Time seemed to pass in slow motion as a flurry of doctors and nurses poked and prodded me. I repeated the story of what happened so many times I could’ve recited it in my sleep.
“One more time, ma’am. What happened to you tonight?” the doctor asked as he placed a small light in my eyes.
I sighed and wanted to tell him to fuck off as he moved the light back and forth, momentarily blinding me. “Do I have to say it again? I’ve told you the story already.” My patience was wearing thin.
“I need to make sure you have no memory issues from the blow to your head. Last time, I swear.”
“You said that last time we did this.” I rolled my eyes.
The doctor snickered. “I guess there’s no short-term memory problems.”
“My boyfriend and I were at a bar tonight, and I walked out before he did. I thought he was right behind me, and when I unlocked my car someone grabbed me from behind. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already on the ground and tried to fight back, but it was no use. I don’t remember much else.”
A police officer stood in the corner and scribbled on a little notepad as I spoke.
“I remember waking up in Joey’s arms and then the ambulance arriving.”
I couldn’t give the truth. My boyfriend was supposed to kidnap me as we played out my fantasy for him to abduct me and make me his sex slave. Who did shit like that?
“We’re just going to keep you here overnight for observation. You have a couple of bruised ribs, the laceration on your lip, and a concussion, but nothing that will cause long-term damage,” the doctor said, staring at his clipboard. “We’ll get you into a regular room as soon as possible so you can rest. We will release you in the morning.”
“Is anyone here to see me?” I couldn’t believe that City hadn’t shown up, or anyone for that matter.
“Yes, but he’s been instructed to wait outside until we complete your assessment.”
“Can he come in now, please?”
My body ached, my face throbbed, and my head pounded from the aftereffects of the attack. I wanted to rest my eyes and turn off the light, but I needed to talk to City. I had to find out what happened, and why he wasn’t the one to find me alone in the parking lot.
“Yes, I’ll have the nurses talk with him and send him in. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. McCarthy.”
“Thanks,” I said with a fake smile. I had nothing to be thankful for. All I wanted to do was crawl in my own bed and sleep against City’s body. Crunchy hospital sheets, plastic mattresses, and thin blankets were not my idea of comfortable.
I threw my head back onto the thin pillow, squeezing my eyes shut. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t have any tears left.
“Ma’am,” the officer said, and cleared his throat. “I’ve taken down your statement, but I may need more details. We have your attacker in custody and the statement of Joseph Gallo and another gentleman, but we may still need your side to fill in the gaps. Here’s my card. Call me when you can talk. It can wait until you’re home and more comfortable.” He smiled at me, and I could see he was genuine.
“I’ll call you, sir. I just don’t feel like talking about it anymore tonight.” I rubbed my eyes. The lights were making my headache worse, and I wanted to sleep.
“No problem, ma’am.”
Drawing back the curtain to leave, I caught a glimpse of City. A frown was visible as he looked at me. I could see the pain on his face. His hands appeared swollen, and red dotted his knuckles—blood from the pounding he must have given to the asshole.
“Hey,” he said as he approached my bed.
“Hey yourself.”
“Are you okay, sugar?” He sat down on the bed and held my hand.
“I’m okay, City. They’re just keeping me for observation.” I shrugged.
Touching my cheek with the rough pads of his fingers, he studied my face. His eyes roamed over every inch, stopping on my lips and cheekbone. “God, I’m so sorry, Suzy. It’s all my fault.” Deep lines appeared on his forehead.
“It wasn’t your fault. You meant well. I give you an A for effort, but a D in completion, big boy.” I smirked. I couldn’t really be mad at him.
“Don’t make jokes, sugar.” He tried to keep a straight face, but I saw a small smile tug at the corner of his lips. “I could’ve lost you tonight.” He squeezed my hand.
“What happened to you? You were supposed to be only a minute behind me, Joey.” Closing my eyes, I remembered the fear I felt when I realized it wasn’t City grabbing me from behind.
“I was on my way out of the bar after joking with the guys, but I got held up. I tried to get away as quickly as possible. I didn’t want you to be outside alone. I should’ve never taken you to that bar. Fuck.” He rubbed his face, “What happened before I got there, sugar?”
Tears began to fill my eyes as I spoke. I couldn’t hold them back. “I pretended to drop my keys when I heard someone behind me. I thought it was you. As I bent down to pick them up, he grabbed me by the hair and knocked me off balance.” I paused, trying to steady my voice. “He pulled me by my hair behind the building, and I tried to get free of him. I kicked and screamed, but no one heard me. He hit me in the face and called me names. I could taste the blood in my mouth. I don’t remember anything else until I woke up in your arms.” I cuddled into City, needing the feeling of safety.
“Shh, sugar. I’ll never let anything bad happen to you again.” He crawled in the bed and wrapped his arms around me. I cried in his chest until there were no more tears left. He stroked my hair, kissing my head, rocking me until I calmed.
“Where is she?” Sophia’s voice woke me from my peaceful slumber. “I don’t give a shit, I want to see her now.”
Jesus.
“Ma’am, you can’t go in there.”
The curtain opened in one quick motion, and a scared Sophia appeared. “Oh my God, Suzy. I’ve been worried sick about you.” She rushed to my bedside.
I saw movement out of the corner of my eye—Kayden. He looked pissed. More pissed than I’d ever seen him, and I’d seen him pretty crazy at times over the years.
“I’m okay, Sophia. Just some scrapes and bruises. I’ll heal.”
“You could’ve been killed, for shit’s sake. And you.” She glared at City, pointing at him. “You were supposed to protect her from shit like this. How could you let her go outside alone?”
“It’s not his fault,” I said, but she held up her hand.
“Well?” she asked.
“City, may I speak to you for a moment?” Kayden asked in a calm voice.
I didn’t like pissed-off-looking and calm-sounding Kayden. “You both need to back off,” I said.
“Suzy, this is between City and me. I won’t keep him long,” Kayden said.
I looked at City, silently pleading with him not to go. He squeezed my hand as he slid off the bed. “I’ll be right back, don’t worry.” He gave me a wink and a smile before leaving with Kayden.
“Let the boys talk. What the fuck happened, Suzy?” Sophia sat down next to me, tilting her head before she grabbed my hand. “God, I was out of my mind when City called. This is all my fault.”
“It’s no one’s fault, Sophia. I walked out and everything was going perfectly. I guess City got held up for a second, and that’s all it took.” I wiped the remaining tears off my cheek. “The same creep had bothered me before and must’ve been waiting for me. It was stupid to think we could live out that fantasy. It’s not as sexy as it sounds anymore.”
“Fuck, it’s my fault.” She hung her head.
“Sophia, why would it be your fault?”
“I kinda told him about your fantasy.” She didn’t look me in the eyes.
“You did what?”
She stood up and moved out of reach. “When he was doing my tattoo, I told him that you don’t like to share your fantasies, and told him about your kidnapping thing you’ve been dying to live out.”
Jesus Christ. “Sophia, I know we’re best friends and all, but that was between you, me, and Kayden.” I took a deep breath and tried not to be angry. Sophia loved me, and so did Kayden. We always talked about sex, and they were the two people in the world that never judged me. Kayden was the only male that let me pick his brain on the subject, and he answered honestly without making me feel like an idiot. “I’m a little embarrassed here. I thank you for trying to give me what I want, but that was my secret to tell.”
“If it would’ve worked out, he would’ve knocked your socks off, babe. City is exactly the type of guy you need to be with. Don’t let this experience put doubt in that pretty little head of yours. He was a wreck, Suzy. I feel a little shitty now that I got bitchy with him. He really cares for you, my little OCD friend.”
I laughed. I always made Sophia insane with all my little quirks and lists. The woman lived life by the seat of her pants, and I wanted everything planned. I had lists for my lists, and I would even include her on my lists when we lived together. “I know he cares, Sophia. I saw the pain in his eyes tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so afraid for me before.”
I could hear the murmured voices of Kayden and City but couldn’t make out the words. “What is he saying to City?”
“You know Kayden is very protective of you. He’s just having a man-to-man.”
“I’m not a child, Sophia. Kayden better be nice.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Kayden’s always nice. They’re just chatting.” She smiled, but I could see the worry on her face.
Life had become so complicated, and my plans seemed to unravel before my eyes. I felt like Sophia on the rollercoaster she experienced when falling in love with Kayden. She put her hands up and screamed through the ride, while I wanted to jump off and keep my feet on the ground.