Page 82 of Embers of Torment

"That it is. Some better than others." Jace peered at me with a wistful smile.

I cleared my throat. "I…umm…should go since the medical staff will be moving you."

"No. I mean… You don't have to leave. Well, unless you want to." Jace exhaled a long breath and closed his eyes. Opening them, he said, "What I'm trying to say is I want you to stay. Please."

"Okay, I'll stay. But I need to text Sofie an update. She and Reid were worried about you." I typed out my message and hit the send button. Catching a movement off to the side, I turned to see Rielle in a quiet conversation with Alec. He slipped her a piece of paper, and she blushed. Thinking their interaction was too personal for my eyes, I focused on Jace. "I wonder where they're taking you."

"Alec told me you're going to the third floor," Rielle said now that Alec had left. "You'll have to text me later and give me your room number. I have to pick up Lily from James, so I can't stay. I can come by in the morning, though."

"That works. By then, we'll have an idea of when the hospital's cutting me loose."

"We should. I'll see you tomorrow." Ree gave Jace a quick hug and put her hand on my arm. "Thank you for taking care of him. I'll talk to Adam on my way out."

"Thanks. He must be going nuts by now."

Rielle hugged me and disappeared behind the curtain.

Jace got transferred upstairs, and I was allowed to accompany him. He was settled into a bed by the window in an empty two-patient room. I sat at his bedside and texted Adam the room number while a nurse hooked Jace up to some equipment and helped him get comfortable. Adam stood in the doorway minutes later.

"Is it safe to come in?" Adam teased, although he appeared worried.

"Come on in and join the party," Jace laughed. He motioned toward the far side of the room. "You can move that chair over here."

Adam dragged it over and took a seat. "Rielle filled me in. I'm glad the situation wasn't worse, and they're only keeping you overnight."

"I got lucky. That's for sure."

I studied Jace as the two of them talked. He had indeed been fortunate, and I couldn't imagine losing him. It was bad enough that when I realized the man had stabbed him, my whole world threatened to spin out of control. I had to will myself to keep it together while I applied pressure to Jace's wound and attempted to calm a terrified Evie.

"Hey, I should go," Adam said, returning me to the present. "I need to head back to the venue and help Theo pack up his booth. I'll check in with you tomorrow."

"I'll be here," Jace said, making light of the situation.

I walked Adam to the elevator, and after a quick goodbye, I retook my seat by Jace's bed.

"Thank you for staying with me," Jace said, his voice tinged with emotion. He reached for my hand and tenderly held it.

"I wanted to."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry for the mean and horrible things I said over the last few weeks. You were right. People change. We were kids when it all happened, and you aren't the beast I loathed back then. My path of bitterness and hatred made me no different from those I detest, and I can't be that person. You asked for a chance, and I'm sorry it took almost losing you to realize you deserved it. So…can we try again."

"That's an easy yes. It's all I wanted, another chance. You mean the world to me, Della. I love you and everything about you. I want to make you happy and see where this relationshiptakes us. What I don't want is to throw it all away because of something that happened twenty-five years ago when I was a rotten person who hated himself and the world around me. Do you know why I targeted you?"

"No, and I'm not sure I want to."

"I don't blame you, but it isn't what you think. I was jealous. My envy of you and everyone else who had what I wanted was so consuming it turned into hostility and resentment."

"What could I possibly have had that made you feel that way?"

"A loving family. A father who cared about you. An environment free of toxicity and cruelty." Jace wiped an eye, his gaze distant as he stared at the end of his bed. "My biological father was cruel and enjoyed tormenting others. He was a bully to my mother and me, treating us the way his father had treated him. His parenting skills entailed reminding me daily that I wasn't strong enough, brave enough, or smart enough and that I was worthless. My father believed the only way to get ahead was to be mean and forcefully take what you wanted. In his world, compassion, fairness, and respect were weaknesses."

I stared at Jace in sadness and horror. I couldn't fathom a parent doing that to their child. "Jace. I'm so sorry you went through all that."

"Della, I'm not asking you to feel sorry for me. And none of what I went through is an excuse for my behavior and what I did to you. I'm telling you this so you can grasp the whole picture. I want you to see all of me."

"I get it, and I appreciate what you're doing. It's just… I don't understand treating people that way, especially your children."

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