Chapter 29
Lorenzo
S he’s weightless in my arms, a sleeping ghost. I carry her th rough the cold, white hall of Arlington Diagnostic & Preventive Services, anger biting at my control with every step. It smells like fucking antiseptic and failure, a reminder of how close I came to losing her.
Piper’s head hits my shoulder, and for a moment, a brief, insane moment, I think she might be gone. But then I hear it—the slow, uneven sound of breath. It’s not enough, and it won’t be until she’s awake.
Every step echoes. Every moment stretches.
My. Toy. Is. Fucking. Unresponsive.
Fuck!
If something permanent happens to her, I’ll scorch the entire world.
My steps stay measured, but my breathing is anything but. Every inch of me is screaming to find that fucker and end him.
“We’ve got him, Enzo. Where do you want—”
Baring my teeth at Cy, I growl, “Not now.” I don’t fucking care that my anger is misplaced. Nothing matters until I know Piper’s going to be fine.
I know my friend wants to know where to put Ben Jacks until I’m ready to deal with the low-life who drugged my toy, but I can’t think about that right now. He’ll figure it out.
Finally reaching the medical room, I give a sharp nod to Dr. Emily Voss, who’s waiting. She’s already gloved up, machines humming behind her. I called her the second Piper was in my arms to let her know we were coming.
“Vitals cart is ready. We’ve got tox panels standing by,” Voss adds, businesslike. “Put her over there on the bed.”
The second I lay her down, my hands itch to take her back. To pull her into my chest and shield her fr om the fucking world. I want to crush her to me and never let go. I want to lock her away until she understands that nothing— not even her—can match my fucking need to keep her.
“Fuck!” I roar, forcing myself to step out of Voss’ way so she can do what needs to be done.
While she attaches monitors, I tell myself to calm the fuck down. My hands clench and unclench, and I want to drive them through the wall. But no, I need to remain calm.
“I’m going to draw some blood,” Voss states in her prim tone. I give her a sharp nod, not looking away as she fits a needle into the crook of Piper’s arm. “And I’ll need a urine sample to confirm what’s in her system,” she states, efficiently prepping the next step.
“Whatever you need,” I say through clenched teeth.
“She’s out cold, so I’ll need to use a catheter,” she adds without flinching. “Standard procedure.”
My nostrils flare. I hate the thought of anyone touching her like that. But this isn’t about preference.
“I’ll run a rapid tox screen,” she mutters, tapping the vial with practiced fingers. “We should know what she took in under an hour. We’ve got a lab tech on-site to process the panel. Blood’s being run now. Urine’s next. I’ll notify you when it’s confirmed.”
The rhythmic beep of machinery is the only sound I really hear. It’s proof that my toy is still here, still breathing, still mine to drag back to the place she belongs. At my fucking side.
“Can you give us some privacy—”
“I’m not going any-fucking-where,” I snarl, interrupting her.
She huffs, but doesn’t argue as I stay close by, watching while she works. Well, mostly I watch Piper, who doesn’t as much as flinch when Voss touches her.
While Voss runs tests, I run out of fucking patience. “What’s taking so long?” I snarl.
“Her heart rate is irregular, but holding. Pupils are sluggish. My bet’s on a fast acting benzo. Possibly alprazolam, or something in the same class.” Voss glances up. “We’ll confirm shortly.”
“See that you do,” I bark.
Voss acts like I haven’t spoken at all as she continues her explanation. “I’ll monitor her respiratory response through the night. If her breathing slows any further, we’ll have to intubate.”
My teeth grind and my fingers curl.
She adjusts the IV line and makes a final note on the chart. “There’s nothing more you can do here, Lorenzo. She’s stable enough for now. Let me do my job.”
I don’t move.
Her voice sharpens. “You want her to be okay? Then go burn off some of that rage somewhere else. You hovering won’t help her breathe.”
My glare cuts toward Voss, but she doesn’t react. “Let me make myself as clear as I know how to,” I growl. “I. Am. Not. Leaving.”
Instead of cowering, she pins me with a glare of her own. “Just don’t get in my way, Lorenzo.”
She turns her attention back to the monitors and starts adjusting the IV drip. I stand just behind her, close enough to make her aware of my presence, but far enough that she can’t accuse me of interference.
Voss works quickly, efficiently, then steps back, scribbling something onto a chart before peeling off her gloves. “I’ll be back to check on her in twenty. If there’s any change, hit the call button. The nurse will stay in the meantime.”
A moment after she leaves, a younger woman steps in, trying to avoid making eye contact. Ignoring her, I pull a chair to Piper’s side and sit, bracing one arm on my knee, the other wrapped tightly around her hand.
“Everything looks fine,” the nurse says. “I’ll be in the back if you need anything.”
I don’t look away from my toy, don’t even bother to nod.
Time passes, but I don’t measure it in minutes. I measure it in the number of times her fingers twitch beneath mine. In the slow rise and fall of her chest. In each fucking heartbeat that the machine insists on announcing like it’s doing me a favor.
The nurse comes in every thirty minutes on the dot. She checks vitals and does whatever else she needs to do. Hell, she even makes polite noises that I completely ignore. Luckily, she stops trying after the third visit.
Cy sticks his head in at one point. “Still nothing?” he asks, his tone as grave as I feel.
“No.”
He doesn’t ask me anything else, he just comes over and squeezes my shoulder once. “Ben’s locked down. He won’t be a problem,” he informs. “You want me to stay?”
“No.” My voice is a knife. “And don’t you dare fucking touch him, Cy. Ben’s mine.”
“Of course.”
I order him to find everything he can on the Jacks family. I want to know where Ben’s parents went to school, where they got married, what investments they’ve made. They don’t know it yet, but they’re about to lose everything.
Cy nods once before leaving again.
The nurse also leaves eventually, with a murmured, “She’s stable. Call if you need anything.”
As I reply with a one-word answer that barely registers in my brain, I keep staring at Piper like I can force her to wake up with sheer will. She looks like a wax doll as she lies there. Too still, and too fucking quiet.
Fuck!
I try to stop myself from thinking about what almost happened. But with n othing else to do, the thoughts come rushing in. I squeeze my eyes closed, and let out a huffed breath.
My toy came close to being raped.
Raped…
It’s the first time I allow myself to admit what I walked in on. Ben fucking Jacks drugged my toy and intended to rape her.
A feral growl builds in my throat, but I squeeze Piper’s hand tighter, letting the touch calm me. I can’t lose it here, not when she needs me. My breathing turns ragged from the effort, but I manage.
Rather than thinking about what could have happened if I hadn’t found her in time, I force my thoughts on what will happen once she’s safe.
Yeah, when I say his family is about to lose everything, I mean it. The only one who has to die is Ben. But the rest will be left to deal with the rubble. And when that bastard pays for what he did—because I will make him pay—I’ll make sure he knows exactly why he’s dying.
“They’ll all fucking suffer,” I vow as I drag my thumb across Piper’s knuckles.
It’s hard to imagine it was only this morning she came for me in her sleep. I miss her breathy moans. Fuck, I miss her sassy attitude. I’d give everything I have to hear her chew me out, it would be better than this hollow silence.
I don’t know how long I sit like this. My back’s stiff. My jaw’s clenched so hard I might crack a fucking molar. I shift in the chair, careful not to disturb her. I can’t stop staring at her. At the way her hair brushes her cheek. Leaning closer, I move the strand in case it bothers her.
“You were mine the second I saw you,” I rasp, running my thumb up and down her palm. “And if you think I’m ever going to let you go, you’re fucking mad.”
Of course, she doesn’t answer.
“Every time you run, I’ll catch you.”
The rest of the world fades away as I watch her sleep like it’s the only thing I know how to do anymore.
Dr. Voss enters the room. “You’re awake,” she says, smiling. “If you want to let go and join me, I can give you a full update.”
I straighten, only now realizing my forehead is resting on Piper’s stomach, and I’m still holding her hand. Fuck, I must have fallen asleep. As I look toward the door, I notice Cy leaning against it.
“I’ve been keeping watch,” he informs.
Looking at Voss, I shake my head. “I’m comfortable right here,” I reply. “I’m not letting go.”
She huffs softly, but instead of arguing, she catches me up on what I’ve missed.
“She’s been stable for the last two hours,” Voss begins, her tone professional.
“Breathing’s regular, heart rate’s back in a safer range.
The tox screen confirmed Benzo. Fortunately, the dosage wasn’t lethal , so her liver’s already processing it. But it’ll be a slow ride.”
My fingers tighten slightly around Piper’s.
“I’ve got her on fluids, and we’re keeping her under observation through the rest of the night. She’ll sleep it off, most likely wake up groggy, confused. But I don’t expect any long-term damage.”
Relief punches through me, low and hot. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
“We’ll need to monitor her for residual side effects such as headaches, memory gaps, and there is a possibility of severe nausea but nothing indicates lasting harm.” Voss’ voice softens. “You got her here in time.”
“Of course I fucking did.”
Voss doesn’t respond to that. Just huffs and mumbles something under her breath about charging me millions so she can go on vacation. That makes my lips twitch and I almost smile at her back as she leaves again.
With Voss gone, Cy moves closer and clears his throat. “I’ve already had Static shut down. The owner lost his liquor license and the police have ransacked the place. You’ll never guess how many drugs they found there.”
“I want every person responsible charged as harshly as possible,” I growl.
“Already one step ahead of you,” Cy smirks. “Between the stash behind the bar and what staff had on them, no one’s walking away clean.”
“Good.”
If it wasn’t for the women who tagged my toy on social media, I wouldn’t have even known she was out partying. Fuck, I almost didn’t go to Static. I was torn between waiting for her in her apartment, and dragging her out of the club.
When I walked in, I still hadn’t decided if I was going to drag her out by the hair or fuck her against a wall until she remembered who she belongs to. But when I saw Ben corner her and his hands all over her, all that mattered was getting him away from her.
I shift in the chair and reach up to cup Piper’s cheek. Her skin is still warm, her breath steady. I swear I’d rip out my own fucking heart if it meant she’d open her eyes.
“You’re safe now,” I whisper. “And next time you run it better be toward me. Because if you run from me again, I’ll chase you into Hell.”
Now that I know she’ll be fine, I can finally fucking breathe again. That doesn’t mean I’m leaving. I’m staying put. And once she’s ready to get out of here, I’ll go back with her. Because if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that I’ve given my toy way too much freedom, and that ends now.