I was up and out of my seat so fast it fell back. I rushed from the police station and hailed a cab, all the way praying that Sara and my child were fine.
30
Sara
I woke wondering what new drug Glen had given me. But as I opened my eyes; the room seemed brighter. Smelled cleaner.
“There you are, honey. Tell me how you’re feeling?” A middle-aged woman with sympathetic eyes wearing a pink shirt looked down on me.
“Where am I?” Had I died?
“You’re in the hospital. You’re going to be fine.”
Immediately my hand went to my belly. “My baby.”
The woman, who I realized now was a nurse, put her hand over mine. “I’m sorry. You miscarried. You expelled everything, so we didn’t need to do any procedures there.”
I looked around the room but no one was there. Not even Chase. I couldn’t blame him for not coming. I was more trouble than I was worth. When he learned about the baby, he’d want to be rid of me for sure. Maybe he already knew, and that’s why he wasn’t there. No one was here. I was alone.
I started to cry and tried to turn over but there was a tube in my arm.
“You’re on fluids,” she said. “I’m going to ask the social worker to come in. You can talk to her.”
“Can you call my parents?” It was time for me to give in. I was too tired to fight against it anymore.
“Sure honey.”
I told her the number, but wasn’t sure they’d even come.
“We’re going to keep you in her a little longer, then we’ll move you to your own room. You rest for now.”
Not having anything better to do, I let her give me something for pain that made me sleepy. When I woke again, I was in a new room.
“Sara?”
“Mom.” She stood next to the bed. I looked to the end of the bed where my dad stood. They both had disapproving expressions. “You came.”
“You’re our child, of course we came,” my mom said.
“I hope you’ve learned your lesson. Living in the devil’s temptation just brings ruination,” my father said.
“What sort of bullshit is that to tell a young woman just terrorized by a crazy religious zealot?”
I looked up and saw Chase’s father walk in. “Mr. Raven?” Was he there to tell me Chase was done with me? I’d expected his lawyer, Mr. Lister.
“I beg your pardon,” my father said. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“The hell it doesn’t.” Mr. Raven’s eyes narrowed studying my parents. “Who are you?”
“We’re Sara’s parents.”
His eyes grew wide. “Do you condone that young man beating your child?”
“He was trying to save her. She has to pay for her sins.”
It broke me to know my parents had known Glen was going to kidnap me. Did they know he was willing to hurt me? That he’d harmed their grandchild?
“You wanted me to marry him. He did this to me.”
“Good lord you wanted that man to marry your daughter?” Mr. Raven’s voice was incredulous.
“He’s a good Christian boy,” my father said.
“He beat your daughter up. What the hell kind of Bible are you reading?”
“Sir, can you please leave us? We need to care for Sara,” my mother said.
“No, I will not.” I’d gotten the feeling that the Raven family wasn’t close, but now I realized that despite their differences, they were loyal and would have each other’s back.
“We’ll have you removed,” my father said.
“You can try,” Mr. Raven straightened. He was an imposing man, not just in size but in the way he exuded power.
Just then the door flung open and Chase came rushing in. “Sara! Oh God, Sara.”
My mother jumped out of the way as he reached my bed.
“You alright?” His gaze scanned my face and arms, then came back up. “Are you in pain?”
I shook my head in confusion. “You’re here.”
“Yes, I’m sorry it took so long.” His hand gently stroked my cheek.
“He was nearly arrested,” Hunter said as he walked in the room. “Fortunately, it wouldn’t be for murder. The fuckhead will live.”
“I beg your pardon. None of you have the right to be here, I demand that you leave,” my father looked from Chase to Hunter and back to Chase. Chase moved, turning his body toward my parents as if he was ready to protect me.
“How is she?” Ash said as he looked in through the doorway. He walked in with Kade following. They were all there.
Finally, my brain filtered back to Hunter’s words. “Arrested?”
“He beat the shit out of Glen. Safe to say he won’t hurt you again,” Hunter said.
“Stop!” my father yelled. “All of you out. Only Sara’s family is allowed.”
Chase straightened looking even more imposing than his father. “We are Sara’s family.”
“You are not,” my father said, fisting his hands at his sides.
“I’m her husband. Who the fuck are you?”
“They’re her parents,” Mr. Raven said. “I thought I was a bad dad, but this guy is worse. Keep that in mind boys.”