Chapter 25
There”s a persistent beeping that draws me from heavy darkness. My eyelids feel weighted and stiff. Confusion clouds my brain like cobwebs as muffled voices echo distantly before fading out again.
Where am I? The last thing I remember is Preston leading me away from the party to find Jack. I followed him to a more secluded lounge area, farther from the party”s noise. His hand kept hovering at my lower back, subtly steering me ahead of him even as unease prickled my skin. The deeper we walked into shadowy recesses of the club, the more the hair on my neck stood up. But before I could act on my blaring instinct to get away, everything went blank.
Slowly, I force my eyes open to unfamiliar sterile white walls and the source of that incessant beeping monitoring my heartbeat. Tubes snake under my nose and into my arms. The chemical scent burns but offers no clues as to where I ended up.
Sudden movement makes me flinch before I recognize Grace slouched in a chair, blinking herself awake. Aria stirs too, tangled small against me on the cramped hospital bed.
“Maddie?” Grace rasps, relief flooding her face as she grasps my hand. “Oh, thank God, you”re awake.”
My tongue feels thick and clumsy. “Grace? What happened?” Panic flutters as I pat at my hospital gown, dim memories swirling hauntingly. “How did I get here? Where”s Jack?”
Grace hushes me gently, exchanging an anxious look with a wide-eyed Aria. Dread creeps up my spine, wondering what trauma landed me unconscious in the hospital with my sisters hovering over me. Their drawn faces reveal a sleepless night’s vigil.
Grace squeezes my hand reassuringly while Aria curls impossibly close into my side.
“You”re in the hospital, but you”re safe now, Mads,” Grace soothes. “We”re at NYU Langone. They have an excellent toxicology unit here monitoring you.”
My heartbeat quickens. Toxicology?
“What happened to me?”
Grace hesitates, taking a bracing breath. “We got a call that you were brought in unconscious. The EMTs detected traces of gamma-hydro something-something. I can’t recall the full name for the life of me. A date rape drug.”
“Someone spiked my drink,” I finish hollowly. Preston”s smooth voice suggesting Jack was looking for me echoes mockingly in my memory.
How utterly idiotic of me.
Aria makes a small, frightened noise. Reflexively, I clutch her tighter, my own breathing growing erratic. Grace envelopes us both in a fierce embrace.
“Shhh, just focus on resting, both of you. We”ve got the NYPD and the best doctors on this,” Grace murmurs. But under her reassuring tone, tension in my gut remains tightly coiled. “I swear the bastard who did this will pay.”
At that promise, the tears I have been barely holding back spill over. Grace just rocks us gently as we cling together, letting our emotions pour out. Over missing our parents, the loss of our family home, the unrequited love. Grace”s own tears mingle with mine and Aria”s and soak the starched hospital sheets.
Eventually, our tears slow down, leaving us drained. Grace passes around tissues before clearing her throat gently.
“Maddie, Jack has been outside the room the entire night. Now that you”re awake, do you want me to let him in?”
I tense involuntarily. Did Jack witness my humiliation? Sudden tears threaten to bubble up again, along with the shame at appearing so weak and powerless when Jack seems to be the utter embodiment of strength.
Seeing my expression crumble, Grace rushes to add, “He and Cade are the reason nothing worse happened. They barged in and stopped Preston before . . .” she trails off, swallowing thickly.
My stomach lurches. Preston intended to rape me, but Jack and Cade thwarted him. Rage, terror, and embarrassment war at having been at that man’s mercy. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing back some semblance of control.
“Maddie?” Grace asks tentatively after a few moments. “Do you want to see Jack now?”
I consider refusing, mortification still churning in my gut. But Grace said he came to my rescue. I can at least thank him face-to-face.
Taking a shaky breath, I slowly nod.
Grace squeezes my hand before walking to the door. She admits Jack, whose tired appearance makes my chest clench. His dress shirt is badly rumpled, and his jaw is dark with stubble. Judging from his bloodshot eyes and the deep grooves lining his forehead, he clearly didn’t get any sleep last night.
Grace beckons subtly for Aria. “Let”s give them some privacy, baby girl, hmm?”
As the door clicks closed, we remain suspended in crackling silence. I drink in every detail of his battered yet still heart-stopping features. Alongside bone-deep relief at his presence, anger and hurt swirl. I haven’t forgotten his true feelings about me. I cling unconsciously to my thin hospital gown, as if it is a shield.
“Hi, Jack,” I rasp, my voice still scraped raw. I bite my lip. “I . . . thank you. For finding me and stopping Preston before he . . .” I trail off, bile scorching my throat.
Jack just nods once, pain flashing briefly across his face. He starts to reach toward me but catches himself, fists balling furiously at his sides instead.
“That scumbag will face justice for this,” Jack says through gritted teeth. He looks into my eyes. “When I saw you just lying there motionless, I thought the worst.”
I fight back tears as he continues, his voice hoarse with emotion. “If that creep truly hurt you, I don’t think I could have ever forgiven myself.”
He rubs a hand roughly down his unshaven face. “Preston”s locked up for now. His father tried getting him out on bail last night, but luckily, I know a few people as well. The years spent in boarding school are finally paying off. And Cade’s buddy, Mike, will make sure his stay in jail is as uncomfortable as can be.”
Jack hesitates, then reaches tentatively for my hand. I clutch his warm, solid grip, longing to feel his strong embrace around me.
Sensing this, he slowly sits at my bedside, enveloping me against his broad chest. Unable to hold back any longer, I let out all the hurt, fear and anger, crying brokenly into him. Wave after wave crashes through me as Jack just holds me steady, soothing me with the repetition of his hand stroking my hair.
Eventually, my tears slow down, leaving me utterly drained. Jack continues rocking me gently, murmuring soft reassurances.
Once I have calmed somewhat, he pulls back to meet my eyes. “I hired the top attorney in the city to represent you. She”ll make sure the prosecutor throws all her weight at Preston, so he faces proper charges and justice for what he did.”
I nod weakly, fresh anger flaring toward the man who tried to rape me.
“The most important thing now is that you focus on healing, both physically and mentally,” Jack adds, his jaw tight. “The doctors said you should be clear to leave by tomorrow.”
I consider the prospect of returning to the brownstone. But the thought of enduring his detached pity and glances full of regret fills me with utter despair.
“I”d rather go back to my apartment uptown and be with my sisters,” I whisper.
Jack looks disappointed, but he nods. “Of course. You should go where you”ll feel most comfortable recovering,” he agrees, pressing his lips into a thin line.
He lets out a long breath, fatigue showing on his face. “That”s probably best,” he adds quietly, decisively closing the topic. His eyes are full of feelings I”m too tired to figure out.
As Jack stands to leave, giving my hand one last comforting squeeze, his phone suddenly rings. As he listens, his face darkens. “What the hell are you doing here? You”re not allowed . . .” He drops my hand, storming toward the door and flinging it open just as the call disconnects. Heavy footsteps echo down the hall, rapidly approaching. Jack braces in the doorway, muscles tensed as Roger Walsh comes into view, red-faced and flanked by two suited men.
“Out of my way, Whitmore! I”m going to see that little liar and make sure she drops these outrageous accusations.” He tries shouldering past Jack, who blocks him easily.
There is a commotion in the hallway. Cade and Grace demand that he leave, calling for hospital security.
“That girl ruined my son!” Walsh screams hysterically.
Jack blocks the door with his large frame. “Your son is a criminal. And he”ll be spending the weekend in a jail cell getting a preview of what”s to come.” He takes a threatening step closer to Roger. “I know you tried calling in favors to get him released. But you can save your money.”
Grunts and shouting erupt outside. I glimpse Aria”s terrified face before Cade wraps a protective arm around her, swiftly moving her behind him.
“Stay behind me, kid,” he barks.
Aria buries her face in Grace”s shoulder to block out the view as the confrontation intensifies.
Roger hurls vicious insults while his men warily flank him. Cade stands tense, subtly angling himself as a shield between Aria and their fury. I glimpse her fearful face over Cade”s imposing form before Grace pulls her back protectively. I try to get up, but I’m still too weak. I lean back helplessly on the pillows.
Despite being powerfully built, Roger’s men eye Jack and Cade warily, not advancing as the two former SEALs radiate lethal determination. Jack takes an aggressive step toward Roger, barely controlled rage pouring off him. Cade”s restraining grip on his shoulder is the only reason fists aren”t flying yet.
“Enough, Walsh!” Cade barks, maneuvering in front of Jack. “Back the hell away before this gets any uglier!”
Scowling, Roger points toward my room. “That conniving little tramp won”t get away with this!” He spits the threat just as hospital security arrives, taking firm hold of his arms before he does anything to make good on it.
Roger meets my eyes for a split second, before scoffing at me dismissively and turning to leave.