Page 125 of Seeking Two Lovers

“Then he hit me. Called me names. Told me I would pay for my sins.” My sister’s breath shook, but she pressed on. “I started bleeding down there, and—and he said it was my fault, that God would never allow a harlot like me to carry the promised child.”

I should have felt bad for my sister’s loss, but I couldn’t rouse an ounce of sympathy over the miscarriage. I would offer condolences if she needed, but beyond that? A sense of sick satisfaction rolled through me over the fact Quell wouldn’t get what he’d wanted from my sister.

“How did you escape?” I asked, turning our conversation away from what might cause even more pain for Sarah.

“Franklin came to enough to help me climbed over the fence where you always used to go to meet Greyson when you were a kid. Then I hitched a ride to the hospital.”

It was a good two-mile walk from the compound’s fence to the main road leading to the Scotts’ vacation home. The fact she’d traveled that far beaten and bleeding…

Rage tightened every muscle in my body again, and I fought to keep my breaths even.

“Franklin went back, Blaine. He saw me to safety—then told me to stay away and never return no matter what happened to the baby. He made me promise I would move to California to be with you.”

“You’re going to be okay, Sarah,” I promised, my voice barely contained. What if the reassurance I offered was a pile of bullshit? What if Quell changed his mind and went looking for Sarah…took even greater revenge? “Let me talk to the nurse again.”

A shuffling, then Nina got on the line.

“How long will Sarah have to stay in the hospital?” The second adrenaline rush had come to an end, and I began to sag, my energy quickly dissolving.

“Her vitals are fine. She’s been patched up, X-rayed…nothing is broken, and there’s no internal or permanent damage from the miscarriage or the beating.” Nina’s tone took on more anger than professional. “I expect she’ll be released in the next twenty-four hours if she’s feeling up to it.”

She would be fine…no permanent damage.

My breath left in a shuddered exhale. “Can you help her? Keep her safe—I’m too far away—”

Grey took the phone from my hand, and I gave over control, trusting him to make things better. He settled me on the edge of the bed where Lily wrapped her arms around me.

“Hi, Nina, this is Blaine’s partner, Greyson Scott.” His business voice faded as he walked off.

Silent tears poured from my eyes as Lily and I lay back. I clung to her, my face buried in her hair, and took what comfort I could find. Soaking in her sweetness, her soft hands caressing me, the quiet words of affirmation she poured over me, I forced myself to breathe through the quiet sobs ripping from my lungs.

I would never forgive myself if Quell got his hands on Sarah again. If he so much as harmed another hair on her head, I would rip him limb from limb with my bare hands or see him crucified with spikes in his hands and feet.

Imagining Sarah’s anguish over leaving her heart behind with Franklin intensified the agony in my chest. He loved her enough to make her leave, wanted my sister’s safety more than his own.

My entire body ached with deep-rooted exhaustion, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Hard muscle and warm skin once more cradled my back, and Grey wound his arms around both me and Lily, sandwiching me in their love.

“I’m going to take care of everything, B,” Grey stated firmly against my ear. “Physically, she’s going to be fine.” He kissed the back of my neck.

Losing her lover and a child she’d become somewhat attached to no matter who’d planted it in her belly…I knew it would be a long time, if ever, before emotional healing occurred.

My heart broke all over again, and I clung to my two lovers, barely keeping the darkness inside me from overshadowing all the good I’d finally found in my life.

37

GREYSON

I’d overheard every word Sarah and the nurse, Nina, had spoken to Blaine.

Teeth clenched, I had to stay still and offer comfort when I wanted to charge forward and wear a path pacing my bedroom until I resolved the situation.

The second Blaine’s anger flagged the second time, I’d taken the phone from his limp grasp and did what I did best.

I handled the reins he’d given me allowance to control, and I learned all I could from the nurse before setting a plan in motion.

I named the man who had beaten Sarah, offered detailed descriptions of him and a few of his men I’d studied countless pictures of from Higgins. I also demanded Sarah be moved to a secure room, her information given to no one without my consent.

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