Page 118 of Done Waiting

Once we have our clothing on, we head downstairs to the kitchen. Jagger clutches his phone as he waits for Jason to answer. Jason’s tone is subdued, telling us he’d just gotten off the phone with Bryce.

As Jagger slumps into his chair, my fingers massage his tense back and shoulder muscles. From their terse conversation, thenews is grim, and we have very few options. Jagger and Jason are adamant that handing me over to Ben isn’t a good idea.

I slump into the chair beside Jagger, hopeless and guilty, wishing I would have done something that prevented Abby’s capture.

When Jagger hung up, his concerned obsidian eyes locked on mine. “Are you okay, baby girl?”

“I have a headache.” I gesture toward the bathroom. “I’m gonna grab some pain pills from the medicine cabinet upstairs. Would you mind getting me some water?”

“Of course. I can get the pills if you want?”

I shake my head, already standing. “No, that’s okay. I’ll get them. I need to use the restroom anyway.” As he nods, I force a smile to my face. “Thanks.”

Heading upstairs, I go to the restroom, my head pounding. I open the medicine cabinet, grabbing the pain medication. As I do, I spot a bottle of sleeping pills on one shelf. Curiosity fills me, and I grab them, reading the name and dosage instructions.Jagger must take those when he can’t sleep from his nightmares.

Closing the medicine cabinet, my heart aches for all he’s been through. And now he’s enduring more, thanks to the asshole serial killer I dated.

What a damned nightmare.

Blowing out a breath, I head back to the kitchen.

When I head downstairs, Jagger’s eyes meet mine. “Here’s your water, baby girl.”

Nodding my thanks, I grab the water from his outstretched hand, then pop the pills into my mouth. My attention is diverted back to Jagger’s phone when Jason says, “Abby’s phone is still in the parking garage at the hospital.”

Jagger blows out a frustrated breath, leaning back in his chair. His hand angrily goes through his hair as he shakes his head. “No way do I believe he’s holding her there. The amount of people and traffic going in and out of there is too risky. My bet is he took her elsewhere.”

“Agreed.” Bryce’s voice is full of sadness and resignation when he says, “But where? We’re running out of time and have no leads.”

“Are there cameras in the parking garage? Maybe you can hack into them?” Jagger’s voice is eerily calm compared to the look on his face. I know he’s trying everything to keep Bryce calm.

“I’m examining them now. There’s so much traffic in and out of there.” Bryce’s voice holds a note of hopelessness, making my heart bleed for him.

A sigh slips out of Jagger, turning into a yawn. His hand goes over his mouth, trying to suppress it, but the sleepless nights and stress are catching up. Dark circles rim his eyes.

Heading to the coffee pot, I work on making iced coffee, knowing we need all the caffeine we can get today.

When they are ready, I slide one across the table to Jagger. He winks at me, blowing me a kiss, his bloodshot eyes locked on mine. Despite his exhaustion, his love for me shines in his ebony orbs.

Coming around the table, I drop into the chair beside him. My gaze moves to the screen of Jagger’s laptop, looking at it over his shoulder, hoping I can find something the guys missed.

It all seems fucking hopeless.

Jagger hangs up the phone, rubbing his hands over his face. His shoulders slump from dejection as he takes a long drink of his coffee, his hand trembling slightly. He can’t prevent the yawn from escaping as he sets his mug on the table.

Wrapping my arms around him, I pull his head to my shoulder, aching for him. He’s been through so much shit in his life, and now this.

We sit there like that, comfortable in our silence.

After a few beats, he sighs, lifting his head. Cracking his neck from side to side, he pulls his laptop closer. I get out of my chair, my hands moving to his shoulders, kneading the tense muscles with my fingers. A moan comes out of him as I work on the knots until I feel them finally loosen.

Twenty minutes later, Jagger’s head is on the table as he snores. I scribble a quick note, then grab his phone, my heart beating frantically inside my chest.

Deactivating the alarm, I quietly unlock the patio door and hurry to the garage. Opening it, I run inside, gaze darting around the garage, searching for the keys to my Mustang. Spotting them on the workbench, I grab them.

Before slipping inside my car, I glance at the cabin. I’m confident Jagger’s still out from the sleeping pills I put in his iced coffee.He’s going to be so pissed at me, but there’s no other option.This is my fault, and I need to fix it.I can’t let Abby die.The thought of Ben sexually assaulting her, then murdering her, has bile rising in my throat.

I start the Mustang, then back out of the garage. Closing the garage door, I activate the alarm for the house and garage via the app on his phone. Turning the car around, I stomp my foot on the gas, flying over Jagger’s driveway, using the GPS in the car to navigate across the mountains toward the Falls Creek Hospital.

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