needs help, we fucking help.”
We all look at Trigger with shock.
“What?” he asks.
“I think that’s the most words I’ve ever heard you say at one time,” Ink says.
Trigger rolls his eyes and turns to Bear. “Josh took Rose and the baby to the hospital to see Thea.”
Bear smiles. “She told me that she wanted to stop by sometime today.”
Trigger grunts. “I was on my way to Ma’s to check on Brendon. She wanted me to stop by and grab a Sons` patch.”
Hawk laughs. “She probably wants to make him a little vest.”
I smile, knowing he’s probably right.
“I’m out,” Trigger says, walking out of the room.
“I’ll call your parents and have them get things ready,” Ink says.
I nod my thanks. “Go ahead and catch them up on the details and tell them I’ll call later. I’m heading back to the hospital. Slim, can you see if you can find any information on the property?” I ask. “Coach already has people looking into it, but I would feel better if you did, too.”
“Of course,” Slim says. “I’ll let you know the second I find something.”
“WHO THE FUCK WAS IN MY ROOM?” Trigger’s voice booms through the building.
“Gotta go,” I say, rushing out of the building.
Even though my heart aches for Jessa, I smile as my family’s laughter follows me out the door.
Chapter Three
Jessa
I’m afraid to open my eyes for fear that what I saw last time was a dream. I’m so scared that when I open my eyes, I’ll be back in the cold darkness.
“Will her body be able to handle it?”
That sounded like my father.
“There are no longer any traces of heroin in her system,” someone says. “And it seems like she’s already been through the roughest part of detox. She most likely won’t have any more physical symptoms, but I would expect some psychological ones in the future.”
“Like what?” my father asks.
“Depression. Anxiety. There may even be times when she has a craving for the drug.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
My dreams aren’t usually like this. I’ve had many nightmares lately, but they usually end with someone bursting in and rescuing me.
“Mouse, are you awake? Open your eyes.”
They aren’t open?
“Daddy,” I try to say.
Was that my voice? What happened to me?
“I’m here, Mouse. Just open your eyes and see.”
I manage to open my eyes, only to slam them shut.
“Bright,” I croak.
“Sorry, Mouse. Try again.”
It takes me a minute, but I open my eyes again, this time to a dark room.
But not as dark as I’ve been used to.
“Dream?”
“No, Mouse,” daddy says. “Very much real.”
His voice sounds strained.
“Look tired,” I say.
Why is it so hard to talk?
“I’m fine, princess. Just very happy to see you.”
The relief at knowing this isn’t just another dream has me overwhelmed. I couldn’t hold back my tears even if I wanted to.
“Oh, don’t cry, Mouse. You’re here, and you’re safe.”
I want to explain to him that I’m crying because I’m so happy. But every sound I make causes a sharp pain to pulsate in my throat.
So instead, I try to smile.
“Brick?” I ask a few minutes later.
My dad smiles, nodding.
“He’ll be back here in a few,” he tells me. “He’s going to be pissed that you woke up before he got back, though.”
I lay back and stare up at the dark ceiling. I’m still very confused. I’m not sure how long I was trapped in the dark room, but I do know that it was a very long time. My dad doesn’t really look older, but he does look exhausted. So, it can’t be the years that it felt like it was.
“How long?” I cringe at the sound of my voice. I sound horrible.
Dad looks at me with tears in his eyes. “Six months.”
I’m shocked. It’s only been six months?
I slam my eyes shut at the onslaught of the memories I’ve tried to bury.
From the very moment I was taken, I’ve been in darkness. I remember that I was sleeping when something woke me up. I had my eye mask on and didn’t see a single thing. Then mere seconds later, I was out. Only to wake up in that room.
I remember screaming and crying for days. Or was it weeks? I remember trying to get the courage to break my foot to get that chain off, but I was too much of a coward. I remember the men coming into the room. I knew that I was somewhere outdoors because I could see the stars when they would open the door.
I remember a needle piercing my skin. Then