deep. I did put glue on it to seal it and in a few hours you can get rid of the bandage. Just relax today.” Owen grabs his medical kit and goes to walk out the door, but I stop him.
“Thank you,” I say, small and timid. “For patching me up.” I lift my hand to the side of my head, grazing the fingers along the gauze.
“You’re welcome,” Owen’s eyes become soft as he stares at me and he holds his hand out to a quiet Jolie who is sitting in the corner.
As the couple walks out, Jolie stops and turns around. “I know it seems like you’re all alone, but you aren’t. I’m here. I can relate to you and I know right now that doesn’t seem like much, but it helps more than you think.” Owen tugs Jolie through the door and Jaxon takes a step to the side to make room from them to exit.
I remember Jaxon asking me how I was doing and gather the courage I need to tell him the truth or lie. I might as well be honest, lying would seem ridiculous, especially in the state I’m in. “I don’t think I’m doing that well, honestly.”
He nods as if he understands but there is no way anyone can understand what I’m feeling unless they have experienced it, like Jolie. “That’s understandable. You’re safe here. I want you to know that. You’re under our protection,” he says.
“I’m learning that slowly,” I reply.
“Slow is better than not at all.” This time, he does take a step inside the room and the intensity rolling off him in waves has my spine straightening. “So, I’m not sure if you know this, but it is something that needs to be discussed.” He sits in the corner where Jolie was just a moment ago, not crowding me.
I like that.
He respects the panic I feel. Not many men care enough like these guys do.
“Jaxon,” Asher warns him and when I look above me, he is shaking his head, disagreeing with whatever Jaxon wanted to talk about.
“It has to be discussed. It isn’t fair to make them wait.” He leans his elbows on his knees and the shaved side of his head is illuminated in the light while the hair that hangs down is hidden in the shadows. He is a very scary guy, and I’m glad he is in my corner.
For now.
So it seems.
“Your parents are very worried about you, Heather.”
“You’ve talked to them?” I ask, feeling a bit more alive than I did a second ago.
“No,” he shakes his head. “Every news outlet on TV has your picture on it. They want you home and they need to know you’re safe. It looks like they miss you very much.”
My chin wobbles and the threat of tears shakes my lip. “I miss them too. I never thought I’d see them again.”
“Do you want me to call the number the news is giving out to the public? I’ll do whatever you want me to. You have every right to go home, Heather. You aren’t trapped here. You aren’t a prisoner. You are in control of what happens from this moment on.”
I don’t want them to see me like this, broken and afraid of my own shadow. Obviously, I’ve changed, but I want to come to terms with what has happened to me before I see my mom and dad. It will ruin them when they find out the details.
“You don’t have to decide right now. I wanted to let you know that your family has been searching for you all this time and they are there for you when you are ready to see them.”
Asher lets out a long exhale and I feel the warm puff drift over my neck. His hands fall from my shoulders and I immediately miss knowing he’s at my back, protecting me. I glance up at him and when he tilts his chin down to meet my eyes, there is a sadness in them that I can’t understand. “You should go home, eventually. Your parents are good people and I know they are worried sick.”
I nod in agreement, wondering if he is trying to get me to leave. “Yeah, probably, but I’m not ready yet,” I give my attention to Jaxon next. “I need time on my own first. My parents will bombard me, and I’ll feel suffocated. I don’t need that right now. Maybe in a few days? If I’m feeling up to it?”
Jaxon gives