Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
“I know.” I swallow and nod, forcing a smile, here for her, because that’s what she needs right now. Like I need a stiff fucking drink. “I believe you.”
The doctor doesn’t push anymore, accepting and ordering her discharge papers.
“How long will that take?” I ask.
“Sir.” He laughs, and I could punch him for it. “We are in the aftermath of a Saturday night in central London. How long is a piece of string?”
I am not sitting around here waiting indefinitely. “I’m taking her home now.” I collect Ava’s shoes as he leaves the room, and I make it to the side of the bed just as she starts sobbing. If there was ever a way to increase the unrest within me, it’s Ava’s tears. I drop her shoes and hug her. “Baby, please don’t cry. I’ll get really crazy mad if you cry.” She works up into a full-blown sobbing session, bursting into tears, clinging to me. “God help me,” I mutter. “God, fucking help me.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Ava, please shut up.” I don’t want her apologies. I want her to bloody listen to me. Hear me.
It takes some time, me just holding her, Ava clinging to me, but she eventually calms down and lets go of me, roughly wiping at her face, as if mad. With herself? “I’m fine. I want to go home.” She kicks her legs over the side of the bed, like she thinks she’s walking out of here. Give me strength. I pick her up and carry her out, asking Kate to grab her things as I pass.
“What’s going on?” Sam asks, his worried eyes on Ava in my arms. Kate rushes into the room and reappears with Ava’s purse and shoes.
“She was drugged.” I swallow, trying to quench the anger from pouring out of me.
“Oh shit,” Sam breathes.
“What?” Kate gasps. “Like date rape?”
“Yes.” I turn and push through some double doors with my back, catching their eyes. Both shocked. Both concerned. Both knowing exactly what this means. “I’m taking her home.” And never letting her out of my sight again.
It’s daylight when we get outside. Fucking daylight. I get Ava in the car and shut the door. Kate hands me her bag and shoes. “Thanks.”
“Please, Jesse, do not do anything stupid,” she says, reaching for my arm and rubbing. She sees the pressure in me.
“What, like drink?” I ask, looking up at her. I hear Sam curse under his breath. “I don’t want a drink,” I lie. “I’ll call you later.” I round the back of the car and get in.
Thank God, she sleeps the entire way home so she doesn’t see the turmoil I can’t hide. The conflicting emotions inside me are taking their toll, and I’m forced to constantly wipe my eyes clear of fury and tears so I can see the road.
I don’t want a drink.
I want a lot of drink.
Something to crush this awful ache in my chest.
But I can’t have one.
Won’t have one.
44
I put her in bed. I couldn’t bring myself to get in with her. I was shaking too hard. Sweating too much. So I left her, placing her ring on the nightstand. I showered, half dressed, and put myself on the chair in the lounge, staring out at the London skyline for hours, the penthouse quiet. My mind loud. I’ve called Jay and asked for the footage from last night. I started to call Steve Cooke but decided against it. I don’t want the police taking care of this. I’ll take care of it.
My way. It won’t be pleasant. It won’t be clean.
Who the fuck did this?
Ava’s phone rings, interrupting my mental warpath, and I look at it next to mine on the table in front of me.
Dan.
I slowly lean forward, watching it ring until it rings off. Her brother. I chew my lip, thinking, as it starts ringing again. I look up the stairs. Pick it up. Connect the call and rest slowly back.
“Hello.”
There’s a long pause before he speaks. “I suppose you’re this new man we keep hearing about.” He’s hostile. I guess I can’t blame him. But if he’s expecting pleasantries from me, he’s called at the wrong fucking time. Not that he knows. Not that he can know.
“You suppose right.” I won’t ask what they’ve heard. I know.
“Where’s Ava?”
No introduction. No hello, how are you? Nothing. I already don’t like him, and I sense the feeling is mutual. But for the sake of Ava . . . “She’s sleeping. I’ll get her to call you when she’s awake. It’s Dan, isn’t it?”
“It is. And you’re . . .”
I shift in my chair, uncomfortable. Don’t tell me that with the information of my friendship with alcohol and my fist’s friendship with Matt’s face, they didn’t get a name. “Jesse Ward.”
“It’s late for her to be sleeping.”