I’m not sure if my screams are louder than the bones being crushed in my hand or not.
I pull my arm in and roll into the fetal position, protecting my body the best that I can. I can’t fight anymore. Every inch of my body hurts and all my strength is gone.
But they won’t let up and keep kicking me over and over. God, I just want to black out. Block out the pain.
Please let this nightmare end.
“Hey!” someone shouts. “Open the holding cell. Now!”
The door clinks but I can’t even raises my head to look. I can feel people rush in but darkness invades. “Cam!”
Thirteen
I look past Kian and Alexia. “Where’s Jesse?”
Kian looks grim, his mouth tight. Alexia is pale and her eyes are rimmed in red, like she’s been crying.
“What happened?” I demand.
“Let us in.”
I stand back and close the door after him.
“Jesse was arrested and taken to a holding cell. He was going to be processed out.”
“He didn’t do anything,” I remind them.
“Larry insisted, even when the pelvic exam revealed that she’s most likely a virgin, that she an Jesse are in a relationship.”
Relieved I sink down into a chair. I didn’t believe her story for a second, but her being a virgin certainly helps Jesse’s case. It has to.
“She claimed they were waiting until she was eighteen, but they did other things.”
Shit! Penetration of the vagina isn’t exactly necessary for statutory rape. At least I don’t think so. “Did she fucking specify?” If she is going to completely ruin Jesse’s life she had better come up with something better than other things.
“A psychiatrist is going to meet with her tomorrow, and get the details for the police report.”
“Then why the hell is he even in jail?”
“Her parents insisted,” Kian explains. “Her father’s a sergeant with the Sheriff’s Department, and a dick, by the way. They believe their daughter and had no idea their sweet little girl was being taken advantage of. They pressed charges and our hands are tied.”
“So, he’s got to sit in jail all night?”
“Not exactly,” Kian hedges.
Right, this is Friday night. The courts won’t be in session until Monday. I meet my brother’s eyes. “Jesse has to sit in jail until Monday morning. That’s bullshit!”
“He’s not in jail,” Alexia says quietly. Tears fill her eyes.
I take a step back, my heart nearly stopping. “Why? Where is he?”
“He was beat up pretty bad and was taken to the hospital.”
“Okay,” I say slowly. I know there’s more. I can tell by the looks on their faces.
“He’s in surgery. He’s got some broken bones, probably a concussion, and possible internal bleeding.
I bring a fist to my mouth to keep from crying out. “Is anyone with him?”
“No,” Alexia answers.
“Did anyone call his parents? They need to know.”
“I did,” Kian assures me. “I explained everything to them. They’re catching the first flight they can get on.”
My stomach is in knots. “Is he going to be okay?” I know I don’t know Jesse that well because we haven’t been able to spend that much time together. I was hoping to this week. But there’s been something there each time we’ve talked, and now I feel like I’m about to lose something very special. It’s crazy, I know, but I can’t help it. I know that I need him and at one point in my life he was going to be very important to me. Now some stupid sixteen-year-old girl may have just ruined several lives.
“The doctors think he’ll pull through,” Alexia assures me.
“Think?” This is much worse than I thought. “I need to see him.”
“You can’t until tomorrow.”
I glance up the stairs. I can’t really leave Cam anyway. He’s Jesse’s main priority. If I can’t help him there, I’ll help him here.
“We’ll stay with you. The hospital will call me if there’s any change.”
I nod and numbly walk up the stairs.
The beeping of the cardio meter is both obnoxious and comforting. As long as it’s driving me bonkers, I know Jesse’s heart is still beating. It’s been two days since he was beaten and had surgery and he’s barely been conscious a few times. His spleen was removed and his kidneys are bruised. He has two fractured ribs, a crushed hand, a concussion, and looks like he was run over by a tractor. And I still think he’s the most handsome guy I’ve ever met. All of this will heal. But, I can’t stop worrying about his future.
The teachers from Baxter started coming by. They’re on break and after hearing what had happened, they wanted to check on Jesse, not knowing until they got here how bad of shape he’s in. Most went home, but a few are in the family waiting room.
“Hey!”
I glance up to find Alexia standing in the doorway. Only two people can be in his room in the ICU at a time. I’ve been taking turns with Jesse’s parents, and we take turns watching Cam, who’s become quite comfortable hanging out in the waiting room and flirting with the nurses. He hasn’t seen his dad yet. We’re afraid seeing Jesse like this will scare him.
“Come with me.”
I’m not sure I want to leave Jesse alone. He hasn’t been alone since I got here when his parents got back into town. They went straight to the hospital and I brought Cam to them, after loading his diaper bag with everything I could think of. I babysat a lot when I was in high school, but I never needed to take a baby out of the house. I crammed so much into the thing I could barely carry it. Then had to figure out how to secure the car seat. My admiration for parents spiked one hundred percent. Getting ready to leave the house with an infant should be an Olympic event.
“Trust me,” Alexia says.
Reluctantly I stand and bend over Jesse
