Until Jax by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Dedication
Natasha may everyone find a friend as crazy as you.
Until Jax
Love isn’t always what we want, but it’s always what we need.
Prologue
Ellie
By the time I arrive at the hospital and get put into a room, I’m at my wit’s end. My body is exhausted from having nothing really substantial to eat or drink over the last couple of days, and my mind is a mess from what I have just survived. On top of all that, I need to get to Hope.
“I’m really okay,” I repeat for what feels like the hundredth time to the doctor, who has been checking me over since coming into my room a few minutes ago.
“Ruth, let’s start an IV,” he says, looking over my head at the nurse, once again ignoring me and pulling my arm towards him, prodding It with his fingers.
“I need to get to Hope,” I whimper, yanking my arm out of his grasp when the nurse walks around the bed with the needle in her hand.
“Let the doctor put in the IV, Ellie,” the guy named Jax says, taking my other hand in his and smoothing his thumb over my palm. He hasn’t left my side since I walked out of the woods. I’ve been trying to ignore him, but am failing miserably. He’s a giant, and intimidatingly good-looking, which makes it nearly impossible to be in his presence without acknowledging him.
“You don’t understand. Hope needs me?” I cry as the doctor takes my arm again, placing the needle into my skin, causing tears of frustration to fill my eyes.
“Hey, don’t cry. I’m sure your dog is okay,” Jax says softly, running his fingers over the back of my hand.
“Ex-excuse me?” I sputter, turning my head towards him.
“Cat?” he asks, frowning.
“Hope is my daughter,” I hiss, pulling my hand from his grasp.
“Daughter?” He pales, searching my face. I’m not surprised by his reaction. That’s the normal response I get from men when they find out I have a kid, but something inside of me whimpers from his response.
“Daughter,” I affirm, lifting my chin, and then look at the doctor to glare. “I need to get out of here now,” I growl through clenched teeth.
“Fuck me,” Jax mumbles, but I ignore him and continue to shoot daggers at the doctor, which does nothing as he places the IV bag on a hanger above my head.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Anthony? but you’re severely dehydrated and we’re going to need to keep you here for at least a few more hours before you’re released.”
“I’ll drink some water,” I tell him, tempted to rip the IV out of my hand and stab him with it.
“Get some sleep.” He ignores me once more then walks away to speak with the nurse.
“This cannot be happening,” I mumble, falling back against the bed and feeling my eyes suddenly grow heavy, making me wonder if they put something else in the IV.
*
Waking to the sound of whispering, my eyes blink open slowly. The room is dark, with the only light coming from a TV in the corner, casting a blue glow throughout the room. As my eyes focus on the TV, I double blink. Jax’s uncle, Nico, is standing with a group of officers in front of the house I had been taken to, and the woman in front of the camera is speaking, but the volume is so low I can’t hear what she’s saying as the cameraman pans from the woman to the truck that had been driving after us. Sitting up, I find the remote next to the bed and turn up the volume.
“The two women were then chased by this truck while trying to get away on a four-wheeler they took from one of the assailants. One captor is dead and the other is still missing. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect, please call the number listed below,” the woman says before the scene is gone.