Fractured

“I’m glad you’re here,” I finally manage to say before I break down. The tears I’ve held back while the doctor examined me fall freely down my face, and my mother wraps her arms around me once more.

I’m not sure how long we sit like that, but when she pulls away, she watches me in silence. I prefer it like that. I don’t want to talk about what happened. I don’t even want to think about what I’ve been through.

My mother doesn’t ask about my ordeal; instead, she says, “JD is outside. He said he doesn’t want you to feel uncomfortable around him. We’re not sure . . . He’s not sure . . .”

“I’d like to see him,” I tell her. “But I want you to stay. I want you both here. I’m not sure I can do this alone.”

“You’re never alone. We both love you so much.”

I nod. “I know. I love you both too. Right now, all I want to do is sleep. I feel exhausted, but JD can come inside,” I tell her, and she reluctantly releases my hand before she heads to the door. A few whispers pass, and then JD is on the threshold of my room. He looks like he’s been awake for days.

“Hey, you.” He smiles, but I can tell he’s restraining himself from rushing for me. “I missed you so much,” JD tells me.

“I’m going to grab some coffee. Would you like one, JD?”

“Yes, please.” He grins at my mom before we’re left alone in the room. I lift my hand, gesturing for him to come closer, and when he does, our fingers touch.

“Thank you for saving me,” I tell him, my voice thick with emotion that’s captured me, holding me hostage to the feelings that race through me.

“I can’t even explain how it felt knowing you were gone. Knowing that asshole had you. I spent my time with the team scouring the warehouses for you until I could hold you again.”

I recall the warehouse but shake my head to clear my mind of the image. “Your dad . . .”

JD nods. “Yeah, he was murdered while working undercover.” His voice is pained. “I don’t even know how to feel about it. For years we were at odds, and as much as we fought, he was still my dad, you know?”

“Parents are always going to fight for what’s best for us.”

“But he forced me to leave. He sent me away, and all I wanted was you.” There’s an urgency to his voice, one that tugs at the strings of my heart. “I wanted you to be mine. Nothing would’ve made me happier than to have you as my girl. To be able to walk hand-in-hand with you.”

“Perhaps fate has given us a second chance?” I offer with a shy smile. When he leans in, I close my eyes for the kiss, but the moment our lips touch, the coldness from them returns with a vengeance, and all I see are the men’s faces. I push JD away from me, and I don’t miss the hurt that streaks his face. “I’m sorry. I—I need time.”

He nods slowly. “I get it. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t. It’s my mind playing tricks on me.” Tears burn my eyes as I watch JD move away from me. I don’t know how long I’m going to need, and all I can do is pray he’ll wait for me.

His phone buzzes in his pocket, and he pulls it out, tapping the screen before scanning whatever message he’s just received.

“Shit,” he curses. “I have to go.” His gaze lands on me. “I’ll wait forever for you, songbird. Until you’re ready, I’ll be here.” His promise warms my chest, and I can’t help but smile.

“I love you,” I remind him.

“I love you too.” He doesn’t lean in to kiss me again, and I don’t blame him. My heart aches for what I just did to my best friend, my first love. All he offers is a smile before he turns around. And then he’s gone, and my eyes flutter closed as exhaustion takes hold of me.

I’m shoved into the room with a grunt. The door shuts behind me. But the commotion outside is enough to have my ears prickling. Every sound makes me jump. I need to stay quiet, but it’s difficult when fear has a hold of you.

The place we’ve been brought to is beautiful. I can’t deny that, and thankfully, I haven’t been violated, but the way the clients grab at me . . . and my stomach is still aching from not being fed for I’m not sure how long.

I’ve lost count of the days.

The girls in the room with me are also bruised, one of them bleeding, but I don’t know what happened because she’s too scared to even look at the rest of us. She’s huddled in a corner.