Page 44 of Unbreakable
"Shit! Lisa, look in the back for something to cover her up with."
Reaching into the very back, Lisa shuffles around and comes back with a small blanket. "Here ya go, Jake."
Using the blanket, I try carefully to tuck it around her without jostling her too much. Every little movement I make causes her to wince in pain. Even her eyes are so swollen she can hardly open them.
"Lisa, babe. Hand me my medic bag from back there too." Bennett tells his wife. Passing him his bag, he unzips it and produces a needle and a vile. At my questioning look he mutters, "Something to help her sleep. We have about a forty-five-minute drive. No need for her to suffer if she doesn't have to." Thank god he doesn't go anywhere without being prepared.
When we arrive back at the clubhouse, Emerson is already waiting for us outside when we pull up. When I step out of the SUV with Grace in my arms, she doesn't ask any questions as she follows behind me into the clubhouse up the stairs and down the hall to my room. I called ahead of time to make sure Remi would be preoccupied somewhere else upon our arrival. She doesn't need to see her momma in her current condition. Walking into my room, I carefully deposit Grace down on the bed and Emerson immediately gets to work assessing her. A few seconds later, Glory comes bursting in. When she gets her first glimpse of Grace she breaks out into a sob and covers her mouth with her hand. Quickly pulling her shit together, she squares her shoulders and asks, "Emerson, what do you need me to do?" Emerson starts to bark out orders at Glory and she wastes no time jumping into motion. When I see Lisa walk in the room, I stride over to her and put my hands on her shoulder.
"We got things covered in here, sweetheart. Go be with your old man. You both have had a hell of a twenty-four hours and right now he needs you and you need him." Lisa is about to protest when I cut her off. "I know the momma bear in you wants to help, but right now being a wife comes first. Now go." I urge and kiss the top of her head.
An hour later Emerson has stitched the gunshot wound, and she and Glory have given Grace a sponge bath to clean off all the blood. Emerson also puts some cream on her back and assured it would help with the pain and healing of the lashes caused by the belt. Glory has been periodically placing ice-packs on Grace's face to help with the swelling around her eyes. Through all this, she has yet to wake up from the shot Bennett gave her in the truck. Now we wait. Thankfully we don't have to wait long because another twenty minutes later Grace begins to stir. Her movements have Me, Emerson, and Glory by her side in seconds.
"Jake?"
"I'm here, Little Bird?" I say taking her hand in mine and bringing it to my lips.
"Where am I?"
"You're at the clubhouse. Emerson is here, and so is Glory."
"How bad is it?" she asks, and I know she's referring to her injuries.
"What do you remember, baby?"
"Everything," she sighs breathlessly. "Besides the ride home, I remember everything."
When I see silent tears fall down her swollen cheeks, I wish with everything I am that I could take away the memory and pain of what that sick motherfucker did to her.
"He didn't break me this time. He tried. He wanted me to break so bad, but I didn't. I'd rather die than have him take back what I fought so hard to get."
"I'm so proud of you, baby." I choke past my own emotions while Emerson and Glory are no longer able to hold theirs back and they both quietly sob. Wiping her tears away, Emerson transforms back into doctor mode when she asks a question I dreaded, but knew was coming.
"Grace, I need to ask you a question."
"Okay."
Releasing a deep sigh, she asks. "Were you raped? When you arrived here at the clubhouse, you didn't have any clothes on besides your panties. When I removed them to clean you up and put fresh clothes on you had a small amount of blood in them. I did not examine you. I wouldn't do so without your consent."
Grace stares at Emerson for a beat like she's trying to put the past events together. "I…I don't know."
24
Grace
When Emerson asks the question that had popped into my head moments after I came to and found myself bound and most my clothes gone I wish I could have instantly said no. The truth is any number of things could have happened while I was knocked out. At the moment the throbbing and piercing pain radiating from my back and my shoulder are the only focal points registering. My eyes shift to Jake who has stood stock still this whole time. If possible, the man before me grows taller, and he starts to pace the floor with his fists clenched at his sides doing his best to hold in the building anger written all over his handsome face. And it guts me.
I give my attention back to Emerson. "I don’t think so, but I can't give you a definite no," I tell her. My mouth is feeling dry and I try to reach for the small glass of water sitting on the bedside table. Emerson helps by handing it to me. Slowly I sip through the straw and wet my dry, scratchy throat.
"When I get my hands on that motherfucker I'm going to make his death slow and torturous," Jake growls then proceeds to put his fist through the wall beside the bedroom door. Seconds after there's a sharp, hard knock on the door. Jake rips it open, damn near pulling it from its hinges and answers with a harsh, "What?"
Calmly standing in the hallway is Logan, utterly unfazed by Jake's rage. Glory comes to sit beside me on the bed. Taking my hand in hers, she comforts me as I watch Logan talk to Jake in hushed tones. Jake eventually gives him a firm nod, then pivots making his way to my side. "Babe," he lets out a heavy sigh and closes his weary eyes. Opening them, he settles his loving eyes on mine. "I'll be downstairs with the men. I promise I'm not going anywhere. As soon as Emerson finishes with her examination, someone will get me. This is the only time I'll be leaving your side tonight, Little Bird." Leaning forward Jake kisses my forehead before softly pressing his lips against mine, letting himself linger there for a second longer before standing and leaving the room.
Pulling in a deep breath, I silently thank Logan for showing up when he did.
"Honey, it's okay that you can't remember. Is there a possibility you've started your cycle?" Emerson asks.
I try to remember what today's date is so I can give her an accurate answer. It's then I realize I'm past my cycle date.
