Chapter 7 #2
Sighing, I take a minute before telling him, “Gemini and I were baking after we got back from speaking with Julie. Her bodyguards were stationed outside. They didn’t want to come in, though.”
“Their job is to watch out for you, not be comfortable, baby. They need to be able to spot someone approaching. That means they need to be outside.”
“They didn’t, though, did they?”
“We actually think he was inside the whole time.”
Gasping, I say, “What?”
“We think he probably came in while you were gone and was there the whole time you were baking.”
“Well, that’s messed up.”
Jameson grins at me. “Sweetheart, that’s what I would do also. We just weren’t prepared because you were not notified that he was released. Brain said he was a model prisoner and that’s why they released him early.”
“Well, someone dropped the ball on that.”
“They did. But back to what happened.”
“So, I went to the restroom. When I came out, he was just standing right there. Before I could make a noise, he grabbed me around the throat and squeezed. He backed me into the bathroom up against the wall.”
I tell him everything George said and did.
Everything I can remember. I don’t notice the tears rolling down my cheeks as I tell the story.
I don’t notice Gemini walking into the room and listening to what I’m telling Jameson.
I don’t notice Jameson and Hydra look at each other in the way that would tell me George is toast when they find him.
I do notice the hand stroking my arm when I finally fall silent, the thumb that brushes my cheek to gather the flow of tears, the arm that cradles me close.
When Jameson pulls back, I see Gemini there with tears tracking down her cheeks. I hold my arms open, and she falls into them gently.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I tell her. “I wish I could have spared you that.”
“Mom, he almost killed you. I’m glad I was there to get help. I don’t want to lose you. We’ve had too much time apart. I love you so much.”
I kiss the top of her head. “I will always do everything in my power to protect you. I love you, sweetheart. Please don’t take any chances like that again.”
“I will be keeping my eye on her, Mary. I promise you that,” Hydra tells me.
“And we will all be keeping our eye on you, baby,” Jameson says.
After a little more talking, the nurse comes back in. I’m tired, so I close my eyes and drift off, exhaustion pulling me under.
***
I’ve been here a week now and have finally gotten cleared to go home. I’ve been ready since I woke, but the doctor wouldn’t let me go until now. I don’t look in the mirror any time I’m in the bathroom. I don’t want to see the damage George has done. I’ll save that for home.
It’s painful to get up and move around. I do it because it’s what we always tell our patients to do. I have tried to be a good patient. It’s still lame.
Still, I get to go home, even if I don’t know that I want to go there. It’s hard to think of that place and not get anxious. I feel panic start to take hold.
Then Jameson walks in. Seeing my face, he comes right to me, crouching down by the bed.
“You’re OK, baby. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you. Now, tell me what’s going on,” he says as he takes me into his arms.
“I just don’t know if I can go back to my house. I want to throw up thinking about it.”
“We aren’t going to your place, baby. I got us something better for now. It should work just fine for when they come to do a walk-through on Wednesday. I told you I’d figure something out for that. I won’t allow anything to stop you from your dreams.”
He’s so sweet. I don’t know what I would do without him right now. Without any of them. Just him holding me eases some of my panic.
Right then, Dr. Karbassi comes in with the nurse.
“Alright, Mary. One more checkup and then you will be able to leave. Karly has your discharge papers. I want you to follow up with your regular doctor next week. If you can’t get an appointment at that time, let me know, and I will see you again. Do you have any questions?”
“She is already set-up to see Dr. Manes in a few days,” Jameson says.
“No, I don’t have any questions, Dr. Karbassi. Thank you for your help.”
“It was my pleasure taking care of you. Take care of yourself. You need to heal before coming back to work, as well.”
“I’m not sure how much time I can take off,” I start.
“You’ll take as much time as you need, baby,” Jameson cuts in before I can continue.
“He’s right. Work will deal with you being off. Don’t even worry about them. Concentrate on getting yourself better. If you need a month, take a month. But you will need to be cleared for work before coming back,” Dr. Karbassi says.
Dr. Karbassi leaves, and Karly goes over my discharge papers. Jameson is hanging on her every word to make sure he doesn’t miss a thing.
I’ve given these instructions so many times I’m able tune them out.
The next thing I know, we are out the door and into Jameson’s truck. There are some of the guys in front of us as well as behind.
“I don’t want to take any chances with you, baby. We’ve got you covered,” Jameson says when he sees me looking at the guys surrounding us.
“You know I don’t want to cause anyone any trouble, honey.”
“One hundred percent, you are no trouble. You are precious cargo, and I will make sure you are safe, always. Not even one of these guys will think you are anything but that.”
I do my best to forget about George on our way ‘home’, wherever that is now. I trust Jameson. If he says he has somewhere to go, that will be acceptable for Peter to come stay, I will believe in him.
Soon, we are pulling up to a group of duplexes. It looks like the complex has about eight buildings. There is a gated entry with someone manning the gate.
Making our way through, Jameson pulls up to one of the units and parks. He jumps out and comes to my side, helping me down.
“What is this?”
“This is our new home for the time being. We bought the complex, so we have a prospect at the gate ensuring everyone’s safety.”
“You bought the complex? What the heck?”
“The club did. We decided we needed something away from the clubhouse for things like this. However, we’ve decided to build homes on the land behind the clubhouse so that families will have their own space.
This will do for now. Any of the brothers who want a place here to stay can take one while homes are being built.
We will rent these out later when our real homes are built. ”
“So, we have this one now?”
“We do. Let’s go look. You can do anything you want to it to make it more comfortable. Any changes you want to make, let me know, and I will get it done.”
We walk up to the door and walk in. It’s surprisingly spacious. The main room is open to the kitchen and dining area. There is a leather sectional with an ottoman to rest our feet on facing the television mounted on the far wall.
Moving over to the kitchen, I find it well equipped with all the appliances I need to make anything I want.
The dining room has a table that seats ten people! Oh my!
“What are we going to do with this much space?”
“Well, I had some thoughts on that. But for now, what do you think so far?”
“I think you are amazing, and that this will be perfect to have Peter here.”
“Great. Let me show you the rooms. There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms.”
Heading down the hall, I find the guest bathroom.
It’s basic but decent in size. Next, we move to the bedrooms. The first looks like a great guest room.
The second one is set up for a little boy with all the accessories he needs.
The comforter has motorcycles on it. There is a television set up with a gaming system that I’m sure Peter will love. It looks just about perfect for him.
“Wow,” I say with tears in my eyes.
“Is it OK with you, baby? You can change anything you don’t like or don’t want him to have.”
“It’s amazing. Just like you.”
He puts his arm around me. “I don’t want you to have to worry about anything.”
“I clearly don’t need to with you around,” I laugh.
“Come on, let’s go see our room.” Jameson leads me to the master suite.
It’s decorated in navy blue with some lighter shades mixed in. I love it.
Entering the ensuite, I see that it is bigger than I anticipated for a duplex. It has both a shower and a tub. It’s gorgeous.
“Thank you,” I say. Simple, but I mean it to my depths. “I love it all.” And I’m very close to saying I love him too.