Page 59 of Betrayal & New Beginnings

Ellie wasn’t responding to my pleading to open her eyes, andIdidn’t want to shake her in order to wake her becauseIdidn’t know the extent of her injuries.

Just then,Archerappeared next. “Anambulance is on the way.”

“She won’t open her eyes.Ican’t get her to open them,”Itold him, frantically hoping he could help me.

“She might have passed out from shock,” he said to me calmly, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Ifshe’s still breathing and has a pulse, she’s okay.Let’scut those off her wrists.”

He pulled out his pocketknife, and worked delicately to remove the ropes from her wrists.Iquickly cataloged any other injuries she may have had and then picked her up and proceeded to carry her down the hallway soIcould get her on the ambulance as soon as they arrived.IleftArcherandVincein the room to deal with that asshole.Ididn’t even care at this point if he lived or died.Iwould kill him myself right now, butElliewas my priority, and she needed me.Icarried her bridal-style out of the house just as an officer was getting out of his car.

I yelled, “Sheneeds medical attention immediately!”

He pointed over his shoulder. “TheEMTsare right behind me.”

I looked up to see the ambulance pulling up to the house. “Twoof my guys are in there with the suspect on the ground, and there’s a body just inside the front door.”

TheEMTsgot out of the ambulance, and they met me asIstrode toward them.

I quickly explained her injuries, at least the onesIknew about, asImoved to put her on the stretcher myself. “Hewas strangling her when we got here.There’sa handprint on her face, so he must have slapped her, and she’s got a big knot on the back of her head.”

The firstEMTtried to wave me away and tell me which hospital they were transporting her to, butIhopped into the back.Iwasn’t leaving her side for one minute.Theman either understood or was too scared to argue with me in my current mood, so he climbed in, closed the doors, and we took off.

While theEMTassessed her,Ipulled out my phone to textArcherandVince, letting them knowIwas going to the hospital with her.

The ride took less than ten minutes, but it felt like one of the longest rides of my life.Itook her hand in mine, gently rubbing the marks on her wrist where that bastard had tied her up.

I felt her hand move under mine and looked up to find her eyes on me—filled with tears.Shewasn’t sobbing, but she was clearly experiencing an emotional dump now that her adrenaline rush had worn off.

“Hey, baby,”Itried to say calmly, trying to remove all murderous thoughts about her ex soIdidn’t scare her.

“It’s really you,” she rasped and then coughed a little.

“Try not to talk too much until we can check out your throat,” theEMTsaid. “Wewant to make sure your larynx, trachea, and vocal cords weren’t damaged.”

She nodded back and then moved her eyes to me and gave me a small smile.

“You’re safe now,”Itold her, andImoved my hand from her wrist to her hand and squeezed it gently.

My words registered to her, and then it appeared she began to think back to what had happened beforeIgot there, and the fear returned to her eyes.

“Randall,” she whispered.

“Ma’am, please try not to talk until we get there,” theEMTreminded her politely.

“Don’t worry aboutRandall, baby.He’snot going to be a problem anymore,”Itold her, putting my free hand on her cheek. “You’resafe now.Wejust need to get you checked out at the hospital.”

She nodded and continued to stare into my eyes until the heaviness took over and she fell asleep.TheEMTassured me it was fine to let her sleep, as her vitals were improving.

I had to believe him becauseIcouldn’t lose her now.

24

JACK

Not thatIexpected a welcome party at the airport, butIdid assume someone would have been there to pick me up.Aftercountless phone calls and texts toVince,Wade,Ellie, andArcherall went unanswered,Ifinally decided to take a cab back to my apartment.

I continued to try to reach out to everyone for the hour drive home, but no one responded.

When we pulled up to the front of my building, the first thingInoticed was several police vehicles with lights on.AsIwalked to the main door to the building,Isaw the officers in the front lobby ofRangerShieldSecurity.

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