Stolen Beauty (Jackson Family 1)

I placed a hand on her arm. She turned to look at me. “Maybe it’s better that he is,” I told her softly, and I meant that. “He is the don, after all, Mrs. Judy. The way he is – it’s what keeps him alive.”

She patted my hand. “I know, my dear.”

I went back to chopping the onion. “So, where is his brother – Darren?” I asked her.

“In prison,” James answered, shocking the hell out of me. I yelped in pain when I accidentally sliced my thumb. I quickly dropped the knife, tears of pain welling in my eyes as blood quickly began to fall onto the countertop. My heart thumped hard in my chest, panic clawing at my throat.

He wouldn’t hurt me. I was safe.

But I couldn’t forget all of those times I’d fucked up before while growing up. Simple things like this cost me freedom and left me with numerous bruises, my body too battered to move.

“Oh, my dear!” Mrs. Judy exclaimed, moving towards me, but James was already there.

He wrapped his hand around my thumb and led me across the kitchen to the sink where he turned the water on and placed my thumb under it. He then grabbed the side of my head and pressed his lips to my temple, holding them there. “Easy, little one,” he soothed. I squeezed my eyes shut. “It’s okay. Let me get the doctor, and we’ll get it stitched up.”

“I’m sorry.” I whimpered. “I didn’t mean—"

He cupped my face in his hands, his blue eyes staring down into mine. “Hey, easy now, little one,” he softly commanded. “You don’t have to apologize. I frightened you, and accidents happen. Be strong, little one. I’ll be right back, okay? Keep your thumb under the water.”

He pressed a quick kiss to my lips before he darted out of the kitchen. Mrs. Judy grabbed my hand in hers. “It’s okay, dear,” she soothed.

All I could think about was all of the times I had fucked up in the past and done something stupid. And injuring myself? It was always one of the worst things I could do; it drew attention.

My bottom lip trembled as pain pulsed through my temples, those buried memories trying to come up to the surface.

“Mrs. Judy . . .” I mumbled, suddenly feeling extremely light-headed.

“Emmaline?” she asked, her voice panicked. Everything began getting fuzzy. I swayed. “Emmaline!” she yelled.

My knees buckled beneath me. “Emmaline!” James roared. He caught me and locked his arm around my waist. “Fuck, little one.”

“My head,” I mumbled. My face scrunched up in pain, tears sliding down my cheeks. “My head hurts.”

“Okay, little one. Just hold on. The doctor is here. He’s going to make the pain go away, okay? Don’t pass out on me,” he begged.

“I didn’t mean to hurt myself,” I told him. I winced at another sharp pain. I whined, my hands reaching up to grab my head, but James quickly locked his hand around the wrist of my injured hand. “My head,” I cried.

I felt a pinch, and then something cool rushed through my arm. The pain in my head began to ease, and I limply sagged against James’s shoulder, my eyes shutting as relief flooded my body. “Thank you,” I whispered.

James held me tightly as the doctor began to clean my thumb. “Little one, you scared the fuck out of me,” he rasped. “Jesus Christ, please don’t ever fucking do that to me again.”

“I’ll try,” I told him, my voice drowsy, my words slurring.

“The medication will make her sleepy,” the doctor informed James. “I’ll prescribe her some medication for when she begins to feel another one coming on.”

“Sudden,” I mumbled. I snuggled closer to James.

“They’re sudden, little one?” James asked. “Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“Mhm,” I hummed. “Sleepy.”

He pressed his lips to my forehead. “Sleep, then. I won’t leave your side until you’re awake,” he promised.