ceases.
Philip stares at me, a clear question in his eyes.
A glance behind me shows the paramedics readying Bethany, and Felicity and Todd rightly absorbed in caring for her. In the distance, I hear the approach of squad cars.
My gaze reconnects with Philip’s. I take in a slow, precise breath as the decision locks into my brain. I mouth, “Go. Now.”
Philip jerks him clean off his feet and backs away through the side gate.
Rage churns through me in a never-ending spiral as I turn to the near-catatonic form of the woman I love. She lies on the upright gurney, a blanket shielding her semi-nude body.
“Bethany.”
I see a reaction and my heart leaps. But she still doesn’t blink.
“Sir, we need to take her to the hospital, get her injuries checked out. She’s also in shock, so—”
“I’m coming with her.”
“Uh...sure. You don’t want to change into dry clothes first?” one of the paramedics suggests.
“No.”
“Okay.” He nods at his colleague and they start to wheel the gurney.
“Zach, we’ll be right behind you. We’ll grab some stuff for her first.”
I probably nod, but my gaze doesn’t leave Bethany’s.
The cops arrive as we’re heading down the driveway to the ambulance.
They take in the scene and one moves toward me. “Sir, are you the home owner? Were you the one who called in the incident?”
“No, I’m her fiancé. And I’m about to get on this ambulance, so your questions will have to wait.”
“Sir, can I at least get your name?”
I pause with one foot on the step. “My name is Zachary Savage. And trust me, I will have your badge if you delay my fiancée’s recovery by asking me one more goddamn question.”
He blanches a little and steps away, but scribbles in his notebook before he looks up. “We’ll be in touch.”
The ride to the hospital is spent with me hunched over Bethany, her hand caught in mine. I’m caught in a riptide of pain, and I can’t stop the need to press my lips against her, thankfully, warming flesh.
“I’m sorry, Bethany. So sorry,” I whisper, but the words feel useless. Too fucking little too late. I vowed to keep her safe, to free her of every single danger and worry.
And I turned my back and let a monster have his way with her.
She stares at me the whole time, even blinks a few times. She attempts a swallow and whimpers. I watch pain-filled tears brim her eyes and it rips me wide open.
I lower my head to our linked fingers and place my cheek against her skin. “Dear God, baby. What did I do? What the fuck did I do?” My throat clogs and my chest is tight with self-loathing.
So many scenarios charge through my manic brain. I’m too afraid to voice any of them just yet. So I hold her hand and stay pressed against her body.
The doctors are quick and efficient. It’s clear word has spread about who the patient is, because I’m addressed by my name and given a private suite. I stay by Bethany’s side as she’s checked over. The only time I let her leave my sight is when she’s taken for an MRI.
Her parents arrive and join me in the waiting room while she’s away. They sit. I pace. My anguish is a living, breathing thing that propels me from one side of the room to the other.
“Zach, the police are asking what happened. We want to know.”
“The bastard attacked her, that’s what happened!”
I see the rage of a father for the pain caused to his only child pass through Todd’s eyes. But his emotions aren’t as volatile as mine. “Yes, but what was she doing out there ? She hasn’t gone near the pool in years. And what was Dillon doing there—?”
My steps freeze. “You know the guy who attacked her?”
“Yes, he’s our neighbor’s son. We thought he was in Alaska.”
“Well, you thought wrong. That asshole attacked her when she was fourteen and he obviously saw an opportunity to try it again!”
Todd jerks back. Felicity’s eyes are pools of shock. “What are you talking about?”
“Have you never
Philip stares at me, a clear question in his eyes.
A glance behind me shows the paramedics readying Bethany, and Felicity and Todd rightly absorbed in caring for her. In the distance, I hear the approach of squad cars.
My gaze reconnects with Philip’s. I take in a slow, precise breath as the decision locks into my brain. I mouth, “Go. Now.”
Philip jerks him clean off his feet and backs away through the side gate.
Rage churns through me in a never-ending spiral as I turn to the near-catatonic form of the woman I love. She lies on the upright gurney, a blanket shielding her semi-nude body.
“Bethany.”
I see a reaction and my heart leaps. But she still doesn’t blink.
“Sir, we need to take her to the hospital, get her injuries checked out. She’s also in shock, so—”
“I’m coming with her.”
“Uh...sure. You don’t want to change into dry clothes first?” one of the paramedics suggests.
“No.”
“Okay.” He nods at his colleague and they start to wheel the gurney.
“Zach, we’ll be right behind you. We’ll grab some stuff for her first.”
I probably nod, but my gaze doesn’t leave Bethany’s.
The cops arrive as we’re heading down the driveway to the ambulance.
They take in the scene and one moves toward me. “Sir, are you the home owner? Were you the one who called in the incident?”
“No, I’m her fiancé. And I’m about to get on this ambulance, so your questions will have to wait.”
“Sir, can I at least get your name?”
I pause with one foot on the step. “My name is Zachary Savage. And trust me, I will have your badge if you delay my fiancée’s recovery by asking me one more goddamn question.”
He blanches a little and steps away, but scribbles in his notebook before he looks up. “We’ll be in touch.”
The ride to the hospital is spent with me hunched over Bethany, her hand caught in mine. I’m caught in a riptide of pain, and I can’t stop the need to press my lips against her, thankfully, warming flesh.
“I’m sorry, Bethany. So sorry,” I whisper, but the words feel useless. Too fucking little too late. I vowed to keep her safe, to free her of every single danger and worry.
And I turned my back and let a monster have his way with her.
She stares at me the whole time, even blinks a few times. She attempts a swallow and whimpers. I watch pain-filled tears brim her eyes and it rips me wide open.
I lower my head to our linked fingers and place my cheek against her skin. “Dear God, baby. What did I do? What the fuck did I do?” My throat clogs and my chest is tight with self-loathing.
So many scenarios charge through my manic brain. I’m too afraid to voice any of them just yet. So I hold her hand and stay pressed against her body.
The doctors are quick and efficient. It’s clear word has spread about who the patient is, because I’m addressed by my name and given a private suite. I stay by Bethany’s side as she’s checked over. The only time I let her leave my sight is when she’s taken for an MRI.
Her parents arrive and join me in the waiting room while she’s away. They sit. I pace. My anguish is a living, breathing thing that propels me from one side of the room to the other.
“Zach, the police are asking what happened. We want to know.”
“The bastard attacked her, that’s what happened!”
I see the rage of a father for the pain caused to his only child pass through Todd’s eyes. But his emotions aren’t as volatile as mine. “Yes, but what was she doing out there ? She hasn’t gone near the pool in years. And what was Dillon doing there—?”
My steps freeze. “You know the guy who attacked her?”
“Yes, he’s our neighbor’s son. We thought he was in Alaska.”
“Well, you thought wrong. That asshole attacked her when she was fourteen and he obviously saw an opportunity to try it again!”
Todd jerks back. Felicity’s eyes are pools of shock. “What are you talking about?”
“Have you never
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