Page 65 of Alluring

Jack

got antsy so went to the gym

xoxo

He tucked the message in his pocket, picked up his phone and headed out the door.

Becky stopped him on his way out. "I have some documents that need your signature."

"Put them on my desk. I'll see to them later. Right now, I need to find Alexis."

"Is she missing?"

"No. She's at the gym, but she's not answering her phone and that makes me all kinds of crazy."

Becky looked amused but nodded her head in understanding. "I'll set these on your desk," she said, waving the papers she held in her hand.

Jack walked into the gym and looked around. A few people were on weight machines and a few more were on bikes and gliders. He didn't see Alexis.

He turned to the receptionist. "Did Alexis Taft come in?"

The girl smiled. "Yes, Sir."

"Did you see her leave?" He indicated the room with a sweep of his arm. "I don't see her here." He knew he sounded impatient, but he had a sick feeling in his gut that something was wrong. He'd apologize later for snapping at the girl. After he found Alexis.

The girl had a frown between her brows. "I don't remember seeing her leave."

The girl had zero information. He'd find her himself. He strode into the women's locker room, heedless to the gasps the few women present made, not noticing them or their state of undress, other than to ascertain whether they were Alexis. He exited as quickly as he arrived.

He entered the pool area. No one. He placed his hands on his hips and looked around. He knew the hall to his right led to the sauna. He stepped over to it and looked down. The door at the end had a pool chair jammed under the handle.What the fuck?

He sprinted down the hall, pulled the chair away, and opened the door. He wasn't prepared for the blast of heat that greeted him. He sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes frantically searching for Alexis.

He saw her lying in a ball on the floor. She was unconscious and her skin was flushed a bright red. He scooped her into his arms. She was hot, too hot. He quickly jogged to the pool, pulling his phone out and dialing 911. While speaking to the operator, he descended the steps, submerging Alexis in the cool water.

After being assured an ambulance was on its way, Jack set his phone on the edge of the pool, so he could free his hand to bathe Alexis's face. He tipped her head back soaking her hair. The heat coming off her body was ridiculous. He knew he had to cool her off. Her breathing was shallow and rapid and he could see the pulse in her neck throbbing.

It worried him that she was still unconscious. "Come on baby, wake up." The words rumbled from his chest.

When he was sure she was totally saturated, he reached for his phone and called Becky. "An ambulance is on the way. Meet them out front and directed them to the gym pool right away." He disconnected before she could speak.

He placed his phone down once more, cupped his hand with water, and dribbled it over her forehead. He had her submerged to her neck. That she wasn't waking up, and the paramedics still hadn't arrived was killing him. He felt powerless. God, he hated this. Having Alexis was in his arms, possibly dying, and not knowing what else to do for her was maddening.

His anger grew the longer he had to wait. He could feel his body start to shake with it. He knew he needed to be calm for Alexis's sake, but he couldn't seem to find his control. He wanted to throw something, destroy things. Find the person responsible for hurting Alexis, wrap his hands around their throat and squeeze. Not caring that the person accountable was a woman .

The chatter of voices and the clatter of a gurney rolling across the tile floor drew Jack's attention. Two paramedics and four police officers along with a nervous looking Becky surrounded the shallow end of the pool.

Jack quickly climbed the stairs of the pool, his suit dripping water. He gently laid Alexis on the gurney, all the while, answering the paramedic's questions. They rapidly surrounded her with ice packs and started an IV.

The police asked him questions, but he didn't answer. Alexis was being wheeled out and there was no way he was leaving her side. Of course, they drew attention, Alexis on a gurney, him in his dripping suit. He followed the paramedics to the ambulance and climbed in.

Alexis regained consciousness on the way to the hospital. Jack held her hand and talked soothingly to her while they were in transport. She drifted in and out of sleep and kept mumbling something that he didn't understand.

"It's okay, sweetheart, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

The ambulance stopped, and the back doors flew open. Hospital staff surround the gurney as the paramedics wheeled it through the hospital doors. Jack held onto Alexis's hand the whole time.

"Sir, you can't come any farther."

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