BREAKAWAY (The Dartmouth Cobras) (54 page)

Her high pitched laugh pierced her skull. “No. I did this. You know I did. We need to call the police. I need to tell them—”

“We’ll call them.” Ford sighed as he opened the passenger side door for her. “After we get you to the hospital. They should . . . .” His throat worked as he looked down at her still undone jeans. “He didn’t . . . .”

Jami blinked at the open zipper. The missing button. Her skin crawled and she could almost feel Lee, touching her. Wanting to . . .
But he didn’t.
She shook her head. “No.
Cort
stopped him. I’m just a little roughed up. I don’t need to go to the hospital. I need a shower. Can I go to your place and—”

“The cops might want evidence.”

Pulling on her seatbelt, Jami shook her head. “What evidence? He didn’t
do
anything.
Cort
made sure of that. He needs a head start, right? He’ll have plenty if I take a shower.”

“Jami—”

“No! You don’t get to tell me what to do, Ford. You knew something was going on, didn’t you?” He must have. Her brow furrowed as she thought over how convenient it was that he and
Cort
had gotten here, just in time. “That’s why
Cort
showed up—why you came so fast. If you’d said something none of this would have happened. But you didn’t.” She rubbed her arm. It had gone completely numb. The rest of her quickly followed. “Not that it matters. I made him like that. With all the things he watched me do . . . .”

Ford shook his head. “Stop talking like that. You know it’s not true.”

“I don’t care what’s true. I just want a shower. Please let me take a shower. That’s all I want.”

“All right. If it will make you feel better, you can take a shower.” Ford knuckles went white as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “You let me know how you want to handle this.”

A lifeless laugh left her as she leaned her head back on the headrest. “I don’t.”

* * * *

Sebastian ground his teeth as he ran to his car, parked in front of Jami’s apartment. His blood pumped hard and fast in his veins, urging him to move fast, to find something, someone, to fight. But who? What? He’d been given nothing. The day had begun better than any over the past week, but after finding Jami gone from his bed . . .

He slammed the door to the car and started the engine. “Did you hear anything?”

Luke threw his phone onto the dashboard. “Bower said she went to her grandmother’s. She should be there by now, but her dad called and she isn’t. He’s pretty worried.”

“Someone broke into her apartment.” Icy claws sliced down Sebastian’s spine. “Likely the same person who took those pictures. There were other things as well, things she told no one.”

“Maybe she just didn’t want to talk about it.”

Sebastian let out a bitter laugh. “
That
does not surprise me. We talk very little in this relationship. I have already regretted it more than once.”

Luke winced. “Yeah . . . well, that’s
gonna
change.”

“Yes. It is.” Sebastian’s phone rang. He pushed the speaker button. “Hello?”

Ford’s voice sounded worn, as though he’d been shouting. “Sebastian, I have Jami. You need to come here right away. Some shit went down, and I know she didn’t tell you anything—she was scared for you.” He paused. “She needs you. She locked herself in the bathroom. I think she’s hurt. She won’t—”

“Give me your address.”

After getting directions, Sebastian dropped the phone aside without ending the call. The tires squealed as he jammed his foot down on the gas. He pulled up in front of Ford’s moments later and left the car without bothering to shut off the car or lock the door. Luke caught up with Sebastian as he pounded his fist on the door, holding out the car key, then stuffing them in his own pocket when Sebastian didn’t take them. As soon as Ford opened the door, Sebastian pushed past him.

“He didn’t do much to her—
Cort
got to her in time. But she wrecked her car,” Ford said, a step behind him. “I was
gonna
take her to the hospital, but she didn’t want to go.”

‘Wrecked her car’. Sebastian’s steps faltered. A jagged blade of fear sliced deep into his guts. “How badly is she hurt?”

“I. Don’t. Know.” Ford scowled. “I’m not a fucking doctor.”

“Then why didn’t you make her see one?” Luke asked, annunciating each word as though speaking to someone mentally challenged.

“I’ve never been able to make Jami do anything. I’d figure you two would be able to control her. Isn’t she your goddamn sub?”

Sebastian turned quickly and grabbed Luke before he could go after Ford.

“You fucking asshole!” Luke went wild, struggling to free himself, looking like he wanted to beat Ford to a bloody pulp. “You think we knew this would happen?”

“Maybe you would have, if you’d done more than fuck her!”

“I love her! More than you ever did! It’s your fault she was on drugs! Was it one of your sick friends that went after her?”

Ford moved close to Luke, as though daring him to take a swing. He lowered his voice, but practically spat out every word. “I wouldn’t exactly call him a friend. I probably should have given her a heads-up, though. I knew my father had
sicced
someone on her.”

Sebastian released Luke. Grabbed Ford by the throat and lifted him up to slam him against the wall. He swung his fist, redirecting at the last second to hit the wall by Ford’s head. “Where. Is. She?”

“In there.” Ford rasped, struggling to nod towards the door at the end of the hall.

After dropping Ford, Sebastian crossed the hall in long strides, forcing himself to calm with each one. He tapped on the door and spoke softly. “Let me in, mi cielo.”

The door creaked open. Jami threw herself into his arms and sobbed. Blood matted her hair, crusted on her cheek. Her eyes were glassy as she tipped her head back. “You’re here. You’re okay. I thought he’d gotten to you. I tried to keep him away.”

He kissed her forehead. Her skin was cold. “I’m here.”

“I need to take a shower. I’m so dirty. He wanted me because I’m dirty.” She tore at her shirt with one hand, the other hanging limp at her side. “Help me get this off. I can’t. I need to be clean, but I can’t take this off!”

“
Shh
.” Sebastian stroked her hair, carefully pressing her head against his chest. “You are not dirty.”

“I am! I am and you shouldn’t touch me!”

“Come then. Come and we will clean you.” He picked her up and sank to the floor, holding her as he glanced up at Luke. “Call an ambulance.”

“No! I don’t want to go to the hospital!” Jami trembled in his arms. “They’ll see! They’ll know how disgusting I am!”

“No, mi cielo. The will only see my beautiful gatita. But he hurt you . . . .” Sebastian’s voice caught.
What did he do to you?
Luke held his cell phone to his ear with his shoulder as he found a face cloth in a drawer by the sink and wet it with warm water.

“He didn’t hurt me. He . . . he kissed me. Touched me.”

The air around them became thick. Sebastian tried to keep his hand steady as he took the cloth from Luke and gently cleaned the blood from Jami’s cheek. “He never will again.”

“No. No he won’t. He’s dead.” Jami sobbed. “They said he’s dead! I don’t believe them!”

“Jami . . . .” Sebastian dabbed at her lips with the cloth, wiped it down her throat, wishing he knew where the
cabron
had touched her so he could wash away any trace of him for her. But he didn’t know if she was more traumatized by whatever had been done to her, or because she was afraid it wasn’t over. “He’s gone. And you were so very brave. You stopped him from taking you away from me.”

“I won’t let him, Sebastian.” She latched onto his wrist. Her eyes turned fierce. “And I won’t let him take you away from me. Not like he took . . . oh god, Sebastian! He took Peanut! You trusted me to take care of him!”

“You did all you could, Jami.” Sebastian couldn’t think of the bird. He would feel the loss in time, but at the moment, all he could think of was doing his best to hold Jami together as she fell apart in front of him. He swallowed hard as he held her tight against his chest, as he should have the night before. If he had, none of this would have happened. “I will stay with you, but promise me you will tell the doctors everything. I hope you will tell me—”

“I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t ruin things for you. You were finally happy.” Her face crumpled. Tears wet her lashes and spilled down her cheeks. “But I did anyway, didn’t I?”

“No.” He took her good hand as he heard Ford letting the EMTs in. “Nothing is ruined, Jami. Luke is with us. You are safe. We will work on everything else together.”

Jami nodded, but as soon as the EMTs approached her, she shrank away, refusing to let the women touch her.

“Be still, mi cielo.” Sebastian held her gaze as he slid his hand around the back of her neck, using just enough pressure to hold her attention. “You will let them take care of you.”

“Yes, mi Rey. But . . . where’s Luke?” Jami whispered, and for a moment, Sebastian wasn’t sure he should have mentioned Luke at all. But then she looked past him, reaching out with her good arm as the medic checked the other. A laugh broke through a sob as Luke brought her fingers to his lips. “You dickhead. If I wasn’t so happy to see you, I’d hit you.”

“I said you could if you needed to.” Luke pressed so close to Sebastian’s side that he could feel the young man shaking. But his tone was steady and Sebastian felt his chest swell with pride. “You might need to be pieced back together first though, boo. Does it hurt?”

“Does what hurt?” Jami smiled at Luke, and Sebastian did his best not to look down at her arm. By the lump pressing against her flesh, he knew it was broken, but he didn’t want to draw any attention to it if she was too far gone to feel the pain.

I don’t want him to be dead.
Sebastian stared at the wall, blinking as tears of rage blinded him.
However he died, it was too quick. Too easy. I would have made him suffer.

“She’s in shock,” the EMT said, quietly. “The man who called mentioned an accident. How long ago was this?”

Sebastian turned to Ford, who stood just outside the door.

Ford cleared his throat. “About forty five minutes ago.”

To Sebastian, it seemed much too long. But the EMT simply nodded. “Okay. She should be fine until we get her to a doctor. Sweetie, we’re going to put you on the stretcher now. Try to relax. Take deep breaths. We need to get your pulse down.”

“I can walk,” Jami said, tightly.

“I’d rather you not.” The EMT frowned. “You shouldn’t have been moved after the crash. Any internal damage could have been made worse.”

“I feel fine. I—”

“Jami.” Sebastian lips drew into a firm line as she peered up at him with big eyes that begged him not to make her go. He shook his head and helped the EMT ease her onto the stretcher. He held her hand as a blanket was spread over her. She let them check her blood pressure, put in an IV, all without a whisper of protest. He managed a smile as she looked away from the needle in her wrist. “That’s my girl. You do not need to fight anymore. I will stay with you.”

“Luke too?”

“I’m afraid only one of them can come with you,” the EMT said.

Luke grinned and whispered something in Jami’s ear that made her smile. After she nodded, he walked away, twirling Sebastian’s car keys around his finger. He had put on a decent show of taking things in stride, but once Jami was strapped down and brought outside to the ambulance, Sebastian caught sight of Luke in his car, head bowed, shoulders hunched, shuddering as if it had all suddenly become too much.

Sebastian almost went to him, to take his keys back, to force Luke to call a taxi rather than risk the roads. But then Luke tipped his head back and rubbed his face. Took hold of the steering wheel. He met Sebastian’s eyes. Inclined his head as though to say ‘Go on’.

The ambulance doors closed. Sebastian clasped Jami’s cold hand in his, stroking circles in her palm with his thumb as he watched her press her eyes shut and focus on breathing as the EMT had instructed. Only once the ambulance pulled to a stop did she open her eyes, whimpering as Sebastian moved away to let the EMTs pass with the stretcher. “Don’t go.”

“I will be here, mi cielo.” Sebastian nodded his thanks to the EMT who stepped aside to let him take her small hand in his once again. “It will be a long time before I let you out of my sight.”

Chapter Twenty Five

“
Ingerslov
will probably be in nets on Tuesday.”

“You can’t be serious! They’re not going to let you play? Idiots!” Luke bent over laughing as Bower rolled his eyes. He sobered up at Silver’s dirty look and cleared his throat. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t that funny. But if he didn’t laugh, he was going to fucking scream. And while he was in Silver’s room, he had to pretend he was okay. He cocked his head and glanced over at Bower. “You’ll be good for next season, though, right?”

“Depending on how the surgery goes . . . .” Bower shrugged, his eyes never leaving Silver’s basketball-sized belly as they sat by her hospital bed, trying to use talk about the game to distract them all. And failing. “The doctor said best case scenario, six months. Then rehabilitation. Dean’s bringing someone up from the minors.”

“We’re
gonna
suck without you.”

“You’ll manage.”

Luke nodded slowly. He had a feeling the whole thing with Silver and the baby had changed Bower’s priorities. Which he understood way more than he would have a month ago. The game on Tuesday—the biggest one in Luke’s career so far—just didn’t seem all that important. Normally, he’d be getting plenty of rest, working out like crazy, watching past games every chance he got to find ways to fix his own fuckups and take advantage of the other team’s . . .

I should still be doing that.

But it had been nearly impossible to leave Jami’s hospital room. He’d still be there now if Seb hadn’t told him to get out and stretch his legs. This late at night, Jami technically shouldn’t have more than one visitor, but her doctor had allowed them both to stay since it kept her calm.