Safer With You (32 page)

I hear Jase’s heavy breathing and soon he falls back. I see blood gushing from Isaac, no movement, nothing.
 

“I don’t make mistakes twice,” he circles his hand around Isaac’s wrist. “You’re dead, fucker,” Jase whispers, but he’s breathing heavy and says quietly to himself, “She’s safe.”

My eyes become heavy and pain stabs my head and side.

Jase crawls over to me and rests his lips on mine. He gently lifts my upper body and hushes my cries. “It’s over; it’s over. He’s gone.”

“Jase,” I whimper. “You’re okay?” His face is bloodied, but glorious.

“Baby, I’m fine. You’re fine. It’s over; it’s finally over.” As he says the words, Tucker joins us in cement hell. My vision blurs.

*****

There is that damn pain in my side again.
 

My eyes won’t open; I try and try, but sleep beckons.

“When I climbed down that ladder and saw Nora bleeding…man, I thought she was dead. Crazy how he stabbed her right in the same place and still didn’t do enough damage to kill her.”

I hear Tucker’s voice. I’d recognize it anywhere. His southern accent reminds me of the time I visited Georgia.

My eyes still won’t open, and darkness is the only thing I see.

“Jase, if I knew he was capable of this I wouldn’t have continued to protect him; I would have taken care of him.” Joe Madsyn’s voice floats through my mind.

I vaguely hear Jase; Jase is here. “I know, Uncle Joe, he got us all. Isaac is his son, of all people. Glad he’s dead, but the senator isn’t going to go away quietly. I’m just glad Luke didn’t have a clue about what his uncle had planned. I think Nora would have taken that hard. He’s being released in a few days.”

“How is Mama today? Still remembers everything?” I hear Jase ask. Uncle Joe mumbles something and sleep finds me again.

“How could you not know about Isaac and Luke, for that matter? Why the fuck didn’t you see it?” Max’s usually quiet voice booms.

“Max, I’m so sorry. I’ll do everything in my power to bring down Malone,” Jase says.

“You better; I’m not giving you my blessing until you fix this,” Max demands. I think a smile spreads across my face. I love Max; he would do anything for me. I find comfort in that, so sleep seems okay for now.

“Mr. Madsyn, Mr. and Mrs. Skye, we’ve taken her off some of the medication for pain, so she should be waking soon.”
 

Jase, he’s so close. I wish my eyes would open.
 

“Ow,” I groan.

“Nora…” Jase whispers.

“Yeah, I ow…where am I?” I struggle to sit up.

“Just lay still. You’ve been through enough; just rest.”

My eyes open to the sight of a beautiful, dark haired man with bags under his eyes, hair that hasn’t seen a brush in days, a few bruises, and a cut lip marring his face. He’s wearing a white shirt stained reddish brown, and his sleeves are rolled up to reveal his strong hand gripping mine. I’ve never seen him look so handsome, an illusion of perfection.
 

He kisses my hand. His touch feels like heaven.

“We have to break this cycle of me waiting for you to wake up in hospitals,” he teases.

“Don’t I know it.” I laugh a little, but the pain in my side puts an end to any laughter. “Ugh…that hurts.”

“I’m so sorry, baby. I let you down. He got to you and he hurt you again.” Jase’s eyes pool with tears.
 

“I was stubborn after you told me about everything and I just wanted to go home. Are you okay?”

“Baby, I’m fine. A little cut, but that was nothing compared to seeing you tied up by that monster.”

“I saw Luke, is he…?” I ask, hoping he made it.

“He’s fine; you’ve been out for a little over a day. Isaac cut you in the same place he did last time, but the doctor said he missed the vital organs…again.” His voice cracks.

“Did Luke know all about Isaac?”

“He had no idea, but confessed he made you leave when you found the picture of Avery in his office. He didn’t want Isaac to find out what you saw. When he thought the coast was clear, he wanted you back, but thank God he wasn’t convincing.” His face brightens with a hint of laughter.

“I guess I should have told you about that, huh? Avery?” Still holding my hand, Jase stands, leans over, and plants a soft kiss on my lips.

“It would have helped me, that’s for sure. Yes, Avery is the girl beaten in the picture. I handled the situation. I gave her protection from the senator. I’m going to have to bring her out of hiding, so that she can testify against the senator.”

“Where is Senator Malone? Has he been charged with anything?”

That bastard should be put away for all these crimes he was part of.

“Yes, out on bail, and probably will get off. It will be easy for him to persuade whatever judge he gets. Don’t worry, I have a few plans up my sleeve. It will take time, but we’ll get him.”

“What did he do to Avery? I couldn’t tell from the picture.”

He lets out a breath and I motion for him to sit on the bed.

“Isaac and Luke were the senator’s gofers. Luke got the girls and Isaac took care of everything else…drugs, alcohol, and gambling. Luke found Avery at a strip club and convinced her to give the senator a dance. When she got there…things took a different turn. Eventually, she threatened to expose the senator. That’s when Isaac stepped in and things got worse for her.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing, that poor girl. She didn’t have anyone protecting her.

“Luke used his brain and called me when he saw things getting out of hand. I have her in a safe location. I checked on her this morning, just to make sure she’s alright. She’s refusing to testify against the senator, but I’m sure she’ll come around.”

He doesn’t look convinced, but I’m glad she’s okay. I guess she does have someone protecting her too. Jase.
 

“I know what a loose cannon Isaac is…was.”

I suddenly feel cold all over. His name and the image of him with a gun aimed at Jase will forever haunt me. Tears prick my eyes.

“Shh…It’s all over. Everyone’s okay.” He leans his forehead against mine. “Isaac is dead; Tucker, Luke and I are a little bit damaged, but we’re tough.” He smiles.

“Will you hold me?” I ask, needing to feel his arms wrapped around me.

He manages to position us where I’m lying on his chest. We even manage not to get tangled in the IV’s. We’ve been sitting quietly for a while when a lovely woman enters the room.

“Mom?” Jase asks from beside me.

“Hi, how are you feeling Nora?” Jase’s mom? I thought she was sick and in a rehabilitation center.

Clearing my throat, I answer, “Fine, thank you.”

“She is lovely, Jase. Joseph can’t stop saying how wonderful she is.”

Jase stands up beside me and heads over to her. “Mom, what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to meet Nora.” She turns to face me. “My memory isn’t always good, dear, but I see how happy you make my son. I wanted you to know that I’m also here for you.”

Her words bring tears to my eyes and Jase wraps her in his arms. “You remember everything?” he asks.

“Today I do, maybe not tomorrow, but it’s starting to last longer. I think being with Joseph is helping. Oh, how awful it must be for him some days.”

“He loves you, Mom. He’s alright.”

She sniffles into his shirt.

I hear a voice clearing from the hallway. I look up to see Luke in a wheelchair.

“Come on, Mom, let’s give them some privacy,” Jase says, but glares at Luke with a silent warning. Luke nods in understanding.

“Nora, I’m glad you’re doing better. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later,” Carmella says, and disappears out of the room with her son.

A nurse wheels Luke next to my bed, then leaves.

“So, how mad at me are you?” he asks innocently.

“I am furious, but so glad you are okay.” I grab his hand.

“I swear, Nora, I had no idea he felt that way about you. I knew he wasn’t the nicest guy, but I never imagined he was such a monster. I’m so sorry I brought him into your life.”

“Nobody knew, Luke, but you could have told me the truth about why you kicked me out. Maybe I wouldn’t have been so…naive. And why did you lie to me about who you really are?”

“When I met you, I wanted to distance myself from my family. As you can tell, they aren’t the best people. So, I made up the name Luke Saunders, and when we moved to Miami, I kept it. When my uncle needed me to be a Malone, I was.”

“I can’t tell you that I understand, but I wish you would have been honest.” I probably won’t ever understand the extent of it, but I do understand not wanting to be associated with those people, especially now.

Luke rubs his hand down his face and smirks, “Fair enough. I really do love you, Nora. I should have tried harder and treated you the way you deserve.” He laughs quietly, “Luckily, Jase saved the day, huh? What will he do without having to save you from my fuck ups?”

“Love her,” Jase’s voice echoes through the room.

“Always lurking somewhere, aren’t you?” Luke laughs, but then his face becomes serious. He watches as Jase walks beside my bed and holds my hand.

“Madsyn, take care of her, appreciate her, because God forbid if she ever leaves you, you will never want to experience the torture I’m enduring right now. Knowing you had something so precious and you let it slip away.” Michael’s eyes drop to his hands.

Jase pulls me tightly against him. “I will always take care of her.
She
is precious to me, and I wouldn’t recover if that beauty was gone from my life.”

*****

I look around at the familiar surroundings. The clear night sky, the stars shimmering. Jase and I lay on a blanket in the back of his old pickup. My head rests on his chest, as his hands run through my hair.

“My mom loved you. She remembered almost everything today, didn’t even mention my father,” Jase says quietly.

“She’s wonderful. I hate what she’s been through, but I see how much your uncle loves her. It must be hard on him.”

“It is, but he loves her and puts her first. I’m glad he apologized to you. He loves her so much, and when she was threatened too, he didn’t care about anyone but her.”

“It’s okay. He wanted to protect her. You Madsyn men keep your girls safe.”

“He should have protected you against the senator. He knew what he was capable of. ”

Jase kisses my head, “I’m sorry that the senator isn’t behind bars. Ironically, I’m usually the one keeping him out of trouble, getting his ass off. The one time I try to actually put him away, it doesn’t work.”
 

“Things happen for a reason.”

“If you want me to finish this, I can.” He pulls my chin to meet his eyes. “I can take care of this in a second. I can make him disappear. All you have to do is say the word. He’s done.”

“I know it kills you that he got away with everything. We had a solid case against him from the kidnapping to the false marriage certificate.” I chuckle, thinking of the ridiculous piece of paper, but inside I’m smirking, remembering the look on Samantha’s face when she had to make a statement to the press that her marriage to Jase wasn’t real.

“But I can’t live with myself if I keep this revenge going. I can barely deal with going to therapy and the nightmares. I don’t want to be evil like Isaac or Senator Malone. I have faith that he will get what’s coming to him.”

“You are too good, Nora. This should have never happened to someone like you.” His face looks sad in the glow of the moonlight.

“I’m ending this. I choose to live happily ever after with you. After everything we’ve gone through, this all ends today with me.”

“You make me so proud. I’m still going to keep a close eye on him, but I won’t seek revenge. I just want you to feel safe with me.”

I move so that my lips are hovering above his, a whisper away from a kiss. “I’m always safer with you, Jase Madsyn, and will love you no matter the obstacles we face. I’ll love you forever.”

THE END

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To my daughters Madison and Hayley, my parents Mary and Matthew Balmer, my grandmother, Nina Faieta, and to my husband, Jason Blinkiewicz. Thank you for all of your support, believing in me, and inspiring me to accomplish a goal that seemed unattainable.

To my family and friends (too many to list) for taking the time to read my many drafts, giving me support and helpful feedback.

Special Thanks to Jessica Calella. Thank you for the countless hours spent editing, answering my emails and all of your kind and supportive words. I could not have finished SWY without you!

To my random twitter lady, Reni. You were the first to review my book and inspired me to keep going.
www.inkedinchapters.net

About the Author

Trisha lives in a small Pennsylvania town with her two beautiful daughters, and husband. She loves reading, writing, and daydreaming.
 

For more information visit
trishamadley.com