Page 51 of Forbidden Want
“We’ll go,” her grandfather said. “We’ll be just outside.”
Movement and door sounds followed, but she couldn’t concentrate and kept her eyes closed, attempting to relax and steady her breathing.
“I hurt everywhere.”
“I’ll ask them to up your meds,” he said. “I don’t know if they can, but I’ll ask.”
She managed a smile. “If you ask the nurses, they will. You’re a stud around here.”
“Guess you’re feeling better.”
Not on the pain scale and her memory was fuzzy, but she remembered her brother. And being there with…
She frowned, rolling her head on the pillow in his direction. “Is Evander still here?”
“He’s on the fourth floor. I checked. As far as I know, he doesn’t know about this or that you’re here.” That wouldn’t last. “I won’t let him hurt you. Was he involved?”
“I don’t know,” she said, trying to keep her head still. It hurt more when she moved. “I don’t know what…”
“Just tell me whatever you can. Is there something you didn’t want to say in front of Dad?” There was plenty she didn’t want to say in front of their father. “Is it about the assault? What they did to you? Do you remember…?” His pause was ominous. “Were you raped?”
“I don’t know,” she said, details blurred. “I think I passed out.”
“You hit your head hard. More than once. Do you consent to the exam? I know it will be uncomfortable, but the more evidence we can gather—”
“I scratched him,” she said, still disconnected from her arms somehow. “At least one of them… I think.”
“Good.”
Her lips curled again. “The first guy was tall. Over six feet… I kept trying to focus. I knew you’d want a description… When they started… I thought maybe I wouldn’t make it out and scratched him, so—”
“Hey,” he said, his thumb moving on her cheek, swiping away the free-falling tears she hadn’t noticed. “I will get him. I promise you. No matter what it takes.”
Except she didn’t want to break her brother’s good heart. “I shouldn’t have been walking there.”
“Why were you?”
Pain between her eyes intensified. “I don’t know, I can’t remember. I remember I was… He came from nowhere. I didn’t see anything. Not a… I didn’t see anything; I was just picked up and… we were in the alley.”
“It’s okay. Take your time.”
Sealing her lips, she inhaled through her nose, fighting to quell the nausea. “I need you to do something.”
“Okay.”
“You might not understand it, but… I need you to do it.”
“Whatever you need. What is it?”
She took another fortifying breath. “I need you to tell Strat to come in.”
“Strat?” he asked, confused. “Kurt Stratford? Imogen’s dad?” She managed a slight nod, her eyes still closed. “Why would he…? What do you mean come in?”
“If he’s heard, he won’t be far away,” she said. “And he’ll have heard.”
“How is he connected to this? Did he hurt you?”
“No,” she said and forced her eyes open. “Please, Lach. Please ask him to come in and talk to me.”
