Chase: A Devil & his Birdie: Havenwood University Book Two

Chapter 46

AS SOON AS we got to the hospital, the paramedics took him away. I felt my heart squeeze tight when they separated us. Watching them wheel him away sent panic straight through me. My brave and fearless man needed wound care for his feet and hands. He was a bloody mess after he knocked the daylights outta Will.

They wheel me into a private area of the Emergency Department and as soon as they pull that door closed, my walls come crashing down.

It’s like I’m being buried alive while having to relive the past few hours in my head. Him finding me in the dead of night. Being grabbed and dragged away by Will. Fighting for my life when that maniac started shouting about me being what he needed to win and trying to assault me for it. I’ve got no idea what’s gone on with Davis but I’m assuming it’s not good if Will ended up with his phone.

I can’t process any of it and my head throbs. I’m trapped in my thoughts and can’t get out. I need to cut it out. I start scratching my skin and pulling on my pointer finger cuticles until the skin rips off like red ribbons.

“Sloane, you need to take a deep breath, you’re having a panic attack, you’re safe and you’re in the hospital,” Officer Izzy offers and holds my hands in hers.

It takes some time before I’m ready to talk. Officer Izzy gave me the space I needed and after a few more calming moments, I let her know I’m ready.

“Can you tell me what happened tonight?” She starts off and I know I need to be as precise as possible. Will isn’t walking out a free man this time.

“Davis and I had words last night, it wasn’t a big argument or anythin’, but we kept our distance from each other today to cool off.”

“Did your boyfriend know you and your brother argued?” She asks and before I can answer, the door opens and Chase is being wheeled into the room.

He’s got a big smile on his handsome face, a bag of antibiotics connected to his arm, and an angry nurse by his side. The nurse talks to Officer Izzy and my rascal winks at me from his side of the room.

“This boy is refusing pain meds until he talks to someone about tonight. He’s threatening to pull out his iv unless he’s in here with her,” she nods her chin in my direction and I swear everything he does, even this, is downright romantic. Crazy, but still romantic.

“To answer your question, I knew they got into an argument last night. I watched it on the doorbell camera feed after the game. I also know he sat his ass down on our front step until Drew walked my sister home so Sloane wouldn’t be alone.”

“We talked all about it earlier. She hadn’t spoken to him since and wanted to clear the air first thing tomorrow. We were planning on walking across the street so she could talk to him face-to-face.”

“I thought he was textin’ me to talk things out,” I tell them. “It was late when the message came through and he was asleep. He was so tired from his game and travelin’ so I didn’t wake him. I only thought I’d be gone a few minutes as it was.

So I went downstairs and waited for him. I watched him, or who I thought was him, walk down the sidewalk from the window. I saw his phone screen lightin’ up with our messages and figured I’d meet him halfway and then…”

I pause and open up my fisted hands. I need a second. And because he always knows what I need, my hero jumps in.

“They clearly took her brother’s phone to lure her out. He fucking tricked her. You guys see that right?” His hands and feet are bundled up with gauze, but my sweet man still extends his arm over the hospital bed rail to reach for me. “He’s been tormenting her for fucking weeks now.” I wipe the tears that are falling and grip my feather necklace. I’m trying to collect the pieces of myself that I know I need to explain.

“He has, and tonight he was violent. He grabbed me off the sidewalk, picked me up, and then threw me on the ground in that backyard. He tried to get my clothes off and ended up tearin’ my sweatshirt right down the middle.

He also couldn’t stop twitchin’ and shakin’, and kept goin’ on and on about how much he was goin’ to enjoy this while he tried to hold me down.” I pause and squeeze my eyes shut before continuing. “He kept talkin’ about huntin’ me to win.”

“I’m gonna fucking kill him, I’m gonna fucking kill him,” he repeats himself over and over again until Officer Izzy glares at him and he stops his talking.

“You’re doing great, Sloane. Can you tell me what happened next?” I hear her say while he and I stare at one another.

“I was fightin’ him and tryin’ to get outta his hold. I got myself up and used some kickboxing to keep ‘em back. That’s when they started holdin’ me and Will tried to get me to swallow a pill. He said several times that if I wasn’t gonna cooperate that he was gonna drug me.” My throat burns with emotions that won’t stop pushing through. He didn’t give up on me.

“That’s when he found me,” I can’t hold it in any longer. Tears burst from my eyes and run down my face. If he didn’t find me when he did things could’ve been so much worse. I’m so sorry for leaving him in bed, but so relieved he knew I was gone.

“What happens now?” Chase asks.

“Once the four of them are medically cleared, they’ll be brought in. They’re currently under arrest.” And I hope they rot inside a jail cell.

“And Davis?” I ask between blowing my nose.

“We were able to locate him with the information you provided. He was treated on scene and it’s reported he’s now in stable condition.” Hearing that he’s okay has me crying even harder. “We’re going to put all the evidence together and we’ll be in touch. It’s over now, Sloane. You’re safe.” And it’s because of my hero.