Page 238 of Under Her Skin
As she closed her eyes, a tear dropped down herface.
When they toldhim at reception that Jess ’s brother was in the hospital and asking where she was, his heart had stopped. He knew, he knew that it was Jules who was responsible for raping and stabbing her. Who else could it be? And now he was in thehospital
Jess. Oh God,Jess.
When he got to her room, he sighed in relief. She was alone. Asleep, she looked as young as when he’d first met her but the cuts, the bruises made his stomach twist with pain. He bent down and kissed hercheek.
Not wanting to disturb her, he went back to the corridor and sat down. Leaning his head against the wall, he closed his eyes andsighed.
‘She seemsfine.’
Theo opened his eyes and turned towards the voice. His voice. The bastard who stabbed her. Theo was off his chair, launching himself intoGachet.
‘Motherfucker!’
Jules fought backbut was no match for the bigger man’s strength and skill. Theo twisted the man’s arm behind his back and got him on the floor, kicking out the back of his knee. Jules’s face banged against the hard floor and Theo was gratified to see blood, but then security got hold of him, ramming him against awall.
‘Okay, okay.’ He yelled. They let him go. Jules was still on the floor, his nose pouring withblood.
‘Get up.’ Theo waved the security off. ‘I’m cool, I’mcool.’
Jules got to his feet. ‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing?’ He brushed himself down, wiped his bloody nose on his sleeve. A sly grin belied his apparent outrage. Theo shook his head, anger radiating fromhim.
‘I know you’re responsible for this, Gachet. Iknow.’
Jules smirked. ‘Responsible for what, Mr. Storm? I was at home alone when Jess had her unfortunateaccident.’
‘It wasn’t an accident. You know damn well it wasn’t.’ Theo glanced around, checking they were alone. ‘You raped her and then you knifed her. You tried to murderher.’
Jules raised his eyebrows. ‘Murder? That’s a horrific accusation. And where’s yourproof?’
‘Interesting you don’t denyit.’
‘Your proof,Storm?’
Theo paused and Jules leaped on hishesitation.
‘I thought not. Careful, Storm, I think that counts as slander. Now, I would like to wait and see my sister, if that’s all right withyou.’
‘Are you fucking kidding me?’ Theo stepped in front of Jess’s door. ‘You’re not going anywhere near her, not everagain.’
Jules smirked. ‘I think you’ll find, that as her only family, I count as next of kin. You can’t stopme.’
It was Theo’s turn to smile then. ‘Oh but you see, as of earlier this evening, I am legally her next of kin. As her future husband, Jess wanted to give me power of attorney while she’s in here. She had a lawyer come in to seeher.’
Jules was silent for a long moment. ‘Please tell Jess I hope she recovers soon. I look forward to concluding our business.’ He grinned at Theo’s anger, turned and strode down thecorridor.
‘Motherfucker.’ Theo repeated to himself. He turned and went back into her room. She stirred as he bent down to kiss her and whispered his name, smiling even in hersleep.
‘I love you,’ he whispered, his eyes searching her face, drinking in every feature, her soft skin, her beautiful mouth. He leaned his forehead against hers. ‘God, Jessie, I promise you, if it is the last thing I do, I will make this fucker suffer for what he’s done to you. I promise. Ipromise.’
It had beenthe longest ten weeks of Jess’s life but now, as Theo flew them back to the house on Whidbey, she felt a tense band tighten across her chest. She had insisted they do this. That they forge ahead with the life they had planned. Fuck Jules had become her mantra. But now, the panic was starting to build. What if she couldn’t cope? What if she freaked out? Theo wouldn’t need much persuasion to burn the house down if it scared her but she was desperate not to be run out of another home by Jules. He couldn’t winthis.
Theo reached over and took her hand. ‘Okay, my love?’ The soft, tender timbre of his voice was like opium flooding through her veins, soothing, loving and she grinned suddenly, and told himthat.
Theo laughed and she realized how long it had been since she heard the sound. ‘Opium,huh?’
‘You have the ‘voice crack’,’ she nodded, continuing the joke. Theo chuckledagain.
