I feel my dad’s hand go to my back for support.
“Once we had the seizure under control, I felt it best to sedate Mia. Allow her body time to rest, and give us time to get her rehydrated intravenously as Mia was continually rejecting our efforts to help her while awake.”
Rejecting their help? She didn’t want to get better?
Her phone goes off in her pocket. “Excuse me.” She pulls out the phone, looking at. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.” She begins backing away.
“When Mia’s awake—”
“I’ll come and tell you right away.” Then she’s gone.
I slump down in the nearest chair. Head in my hands.
Dad sits next to me. “She’ll be okay, son. We’ll help her. Whatever she needs.”
I lift my head a little, and look at him. “But what if she doesn’t want my help?”
He gives me a sad smile. “We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.”
***
Dad and I spend the night here in the hospital waiting room. We hear nothing more, no matter how many times I check with the receptionist, the answer is always the same – no change yet – Mia is still sleeping.
So I spend most of my time running everything over and over in my mind. Trying to figure out how I missed it. Were there any signs?
But I come up dry.
In the end, I’m still no clearer on it all, so I give into sleep, stretching out across three seats, letting Dad have the bench. I close my eyes, and I’m out.
When I open them again, daylight is pouring in through the large windows, and a glance at the clock tells me it’s seven-thirty.
Dad is already awake, watching the news on the TV up on the wall, drinking more of that shit vending-machine coffee.
“How long you been awake?” I ask, sitting. I stretch my back out, and every bone in my body cracks.
“Not long.”
“Any news?”
“No. I got you a coffee. Might be a bit cold now.” He hands it to me.
“It’ll do. Thanks.” I take two large gulps of the luke warm coffee and put it on the table.
“I spoke to Paula, she’s on her way to the hotel now, she’ll see to Dozer.”
Thankfully the Perry’s left the other day, so there’s only Dozer that needs taking care of.
I get up to stretch my legs. “Thanks.”
The main doors whoosh open, throwing a cold blast of air through the room. It actually helps wake me up.
I see coming in through the doors, a guy about my age. I notice him because he’s clearly money. Walks with that air of arrogance that only pricks with money do. He strides over to the reception desk.
“I’m just gonna go take a piss,” I tell Dad.
I’m walking past the reception desk, heading for the bathroom, when I hear that money guy talking with the receptionist.
“… name is Forbes Chandler. I received a call last night telling me that my girlfriend Mia Monroe had been brought it. I want to know how she is, and when I can see her.”
Blood rushes straight to my head. I stop and turn back, slowly.
“Yes, of course,” the receptionist smiles. “Just let me check.”
She’s starts typing. Clicking on the keyboard.
He checks his watch.
That’s him. This blond, prissy ass motherfucker, is the one who hurt Mia.
Why is he here? Who called him? Did Mia ask for him – did she ask them to call him?
Pain lances through me, quickly morphing to rage and despair and frustration.
Forbes turns his head in my direction. He sees me staring.
My fists tighten at my sides.
He gives me an odd look, then looks away, but he knows I’m still staring at him, so he looks back.
“Can I help you?” he asks with a smug look on his f**k ugly face.
I take a step toward him. “You’re Forbes?”
“Yeah. I am. Who’s ask—?”
He never finishes that sentence.
Because I punch him in the face. Hard.
He goes down from that one hit. Pussy. But I’m not stopping there. I’m on him, on the ground, punching him repeatedly over and over, and I can’t f**king stop.
Because all I can see is Mia’s black eye.
Him trying to rape her.
Her forcing herself to be sick. Passed out on that bathroom floor.
Me loving her. Wanting her.
Just pain. Fucking pain.
It’s endless, relentless. And I just keep plowing my fist into his face, trying to rid myself of it.
I don’t know if I’d have ever stopped, or if I’d have kept going until I killed him, but I don’t get the chance to find out because I’m pulled off him by Dad and the hospital security staff.
It takes three of them to get me off him. That’s how far gone I am.
“What the f**k!” he splutters through the blood in his mouth. “Are you insane? You’ve broken my nose!”
“That’s the least of your worries,” I growl. “You go near Mia ever again, and I’ll f**kin’ kill you!”
He stills. Just a moment. Hands covering his bleeding nose, his eyes meet mine. Something in them moves. I don’t know what it is, but I sure as hell don’t like it.
Then his hand drops. And he smirks. “Mia’s suckered you in good and proper.” He lets out a clipped, bloody laugh. “She’s good at that … playing the victim. And I’ll take it from the look on your face that you’ve been f**king her. Sorry to tell you this, but you’re not the first, won’t be the last.”