Page 31 of The Madman's Nightmare
Chuck placed a cup of ice on the tray and pushed it closer to me as he looked where I was touching. “The doctor said you havea broken rib and two cracked ones. They should heal without a problem, but you’re going to have some pain from them for a while.”
I picked up the cup and tipped a few pieces of the ice into my mouth, feeling the cool sensation on my mouth and throat. Chuck sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to hurt me as I repeated the process with the ice a few times. Finally, I placed the cup down.
“Do you know what happened?” I asked him and he shook his head.
“All I know is they found you in a basement and brought you here,” Chuck responded.
Memories of the days I was locked in the basement, and the few times I was allowed upstairs began to play like a horrific kaleidoscope. Tears filled my eyes, and I tried to wipe my cheek with my hand, only for Chuck to hand me a tissue.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.
Chuck had been the first person I’d opened up to in my life. He saw something in me that he recognized, and with time, I felt comfortable enough to share some of my past. He’d never judged me, and when things were bad, he gave me the tools to save myself. I had no reason not to trust time, so I began to speak.
“Devlin’s married,” I started and felt my bottom lip tremble as I added, “And they want to take my sons from me.” Chuck tried to speak, but I held up my hand and added, “He never loved me. I was just the means to an end for him.”
He took my hand and asked, “Who told you that Devlin’s married?”
“His wife,” I returned, and Chuck looked confused.
“Will you tell me what she told you?” he requested softly.
“She didn’t have to tell me anything. She showed me everything. Marriage certificate, pictures, I saw it all,” Iexplained. Panic shot through me as I rushed out, “Where are the boys?”
He patted the back of my hand and answered, “They are safe with Blaire at Gunner and Sadie’s house at the compound. Hawk and Stella are staying next door with the kids so they can all play.”
“We need to get them out of there and as far away, as possible,” I tried to warn as I flipped the covers off my legs and tried to get out of the bed.
Pain shot through my side, and I fought to catch my breath as I tried to stand, only to have Chuck rush around the bed and try to get me to sit down. The only thought going through my head was if Chuck was here, then Devlin and Kendra were free to take my sins and disappear. I’d never survive that, and no amount of pain was going to stop me.
“Elise, please stop. You’re going to hurt yourself,” Chuck pleaded, and I shook my head.
“Those assholes aren’t taking my sons from me,” I declared and attempted to push past him.
A curtain was pulled across the door and when I heard it open, I lifted my eyes as I attempted to straighten my back, only to be crippled by discomfort. James stepped out from behind the curtain and gave Chuck a look I couldn’t understand. My dad stepped to the side and James walked up to me, taking my hand and speaking calmly.
“Please get back in the bad, Elise. I promise everything is okay.”
“Why should I believe you? You helped cover up for those two. As far as I know, you’re in on it with them,” I groused, and his lips pinched tightly .
James took a deep breath and pulled his phone out of his pocket. Dialing a number, he waited for it to ring and when I heard Gunner’s voice, I perked up.
“Hey James. How’s Elise?” Gunner asked.
“I’m here with her and I need for you to tell her where DJ and Conner are at this very moment,” James requested.
“There in the living room with Hawk’s kids playing,” Gunner answered. “Blaire is sitting directly behind them.
“Are the boys safe with you?” James asked.
“There’s nowhere safer,” he returned.
“Will you, under any circumstances, allow anyone, including Devlin or a club brother, hurt, take, or remove the children from your protection?”
“Absolutely not. DJ and Conner are staying here until Elise picks them up from me,” Gunner almost declared. “They are family and under my protection.”
I felt my resolve slipping and James held onto my hand as I sat on the side of the bed and brought my legs up. He was looking me straight in the eyes and I saw honesty, truth, and his inner protector staring back. James had always been a rock for me, and I was starting to think there was more to this than I initially thought.
“Will you take a picture of them and send it to this number?” James asked.
