31. Zoey #3
No amount of police presence could truly keep us safe from George. But it was something, a small measure of comfort in a world turned upside-down.
“Thank you,” I said, my fingers tightening around Heather’s. “For everything.”
Warman stood, giving us a nod. “We’ll be in touch. Call me if anything comes up, anything at all.”
With that, he was gone, leaving us alone in the quiet of the hospital room. I sagged against Heather, the events of the night catching up to me in a rush.
“What are we going to do?” I whispered. “How are we going to keep Ro safe?”
Heather’s arms tightened around me. “We’ll figure it out, Zo. We’ll do whatever it takes. George is not getting his hands on either of you ever again. I swear it.”
I wanted to believe her, to cling to the conviction in her words. But deep down, l knew the truth.
George would never stop. Not until he had what he wanted.
And what he wanted was me.
I stood on shaky legs, the weight of Warman’s words settling heavily on my shoulders.
George was out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for his chance to strike.
And no matter how many assurances Warman gave, no matter how many officers he posted outside Heather’s house, it would never be enough.
“I can’t stay here.” The words tumbled out in a rush. “I can’t put you and Ro in danger like this. If George comes back...”
“Stop.” Heather’s grip on my hand tightened. “You’re not going anywhere.”
I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. “You don’t understand. George won’t stop. He’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. And you said it yourself—what he wants is me.”
“Then we’ll fight him,” Heather said. “We’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Both of you.”
I wanted to believe her, to draw strength from the fire in her eyes. But the fear was too strong, the memories of George’s cruelty too fresh.
“I’m scared,” I whispered. “I’m so scared, Heather. For Ro, for you, for everyone who’s gotten caught up in this mess.”
Heather’s arms were around me in an instant, holding me tight. I clung to her, burying my face in her shoulder as I shook with sobs. She held me until the tears subsided and the fear had loosened its grip on my heart.
“We’ll get through this.” She stroked my hair. “I promise you, Zo. We’ll find a way to keep you and Ro safe.”
I pulled back from Heather’s embrace, wiping my eyes with trembling hands. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t be falling apart like this. Not when you’re the one who’s hurt.”
Heather shook her head, her expression fierce. “Don’t apologize, Zo. You have every right to be upset. This is a nightmare.”
My throat tightened. “I just feel so helpless. Like no matter what I do, he’s always going to be there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.”
A nurse walked into the room, keeping Heather from replying. I recognized her from our self-defense class at the gym, but couldn’t quite place her name until I saw her name badge. Emily.
“I’m just here to take your vitals and observations,” Emily said to Heather. “If all looks good, you should be able to go home soon.”
Heather looked relieved at the prospect of being discharged. I turned to Emily, wanting to make sure I had all the information to properly care for my sister.
“Is there anything in particular we should watch out for once Heather is home?” I asked.
Emily didn’t respond or even glance my way. She busied herself with the blood pressure cuff and thermometer, acting like I hadn’t spoken at all.
I furrowed my brow. Had she not heard me?
I cleared my throat. “Emily? I was just wondering if you had any specific instructions for?—”
“I heard you the first time.” Her words were clipped, her manner brusque as she scribbled Heather’s vitals on the chart.
An awkward tension filled the room. I exchanged a puzzled look with Heather, who just shrugged. Why was Emily so cold toward me? We got along fine in class. Perhaps she was just stressed or overtired from a long shift.
Emily turned to face me, her eyes flashing with undisguised hostility. “You can drop the act. The whole concerned-sister routine? It’s not fooling anyone.”
I blinked, taken aback by her harsh tone. “I’m sorry, what? I don’t understand?—”
“Sure you don’t,” she scoffed, crossing her arms. “You think you can just waltz in here, batting your eyelashes at Noah, and suddenly you’re part of the pack? Please. We all know what you’re really after.”
My mouth fell open in shock. Where was this coming from? I glanced at Heather, who looked equally stunned by Emily’s outburst.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said slowly. “Noah and I... we’re just friends.”
Emily let out a derisive laugh. “Friends? Is that what you call it? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re making a play for our alpha. And now, thanks to you, he’s been shot.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. The color drained from my face as I struggled to form a response. “That’s not... I didn’t... George was the one who?—”
“Save it.” Emily held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. The fact is, none of this would have happened if you hadn’t come to town. But you just couldn’t resist, could you? Had to sink your claws into the most eligible bachelor in the pack.”
Her accusations washed over me. Is that really what people thought? That I was some kind of gold-digger, out to snag a famous mate?
“Emily, stop,” Heather snapped. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Zoey isn’t?—”
But Emily ignored her, keeping her steely gaze locked on me. “Let me make something very clear. I’m loyal to this pack. I’ve been here for years, watching out for our own. But you? You’re nothing more than the alpha’s flavor of the month. A temporary distraction.”
Each word was a knife twisting in my heart. I wanted to defend myself, to tell her how wrong she was, but my tongue felt heavy and useless in my mouth.
“I don’t have to pretend to like you,” Emily snapped. “And I won’t. Because we both know you won’t be sticking around much longer. So why don’t you do us all a favor? Take your kid and go sniff out a new daddy elsewhere. Noah doesn’t need any more trouble from you.”
At the mention of Roland, something inside me snapped. Anger surged through my veins, hot and bright, momentarily overshadowing the hurt and humiliation.
“Don’t you dare bring my son into this,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “You have no right?—”
But Emily just smirked, clearly enjoying the rise she’d gotten out of me. “What’s the matter, Zoey? Did I strike a nerve? I’m just calling it like I see it. Poor little Roland, being dragged from pillar to post while his mommy chases after men she can’t have. It’s pathetic, really.”
I felt Heather’s hand on my arm, a silent warning to stay calm, but I couldn’t. The pain and rage inside me demanded release, even as hot tears spilled down my cheeks.
“You don’t know anything about me or my son,” I spat. “How dare you stand there and judge me when you have no idea what I’ve been through? What I’ve survived?”
Emily’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t reply. A thick, suffocating silence stretched between us, broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing.
Heather leaned forward, halfway getting out of the bed, her small frame radiating a fierce protectiveness. “Emily, calm down. Zoey didn’t hurt Noah.”
Emily scoffed, her eyes flashing with disdain. “She may not have pulled the trigger, but if she hadn’t come to town, George wouldn’t have, either.”
Heather’s jaw clenched, and I could see the effort it took for her to keep her temper in check. “Emily, you should leave the room. Now. You don’t know the circumstances, so maybe you’d want to watch your damn mouth. Especially as a nurse. You should know better. Or do you want me to report you?”
Emily’s gaze darted between us, her lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, I thought she might continue her tirade, but she huffed out a breath and turned on her heel, stalking out of the room.
As the door clicked shut behind her, my shoulders sagged, the weight of her words pressing down on me.
Heather turned to me, her eyes softening with concern. “Zoey, you can’t let her get to you. None of this is your fault.”
I shook my head, tears burning behind my eyes.
Heather’s fierce green eyes held mine, unwavering in their conviction. “Zoey, you’re the strongest person I know. You’ve survived so much, and you’ve never let it break you. Don’t let Emily or anyone else make you doubt yourself now.”
I drew in a shaky breath. Heather was the one person who stood by me through everything. If she believed in me, maybe I could start believing in myself, too.
“I hate feeling like this,” I admitted. “Like I’m constantly putting the people I love in danger. Like I’m some kind of burden.”
Before Heather could respond, there was a knock on the door. A young, handsome doctor entered, his eyes immediately drawn to Heather. “Hey, Heather. Ready to get out of here?”
Heather grinned. “More than ready, Alex. Let’s do this.”
As the doctor began going over discharge instructions, I noticed the way he kept glancing at Heather, his attempts at flirting painfully obvious. If I hadn’t been so exhausted, I might have found it amusing.
“Hey, Heather?” I said. “Would you mind waiting here for a bit? I need to go see Noah before we leave.”
Heather smiled softly, understanding in her eyes. “Of course. Take all the time you need, Zo. I’ll be right here when you get back.”
With a deep breath, I stood and made my way out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest. It was time to face Noah and start mending the bridges I’d nearly burned.
I made my way through the hospital halls, the sterile scent and fluorescent lights all too familiar after this long night. As I approached Noah’s room, the sound of voices filtered out into the corridor. I paused just outside the open door, my heart sinking as I took in the scene before me.
Emily, the nurse from Heather’s room, stood beside Noah’s bed, checking his wound and vitals. She laughed at something he said, her hand lingering on his arm as she took his blood pressure.
“Looks like your heart rate’s a little elevated,” she teased. “Must be my presence, huh?”
Noah chuckled. “Must be.”
I fought a pang of jealousy. He seemed so relaxed, so at ease with her. A contrast to the tense, emotional conversations we’d been having lately.
Maybe Emily was right. Maybe I was nothing but trouble. A dark cloud that brought pain and suffering to those around me.
George’s voice echoed in my mind, his cruel accusations ringing in my ears. “Why do you have to upset me? It isn’t difficult, Zoey. If you would just behave properly, I wouldn’t have to correct you. It’s your own fault I get so angry.”
I shook my head, trying to dispel the memories. But the doubts lingered, eating away at my already fractured self-esteem.
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t walk in there and face Noah, not when he seemed so much happier without me. I’d only bring him down, just like I always did.
With a heavy heart, I turned away from the door, making my way back to Heather’s room. Tears stung my eyes, blurring my vision as I walked.
Noah’s calm smile and Emily’s easy flirting played on repeat in my mind while my insecurities continued to torment me.
I knew, logically, that Emily was just jealous.
She was a shifter and wanted Noah for herself.
She saw me as a threat to her pack, her people.
In contrast, I was a human bringing danger into their lives, intruding into their once-safe existence.
But knowing something and believing it were two very different things. And right now, I was struggling to believe that I deserved Noah’s love, that I wasn’t just a burden. That he’d be better off without me.
I checked the time and realized it was office hours. Had so much time passed while we were here? It felt like a few hours while also feeling like a few days. With a deep breath, I pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer’s number. She answered on the second ring.
“Zoey, how are you?” Margaret Cameron asked.
“I’ve been better,” I admitted. “A lot has happened since we last spoke.”
I gave her a rundown of everything that had transpired. By the time I finished, tears were streaming down my face again.
“Oh, Zoey,” Margaret said softly. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this. But I want you to know that George won’t get away with what he’s done. You’ve already got the protection order, and I’ll coordinate with Chief Warman to ensure you have a police escort at all times.”
“Thank you, but Warman already promised that.” I sniffled. “I’m not sure what difference it’s going to make. George doesn’t care about the protection order. He acts as if he’s above the law.”
“No,” Margaret interjected firmly. “No one is above the law, Zoey. By disregarding the protection order, he is sabotaging his own defense. You’re right in that George has proven that he’ll use anyone to get to you. Let me talk to the chief and arrange for him to have someone to watch your sister.”
At her words, a fresh wave of tears overtook me. I sobbed into the phone, my shoulders shaking with the force of my emotions.
“Is everything okay?” Margaret asked gently.
“The events of the night are starting to catch up with me,” I said between hiccups. “But more than that, I’m so relieved. George always told me that no one would believe me, and for a long time, I thought that was true.”
“Not only do I believe you, but I’m going to enjoy tearing George to shreds in the courtroom,” Margaret said.
“With the documents and pictures you’ve provided, we have a strong case for battery and domestic abuse charges.
” She paused for a moment, then said, “I’ll make sure you receive the child support and everything else you’re entitled to. ”
“I don’t need or want anything from George,” I said quickly. “Just full custody of Roland.”
Margaret was silent for a moment. “I understand that, but it’s not just for you. There’s Roland to think about. Anything from the child support settlement can be put into a trust for his future needs.”
I hesitated, then nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “You’re right. I agree to that.”
“Good. Now, go home, give your son a hug, and start planning your future. I’m going to work on unshackling you from the past.”
“Thank you, Margaret,” I whispered. “For everything.”
We said our goodbyes, and I ended the call, staring at the screen for a long moment. If only it were that easy , I thought wryly.