Page 7 of Ours to Keep

“Can we see her?” Jax asks, swallowing hard.

“Only one of you can see her now,” the doctor says. “Once she’s moved to a ward for observation, you all will be able to seeher, but please keep it to one at a time.” Her eyes glance between the four of us.

We all look to Jax, knowing he’ll be the one to see her first, even though we’re all desperate to see her with our own eyes, Jax needs this more.

Chapter Five

LILY

Everything hurts, even the thought of prying my eyes open makes my stomach turn over as a wave of nausea rolls through me. Bile rises up my oesophagus and my mouth begins to water. I try to breathe through it and inhale deeply, but even that is painful. Why am I in so much pain?What happened to me?

I hear unfamiliar noises, and then a strong smell of antiseptic reaches my nose—one all too familiar. I know without forcing my eyes open that I’m in hospital. Whatever reason has me here is quickly dragging me back under, no matter how much I try in vain to stay conscious.

Someone squeezes my hand, trying to pull me back, but all I manage are Tommy’s distant, whispered words.

“You’re safe, sunshine.” The darkness is comforting, a blanket that shields me from the pain. I float in and out of reality, fragments of voices and memories piercing through the haze.

“Lily, can you hear me?” Jackson’s voice is filled with worry. I want to respond, to tell him I’m okay, but the words are lost in the fog. Flashes of Richard’s face, his twisted sneer, invade my mind, the terror of his presence, the agony of his touch. It allfeels distant now, as if happening to someone else. But the ingrained fear remains a constant, gnawing presence.

I feel a gentle and warm hand on mine. It anchors me and pulls me back from the abyss. And then slowly, painfully, I open my eyes—or should I say eye? Jackson is there, his face a mixture of relief and anguish.

“Duchess,” he whispers, his voice breaking. “I am so fucking sorry. You’re safe now. We’ve got you.”

I try to speak, but my throat feels raw, and every word is a struggle. “Jackson… what happened?” My voice is barely a whisper, a rasping sound through my dry, cracked lips. I wish I could pretend that I don’t already know that this is one twisted nightmare, but that’s not the case when his eyes darken with a mix of fury and sorrow.

“Richard... he did this. But he’s not going to hurt you anymore. We’re going to make sure of that.”

A shiver runs through me at the mention of Richard’s name. Memories of his cruelty flood back, each one like a stab to the heart. “How... how did I get here?”

Jackson squeezes my hand tighter, as if grounding himself as much as me.“Elliot. He stumbled across something, and when we went to confront Richard, he was already gone, so we came in search of you.” He closes his eyes and swallows hard before his dark pools of blue lock on mine. “After breaking down your bedroom door, we found you unconscious on your bathroom floor. But you’re safe now, Lily. I promise.”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. The pain, both physical and emotional, is overwhelming. But beneath it all, there’s a flicker of relief. I’m safe. For now, at least. “I was so scared,” I admit, my voice trembling, my throat hoarse. “I thought... I thought he was going to kill me.”

Jackson’s jaw tightens, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “He won’t get the chance. We’ll make sure of it.” There’s a steely determination in his voice, a promise of retribution.

I nod weakly, my strength waning. “Thank you,” I whisper, barely keeping my eyes open.

“Rest now, Duchess. You need to heal. We’ll be here when you wake up.”

His words echo in my mind as I drift back into the comforting darkness. Safe. For now. But something else niggles in my self-consciousness—Mia, but before I’m able to grasp it, I’m pulled into a deep midnight void.

When I open my eyes again, the room is dimly lit, and a soft hum of machinery is the only sound. My body still aches, but the pain is dulled and manageable, they must have me on some kind of pain relief. I turn my head slightly, wincing at the stiffness in my neck. A pinch to my hand alerts me to an IV, and just beyond that, I notice Tommy slumped in a chair beside my bed, his head resting on his crossed arms.

“Tommy,” I whisper, my voice a bit stronger this time.

He stirs, lifting his head and blinking his familiar green eyes, a balm to my senses. When he sees me awake, a tired smile spreads across his face. “Hey, Sunshine, you’re awake.”

“Yeah,” I manage out, “barely.”

He reaches out, taking my hand in his. “You’re a fighter, Lily. You’re going to get through this.”

I squeeze his hand, drawing strength from his presence. “What about Richard?” I ask, his name a poison brand against my tongue.

His expression darkens, his gaze drifting, causing my stomach to churn.

“Tommy?”

Shaking his head, he glances back at me. “He’s gone, we’re trying to track him down,” he admits reluctantly. “But all that matters right now is that you’re here and safe.”

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