Page 15 of Jacked and Jaded

“What does that mean?” When he didn’t immediately reply, she reminded him that she was an ER nurse. “So lay it on me. All of it.”

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he launched into her list of injuries. He just couldn’t find it in himself to tell her that she’d been sexually violated. He felt like he’d be betraying Calliope’s trust. He knew it didn’t make sense, but there it was. He’d wait and see if Calliope wanted to tell her. Once he was finished going over everything, the line got so quiet, he thought he lost her. “Maureen?”

“I’m going to catch the first flight back tomorrow. I’ll call you when I land.”

“Maureen, Calliope is going to be disappointed that you canceled your trip.” He had to at least try to make an effort at getting her to go for Calliope’s sake.

“Well, she can get over it. I’m coming home to be with my girl.” She paused for a moment. “Iknewthere was more to the story than what she was telling me. I knew it.”

That got Jackson’s attention. He leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. “What are you talking about? You knew what?”

“She came home Friday for my birthday. While she was home, she asked if it would be all right if she moved back home. I told her, of course. She said she was going to move her things in while I was away. That bastard hurt my baby, I just know it.” The anger in her voice was similar to the anger simmering inside Jackson. If he was going to dish out his own brand of justice, he needed to know who he was looking for.

After this happened, he thought maybe his attitude of not asking questions about Calliope’s life or allowing his mom to tell him things was a bad idea. If he’d known who she was with, he could have kept closer tabs on her. He could have checked the guy out. At the very least, if he had caught any whiff that the man was abusing Calliope, he could have pulled her out of there.

“Who is he?” He was already counting the minutes until he could track him down and beat his ass.

“His name is Clint Maxwell and he’s a defense attorney for some pretty sketchy people. He has a mini mansion, from what Calliope has said, on Pemberton Road, just outside of Boulder. Promise me,” Maureen cleared her throat, her voice was catching. “Promise me you will find this son of a bitch and hurt him. Hurt him real bad for my baby girl.”

That was one promise Jackson knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he could keep. One way or anther, he would find Clint Maxwell and he’d be punished for laying his hands on Calliope. “I promise you, Maureen. Iwilltake care of this.”

After that, she told him she’d call him when her plane landed and get an update before she headed to the hospital. He was surprised that Maureen had made him promise to take care of Clint. Surprised, but pleased she was on the same page as him. He was also grateful she hadn’t asked how Calliope happened to end up in the ER. That would have destroyed her.

He wiped his hands over his face, and made one more call. “Hey, Mom. How’s Ryker? Still sleeping?”

“Yes. He’s out like a light.” He heard his mom moving around. “Hang on. I’m heading back to the living room. I want you to fill me and your father in at the same time. Okay. You’re on speaker.”

Once again, Jackson went through the list of injuries Calliope suffered and how she was found and brought into the ER. He also omitted the part about that asshole raping her. “Maureen is flying home tomorrow. She said she wanted to be here for Calliope. She says she thinks it was the man Calliope’s been living with. His name is Clint Maxwell and he’s a defense attorney for some shady characters here in Boulder.”

“Jackson? Do you need us there?” His dad was asking as a father.

“No. I’m good for now. Once I know she’s okay, I’m going looking for Clint.”

“You want the club there?” His dad asked as a brother now. He appreciated it more than he’d ever know.

“No. Not yet.”

“How’s Calliope doing?” his mom asked.

“She hasn’t woken up since I’ve been here.” He choked and cleared his throat. “God damn. You should see her. That fucker really worked her over. It actually hurts to see her like this.”

“Son, I can be there in three hours. Just say the word,” his dad offered again.

He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Thanks, Dad. I’ve got it for now. I promise if I need anything, I’ll let you know. Mom? Are you good to keep Ryker for a few days until Calliope gets released and I can get her home?”

“Of course. You just take care of Calliope and Maureen. Call us and keep us updated, okay?”

“Sure thing, Mom. Thanks.”

Well, that was mentally draining. He leaned back in the chair and settled in for what was left of the night. He wasn’t going anywhere. He’d be right here, making sure good old Clint wasn’t stupid enough to show up. Tomorrow he’d contact the police and see what information they had and go from there. For now, his sole focus was going to be Calliope.

Once she got the okay to go home, she was going to go home with him. To his house. Where she should have been all this time. He’d fucked up three years ago, when he’d pushed her away after they’d had sex. He understood now how badly he’d hurt her. If he hadn’t been the world’s biggest jackass, she’d have been with him and this would’ve never happened to her.

His lips tipped up at the corner as he thought about the shit Calliope was going to give him when he announced she was going home to live with him. It took him almost losing her for good for him to wake his ass up. Calliope was his. Always had been, but he’d been too caught up in their age difference. Well, no more. She was his woman and he’d make her see that.

6

Calliope came awake slowly to the feel of something squeezing her arm. She could hear a humming noise, beeps and other noises that confused her. She tried to open her eyes, but only managed to open one of them halfway. What was wrong with her eyes? She went to touch her face and was stopped. Where was she? Wasn’t she at her mom’s house? The more she tried to piece things together, the more agitated she became. Her heart rate sped up as she moved restlessly in her bed until a woman’s smiling face came into her line of vision.

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