Dom
I kissed Jules’ fingertips, my heart breaking at the fear in her eyes. “Your mom and dad just stepped out. They should be back soon. They slept outside on the couch. Gia is in the waiting room. They’re all worried about you. And we can go see the girls as soon as the nurse checks you out.” I stood. “Let me tell her that you’re awake, okay?”
I went to the door and turned to watch a smile spread across her face. My breath caught and tears stung my eyes. The thought that I could’ve lost her was never far from my mind. I swallowed the lump that’d lodged in my throat.
Stepping into the hall, I walked to the nurses’ station. “Ms. Galenti is awake.”
The nurse smiled. “I’ll page the doctor.” She picked up the phone and spoke quickly, then followed me back into Jules’ room.
As the nurse checked Jules over, I turned back toward the door. I could see Jules’ mom and dad in the mirror in the corner, coming down the hall.
Leaning into Jules’ ear, I whispered, “I’ll be right back, baby.” I kissed her forehead before walking out into the hall. I gave her parents a tired smile. The weight of the past couple days’ events finally hit me all at once. “She’s awake and she wants to see you. Especially you, Mrs. Galenti.”
“Please, call me Cara,” She said, stepping in to hug me. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did. You saved my baby girl.” She looked down, trying to hide the tears in her eyes. “I’m so thankful she has you in her life.”
For the millionth time today, I swallowed back tears. “Nobody has ever loved me the way she does.” I turned to head back to the room, not wanting to cry in front of them.
Sal stopped me. “Everything is prepped and ready.” He didn’t need to say more. I knew that meant he was ready for whenever we found John.
“He’ll have to wait until she gets better. I won’t leave her.”
“Agreed.” He extended his hand.
“We do this together.” I said, meeting his eyes.
With a nod of my head, we entered her room, which seemed very crowded. I wanted to tell them to go away, that I needed to be alone with her. Needed to assure myself she was really there and safe. But I didn’t. They needed to hold her too.
Besides, if things went the way I planned, I’d have forever to hold her.
11
Jules
Holding my parents’ hands, I looked around at the people I loved. I smiled as tears rolled down my cheeks. I silently thanked them for being in my world.
After spending a few minutes with them, my eyes found Dom’s and I nodded my head ever so slightly. He knew what I wanted. I needed to see the girls.
“Let’s go see the others.” He smiled as the nurse brought in a wheelchair. Apparently, he’d thought ahead.
Trying to stand, my legs were a little weak.
“Take it easy, baby. Let me help you,” Dom said, easing me into the chair.
“I want to visit Grace first,” I told him. She was so young and I needed to see if she was okay.
Dom slowly wheeled me to Grace’s bedside. Tears rolled down her battered face when she saw me, and I gently grabbed her hand. She looked so fragile.
Tears flowed without my permission. “How are you?”
“I’m better, but I still have a long way to go. I’m just happy I’m free. I have you and your family to thank for that,” she whispered, peering over at Dom.
“Don’t say that, Grace. You would’ve gotten out,” I told her.
The look she gave me sent chills through my body. “I don’t think so, Jules. The rest of us don’t have the connections or the resources that your family has. I’m so grateful, because if you didn’t, we would still be trapped in the worst kind of hell.”
The thought had never occurred to me. It wasn’t the police who had found me, it was Dom. His love for me not only saved me but saved the others. Looking up at him, I realized just how powerful love could be, and how blessed I was to have him.
I squirmed, needing to change the subject. “Have you seen the others?” I asked Grace.
Grace nodded, then winced. “Yes. Storm is the worst of us.” The sadness in her voice was gut-wrenching.
“Why? What’s wrong with her?” Did I miss something? I filtered through what memories I had, but there were only pieces. Was Storm hurt worse than I thought? Then it hit me. “Oh. Who else?” There was no telling what had happened to them before I’d arrived. All of them could’ve been raped and I’d never have known. My gut clenched and I felt like I could throw up. Her loaded silence told me Storm wasn’t the only one. I decided to leave it alone for now. “What about Storm’s injuries? Will she be alright?” My heart wrenched when I looked up and saw Grace’s face twisted with sadness.
She took a shuddering breath. “She has a broken ankle, an infection, and some bruising. And well, men can’t touch her. She freaks out. So they’re keeping her sedated for now. Mostly. You can sit with her, though. She might like that.”
“Can you come with me?” I wasn’t sure I could stand to see her like that on my own.
“Let me ask if she can have visitors,” Dom said, and headed to the nurses’ station.
Grace let go of my hand and sat up. “Thank you.”
“What did I do?” I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve her thanks.
Grace shook her head. “You don’t see it, do you? You gave us hope that we could still get out. Hope that some of us never had.”
I didn’t really know what to say to that. Knowing she had no family, I wondered where she’d go
