Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“I didn’t hear a thing,” the cop said. He took my place and put Jack in handcuffs.
I rushed out to the pier and straight to Sutton. “Is she okay?” I asked Gannon, dropping to my knees and pushing her hair back from her eyes so I could inspect her face.
Sutton opened her eyes slightly and moaned. “My head…it feels like I have a massive hangover.”
The relief that rushed through me at that moment nearly caused me to cry. I pulled her out of Gannon’s arms and into my own. “It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s okay.”
As if the reality of the situation finally hit her all at once, Sutton wrapped her arms around me and started to sob.
Gannon stood, turned to face the cops, and shouted, “We need an ambulance!”
“It’s pulling up now, Gannon,” one of the cops said as they escorted Jack out of the fishing hut.
“Brody,” Sutton whispered, her face buried against my chest. She sounded broken.
“Shhh, it’s over. You’re safe.”
I looked up at Gannon and Braxton, who both had the same expression on their face. Relief mixed with pure rage.
When the paramedics rushed down the pier, I almost pushed them away, but I knew that Sutton needed to be checked out.
“Don’t leave me!” she cried when I pulled back from her.
I shook my head and swallowed the lump in my throat. I took her hand in mine and didn’t let go, not even as they loaded her on a gurney, pushed it down the pier, and transferred her into the ambulance. When I sat down next to her, I said, “Never. I’ll never leave you, sweetheart.”
The door to Sutton’s hospital room quietly clicked shut behind me before I turned and headed to the waiting room. Both sets of our parents and her siblings were all waiting for an update.
When Barbara saw me, she jumped up. I glanced at Keegan and saw that he looked exhausted. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling, but I knew he would rather hear an update on his daughter.
“She’s sleeping comfortably,” I said. “Jack didn’t hurt her except for a few scrapes and bruises when she attempted to fight him off. He drugged her and carried her to his car. Luckily, she still had her purse with her phone inside it.”
“And even luckier that the stupid idiot didn’t plan on us tracking her phone,” Braxton said.
I nodded. “He, um…the doctor said Jack didn’t…hurt her in the fishing hut, either, so she’s okay in that regard.” I clenched my fists as I thought about what I would have done to him if he’d touched her.
“How’s she doing emotionally?” Barbara asked.
I gave her a weak smile. “It’s Sutton. She’s stronger than any woman I’ve ever met. The only complaint she has is a massive hangover. And that she missed all the fun.”
Small chuckles filled the room as I watched Keegan let out a long breath.
My mother walked up to me. “And you, darling? Are you okay?”
I nodded. “I’m fine. Aside from the fact that I want to kill him”
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Braxton nod.
Keegan clapped me on the back. “I’m just glad she’s okay and that none of you got hurt.”
“Thank God we kept that stupid app!” Addie stated as she hugged her mom.
Braxton stood and motioned for me to follow him.
“What’s up?” I asked when we reached the hallway.
He glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one was listening before he looked back at me. “I’ve got a couple of friends who work at the police department. I can arrange for us to be alone with that asshole.”
I raised my brows. “Really?”
Braxton nodded. “All we have to do is—”
“Nothing. All you need to do is nothing.”
I turned to see Gannon standing there. “The last thing either of you need is to end up in jail and for Jack to somehow get off because you two idiots snuck into his cell and beat the shit out of him.”
Braxton and I exchanged a look.
Gannon sighed. “Guys, I get it. I do. If someone took Addie and drugged her, I would want to rip them limb from limb. But right now you have to think about Sutton. This wouldn’t be helping her, only the two of you.”
I scrubbed my hands down my face and groaned. “Fuck, you’re right. It’s just…every time I see her on that bed, knowing that he manhandled her, I just want to…” My voice trailed off.
Brax nodded. “I know. I feel the same way. And I’m sorry if I let my emotions get the better of me and dragged you into it. It’s just—”
I shook my head at him. “You don’t have to explain, Brax. I get it. Believe me.”
Gannon walked up and put his arm around our shoulders. “Let’s just focus on Sutton right now, okay?”
My stomach did a weird flopping thing whenever I thought about her. Despite the circumstances, I couldn’t help but smile. “Right. Sutton is who we need to focus on. I’m going to head back into her room. She might be awake now. They said she can have visitors, but I want to talk to her first.”