Page 17 of Jaded Red

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not giving up on me and thinking I left without a word. Kensi, you are the closest person I have to a friend. I’d even go as far as saying you’re my best friend.”

Kensi draws me into a hug and I stiffen at first before relaxing against her hold. “I knew something was wrong the day Josiah tried to kill me. I never gave up on searching for you. You are my best friend too and Nadia, no matter what happened or what will happen, you will always have a place here with me.”

Not realizing I needed to hear those words, I let out a sob. My malnourished frame shakes in Kensi’s hold and I can’t stop it. I cry for the abuse the other women went through, I cry for the abuse those assholes inflicted upon my body and I cry for the way we are all changed after this and will never be the same. After a few minutes of crying in Kensi’s embrace, I sniff and straighten my spine.

“I need a shower. Can you give me some time?”

“Sure. Just holler if you need anything.” Kensi opens the bathroom door. She turns around before leaving. “Oh, and the doc these guys have on hand will be here later to look you over. Just in case Derange missed something.” I nod my head and Kensi closes the door behind her.

I pull the t-shirt over my head and lower the sweatpants Kensi gave me to wear and I step into the shower to let the hotwater wash away all the dirt, blood and grime from my body and hair. Once the water turns from a murky brown to clear, and my skin is red, I turn the shower off and carefully dry the bruises and cuts on my skin. I wrap another towel around my hair and study myself in the mirror. My bones are sticking out but my belly has a slight bump and my breasts are full and sore.

I carefully slide on the clean clothes Kensi brought in for me and open the bathroom door. Kensi is sitting on the bed with a brush in her hand and a smile gracing her lips. Her multi-colored eyes are shining with happiness. Something I haven’t seen since I’ve known her. A small smile graces my lips as I carefully step into the bedroom. I sit on the bed with my back facing Kensi and let her brush my tangled hair. After carefully getting the knots out, she creates two French braids on each side of my head.

We catch up on everything that has been going on since I went missing and some crazy shit she’s gotten herself into. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. “Kensi, I can tell Aftermath is good for you. I’m happy you finally found someone who completes you.” I hold her hand tight in mine, wanting to confess my secret. I keep my lips sealed shut. Red has a right to know first before anyone else.

Kensi squeezes my hand back. “Thank you. He is pretty great. All these guys here are great and I know one particular one that has probably been pacing outside the hallway since they came back. Do you want to talk to him before you see the doctor?”

I shake my head, “I would like to talk to the doctor first. Is he here?” Even thinking it’s a male doctor shakes me to my core, but I need to see them sooner rather than later.

“She is here, yes. After everything you’ve been through, Capone wouldn’t let a male doctor in here. Do you want me to stay?”

“No, I need to do this on my own,” I answer.

“OK, I will be out in the common room if you need anything. Don’t hesitate to ask.” Kensi climbs off the bed and opens the door. I spot Red standing at the entryway, taking up the entire door frame. His pale blue eyes lock on mine and they soften making my heart skip a beat.

Suddenly a slender, feisty brunette shoves Red out of the way and slams the door in his face. I wince, waiting for him to barge in here and do something to her. When it doesn’t come, I release my breath and rest my head against the headboard.

“Hello, Nadia. My name is Emma Lynn and I’m an OB/GYN.” Emma’s thick Irish accent has me captivated. “I’m a friend of the Royal Bastards and would like to check you over. Is that ok?”

I nod my head, “Yes, that’s fine.”

Emma gives me a bright smile that eases my nerves. “Wonderful. Anything you would like to tell me about? Any medical conditions, allergies?” I shake my head no. Emma listens to my lungs and wraps a cuff around my arm. “When was your last period?”

I hesitate and she waits patiently for me to answer while looking over the burn marks on my wrists from the ropes and chains those assholes used. “Four months ago.” I place a protective hand over my stomach, keeping this secret safe.

Without batting an eye, Emma smiles. “Have you seen anyone about this?”

I shake my head. “I was taken before I knew I was pregnant. I figured it out a few weeks after they took me and it became real when I was losing weight from not being fed enough but my belly was still growing if that makes sense.”

“Yes, that makes perfect sense, which is why I want to start an IV and get your nutrients up.” She gently rubs my arm, making me flinch. I’m still not used to physical contact. “Is it OK if I get an ultrasound machine in here? I’d like to see how faralong you are and take measurements, just to make sure you and the baby are healthy.”

“Yes. But can it wait a little while? I’m getting my appetite back and need to rest. Also, no one here knows about this yet. I’d like to keep it between the two of us for as long as possible.” I confess. “I want to tell the father about it before anyone else knows.”

“Your secret is safe with me. I will have to tell Capone something when an ultrasound machine comes here, but you let me worry about that. It will take a few hours for it to get here anyway. Let me give you some cream for your cuts and scrapes and some prenatal vitamins to start right away.” Emma pulls a tube of cream and a bottle of prenatal vitamins out of her doctor’s bag and sets them on the nightstand. She gently takes my wrists and I don’t flinch. She applies the cream which instantly soothes the burn marks and starts an IV on the back of my hand.

“Thank you, Doc Emma. I appreciate it.” I hold back the tears burning my throat. It’s been so long since anyone has been kind to me besides Kensi and Matt, I don’t know how to handle my emotions.

“You’re welcome, Nadia. Take two of these,” Emma shakes out two prenatal vitamins and hands them to me with a bottle of water. “Get some rest and I will come back to check on your IV drip when the machine is here.”

“Thank you, again.” I lay down and close my eyes, drifting off to sleep.

Sweat drips from my brow as I hide in the shadows of the changing room at the strip club. A masked man enters thedoorway and the evil radiating from him makes the hairs stand on the back of my neck. I crouch lower, trying to make myself smaller under a desk at the back of the changing room. Wishing I would have stayed closer to the door for an easier escape, I released a shaky breath. The heavy footsteps draw closer to my hiding spot and fear crawls its way up my spine.

“Where the fuck are you?” The man growls. I don’t move a muscle or breathe as he steps closer. He’s so close now, I can smell the whiskey radiating off his pores. I try to calm my racing heart because I swear he can hear it. His boots move further away from me and I exhale quietly. He stops walking and silence fills the room. He begins walking again, his footsteps echoing through the changing room.

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