Chapter 13
I ndie woke up with a cry of fear.
She didn’t know why she was so scared but her heart was racing and as she opened her eyes, she didn’t recognize where she was.
Everything was loud. There were people everywhere. And the lights were so bright that it hurt her eyeballs.
Suddenly a woman appeared in her vision and she let out a cry, trying to shy back, to get away from the threat. But her body screamed in pain and she had to stop with a moan.
“Hi, it’s all right. My name is Monica. I’m a nurse at St George’s. Can you tell me your full name?”
The hospital?
Why was she in the hospital? Her mind raced. What was going on? Was it the baby? Had she collapsed?
But why was she in so much pain? It felt like she couldn’t breathe without fire engulfing her side.
And then it came to her.
Billy!
Button!
“I’m pregnant,” she managed to get out .
Monica nodded, very calm. How could she be so calm when her baby might be hurt!
“We’re just accessing your records now. How far along are you?” the other woman asked.
“Four-four months.”
“I don’t want you to worry, the baby will be well protected. But we’ll have an ultrasound done and I’ll let the doctor know so we give you the right meds, okay? Full name and date of birth?”
Indie gave her those details.
“Good. The doctor is coming now to check you over. Is there anyone I can call for you?” Monica asked as she secured a blood pressure cuff to her arm.
Her immediate thought was Slade and her guys.
But they weren’t hers. They hated her now and they wouldn’t come even if the hospital called.
Maggie was overseas and not answering any messages.
“No,” Indie said, feeling incredibly alone. “There’s no one.”
Monica stared down at her with sympathy, then she squeezed her hand lightly. “Well, you’re one of mine now and I’m going to take care of you.”
They were kind words, but Indie had learned that she had to stand on her own two feet.
“Thanks,” she whispered. “All I want is for my baby to be okay.”
“Then we’ll make sure of that first,” Monica reassured. “Just relax, honey. That asshole can’t get to you and there’s nothing for you to do but rest and get better.”
The phone ringing jolted her out of her nap and she groaned.
They had given her a low dose of morphine which helped a lot, but she could still feel where fucking Billy had kicked her in her side, cracking several ribs.
But at least Button was all right.
That was the main thing .
She looked around, unable to see where her phone was. How was it even here?
Wait. She had a vague recollection of someone bringing her some things. A kind police officer had arranged it after she’d given her statement about Billy breaking in and attacking her.
The cops hadn’t found him yet as far as she knew. But surely he wouldn’t be able to hide for long.
Actually, she wasn’t so sure of that.
And he’d found her once. Maybe he could do that again.
Her heart started to race just as Monica came in and her phone began ringing again.
“Want to answer that, love?” Monica picked up the phone and held it out to her. “I stuck it on charge for you.”
“Thank you,” she said hoarsely as she saw it was Maggie calling her.
“Maggie?” she asked, a sob breaking free. “Oh, thank God.”
She was so bloody glad that her friend was calling. Where had she been? Why hadn’t she been answering her calls?
“Indie? What is it? What’s wrong?” Maggie asked urgently.
Shoot. She should have tried harder to pretend everything was okay. But she couldn’t do it. She was so tired.
And she didn’t know how much more she could take.
“I’m in the hospital,” she told her as Monica left the room. “Billy found me, Maggie. He, uh, he hurt me.”
She heard Maggie take a sharp breath. “Oh God . . . are you all right? The baby?”
“We’re both okay,” Indie reassured her. “But, Maggie, I know I shouldn’t ask. But I . . . I need you. Can you come home?”
“I will. I’m coming. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Is everything all right? I’ve been trying to call you. Well, before this happened I had been calling,” Indie said to her, worried about her friend.
“No, no . . . something happened. I’ll tell you later, you just need to stay calm and stay there.”
Indie told her what hospital she was in .
“Got it,” Maggie said quietly. “I’m coming.”
Indie lay back after Maggie ended the call, staring at the ceiling. She knew it was weak, but she needed Maggie here. She couldn’t do this on her own. Where was she going to live? She couldn’t go back to the apartment.
And what about her job? Her boss couldn’t keep it open for her and she had no paid leave.
Stop stressing.
It’s bad for you and Button.
She put one hand over her tummy and drew the other one to her mouth so she could suck her thumb.
If she could get out of bed, she’d probably have hidden in the cupboard in her room.
Everyone would think she’d gone bonkers.
Sometimes . . . she thought she had.