sight.
“She’s doing well,” the paramedic said.
When they made it inside the hospital, James left her to fill in some hospital forms. They were foreigners, and he promised to refund them any money needed. While they performed checks on her James reluctantly waited outside in the reception area.
“How are you doing?” Sean asked, joining him.
“They let you go?” James moved over to allow Sean to sit next to him.
The last few hours had been hazy.
“They had no choice. I’m not their fucking prisoner. I came here to settle an old debt. I’ll never be free of the guilt, but I’ve made sure Lucas doesn’t do anything stupid. The Feds are around keeping an eye on all the girls. Some of them were drugged pretty bad and are needing more attention,” Sean said.
“Where’s Lucas?”
“Getting his leg stitched up. The bullet ripped through, and the docs are making sure it didn’t go through any major arteries.”
James stayed silent for several minutes. The only sound he heard in the hospital was the rushing of nurses and the occasional machine beeping.
“I can’t believe I got her back.”
“You’re lucky to have some good friends.”
“What debt were you talking about?” James asked, remembering what Lucas said earlier in the day.
Sean let out a sigh. “I’m the one responsible for Isabella disappearing. She came to my room one night, naked , and let’s just say it didn’t end well. I was a bastard to her, and she ran. By the time morning came, she was gone.”
“Isabella had a crush on you when she was younger?”
“I was Lucas’s friend. We met because we served in the same unit together. I liked doing things my way and against my parents’ better judgement. I joined the forces to spite them. I met some pretty decent guys. Isabella was like sunshine, a living, breathing ball of happiness and energy. Now, she barely smiles.” Sean shook his head in anger. “I’ve got to live with that. Every day I look at her and see the fear and upset, I know I was the cause.”
James didn’t know the words to say to help him. His friend clearly didn’t want to be saved with words.
He went and saw Lucas while he was waiting for Prudence to be finished. Lucas lay on the hospital bed eating chocolate and watching television. He turned the volume down as James entered.
“How are you doing?” James asked, staring at the bandaged leg.
“I’m doing great. It’s not the first time I’ve been shot.”
“Let’s hope it’s your last.”
Lucas chuckled. “I hope not. Where is the fun in that?”
“You’ll be living your life.” The words sobered both men up.
“At least you got your girl.”
James nodded. “You got to take out one man, Lucas.”
“Not the man I wanted. Daren, for all his talk and shit, was just a fucking minion. Henry is still out there, and the Feds won’t give me shit about him.” Lucas tightened his fist on the metal bars.
“It’s over now. They’ve got Henry , and we’ve got a life back.”
“But I’ve got to live with knowing he’s out there.” Lucas stopped and stared past his shoulder. Melanie stood outside the door.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I … erm, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
James raised an eyebrow at Lucas. The other man shooed him away. Sean stood talking with the doctors as he made his way back to the waiting area.
“Prudence is free to see you,” Sean said. “She should be free to travel tomorrow.”
“Make all the arrangements. I want Prudence back home in my home.”
He moved toward her room. His heart pounded inside his chest wondering how she’d feel about seeing him. Taking a deep breath he turned the corner and saw her.
Prudence lay on the hospital bed. Without all the makeup to cover her face the bruises stood out harshly against her pale skin. James stared at her from where he stood against the doorframe. She looked peaceful in sleep. No matter what he did, he’d never be able to rid his mind of the
“She’s doing well,” the paramedic said.
When they made it inside the hospital, James left her to fill in some hospital forms. They were foreigners, and he promised to refund them any money needed. While they performed checks on her James reluctantly waited outside in the reception area.
“How are you doing?” Sean asked, joining him.
“They let you go?” James moved over to allow Sean to sit next to him.
The last few hours had been hazy.
“They had no choice. I’m not their fucking prisoner. I came here to settle an old debt. I’ll never be free of the guilt, but I’ve made sure Lucas doesn’t do anything stupid. The Feds are around keeping an eye on all the girls. Some of them were drugged pretty bad and are needing more attention,” Sean said.
“Where’s Lucas?”
“Getting his leg stitched up. The bullet ripped through, and the docs are making sure it didn’t go through any major arteries.”
James stayed silent for several minutes. The only sound he heard in the hospital was the rushing of nurses and the occasional machine beeping.
“I can’t believe I got her back.”
“You’re lucky to have some good friends.”
“What debt were you talking about?” James asked, remembering what Lucas said earlier in the day.
Sean let out a sigh. “I’m the one responsible for Isabella disappearing. She came to my room one night, naked , and let’s just say it didn’t end well. I was a bastard to her, and she ran. By the time morning came, she was gone.”
“Isabella had a crush on you when she was younger?”
“I was Lucas’s friend. We met because we served in the same unit together. I liked doing things my way and against my parents’ better judgement. I joined the forces to spite them. I met some pretty decent guys. Isabella was like sunshine, a living, breathing ball of happiness and energy. Now, she barely smiles.” Sean shook his head in anger. “I’ve got to live with that. Every day I look at her and see the fear and upset, I know I was the cause.”
James didn’t know the words to say to help him. His friend clearly didn’t want to be saved with words.
He went and saw Lucas while he was waiting for Prudence to be finished. Lucas lay on the hospital bed eating chocolate and watching television. He turned the volume down as James entered.
“How are you doing?” James asked, staring at the bandaged leg.
“I’m doing great. It’s not the first time I’ve been shot.”
“Let’s hope it’s your last.”
Lucas chuckled. “I hope not. Where is the fun in that?”
“You’ll be living your life.” The words sobered both men up.
“At least you got your girl.”
James nodded. “You got to take out one man, Lucas.”
“Not the man I wanted. Daren, for all his talk and shit, was just a fucking minion. Henry is still out there, and the Feds won’t give me shit about him.” Lucas tightened his fist on the metal bars.
“It’s over now. They’ve got Henry , and we’ve got a life back.”
“But I’ve got to live with knowing he’s out there.” Lucas stopped and stared past his shoulder. Melanie stood outside the door.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I … erm, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
James raised an eyebrow at Lucas. The other man shooed him away. Sean stood talking with the doctors as he made his way back to the waiting area.
“Prudence is free to see you,” Sean said. “She should be free to travel tomorrow.”
“Make all the arrangements. I want Prudence back home in my home.”
He moved toward her room. His heart pounded inside his chest wondering how she’d feel about seeing him. Taking a deep breath he turned the corner and saw her.
Prudence lay on the hospital bed. Without all the makeup to cover her face the bruises stood out harshly against her pale skin. James stared at her from where he stood against the doorframe. She looked peaceful in sleep. No matter what he did, he’d never be able to rid his mind of the
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