CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

AMBER

 

IT WAS ANOTHER three weeks before I was released from the hospital. JP was there, as Emmett had promised, and when I saw him, my stomach tightened. He was like confirmation that Emmett was real. I was beginning to think I had imagined the whole thing.

“You look good,” JP grinned.

“I look like shit,” I responded, and his grin widened.

“I’m glad to see you didn’t lose your sass while they had you in here,” he joked back. I smiled at him, grateful for his attempt at trying to ease the tension I was feeling. But I had to know.

“Have you heard from him?” I tried to keep the calm in my voice.

“He’s fine, Amber. It’s like a holiday for him.” I wasn’t sure I was believing JP about the holiday part, but he didn’t sound worried for Emmett, and that alone eased my mind a little.

“What happened to everyone else?” I asked, looking at the door, making sure that we still had our privacy. My parents or Grace could arrive any moment.

“Kirk received a longer sentence. He got five years.”

My hand went to my chest. Five years in prison. He had killed Matthew after Matthew had shot me. It was self-defense. I had seen it in Matthew's eyes, he was ready to finish me off. And for that he would spend the next five years in prison. I would be eternally grateful to Kirk. I would never be able to repay him, but I swore to myself that I would try. And I would start by making sure I visited him often, taking with me what comforts from home I could. 

“That’s a long time. Is he with Emmett?” JP stuffed his hands in his pockets as he leaned back and forth on his heels and toes.

“It could have been worse. They’re in the same prison, yes. Along with Emmett’s father, Silver’s dad, and any members who survived. None of them are in the same wings, though, so don’t worry.”

My heart pounded thinking of Emmett with all the criminals. “How long did his dad get?” As far as I was concerned, I hoped they tossed away the key.

“Ten years.” I looked at him in shock. That’s all? Ten years? That was such bull, and I wanted to scream that to the world, but I didn’t. Kirill was sent back to Russia for his trial. The women were also transported back to their country. Marcus, who was one of JP’s men, had been shot several times, and was in a coma.

“What about Natasha?” Her name tasted bitter in my mouth, but I had to ask. That bitch had kidnapped me. I hoped she got some kind of punishment.

JP shook his head. “She didn’t make it.” I wasn’t sad about that, but I wasn’t happy either. She didn’t deserve to die, but neither did I, and I knew that she would have been more than happy to end my life. I guess that was what made us so different. JP picked up my bags. “You ready, princess?” he said with a grin, and I wanted so much to go with him back to Emmett’s, but I wasn’t ready yet. I wasn’t ready to be there, not without him.

I shook my head and gently placed my hand on his arm. “I’m going with my family, JP.” His grin slipped, and he slowly placed my bags on the floor. I was a little surprised at his compliance, and my look must have portrayed that to him.

“Emmett said to do whatever you wanted. So, if that is what you feel is best, then I will let you go. But know that if you need me for anything...” he glanced around the room, before he spotted what he was looking for. Walking over the bedside table he picked up my phone and pressed several buttons before placing it back down. “Just ring. I’m in as Hot Stuff.” I laughed, just as my mum and Grace entered the room. Both stopped when they saw JP. Grace looked at me with a question in her eyes, but I just shook my head, letting her know I would explain later.

My mum smiled. “Emmett?” She extended her hand out to him. I snorted, and JP stood, looking at me, offended.

“John Paul,” he offered once he looked back at my mum. “I’m Emmett’s friend, assigned to look out for Amber while he is away on business.” He shook my mum's hand.

She smiled at him. “Amber’s mother. Nice to hear that Emmett cares so deeply for my daughter that he assigns people to look out for her.” I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks as my mother looked at me with raised eyebrows.

“Mum,” I warned. She was seriously embarrassing me.

“I’m Grace, Emmett’s sister.” Grace said, walking forward, replacing my mother’s hand with her own.

JP hid his shock well, but I saw how he stilled briefly. He took Grace’s hand. “Really nice to finally meet you,” he said. Grace gave an embarrassed smile. Everyone smiled through the silence. This was awkward.

“Okay. Well, thanks, JP, but my mother has got it from here.” I prodded, hoping to move the moment on.

“Yeah, great. So, remember, ring me if you need me,” he was quick to answer and walked towards the door, my mother and Grace following each step he took. He gave them a brief goodbye before leaving.

“He’s cute.” Both Grace and I laughed at my mother. “What? He is,” she said, defensively, confused at our humor.

“Take me home, Mum. I must tell Dad you were eyeing up JP, a man half your age.”

Now it was mother’s turn to be embarrassed. “Don’t be so ridiculous, Amber. I was doing no such thing.” Grace and I sniggered as she carried my bags out of the room and to the car.

The drive home felt lonely. My stomach tightening, I felt as if the further north we went, the further my life was getting away from Emmett. I started to wonder if this had been such a great idea. Grace, being Grace, took my hand and squeezed it. “You’ll see him soon,” she promised. I looked at her with tears in my eyes. It always amazed me that she knew exactly what I was thinking.

“Thanks, soul sister.”

“You're welcome, soon to be my real sister.”

I laughed at her words. “You always have to take it one step further. Couldn’t leave it alone.”

“Honestly, the way he spoke about you–well I was kind of jealous,” Grace was serious now. Her comment made me sit up and listen. “Not in a sick way,” she grinned. “But like, you got to really know him because he got to know you. You know what I mean?” Grace asked wistfully.

“I actually do, Hun. And when you get to know him, you are going to love him as much as I do.”

“So, you do love him?” I heard from the front of the car. I looked up to see that my mother was looking at us in the rear-view mirror.

“Yes, I do,” I answered, looking at her, and I could see the smile in her eyes. “Very much,” I added, as my heart panged. I was missing him so much.

I came home to a welcome party. Claire, Laura, Simon, Luke, Derek, and my dad greeted us. It felt like a lifetime since I had seen my friends. They immediately surrounded me and Grace, and we all hugged. Derek, being Derek, hung back watching. He reminded me of a very, very attractive Viking, one who was now engaged to my best friend.

“No love for me?” I asked him. He wasn’t the hugging type, so when my friends let me go and he hugged me, I was shocked. I had only been joking, so it took me a moment before I wrapped my arms around him.

“Don’t ever do that again,” He whispered to me, like I could control bullets. But I got what he was saying.

“She really lost her shit?” I asked, and he nodded, his face strained.

“No more walks alone,” he added.

“Are you offering to walk with me, Derek?” I joked.

“If that's what it takes.”

I was joking, but he was seriously considering it. His love for Grace was so obvious and remarkable.  “I’m joking. No more walks alone, I promise,” I told him.

“Stop mauling my man,” Grace joked as she beamed up at Derek. It would normally make me sick, their devotion to each other, but now it all made sense, and it made me miss Emmett.

The welcome home party drained me, and after a few hours, I made my way to my room. Sitting on my bed, I let the silence in and allowed myself to think about everything that had happened. Jesus, it was like something from a movie. Thinking of it all, from the moment I left Emmett’s to the moment I woke up in the hospital, my mind reeled. But the one thing that I kept coming back to, the one thing that stood out was Craig. His betrayal hurt. I wondered if Emmett had ever found him. Is that how he had found me? I had so many unanswered questions. Was he dead? I hoped not. I was so pissed, and would never ever speak to him again, but I didn’t wish anything bad for him. He was messed up on drugs. And the pain that he had caused me, and the betrayal he had just pulled, were indications of just how far down the rabbit hole he had fallen. It wasn’t an excuse, but it made me understand his betrayal a little better. I took my phone out of my pocket and texted the number I had saved from him.

I hope you’re okay. Then I deleted it.

I’m alive, if you’re wondering. Deleted that, too.

I hate you. Deleted.

I threw the phone on the bed. I wanted so much to type it all, but what good would it do me? He was that far gone that none of it would have even reached him. So, I did the one thing I could. I picked my phone back up and started typing.

Let me know you’re alive, please. This one I hit send on, before climbing awkwardly into bed. My side was still sore, and I had no morphine drip to dull the pain anymore.

I woke the next morning to my mother pulling open my curtains and letting light and fresh air in. “Mum seriously?” I said, sitting up, shielding my eyes. She smiled at me like I was a ray of sunshine. Setting the tray down on the locker beside me, she sat on the bed.

“I love having you home,” She said as she tucked my hair behind my ear. I wanted to swipe her hand away; it made me feel like I was ten years old again. But I knew better than to do it, as my mother would just fuss even more.

I sighed after taking a sip of the tea she made me. “You always made the best tea,” I complimented as I closed my eyes and let the warm liquid run down my throat.

She kissed my forehead. “Thank you, baby. Now, enjoy your breakfast. I better go and feed your brother.” I did as my mother asked and enjoyed my breakfast. Scanning my phone, my heart leaped. I had a message.

It was from Craig. I thought it might have been Emmett, not that he would have a phone in prison, but for a split second I had hoped. After all, he was a very resourceful man. My stomach tightened, picturing his face. I swallowed the lump in my throat and opened Craig’s message. It was like water on a fire.

What I did is unforgivable, but I’m alive and getting help. Hope to see you one day. Sorry.

I read and re-read his message, just thinking of what he had done to me, what the drugs made him do. I really hoped he was getting help, for real this time, but I didn’t respond. I was still too hurt. I knew he was alive, and that was enough for now. I put the phone back on the locker and finished my tea.