Page 27 of The Book of Wrath

I jump up from my seat and lean over the bed. She looks as me, blinking a few times the whispers, “Max.”

“Call the doctor,” I say to Millie, but she is already out of the room and at the nurses station.

“I’m right her Megan, I haven’t left.” I put my face in her view, and she gives a weak smile. I kiss her cheek, her forehead, then her lips. I know any minute I will be pulled away so they can check her but until then, I am staying as close as possible.

“Am I?” She tries to talk, but she sounds so weak.

“You’re in the hospital, don’t talk right now, they had a tube down your throat until twenty minutes ago. Once the doctor comes in, she will tell me what you are and are not allowed to have,” I kiss her forehead once more as she closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and tap Ally’s name.

She’s awake.

Her response came back within seconds. Is she okay?!

Yes, I’ll text you once the doctor comes in. Can you text her sister? She said she would be coming in the morning before I left for the station.

Yeah, I got it. Take care of my girl will ya?

I laugh. She’s not leaving my sight; she better not be pee shy.

Gross! But I don’t blame you. Don’t forget to text me or you will be tasting the rubber of my shoe next time I see you. She threatens and I believe she would kick my ass if I forgot.

No worries, get some rest. I’ll text you as soon as I know anything.

You better. Was all she replied.

Megan’s eyes were still closed as the nurses fused around her, checking her pulse, checking her O2 levels, making sure her pupils are responsive. I know they are trying to do what is right by Megan, but I just want them out and the doctor in so we can know when she can go home.

The door opened once more, “Mr. Carter,” Doctor Silverman always says my name as if she is a principle and I am just a disappointing student. She gets under my fucking skin.

“Good evening, Doctor,” I nod and try to use the manners my mother taught me. Even though I was going to break my teeth with how tight I was clenching my jaw. My teeth squeaked in my skull setting goosebumps down my body. That feeling and sound is worse than nails on a chalkboard.

“Miss. Monroe, I’m glad to see you’re awake. Are you alright with me discussing your condition in front of Mr. Carter?” Again, with that disappointed principal voice. Megan looked at me and with a weak little laugh she replies.

“The future Mr. Monroe, yes.”

The look on that woman’s face was fucking priceless. She looked frazzled by Megan’s response as if she didn’t just drop a bomb in the ocean and she was in the splash zone. I fucking love this woman.

“Well, future Mrs. Carter, you might want to rest your voice. I don’t want you hurting yourself,” I smiled, my hand squeezing hers gently. She was making jokes. That is a good sign. Honestly a great sign. I was thinking she would shell up and the smiling woman before me would be hiding inside of herself. There’s still a chance she might, but right now I will take it.

“He’s right. You should rest your throat,” she glared at me the moment she uttered the word throat, like I was going to force my dick down her throat the moment we left her. Why the fuck does she keep giving me dirty ass looks? “Your body sustained significant injury, reopening a few cuts, and your ribs cracked a little more. You’re lucky the officers got to you when they did. As far as the other issue, I need to know if you had consensual sex with anyone the night of the attack if you can remember. You can shake your head, or I can give you a piece of paper.”

Megan shook her head, I guess she didn’t consider my fingers sex. Or I didn’t leave a lasting impression. That would have to change, if that was the case. She glanced over at me and smiled.

“Okay,” she took in a deep breath, I knew the news she had to relay. “I have some news that I need to inform you of. Something happened when you arrived here and were placed on sedation medication. You were in a room, thankfully, with another patient who recorded what they could of your second attack. Dr. Arthur Caden had sexually assaulted you while you were unconscious. Doctor Caden took his own life when two officers confronted him that night. I personally did the examination and all examinations since on you. Your boyfriend has made it well known that no one is to examine you without him or your friend Miss. Strom. Both have taken great care to make sure you are safe,” She looked over at me and I almost felt a look of pity on her face. Well shit, I guess I read this lady wrong.

“I was what?!” Megan practically screams out. I squeeze her hand again, trying to get her to remember to calm down, even though the thought of that man touching her makes me want to resurrect him and kill him all over again.

“The hospital will be taking full responsibility for your medical bill while you are here, so that is no issue. As for the earlier attack, there was trauma to the tissue that I believe was there before Dr. Caden’s assault. Can you tell me what might’ve happened?” she asks Megan. She freezes up as if the thought of Sandra attacking her was happening all over again. “I’m sorry Miss. Monroe, but I have to know. Did you do it with a toy or did something else happen?”

Megan was shaking, but she finally spoke, her words weak. “It was done with the barrel of a gun.” My heart sunk, I felt nauseous. “It was done against my will.”

Dr. Silverman wrote something down on her notepad, then put her pen down. She looks up between the two of us and I can see the gears turning in her head. “I’m so sorry that these violations have happened to you. It’s not right and it’s not fair. The trauma you sustained from the first attack will heal. Everything will heal with time. Will that make things any easier, no. It really won’t. Will intimacy be easy for you in the future? I don’t know. Some people are okay with things like this and can bounce back quickly. Some people take weeks, months or even years to be comfortable with a partner again. So, Mr. Carter, be patient with her.”

“I will never force her to do anything she doesn’t want or is ready to do. Her well being physically, mentally, and emotionally. That’s one thing you won’t have to worry about,” I say defiantly.

“Good, that is the biggest worry that we all have. No disrespect to you, but things aren’t always easy to read in situations like this. We misjudged a coworker, let me be frank, we believe what happened. We saw the proof from the patient, and I am so sorry that it happened, but I am grateful you weren’t awake for it. I am not grateful that I had to tell you. I’m sorry, but I did not think it right to keep that secret from you,” she says looking from me to Megan.

“I’m glad you didn’t keep it a secret. I’m also glad I wasn’t awake for it. I think I might’ve broken if I was,” she whispers. I honestly believe that. Megan has gone through so much in the short amount of time that I’ve known her. It’s not right and it’s not fair. “When can I go home?”

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