Page 31 of Unbreakable
"I did," Demetri slides a black leather duffle bag from the seat beside him and proceeds to unzip it. He hands a couple of handguns to Jake, one which is smaller in size than the other. "Babe," he takes the clip from the gun, checks to make sure it and the chamber is empty before handing it to me. "This is a Glock 43 9mm. I want you to get the feel of it in your hands because I want you to carry this with you."
Turning, it over in my hand I feel the weight of it. It's light and I like the grip on it. The last gun I held was more cumbersome than this one and the grip much too large for my small hands. I remove the clip, check the chamber, then replace the clip and check the safety before holding my arm outright to check the sight. Finn showed me how to handle a weapon when he taught me self-defense. I was terrified to hold that kind of power in my hand at first. I've seen first hand with the pull of a trigger how fast someone can extinguish someone's life. Finn felt knowing how to handle and accurately shoot one could mean life or death if Ronan ever got his hands on me again, and he was right. I'm lost in my head with the weight of the metal in my hands when Jake speaks.
"Good, I can tell you know your way with a gun. I was hoping O'Rourke was smart enough to teach you a little something about them as well." Demetri hands him another object, but I can't tell what it is right away. "Pull your shirt up under your breast, babe. I'm going to wrap this around your waist." He takes what looks like slimming wear and wraps it around my midsection and secures it in place. "There's a pocket right here," he points, and I look down to my side, "This is a concealing garment. I want you to load the gun and keep it on you at all times. We're at war, babe. We can't trust anyone right now. No matter what, you protect yourself. Got it." Jake says in earnest.
Handing me the box of bullets, I steadily load the rounds into the clip, secure the weapon, then slide it into the concealed pocket under my shirt. The whole time I feel Jake and Demetri's stare.
"Fuck, if that’s not the sexiest damn thing I have ever seen a woman do," Jake remarks.
Since we have the bench seat to ourselves, I tuck myself into Jake's side and try to relax. "You go on ahead and rest, Little Bird. I'll wake you before we get to where we are going." Jake pulls me in tighter.
Demetri swivels his seat back around to face forward, and the smooth sound of tires on the pavement end up lulling me to sleep.
Not sure howlong I was out, but I wake to Jake's rough hand running along my arm. "Babe, we'll be at the hospital in roughly five minutes."
Pressing my back against the seat, I stretch my arms above my head trying to work out the stiffness in my lower back and groan. Inhaling deep, the smell of coffee fills the air. "Mmm, I smell coffee." Retrieving a to-go cup from a cup holder Jake hands me the drink. "I need to check on Remi," I tell him and bring the cup to my lips and take a sip.
"I talked to Bella when Logan called to update me on roll call about two hours ago. Remi's fine, babe. Bella said she finally went to sleep and was still resting. I'm sure she'll ask to call as soon as she wakes up," He assures me.
Demetri's driver pulls the truck around to drop us off at the entrance of the small county hospital. "I need to make some calls and tend to some business. I hope that your friend is well, Grace." Demetri announces as Jake opens the door.
"Thank you, Demetri," I give him a weak smile. I hope she will be okay too.
Sliding across the seat, I let myself out the same door as Jake. Taking my hand, he guides me toward the hospital doors. Finn is waiting for us as we round the bumper of the vehicle.
"I talked to her parents from her hospital room. They know we are here," Finn informs us then pauses, "She's stable, but they beat her pretty bad. Her parents want to have her transferred to a different facility with private care until she heals."
I shake my head, "She won't go for it. She's too independent and headstrong for that," I add.
"That she is," Finn grins. "Let's get inside. I don’t like standing out here in the open."
Finn already has the room number, so we load the elevator to the third floor and walk down the short hallway stopping in front of room 224.
"Come on, sweetheart, be reasonable," I hear the voice of Glory's mother say.
Knocking softly, I push the door open and walk in followed by Jake, then Finn. The smile on my best friend's face when she sees me doesn’t diminish the dark purple and deep red bruises on her pretty face. Her left eye is halfway swollen shut and her right is bloodshot. I hold back my tears because they do none of us any good.
"I need a good makeup artist, don't I?" she remarks trying to make light of the situation as her hand goes to her face.
Returning a smile, I cross the room first to greet her mother who stands at her side. "Mrs. Keller," I hug her, "how are you?" I ask. I haven’t seen the two of them in two years.
"Oh sweetie, it is so good to see you," she tells me in her soft voice. "You are much too thin," she holds me at arm's length inspecting my appearance.
"Mom, she looks good, let her be," Glory fusses.
"Oh, hush," she looks over her shoulder and tells her daughter, "I've missed my girls. I have a right to fuss over the both of you." Focusing her attention back on me, she asks, "How's Peanut?"
Not having a granddaughter of her own she took to my daughter as she was hers. It saddened all of us when Ronan stopped allowing them to see us. "She's good. Growing like a weed and sassy just like my momma," I chuckle.
"Get over here and give an old man a kiss on the cheek," Mr. Keller, Glory's dad grumps from the other side of the hospital room where he is sitting in a chair. Doing as he asks I walk past the end of the bed, stopping in front of him. Bending, I kiss his whiskered cheek. I don’t think I've ever seen him without a beard. It's so bushy Remi used to think he was Santa Claus.
"Keeping yourself busy, Mr. Keller?" I stand and ask.
Letting out a grunt, he grumps, "As much as I can get away with without the enforcer over there cracking the whip on my old ass," he smirks, trying to get a rise from his wife. "You going to introduce us," he gestures behind me towards Jake.
"Mr. and Mrs. Keller, this is Jake Delane." I introduce them.
"Nice to meet both of you," he greets the two of them. Walking beside me, he gives Mr. Keller a firm handshake.
