Page 21 of Closing on Lynx

“That, Mr. Gallant, I couldn’t tell you. It could be that she has more trauma to overcome. It could be her brain suffered more mental trauma, or she just needs more time to heal—mentally and physically.”

“Okay, Dr. Peterman.”

“Talking to her will help. Patients who have woken after being in comas, tell us though while unable to respond from what they call ‘a void’, they were aware of things happening around them.”

The swish of the door opening, followed by a moment of silence.

“Why aren’t you talking to her?”

“Crowne, shut it.”

“Paul, come on. Brownie has been speaking to Tina, he has been reading to her, and he describes the TV show he is watching. You sit here like you are in a library.”

“I don’t know what to fucking say, okay. I don’t know how to talk to someone who isn’t going to talk back.”

“Bullshit, you talk to the table after a drunken night fest, when no one is paying attention like a teacher in a grade twelve classroom.”

“How do I apologize for what happened? It’s my fault she is in here. I failed keeping her safe.”

“No, you dumbass. The only person’s fault for her being in here is the one she killed. Or at least had a hand in killing. Rough was the one who jumped through the window and put a bullet in his head for good measure. Which I’ll just say was too humane for the asshole. If it had been me, I’d have made him suffer a little before taking him out.”

“Crowne, you’re scary sometimes.”

“Guess I’ll have to do better if it is only sometimes.” A soft female chuckle follows.

The room falls silent before the swish of the door sounds, and then quietness follows once again. I can finally get some much-needed sleep.

Chapter Fifteen

Lynx

Taking a seat on the chair beside Jessikah’s bed I place my head in my hands. I know Crowne is right, but I can’t find the words. How do I apologize for something that never should have happened in the first place. I should have been there to protect her. Fuck, to protect them. Now Tina’s husband is dead and both she and Jessikah are under sedations after spending close to twelve hours with a madman.

“Is it okay if I come in and say something to Jessikah?” Neo asks, as his head pokes in. I nod, not lifting my head from my hands.

With his head tilted to listen to the sounds around him, he slowly approaches her bed, I look to the right and see him place his hand on hers, before he takes a deep breath.

“Jessikah, I am so sorry for my part in this mess. I wish I could take everything I said to you back. I wish I could have protected you better. I was so blinded by dirty, skanky pussy that I sacrificed my loyalty to the club. I will make sure you are protected for the rest of my life, no matter what happens.” He looks behind him, wipes at his face and turns to leave the room as Skoden walks in.

“Nimisenh, you will always be my sister. I will protect you like a younger brother would. You are my family,” he says, before he steps back and closes the door. “Pres, watch the door,” he says as he pulls out a bundle and a lighter. Quickly lighting the bundle so the smoke begins, and then blowing out the flames, allowing the smoke to continue from the wrapped bundle.

He begins to mumble what sounds like a prayer in Ojibwe as he moves the smoke around her body and then around the room. He bows his head as if he is asking for something from the spirits above, then stops waving his hand over the bundle allowing the smoke to stop.

“What did you do, Cassius?” I ask, praying the nurses don’t come in the room.

“I said a healing prayer as I smudged away her negative energy, and then I asked the creator to give her the power to heal and come back to us,” Skoden states, tucking the bundle into his cut.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because when Brownie asked me to do this for Tina, it worked. The negative energy was removed from her room and her body and allowed the positive healing to shine through. I figured if it helped Tina, then it will help Jessikah.” He shrugs, leaving me speechless as he opens the door and walks out. Leaving me alone in a room with the woman that my protective instincts want to save, but my heart is telling me she needs to heal, she needs to pick me.

“Jessikah, I’m sorry for any part I had in this. I shouldn’t have let you leave. I should have put Neo in his place, and I should have made sure you were in a place where no harm could come to you. But shoulda’s woulda’s and coulda’s aren’t going to bring you back to me any faster. When you come back to me, I am going to make sure you know how much you mean to me. I will spend the rest of my days making you feel the love I plan on showering you with. Come back to me, please,” I say, sitting down in the chair and kissing the knuckles on her hand.

My eyes grow heavy, and I give into the sleep that I have been hiding from for the last three days. The dreams are vivid. First, I can see her smiling at me, then I watch her lying on the floor on top of the man who spent hours doing unimaginable things to her and her friend. I couldn’t stop the pain that shattered through me seeing her lying on top of him the stake she used on his junk between them.

“Reduce the sedation amount by a fourth. Let’s see if she can start sustaining on her own.” I open my eyes as the doctor and a nurse are going over her vitals.

“Go home, shower and get a good night’s sleep, Mr. Gallant. If anything happens, I will have the nurse call you.” I begin to shake my head.

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