Page 90 of Worth the Want
My eyes snap back to Lo. “Florence! Oh my god, Florence! Help! Someone help!” Leaning over her, my hands hover over her neck, her body. Her eyes are open, but she isn’t moving,isn't saying anything. I’m afraid to move her. I don’t know how badly she’s injured. I don’t know what he did to her. Bile crawls up from my stomach.
No. Focus on Florence. Help Florence. She cannot die. I won’t let someone else die.
“Florence, can you hear me? Don’t move, you’re hurt. Please blink if you can’t talk.”
She blinks, and I sob.
“You’re going to be fine, Lo.” I reach into my bag, searching for my phone, when I hear a voice call from behind me. Whipping around with my taser in hand, I see that it’s Marilyn. When I look back, the man is gone. Scanning the trees, I see a figure disappear into them.Shit.
“Florence! Oh my god, what happened? Is she okay?” she asks, hand coming up to cover her mouth.
“Call 911! She’s been attacked.” She pulls her cell phone out and holds it to her ear. I relay everything I know to the paramedic on the phone. Florence still hasn’t spoken. Marilyn is sitting on her other side now. I find my phone and dial Knox’s number, not knowing who else to call. I turn slightly, and Florence’s hand shoots out, grabbing my arm tightly.
“I’m not going anywhere, Lo. I’m staying right here, okay?”
“Hey, honey. I didn’t think you would be done so soon.”
“Knox?” my voice breaks saying his name. Just hearing his name brings me some tiny piece of comfort right now.
“What’s wrong? Where are you?”
“I’m at the hotel. I’m fine but—” An ambulance siren sounds close by.
“But what, Indie? I’m losing my mind here.”
“Florence was attacked. At the back of the hotel. I got him off her, buthehurt her.”
“You got him off her? Is she okay?”
“Not completely, but she’s alive. I’m so sorry. They’re taking her to the hospital now. I’m riding with her.”
“I’ll be there soon,” he says before hanging up. I look at Florence, she has tears streaming down her cheeks when the paramedics ask me to stay back. She clutches my arm tighter.
“I can’t leave her. Just tell me where to move,” I tell them.
I sit there while they evaluate her, then I walk into the ambulance, staying beside her on the metal bench, letting her squeeze my hand while tears make a line from the corner of her eye to her ear. Reaching out, I swipe them away with my sleeve.
“I’m here, Baby Lo. I’m here.” She blinks in response.
When we get to the emergency entrance, I hold her hand until they take her through the doors that I’m not allowed through. I pass her hand to Marigold and then sit in the waiting room.
The police arrive soon after, and I’m asked multiple questions, answering them as best I can. They ask for my taser, and I hand it over to them.
“We have search teams out looking for a man who fits the description of the clothes that you gave us. If you remember anything else about him, please call us at the number on the card we gave you. Is the number you gave us the best one to reach you on if we have any more questions?”
I nod. “Yes, that’s my only phone number.”
“What you did tonight was very brave, Ms. Holmes. You may have saved that young woman’s life.” Both officers nod before leaving through the glass doors. It’s about this time that the whole Holloway clan shows up. Winnie and Rhett are here first. Winnie holds my hand, and Rhett gets me a hot tea.
“Have they checked you out yet?”
“I’m fine, guys, really. I’m just worried about Florence, and I think the adrenaline is wearing off. I’ll be fine soon.”
“How is she?” Knox asks, coming to a stop in front of me, holding Hazel in his arms.
“She was responding to everything in the ambulance; she just wasn’t speaking. There haven’t been any updates since,” I repeat the same thing to them that I said to Rhett and Winnie earlier.
“Christ. She was attacked? By who?”
