Chapter 30
Isaac
Cole sits down beside me in the hospital room while we wait for Lauren to join us.
As soon as I got Serena in my car, I called Cole. Explained to him everything that happened and that we were on our way to the hospital. Without hesitation, he notified Lauren and told me he was on his way.
She met us out front and rushed Serena straight to the ICU. Everything happened so fast, I barely remember what she said. My entire focus was on Serena.
The way her skin was an unnatural color, like life had been drained from her in that moment. Her blood-soaked clothes and scarlet stained hair matted around her face. Serena looked close to death, and the rest of the world around me was non-existent.
Voices only muffled sounds that I couldn’t make out. The only thing I remember hearing was something about the possibility of brain damage.
One second blurred into another. I think Cole tried to pull me from the doorway while I watched them wheel her into surgery. But I can’t be certain.
It’s been hours since she was put into a medically induced coma and had scans done. Cole is saying something next to me, but I don’t hear him. All I see is my Little Firecracker lying in a hospital bed in front of me. Wires everywhere. A tube down her throat to help her breathe.
The nurses washed away all of the dried blood when they stitched her up. Leaving behind dark purple bruises scattered across her pale skin.
If it weren’t for the steady rhythm of the heart monitor, I would believe she’s dead.
She was almost dead.
If I had been a minute later, I would have found her too late. And my entire world would have ended.
This never should have happened in the first place. I should have been there. I should never have let her leave.
Now, she may never wake up and it’s my fault.
Now, she is lying in a hospital bed in the ICU unit, fighting for her life. Because of me. The thought burrows into my chest like a blade twisting with every breath I take.
I’ve seen violence my entire life.
Most of the time, I’m the one inflicting it, or surviving it. Usually, I can shut off my emotions in order to get the job done.
But this?
This is unbearable. I can’t fucking breathe when I think about losing her.
If she doesn’t survive this, there is no reason for me to continue. Cole will be fine without me. Serena trusted me to protect her. And once again, I failed.
My boots echo against the tile as I get closer to her, but she doesn’t stir. I take her hand carefully in mine, scared I might break her. A part of me was hoping she would squeeze back.
But instead, her fingers are limp in mine.
My chest tightens and my entire body feels numb. I brush a strand of hair from her face and run my thumb along her bruised jaw.
“Serena.” My voice breaks. “You don’t get to leave me.” I sit in the chair next to her bed.
I squeeze her hand again. “You hear me?”
Her chest rises and falls slowly. Silence. No eye roll. No adorable little huff, followed by her telling me how insufferable I'm being.
Just, silence.
What I wouldn’t do to hear her smart mouth right now.
“You wake up. And when you do… I am going to search every dark and depraved corner of the Earth to find whoever did this to you. I will reduce this world to ashes until I do.”
The door to the room opens and Lauren enters. I stand, keeping Serena’s hand in mine. Her face gives away nothing. Not even a glimmer of hope or sign of dread.
Just a perfectly professionally neutral face. It’s the same face every professional wears when they’ve given every possible kind of news and learned to hide the outcome before a single word is spoken. It’s infuriating.
Her gaze flickers between the three of us and the tablet she carries with the answers I am desperately seeking.
I want to ask her, but I am too afraid of what the answer may be. Afraid that she’ll tell me that Serena will never wake up again, and I’ll never have another chance to lose myself in her captivating blue eyes.
“Well?” Cole breaks the silence. Thank fucking God for him having the balls to speak up right now.
Her throat clears. “We know one thing is for certain,” She walks to the opposite side of her bed.
“She does not have brain damage and should most likely wake. Unfortunately, we must keep her sedated until the swelling goes down before we know if there are any permanent or lasting effects from the attack.”
For the first time since bringing her to the hospital, I feel like I can breathe. The crushing pressure around my chest loosens just enough to keep me from completely losing my mind.
But it doesn’t last long.
“And how long will that be?” I sit back down and caress the top of Serena’s head that isn’t covered in bandages.
Lauren places her hands in her white coat pockets and shakes her head. “That isn’t something that I can answer for you at this moment. Every patient is different, and how long will depend on Serena.” She gazes down at the bed.
“So we just sit here and wait?” I release her hand, rising to my feet.
“That’s all we can do right now.” Her voice is soft. Pity teases at the corners of her eyes.
I throw my fist into the wall. I don’t need her fucking pity. I need her to do her fucking job and help Serena.
“That’s not fucking good enough!” My voice bellows through the room and into the hall. Security barges in through the door. Like he would be able to do anything.
Lauren shakes her head, and takes her hand out of her pocket, holding it up in a silent command. He nods once and shuts the door behind him as he exits the room.
“Isaac,” She grabs her tablet and walks toward the door. “I know it’s hard waiting. Not being able to help her other than just being by her side. But the best thing you can do for her right now, is being here when she wakes up. Whenever that might be.” She turns and shuts the door behind her.
Wait.
The word hangs in the air.
I pace, restless, my gaze snapping back to Serena. The madness curls at the edges, threatening to break through. Waiting is not an option.
I want every person responsible dragged in front of me screaming so I can make them feel even a fraction of what Serena has suffered. Even then, it wouldn’t be good enough.
I want blood.
Rage coils in my chest. My hands unclench, only slightly. I want to tear through these walls, rip through time itself, and take her with me. Back to when her and I were in bed, her head on my chest. Her smile shining up at me and her sparkling, hope filled eyes melting my cold heart.
Instead, I stay rooted where I am. Staring at her still, pale body stained by bruises.
“Isaac?” Cole’s rough voice cuts through the room. I almost forgot that he was here.
“What?” I snap.
“Sit down.” His voice is calm but warning.
I sit in the chair next to him and run my fingers through my hair. Sighing heavily, I lean against the back with a soft puff of air releasing from the cushion. Trying, but failing, at calming the storm raging inside me.
“After we hung up, I called Theo to see what he could find out about Serena and Enzo’s connection...” Cole flips through a folder and pulls out a sheet of paper. The way his voice trailed at the end sets alarms off inside me and a pit forms in my stomach.
I get the feeling I’m not going to like what’s coming. He hands me the piece of paper. Skimming through it, I don’t even finish before my hands crumple the edges.
They’re related.
More specifically, she is his cousin.
“So that explains how he knew her by name.” I answer. Cole nods his head, grunting in response.
But that doesn’t explain what he wants with her. And why he is trying so hard to get her.
Does she even know about him?
“Oh my God!” Jules' voice is barely a whisper from the doorway, pulling me from my thoughts.. Her eyes land on Serena in the bed and all the color drains from her face. Her hand flies to her mouth, trembling.
She enters the room, her steps slow and full of fear. Tears spill down her face before she makes it to the bed, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.
“This is all my fault.” She collapses, filling the empty chair I left behind. She drapes herself across Serena, holding on to her like it is the last time she will ever see her. The feet of the chair scraping against the floor in protest.
What exactly is her fault?
“I’m sorry Serena.” She rests her forehead on Serena’s arm and sobs. “I’m so… so sorry.”
My eyes narrow.
From the short time I’ve known her, I can tell that she is not the type of woman who falls apart. Especially in front of others.
She is the type of person that keeps her cards close to her, never giving anyone the upper hand, or letting anyone know how she’s truly feeling. Her words are sharp and steady. Hard enough to cut through any bullshit anyone tries to throw her way.
Her spine and resolve are stronger than some men I know.
But this woman in front of me, this isn’t Jules. She looks completely shattered.
Her shoulders are hunched over, her whole body shaking as waves of sobs rip through her. Tears stream down her face without any restraint, and she doesn’t even try to hide them. Her breath comes in short pulls, and her hands are shaking so badly, that she can barely hold on to the bed.
Just like that, she’s breaking right in front of me.
I give Cole the piece of paper for him to tuck back into the folder and stand. “What do you mean?”
Jules doesn’t answer and a chill runs up my spine.
“What,” I step closer, “do you mean, Jules?”
She lifts her head and turns to look at me, mascara running down her face. Sniffing, she wipes the tears and snot away.
“Serena and I got into a huge fight at work. I said some really awful things,” She hiccups, “and I left her all alone.”
My body relaxes. I walk over and place my hand on her shoulder, my muscles relaxing as a rush of relief settles over me.
Jesus Christ.
I was starting to think that Jules had something to do with the attack. Every paranoid bone in my body kept circling back to her, no matter how badly I tried not to. I didn’t want to be the one to take Serena’s best friend away from her.