Damned Sinner, page 18
part #1 of Jayne Series
“If you think he can, call him over. Otherwise—you need to get off your fat ass and take me to see my wife!” I bellowed.
She pulled her arm away and gave it a shake. “Let me find her doctor.”
She’d gone pale, and turned without another word and walked briskly toward the back of the emergency room—probably to get more damn guards. There wasn’t a force on earth that was going to keep me from her, and I’d had just about enough of the bullshit.
I looked over at the swinging doors that led to the emergency rooms and made a quick decision.
Seconds later, I was storming through them, pushing doors open and scanning every room as I made my way through the hallway.
I heard the loud, thundering steps of high heels on the tile and then Jayne was skidding out in front of me, running from another hallway.
“Vince!”
I caught her as she crashed into me, and she flung her arms around me, collapsing in my arms.
“I thought you’d never get here. Oh, Vince...”
I squeezed her against me with every ounce of strength I had. I was so relieved that she was okay, but the sour taste in my throat reminded me what still awaited me.
“Take me to her, Jayne.”
She shook in my arms, her body wracked with sobs.
“It’s bad. It’s so bad. I’m so sorry...”
I shook my head and swallowed down the lump in my throat. I pulled back and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Come on. I need to get back in there.”
With a jerky nod, she grabbed my hand and led me through the hall toward Kelsey’s room.
The smell almost choked me. The last time I’d been in a hospital, I almost didn’t make it out. I woke up wounded and foggy, thinking Jayne had been killed. It wasn’t a time I wanted to remember, but it was one I’d never forget.
I clamped down on her hand, reassuring myself once again that she was whole and alive and well. I just hoped the same could be said for Kelsey.
She stopped short in front of one of the doors and turned to me, pulling at my arm.
“She’s beaten pretty badly. You should be prepared.”
Her chin quivered as she said it, and I noticed finally just how upset she was. Of course she was. She loved Kelsey. All of us had done our best to take care of her. She was feeling the failure too.
“It’s not your fault, baby.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s not. It’s his. I want him to suffer, Vince.”
I nodded and rubbed my knuckles over her cheek. “I’m going to destroy him.”
She seemed satisfied with that and turned to push the door open.
The room was dimly lit, but the colorful machines she was hooked up to glowed like the lights of the strip. Too bright, too real.
“Why is it dark in here?” I said, reaching for the switch on the wall.
“No!” she hissed. “I turned them off. They hurt her eyes.”
I swallowed and closed my eyes before turning toward the bed. The sight almost took my breath away. It was almost unreal—the way she lay in that bed so still and quiet.
The strong, feisty little blonde I loved was nowhere to be found. In her place was a broken, bruised, and lifeless woman, beaten within an inch of her life.
For the first time in years, I felt useless. Helpless. Powerless.
“Fuck,” I whispered. “What the fuck?”
I went to the bed and fell to my knees, gripping the rail and leaning my head against the cool steel.
And then I cried.
I couldn’t even recall the last time I’d cried—let alone in public. I wasn’t ashamed to cry in front of Jayne, it just wasn’t something I did. I’d been too focused on finding Jayne when I found out she was alive to even grieve for her. I’d been numb. Now, I was the opposite of numb. I was completely raw. Seeing Kelsey had cracked me wide open, and everything I’d held in for years finally came to a head.
She was more to me than I’d even allowed myself to admit. She was it. Everything, and I’d let her down. I’d pushed her away, treated her like shit, and I’d fucking failed.
I lifted my head and wiped my arm across my eyes, blurring my vision. The sight of her tore me in two. She was so beautiful, even black and blue, and she was my angel.
“Baby,” I croaked. “I’m so sorry...”
I cleared my throat when I felt Jayne’s hand on my shoulder. She stood behind me, sniffling and crying, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at her. It was too much. I didn’t know what to do for either of us.
“Tell me,” I pleaded. “Wake up and tell me what he did, baby. I’ll do anything for you to wake up.”
Jayne rubbed my shoulder and then leaned down next to me, laying her head on my shoulder.
“They have her heavily sedated. They set her nose, and stitched up her eye and the cut on her lip. Her jaw isn’t broken, but they did something to it because it was out of whack. All in all, she’s got two broken ribs, her shoulder was dislocated, and her leg is broken. Cuts and bruises...” she paused. “There are lacerations on her wrists—it looks like the bastard tied her up. Both eyes are black, and she’s black and blue all over.”
I could see that. Her face was bruised and swollen, almost unrecognizable. Just hearing about her injuries—at least the exterior ones—brought images way too vivid to think about.
I finally nodded at her, taking in as much as I could bear. “What happened? Was she awake when you found her? Where did you find her?”
She fell back on her ass and pulled me back against her. “I got a phone call last night around midnight. Someone found her and called me from her phone. I was her emergency contact number. She was at a hotel, and she’d made it into the hallway. They heard her calling for help.”
“Where?” I growled.
“She was at The Venetian.”
That didn’t give me a lot to go on. “What the fuck happened?”
She sighed and looked up at Kelsey. “When we got there, she was already being loaded into an ambulance. They let me go with her, but she was in and out of consciousness. She told me it was Lucas and... and...” she trailed off, and more tears ran down her cheeks. “And she was calling for you.”
I let my head fall between my knees and sobbed. She’d called out for me, she’d needed me, and I wasn’t there. I could feel my heart break behind my ribs.
“I’ll make this right. I swear to you—and her—I will make sure that motherfucker meets ground.”
The door swung open, and I expected Flynn to walk in but was surprised to see two officers standing in the doorway. They flipped on the lights and stepped into the room, taking in the scene.
“Are you the family of Kelsey Franklin?”
We both jumped up, and Jayne spoke. “We’re friends of hers. Her family lives out of state. I believe the nurse was going to call her mother. I’m Jayne King, and this is Vince Donovan.”
The taller of the two cops looked me over, and then nodded. “We were told her husband was here.”
Jayne spun around to face me and I shrugged one shoulder. “I told them I was her husband so I could get in to see her. We’re not married.”
He nodded again and gave his partner a side-eye. “Mr. Donovan, I’m going to need you to come with us for questioning.”
Jayne’s eyes went wide and she threw herself in front of me, spreading her arms wide. “Officer, I beg your pardon, but Vince had nothing to do with this. He’s only just arrived from Elko about a half hour ago. You can check his plane ticket.”
He looked over her at me, and I could see he didn’t believe her at all. “This is reported as a domestic dispute. Witnesses stated that she was with her boyfriend.”
“She was,” Jayne snapped. “He is not her boyfriend.”
The cop looked resigned and shook his head. Even in jeans, a rumpled shirt, and slippers, Jayne King commanded attention and respect.
I grabbed her shoulder and stepped in front of her. Although I appreciated her attempt, I didn’t need her help. I could answer those assholes.
“It’s like she said,” I started. “I just got here. I’d apologize for lying to the nurse, but I’m not sorry. It was the only way I could get in here, and I did what I had to.”
“I see,” he said skeptically, rubbing his chin. “Well, we’ve been asked to escort you out. The family is on the way, and she can only have one visitor at a time.”
Jayne was about to argue again, but a figure slipped into the room before she could speak. I didn’t recognize the man, and thought maybe it was one of her doctors. Until he opened his mouth.
“What’s going on in here?”
His voice was low and full of authority. He was also highly ticked off. The officers turned around, startled, and I looked down at Jayne. She shrugged.
“Charles Franklin,” he said. “This is my daughter’s room, and I demand to know what the hell is going on.”
Jayne gasped and grabbed for my hand, which I gave her willingly. This was it—he’d have us both kicked out. By the look on his face, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had us arrested. I’d barely had a few minutes with her, and I wasn’t ready to leave her.
The officers went into an explanation about the situation and why they were there while he listened intently, glancing over their shoulders at his broken daughter in the bed behind me. Finally, he turned his gaze on us with a frown.
“Mr. Franklin,” Jayne said. “I’m Jayne King, I’m a friend of Kelsey’s and she works for my fiancé, Flynn Maguire.”
“I know exactly who you are, Jayne King, and I want you to leave. Now. Officers—they have no business here. My wife and I will handle this.”
I squeezed down on Jayne’s hand and felt her knuckles crush under the brunt of my grasp. The man was her father. There was no argument. He could—and obviously would—do whatever he thought was right for his daughter. Honestly, I was surprised to see him there. From what Kelsey told me, they’d basically disowned her, along with her sister for falling out of line. He seemed like a prick, just like she described him, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care about her well-being.
“He has every right!” Jayne cried out. Her shoulders were pulled tight, and her hands were balled up into fists at her side. “She’s pregnant! He’s the father—he’s family!”
The entire atmosphere in the room changed. My mouth went dry, and I felt my knees start to buckle. I was sure I’d heard her wrong, or she was lying as a ploy to get them to let us stay.
She jumped in front of me and laid her hands against my chest. “I’m so sorry to tell you this way, Vince. I’m so, so sorry, but they need to know!”
My hands shook as I grabbed her face in my hands and looked her in the eye. “How do you know,” I said, lowering my voice. “Is it true?”
She was crying—hard—but she nodded and managed to choke it out. “She told me a few days ago, but made me keep it a secret until she could tell you in person. She was breaking it off with Lucas—they weren’t serious anyway. She was breaking it off and coming home with us to tell you.”
I leaned my forehead against hers for strength. I was already ready to pass out, but with the shock of her confession, I could hardly stand up.
“Shit,” I whispered. “Is it... I mean...”
“It’s fine. The baby is fine—I told them right away that she was pregnant. He didn’t hurt the baby, but she’s going to have to be careful...”
She trailed off, not wanting to say the words we were both silently thinking. She’d answered half of my question—the second being the most terrifying.
“You’re sure? She’s positive it’s me... we haven’t, I haven’t...”
I couldn’t think, let alone talk. A baby? What the fuck was I supposed to do with that?
“She’s more than positive. She’s only been with you, Vince.”
I raised my head and looked over my shoulder at Kelsey, willing her to wake up and explain things to me. The how wasn’t a mystery, but the when and why was making my head ache.
“That’s what you say,” Charles Franklin snapped. “Until I talk to her physicians, I want this room cleared immediately.”
I spun around and took two long strides toward him. “I’m not going anywhere. She’s mine, and so is the kid she’s carrying. That makes her my responsibility. You asked her to leave—and she did. She came to me.”
He narrowed his eyes and took a step toward me. “And where were you when she was being attacked? If you claim to be responsible, then I think you have a lot to explain. I know who you are—and what you are. You don’t think I know what you did to Kristine? I won’t allow you to destroy another one of my daughters. I will find you behind bars before I let that happen.”
I wasn’t intimidated by him, and he knew it. He could spew his legal bullshit all he wanted, but it wouldn’t work on me. I would fight for Kelsey with my last breath. Knowing she carried a child—my child—that changed everything. I could feel the shift inside of me, no matter how terrifying it was to fathom myself becoming a father, I would, and I wouldn’t let either of them down. If ever there was a reason to raise the stakes, it was now.
“You know as well as I do what Kristine was—Kelsey is nothing like her. Maybe you need to question yourself about the kind of father you are—or were. You heard me, and I won’t say it again. The wrath of God can’t force me out of this room. You’ll just have to fucking deal.”
A young doctor walked in and cleared his throat behind the bevy of spectators in the room. He looked pissed, and I didn’t blame him. There were far too many people in that room, and I wanted everyone out. I wanted answers from him, and I wanted my girl well. Everyone else could go straight to hell. If I had to, I’d give them a fucking ride.
“Gentlemen, Miss King,” he said. “I’m going to need everyone to leave the room.”
The officers left the room quietly, but I noticed they lingered in the hallway. Things were getting complicated quickly, but I was prepared to deal with them if necessary.
Jayne tugged on my arm, but I held fast, staring Charles Franklin down, daring him to order me out of the room. I wanted a word with the doctor before I left, and he could kiss my ass if he thought he could stop me.
“I’m her father,” the bastard stated, holding his hand out to the doctor. “What can you tell me about my daughter?”
The doctor looked between the two of us, his brow furrowed. He looked annoyed, and I didn’t blame him. He had a job to do—and I didn’t want to stand in his way. That didn’t mean I was standing down while her father took charge. I meant what I said to him. I was taking over. She was my responsibility, and I loved her. I wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’m the father of her baby. I need to ask you a few questions.” I shoved my hands into my pockets, letting him know I wasn’t leaving until my questions were answered.
He looked surprised, and then looked over to her father. “Um, yes. Of course, and you are...”
“Vince Donovan.”
“Mr. Donovan,” he started. He reached up and pushed his glasses further up on his nose and flipped a few pages on his clipboard. “We took an ultrasound and the baby is doing well. There doesn’t seem to be any trauma, and the heartbeat is steady and strong.” He nodded toward one of the machines and gave me a small smile. “She has a long road ahead of her, and with as much as her body has gone through, she’ll need time to heal. We’ll continue to monitor her and the baby to make sure the fetus shows no signs of stress.”
I blew out a long breath and looked over at her again. As much as her body has gone through. It caused a shiver to run up and down my spine. I still had no idea... none of us did. I only wanted the knowledge that she would be okay. Until I had that—I wouldn’t rest.
“Thank you,” I told him earnestly. “And the rest of her injuries? How serious.”
Before he could answer, Franklin piped up. “I need to put a stop to this now,” he said. “We have no proof that this man is the father. Until I have that proof, I want him kept away from her.”
The doctor looked troubled, and Jayne, sensing the tension rising in the room, grabbed at my arm again.
“Vince, we should go for a while. Let him have a moment with her—him and his wife—and we’ll come back. We should go talk.”
I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to leave her, but she was right. A pissing contest with her douchebag father wasn’t going to help her. Besides, with the turn of events, I needed a little time to absorb everything and figure out what to do.
“Fine,” I whispered. I opened my eyes and pinned her father with a piercing glare. “I’ll be back later. I suggest you get used to the idea.”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out one of my cards, a plain white business card with my name and number printed in black, and handed it to the doctor.
“If there is any change, you call me. I’ll be outside.”
I shouldered past Franklin with Jayne following behind me. There was nothing more for us to do but wait.
Chapter Seventeen
It was several hours before we heard anything. I tried to send Jayne home more than once, but she wouldn’t leave until Kelsey woke up. The morbid vigil was our only way of holding things together. We were a motley bunch and making everyone nervous. It didn’t matter, though. We were united by our love for that girl, and we weren’t going anywhere.
Kelsey’s parents stood guard and unfortunately, the hospital staff stood by their decision to keep us out of her room. Flynn was doing all he could, using every resource he had in order to get us inside, using the baby as leverage. He was making headway, but every second that ticked by made me more nervous.
It was the longest four hours of my life.
We barely spoke. None of us knew what to say, or were afraid of saying the wrong thing. We were all lost in our thoughts, scared and worried and confused. Jayne cried more than I’d ever seen her cry. She’d always held that part of her behind a big black curtain, but not knowing the full extent of Kelsey’s injuries, or what she’d been through had torn through that wall and she was devastated.
I was still trying to wrap my head around everything. My heart hurt, literally ached for Kelsey. I found myself rubbing at my chest to ease the pain on and off all day long. The baby was a shock, but it wasn’t bothering me the way I’d feared it would. I never thought about kids—never wanted them. In my line of work, they just didn’t mesh. What the fuck did I have to offer a child? I was a criminal and lived a debauched and filthy life. It was not a place for children.
