Page 129 of Reckless

“What happened?” I ask.

“A woman got attacked upstairs. I heard screaming and my husband went out to find out what was going on. She was trying to get out of the room. There was another woman there too. My husband is an ex-marine, so he has her in the room, but we need the police and EMTs.”

“Is she hurt? What floor?”

“Ma'am, step back please," A policeman appears, holding his hand out to me.

I ignore him. “What floor? Please?” I want to shake the woman, but that isn't helpful.

“Eighth, we’re in room 804.”

Next to my room. My legs almost give way. Why was Emily in my room? She must have gone up there for something. She had the spare key. We had some stock up there. Damn it. Why didn’t she tell me where she was going?

EMT’s arrive and following in their wake is Jude, looking frantic as hell. Luther is right behind him, eyeing the police as he walks up to Riggs. If anyone recognizes Jude, they don’t say it. The gawkers are all too busy watching the police, speculating about why they’re here.

Jude grabs on to me and pulls me in to him. “You’re okay.”

“No, I’m not.”

“What? You’re hurt,” he pulls back, his eyes scanning my body, looking for injuries.

“Not me,” I start to cry. “Emily.”

I sit in the hospital with Jude beside me. He got Emily into a private room at the hospital. My hands are still shaking, even though he has me pressed tightly against him. His lips have been set in a thin line the whole time we’ve been here. Waiting.

Emily is okay. A few scrapes and bruises and a nasty bump to the head, but she has no serious injuries.

The stalker was arrested after being detained by the marine from the room next door. I don’t give a shit about her. All I care about is Emily.

As soon as the nurse comes out of the room, I jump up and they let us go in. Jude follows me. He’s barely left my side since Luther brought us here. He left though leaving Riggs with us while he went to deal with the police.

“Oh God.”

I hurry to the bed. Emily is sitting up. She has a band aid on her forehead, surrounded by some deep bruising, and there are bandages on her forearms, but other than that, she looks fine. If a little pale.

“I’m so sorry,” I take her hand.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she shakes her head, then winces at jolting it. She looks behind me. “Holy fuck, Jude Smallwood.”

“Hi,” he steps up. “How are you feeling? I’m sorry about all this.”

Her mouth is hanging open as she stares at Jude. He glances at me, then back to Emily and gives her a smile that has her tittering.

Tittering, like an adolescent. I can’t believe she isn’t mad. I was terrified for her.

She went up to the room to grab some more goody bags as we were running low. The woman, whose name we now know is Teresa Smithson, was lying in wait, having somehow broken into my room. The police think she had some kind of special machine that could override the electronic locks on the door.

I keep trying not to think about what could have happened if the neighbor hadn’t heard her scream. I don’t even care it could have been me in that room. Emily should never have been put in that position.

Jude is stressed about the whole situation. He keeps glancing at me, as if he’s worried I’m about to tell him to get the hell away from me and take his fame and his stalkers with him.

That won't happen. As scared as I was and as worried as I am for Emily, everyone is okay. And it isn’t his fault. It’s no one’s fault. I even feel a little sorry for the stalker. She has issues she needs help with.

Jude’s face darkened when I said that, but he held his tongue.

“I know I look like crap and this band aid is not a good look, but can you take a picture with me? My boyfriend won’t believe it.”

“Uh, sure,” Jude is twitchy, but when Emily hands me her phone, he moves closer to the bed and bends down. He smiles as I take the picture.

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