Page 17 of Shielding Rosie

I decide to let my eyes close a little like I’m going to sleep to see if he’ll say anything else.

“He’s almost out.” Jack turns away from me, and I see Desha walking over.

My heart is hammering in my chest because Rosie isn’t with her.

“Did you give it to her?” Jack asks Desha, and she nods.

“Of course, but we’ve got a problem.” Desha looks around and then leans close to Jack. “I think your dad might have gotten to her first. I saw her go upstairs, and he shut the door.”

“Goddamn it,” Jack says, and everything in my body turns to ice. “He can’t keep his dick in his pants. First he fucks that slut she calls a mom and now her?”

Not my Rosie.

I’m off the couch in a flash with my shoulder lowered as I crash into Jack. I hit him so hard that when I make contact, the air is knocked out of his lungs. He goes flying into the wall, and the sheetrock behind him fractures and crumbles.

People around us scream, and the music stops as everyone backs away. Jack is nearly unconscious as I leave him on the ground and turn to face Desha.

“Where is she?!” I roar, and Desha looks like she might throw up or shit herself. She points a shaky finger toward the stairs, and I take off in that direction.

It feels like time has stopped moving as I climb the stairs and pray that I can get to her in time. I noticed a few people had their phones out filming me, but I don’t give a fuck. Nothing else matters, nothing but my Rosie.

“Rosie!” I scream when I bust through the door at the top of the stairs. I see another door nearby, and I don’t hesitate before I kick that one in too.

The scene that greets me is like something out of my nightmares. Rosie is crumpled on the floor, passed out, and Jack’s dad Nathan is standing over her. She’s still fully dressed, but then I notice his pants are down around his ankles. His underwear is still on, but I know that if I hadn't gotten here soon enough, there’s only one way this would have gone.

“You piece of shit,” I say through clenched teeth as I slowly stalk toward him like an animal. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” He holds his hands up as he tries to back away, but his pants tangle him up, and he falls backwards.

That’s when I leap on him, and everything goes black.

I’m not sure how long it takes for them to pull me off his limp body, but when they do, I’m covered in Nathan Porter’s blood.

Chapter Thirteen

ROSEMARY

I wake up to the sounds of machines beeping, but it’s hard to focus my eyes with the bright lights. Where the hell am I? The last thing I remember is I was at a party. Then piece by piece, it all comes back.

All except the part about what happened when Nathan closed the door behind us. The sound of the lock clicking into place was deafening. It was so small, but the knowledge of what was to come after it made it ring in my ears.

“You’re awake.” A nurse comes into the hospital room as I realize where I am.

“How—” I try to ask a question, but my throat is so dry I begin coughing.

“Here, take a small sip.” The nurse holds a straw to my mouth. I stare at it, my stomach turning. “Honey, you’re safe.” To prove her point, she walks over to a sink and dumps out the water before grabbing two more cups. She pours water from a pitcher into each of the cups then chugs one down. “See?” She gives me a soft smile while offering it to me again. This time I take the drink. “Easy,” she reminds me when I try to chug.

“Sorry.” My voice sounds clearer now. “So thirsty.”

“You have every right to be wary. I’m Nurse Lori. How are you feeling?”

“I think okay.” I glance at the IV in my arm. “Am I on pain meds?”

“Are you in pain?”

“No. My head hurts a little, but I…ah…”

“You’re not on pain meds.”

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