemption. Turns out her family didn’t hate her after all.
And Jake.
Sweet Jake, who had been trying to tell her since the momentshe arrived how much he loved her in so many ways. She was too stubborn to see it until it was too late. She never got the chance to tell him how she felt.
What if this time they had truly broken things between them?
It doesn’t matter.
This time, she was ready to fight for what she wanted—Jake. A place at his side for the rest of her life. Gia would be the person he saw in her.
As if thinking about him had conjured his presence, Jake appeared before her.
Jake!
She reached for him desperately, but every time she thought she had Jake within her grasp, he slipped farther and farther away. She wept and fought to get to him, but each step felt like she was sinking into quicksand. With every desperate attempt, she sank farther into the cold, dark pit. Every movement was a struggle as the sludge pulled at her limbs, pinning her in place.
That voice—the same one that had haunted her for as long as she could remember—whispered in her ear to let go. It was so tempting. So easy to listen to it. The promise of oblivion tugged at her, but then Jake’s voice cut through the dark thoughts, reminding her she was not a mistake.
I was never a mistake.
Her jaw clenched as she shut down the voice, a furious fire igniting within her.
So, she fought like hell to get back to Jake.
There was a tiny man trying to drill a hole through her skull. Groaning, Gia pried her eyes open. It took much more effort than it should have. Bright light pierced her, causing her to regret it instantly as the pounding became almost unbearable. She slammed her eyes shut with awhimper.
What happened?
“Oh, Gia. You’re awake!” an excited female voice sounded from her side. Something warm touched her forehead briefly before disappearing. “Here, drink some water.”
Gia squinted at the glass of water attached to the outstretched hand. She made a move to sit up but couldn’t even lift her head off the pillow.
“Here, let me help you,” the woman said, placing the cup on the bedside table before leaning over her.
With a grunt, Gia’s gravity shifted. The room spun around her even as she squeezed her eyes closed. Her stomach turned, threatening to empty its contents all over this poor woman who was only trying to help her.
“Easy… deep breaths.” Her voice sounded familiar, calming Gia’s nerves. After a few rounds of being coached through breathing exercises that should have been second nature to her, the room finally stopped spinning, and her stomach settled into neutral territory. Forcing one eye open, she looked into Quynh’s bright brown eyes, pinched with concern. “How are you feeling, Gia?”
