Page 58 of For Emery

I sat in the chair and took hold of Emery’s mom’s hand. I wanted her to know someone was with her. Sadly, between the bruising and swelling, you couldn’t see the attractive woman she was.

There were so many things I wanted to say to her. So many things I should have done to prevent what happened.

“Jordan.” Her eyes cracked open.

“Ma’am?”

“She missed you,” she whispered.

“I know,” I said, leaning closer so she didn’t have to strain her voice to talk to me.

“I didn’t let her contact you.”

“Water under the bridge,” I assured her. “You just need to get better.”

“Will you take care of her if anything happens to me?”

Fucking tears pricked my eyes. “Nothing’s gonna happen to you. Just focus on getting better.”

Her eyes closed as she drifted back off to sleep. Did she really think she might not make it? Were her internal wounds more severe than we knew? And what about Emery? If anything happened to her mom, would she even let me take care of her?

“How’s she doing?” a voice asked.

I spun in my chair to find the police officer standing inside the doorway.

I shrugged. “She’s in and out of sleep.”

“Terrible thing that happened to her.”

“He was a monster when we were kids.”

He nodded, staring at her battered body.

“What’s being done to catch him?” I asked.

The officer’s eyes moved back to me. “We’ve got men on it. But the guy could be anywhere by now.”

“Could he get in here?”

He shook his head. “His picture’s plastered all over every nurses’ station, bathroom, and entrance in this place.”

“Doesn’t mean he won’t find a way. He tracked her down in another state.”

He tapped the gold badge on the front of his shirt. “That’s why I’m here.”

“But for how long? And what happens when she gets out of here? Who will protect her then?”

“All valid questions.”

“Does that mean you don’t have the answers?”

“Sorry.”

I nodded. It wasn’t his fault. But I wanted those answers. Who would ensure her safety? And Emery’s?

The officer walked back out to his post, and I slipped my phone from my pocket, sending my uncle Cal a text. He had a law firm in Montgomery and always came through for me when I needed him. Hence the private jet and pilot he lent me to get to Arizona at a minute’s notice. He asked only that I call when I figured out the situation. Then he could provide legal counsel.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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