“Tiger,” Moose called from behind us.
Penelope looked at him for a moment, then back to Jenna. “The police need to talk to you, and you do need to go to the hospital. Liam will stay with you, and I can be the one to ride in the back with you, if you want.”
Jenna nodded. “I need my clothes,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “And I need to get up.”
So strong.
“Of course, Firefly. We’ll help you. Do you want your clothes back on, or do you want to wear mine?”
“Mine are okay,” she said, so damn shaky.
Moose and a cop held up rescue blankets for a privacy screen, and I helped Jenna get dressed. I pulled her underwear and jeans on, then helped her sit up. I fixed her bra and pulled her shirt down, but it was all so fucking hard to do when my hands were shaking and I was looking through tears. I gently caressed the fist-shaped bruise blooming on her stomach and tried to ignore the finger-shaped marks on her thighs and breasts and the way she trembled at my touch.
“Don’t…don’t the cops need to see?”
“No one is seeing you,” I growled out before I softened my voice. “They’ll take pictures at the hospital. That will be enough.”
I sat next to her and gazed into her beautiful, tear-filled eyes. “Firefly, can I hug you?” It would break my heart—for her—if she said no, but I’d understand. We’d get there again.
“Yes, please.”
Thank God. I gently wrapped my arms around her, and she grabbed onto me and burrowed her face in my chest.
My Firefly.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Jenna
Liam leaped to his feet and spun toward the hospital room door.
Two sets of footsteps skidded to a stop. His broad back, with every muscle bunched, blocked my view of whoever was coming, and I tensed up too in response, but I relaxed at the sound of Nicky’s voice. “Stand down, big guy. It’s just us.”
Juliette followed more hesitantly. “Is...is she okay?”
“I’m fine. Just walk carefully around the growly bear. He probably won’t attack.”
They came over to the hospital bed where I was propped up, and we hugged while Liam hovered over us. I could tell he was biting his tongue to not tell them to be careful with me.
“Why don’t you go get a c—a bite to eat?” I stopped myself before saying coffee, thank goodness.
I was infinitely grateful for Liam’s support, especially when I had to talk to the police and get the rape kit. Even though I insisted he didn’t rape me, apparently what he did counted as rape, which was messing with my head in a way I didn’t wantto think about yet. However, as much as having him by my side and holding my hand helped, the agony on his face also added an extra layer of horror to the whole experience. I didn’t want to say or do anything else that would make him look like that ever again. I definitely couldn’t ask him to get coffee. And even though I knew he didn’t want to leave, I didn’t want him to have to hear it all again.
“Sure, Firefly. I’ll give you time with your friends.” His fingers carefully grazed my jaw, and he pressed his lips against my temple in a lingering kiss before he pulled back to look into my eyes. “I’ll be right outside the door. Holler if you need anything.”
I watched him walk away, my heart breaking at the sight of his tense shoulders and clenched fists, like he was fighting to hold himself together. Juliette followed him, and when he turned to her, she wrapped her arms around his waist. They hugged for a long time, and I was so grateful to Juliette for comforting him when I couldn’t. I needed to get out of this hospital for both our sakes.
Liam gently closed the door behind him, and then, with all of us crying, I told Juliette and Nicky everything. It was a shock even to myself how far back I had to go to tell them the full story. I’d really messed up by ignoring so many huge, glaringly obvious warning signs. I felt so foolish for insisting on going to work and making Liam get that damn coffee.
“It’s not your fault,” Nicky said. “He’s a psychopath. He would’ve just kept trying until he got you.”
Juliette glared at her. “That doesn’t make it any better.”
I tried to force a smile. “Maybe a little.” It didn’t, but I didn’t want to debate how I was to blame.
“What now?” Juliette asked. “Do you need to stay here?”
“They’re worried about aspiration pneumonia from throwing up while I was gagged. I got a chest X-ray and I’m waiting to see what else they need to do.”