Page 115 of Don't Leave Me

I let go of Emily and turned to my left. Jack did not look nervous at all; he wore “normal” clothes and his hands were in his jeans pockets as he smiled at me warmly.

“Hi, Jack,” I said stiffly – I couldn’t help it; I could feel Michael’s glare from my peripheral vision.

Jack seemed amused, probably knowing he was safe from Michael’s fists within the walls of the hospital.

“I get out today,” he smiled wider, showing off his dimples, looking between me and Emily.

“That’s great!” I responded instinctively.

I heard Emily scoff. “But you just got here,” she mumbled.

Jack shrugged. “Guess overdosing doesn’t concern them much,” he admitted, their talking so freely about it making me uncomfortable.

“Are you staying with Jess?” Emily went on.

I sat stiffly and eyed Michael quickly - he was still glaring at Jack, not even bothering to look at me.

“I don’t know. I guess,” he shrugged again, then looked at me.

I could suddenly see the engagement ring on my finger, feel the weight of it and my heart started to race. I didn’t want to ruin the surprise, especially not with Jack there. I quickly hid my hand discreetly.

“Perhaps you should give Emily and Hana some private time,” I heard Michael say sternly.

I looked over at him and his glare could freeze hell over. My heart still racing, my eyes darted back to Jack – he was smiling almost smugly, amused.

“Perhaps you should as well,” Jack responded, his eyebrows raised.

“I was, before you so kindly interrupted,” Michael quipped back.

“We should get going now anyway,” I interjected, standing up as I took Emily’s hand with mine.

Emily gave me wide, amused eyes. “Yeah,” she agreed.

She probably wanted to see them fist-fight. What a story that would be.

“It was lovely seeing you, Hana,” Jack said sweetly, his tone changed completely.

I just smiled at him quickly and watched him walk away, looking proud of himself.

24

Chapter 24

Apparently, Emily’s hold was up the next morning, so we said goodbye and made plans for me to pick her up the next day. Michael was silent on the train ride home. I wasn’t sure if he was mad about me not asking him, even though it was clearly the right thing to do. Or the fact that I didn’t shoo Jack off, even being kind to him. I knew as soon as we headed up the elevator to our condo that he was going to do something about it.

“Go into our room and take off all of your clothes,” he said as he looked up at the floor numbers that the elevator displayed.

I smiled at the fact that it wasourroom. And as if on cue, the elevator doors pinged open on our floor and he walked out swiftly, going into the guest bathroom. I quickly headed up the stairs, went into our room, shut the curtains and stripped. I sat on the bed, my legs crossed. My heart sped up when I heard his footsteps get closer and closer. He finally emerged into our room and began to take his tie off; he looked focused as he stared me down, his eyes intense.

“Lay on the bed across your belly. Hands above your head,” he ordered, and I immediately did as he said.

Michael was already tying my hands together with his tie, quickly and fervently, and I was too nervous to admit to myself that it hurt. I didn’t dare speak.

“I can’t imagine how you must speak to him when I’m not there,” he muttered, and I watched as he finished the knot in his tie and stood up.

Oh no.

He started to pace the room in only his boxer briefs and socks. I knew that trying to defend myself would be futile; he was furious.

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