The Loss (Heartache series #1) (15 page)

“Help me get my belt off, Alena,” he says quietly. I set the tweezers down, now hot from the fire, on top of the first aid metal lid and help unbuckle his belt, pulling it through the loops as he tries to raise up allowing me to get it from his back side. I pull off his wet pants and boxers, and help him get the sweatpants on.

I’m out of breath and notice his chest heaving when I pick the tweezers back up and just stare at him. My eyes widen when he reaches down, and his breathing becomes even heavier as he pulls on the skin on either side of the wound. “I trust you, Alena.” My eyes snap to his, and I press my lips together and nod slightly. “Don’t pay attention to anything but what you’re doing. It’s gonna hurt, not gonna lie, but don’t worry about that, okay? Just get it out. I might pass out but I’ll be fine. Dose it with the alcohol after you get it out. Okay?” I just nod again and raise my hand, the tweezers shaking in my grip, and my heart beats so fast I feel I might choke. “You’ve got this, Alena. I trust you with my life.” Crap! His life. What if I can’t get it out or what if it gets infected?

I start to lean down and stop. Quickly, I get up and run over where he was before and grab the Jack Daniels bottle and then run back, kneeling once again. “Drink some of this first.”

He raises up a bit and I pour some into his mouth. He swallows and gives me a smile. “Trying to get me drunk?” He tries to wiggle his eyebrows but only the one over his uninjured eye moves.

“Yes, drink more.” I can’t help but smile a little and pour more into his mouth.

“Don’t get me too drunk, darlin’, or I won’t be able to tell you if you hurt me too much,” he winks, but again it looks odd with his swollen eye closed. Fear shoots through me. What if I hurt him so badly I mar him or worse, kill him. My hand starts to shake again, and I feel like I’m gonna be sick. “I’m just kidding. Sorry, bad taste. You’ll be fine. Let’s do this.”

I nod again and take a couple of deep breaths. I have to do this, for him. I close my eyes briefly, trying to calm down. My hand stops shaking, but inside I feel like I could hurl. Slowly, I push the tweezers into his skin. He hisses, and I dig deeper. I need to be careful, but I need to hurry and get this over with. Finally, I feel the hardness of the bullet but the tweezers keep sliding off around it. He groans and then presses harder on the skin around it. I grasp it, squeezing hard, and it starts sliding out. I get it out. His fingers relax and I smile, holding it up to inspect it. “I can’t believe I just did that.” I look at him, and my smile falls. He passed out.

After pouring some alcohol over the wound, I strike a match and hold a needle from the small sewing kit over the flame. I take some thread and stitch the wound as best as I can and dress it with a bandage, and then sit back with my hands on the rough ground behind me. I wonder what happened after I dove into the water. Is Bill still alive? God, I hope not. I’ve never wished anything bad on anyone before but after all he’s done, I hope he’s dead. He tried to kill both of us. I look down at Jase. His face is so pale. The one side of his face is so swollen and cut. I grab the alcohol and cotton and move to the other side of him, clean the cut on his face, then put a small butterfly bandage on it. I hobble over to all the bags and sit down, going through each one and organizing all our things. Who knows how long we’ll be here until we are found or can manage to leave? I find another blanket and take it over to Jase and spread it out over him, tucking in the sides around him.

After going through all the bags, I place all the food on small flat rocks to the left of the little water stream, then the first aid kit on a lower one. They are perfect and look like little shelves. I place the bag of twigs, the paper and the matches across from the fire next to the makeshift shelves as well as the bag of clothes. Jase had told me the small water stream should be clean enough to drink so we are good with water, but I found a couple of water bottles and put them with the food.

My body protests in pain and exhaustion so I leave the rest of the contents in the remaining bags for later, grab another blanket, and walk over to Jase, laying down on his right side. I cover up as best as I can, throwing some of my blanket on top of him, and bury my hurt arm underneath the blanket and across his waist, careful of his wound. He feels cool, so I snuggle closer and lay my head on his chest and stare at the fire. So much has happened, my mind is racing. When the bullet hit me, I thought I was gonna faint but all I could think about was Jase. All I could think about was getting to the waterfall and to our hidden cave, hoping, praying that Jase would make it here too. God, I was so scared, petrified. I knew Bill was abusive, and he was after my money, but I had no idea he would go to this length to get it. I should have known. My stomach is queasy thinking about everything, so I close my eyes, hoping sleep will take me.

“Run. Alena.”

Jase. His voice seems weird, but I’m so tired I can’t open my eyes.

“No. Alena.”

I stir, tightening my arm around a warm body. So tired.

“I can’t…. Get to you.”

Warmth. Fire. So hot. My eyes snap open, and I look up at Jase’s face. I bolt up and place my hand on his forehead. Shit! He’s burning up. He moans at my touch. “Alena. Run.” I throw the blanket off me and run over to the rock shelves, grabbing the first aid kit and drop it in my haste. The top opens and things spill out.

“Shit!” I bend down, picking up the contents from the ground and find the aspirin. My hands shake as I try to get the lid off. “Dammit!” Finally, I pop it off and take out a couple, putting the lid back on, grab a bottled water, and run back over to him.

“Uh, Alena,” he groans.

I kneel down next to him, my knees protesting, and place my hand on the side of his face then twist off the cap from the water. “Jase, baby. Take this.” His eye opens slowly, and the corners of his mouth lift slightly. “Here, baby, drink. Please.” His mouth opens, and I raise his head with my hand, then place the two pills on his tongue and press the water to his lips. He swallows then I pull the bottle back as he coughs.

“More,” he whispers.

I give him more and he ends up drinking half the bottle. Thank God! All the while I’m so thankful he seems lucid. “Jase, you’re so hot with fever. Those were aspirin. I don’t know what else to do.”

He grabs my hand and pulls me down close. I set the water and the bottle of aspirin down next to me, hoping I won’t need them again soon. “I’m good, Al. As long as you’re okay and close to me.” I watch him swallow and close his eye. God, I’ve never been so scared in all my life.

Chapter 15

I had the most horrible dream, but when I open my eye, I see it was reality. My right eye won’t open, and the pain in my face and side tells me it was all real. I look down at the warm body cuddled into me. Alena. Thank fuck! Her arm is laying low over my waist, and I notice the bandage wrapped around her upper arm. She was shot. I saw her go down into the water. Here I was so out of it when I got in here I didn’t even ask if she was okay. Shit! Carefully, I remove her arm, and she rolls to her back, sighing in the dim light. I look up and see the sun is starting to rise, giving us a little light, but soon there will be more in here. The fire is out so I push myself up to sit for a minute, feeling a little lightheaded.

Panic surges as I remember my fight with Bill. Anger. I wonder if he left or what he’s up to now. I should have killed him. Ended it. I tried. I shiver when I remember him aiming the gun at Alena’s head.

God dammit, Jase. Get your shit together. You need to take care of her now, figure out a way to get her safely home and find that asshole. For now, she needs to be kept warm and this is not the best place to do that. I push my hand against the rock ground, my other hand covering my side as I wince when getting to a standing position. I’m amazed as I walk over to get the twigs, and see how organized everything is. I turn my head and look down at her and smile. She thinks I took care of everything when really, she took care of me. My brave girl. She doesn’t think she’s strong, but I think she showed us both last night just how strong she is. I gather up the twigs, paper and grab the matches then sit down next to the fire pit and get a nice fire going. Damn, that’s better.

I feel stiff, sore and my body aches all over. I’ve done a lot of shit to myself over the years but I’ve never hurt this bad, physically. I look around the small area, the sun starting to lighten it more, and start thinking about how we’re gonna get home. I’m weak and would be a burden for her. I push myself up again and walk to one of the bags, rummage through and find my prepaid phone, turning it on. No service. Figures. I walk around, holding it up everywhere and nothing. Great. Exhausted so easily, I walk back over and sit down by the fire, next to my sleeping kitten and sigh. There’s got to be a way to get us out of here without too much stress. I just need time to think. Well, time is something I guess we have right now.

“Jase? Are you okay?”

I look down and smile. My sleeping girl is awake, kind of. She yawns, stretches out her legs and one arm then I remember her injury. My brows furrow. “Are you okay? How’s your arm? Come here, let me look.” She smiles as she sits up, turns a bit and lays her hand across my lap, stretching her arm.

“It’s fine. I swear.”

I start to unwrap her bandage and wink. “I’ll be the judge of that.” She winces as I pull the bandage off, and I make a face. I can’t help it. “Hmmm, I think it needs some ointment or maybe even a stitch or two?” Her lips pucker and her eyebrows lower. “Aw, come on. You can give me stitches but you can’t take them?” Her eyes move up to mine, under her long lashes, and nods slightly. “I’ll be careful.” She moves her arm as I stand, my knee almost giving out as I hobble over to the Jack Daniels bottle and pick it up then head over to the first aid kit. After getting the things I need, I walk back to Alena and sit in my previous spot. “Here. You might want a couple of drinks.” She takes the bottle, and I watch her untwist the cap.  I take a needle and light a match, getting it good and sterile. I’ve never been much of a sewer, so I’m a little worried about stitching her arm.

“How many drinks should I take,” she asks then hiccups. Too fucking adorable.

“Uh, I think you’ve had enough.” I smile and start to take the bottle from her hand.

“One more.” She smiles around the mouth of the bottle, and I lick my lips. Fuck! How can I be horny at a time like this? Oh, yeah. ‘Cos it’s her.

“Go ahead. Drink as much as you want.” I wink and stick the needle through her skin. She doesn’t even flinch. Thank you, Mr. Daniels. She continues to drink, and I continue to sew. “There.”

“There what?” She laughs and then hiccups.

I push her hair back over her shoulder and look at my handy work. “You’re all stitched up. Pretty good if I do say myself.” She looks down, back up and hiccups. Smiling she raises her hand, tracing my face with her finger.

“So much time we wasted and look where we are now,” she continues and I close my eye, “I’ve changed my mind.” My eye snaps open, and I’m totally confused. “When we get outta here….” Hiccup. “I don’t want to….” Hiccup. “Waste a second without you.” I let out a sigh in relief as her face starts getting closer, her lips part and presses against mine. She stills, and I grab the sides of her face and push her back to find her asleep. I let out a laugh and gently lay her down then I get up and lift her in my arms, stumbling a bit as I carry her over to the blanket and lay her down, covering her with the other one. Kind of a weird breakfast but one that was needed. I let her sleep and sit there eating a breakfast bar, trying to get a plan formed on how the hell we’re gonna get outta here safely.

Those drinks really knocked her out. All the stress and her wound probably are not helping, so I let her sleep. I finally decide to dive into the cold water and at least see if I can see anything from behind the waterfall. Again, not my best decision because not only is the water freaking cold, but it’s not helping with my stitches in my side. Once I’ve gotten through the cave walls and behind the rushing water of the waterfall, I wade and look through the water to see if I can see anything. Inhibited by the amount of water falling, I creep out along the side until I can get a better view. Nothing moves except the leaves on the trees and the long blades of grass.

I don’t know how long I stayed there, hanging on to a small rock ledge, but I get pretty tired so I head back. By the time I get inside and push myself up onto the large ledge, I’m fucking exhausted and hurting.

“Oh, my God! Jase!”

As soon as I stand, her arms are wrapped around me, her head laying on my chest, and I feel her body shake and know it’s not from my wet clothes. She’s crying. I feel like shit making her cry. “Hey. It’s okay. I’m here,” I whisper as I hold the back of her head, my arm wrapping around her.

“I thought you’d fallen into the water,” she cries. “And drowned. I was getting ready to dive in when you came up.” She sniffs several times and cries some more. “I thought I’d lost you again.” Now she begins to bawl and my heart bleeds. We stand there, me tightening my hold, and I let her just cry it out. She needs it. She’s been so strong, now’s the time to let me be the strong one. For her.

“Shhhh. I’m here, baby. I’ve got you.” I lean down and kiss the top of her head. “I’ll never leave you. Count on that.” She pulls back, holding onto my waist, and sniffs. “I’m sorry I worried you. I just wanted to go out and look around, see what our options are.” She sniffs again and nods. “I’m thinking by tomorrow it’ll be enough time that we can try to leave.” I cup her face and hold her still. “Are you okay with trying to get out by tomorrow? If not, we’ll wait until you’re ready.”

“No! I can do it whenever. I promise. Don’t let me hold us back. I need to get to my parents, we need to get the police involved and we need to find him.” She looks down at the water. “He’s still out there. I just know it.”

“I know. I think he is too but we’re gonna beat this, beat him.” I pull her into me and her arms move around me, squeezing. “It’s gonna be over soon and we can get on with our lives.” I push her back gently and smile. “Right now? I’m gonna get on some dry clothes and cook you a fantastic meal then we’re gonna rest up. Okay?” She nods and wipes her eyes, trying to smile.

“So when did you know you loved me?” She turns her head on my chest, looking up at me with those beautiful eyes. “I mean, love me, love me. Not like best friend kind of love me.”

I chuckle and tighten my arms around her and look up at the setting sun in the small area above us. We’ve been sitting against the bags on a blanket and just talking. I think it’s the best time I’ve had in a long time, under the circumstances. “I think. I think I’ve always loved you but I’d have to say, it wasn’t until our senior year when you went out with that doofus, Henry. The jealousy I felt and knew then that it was more than friendship.” I look down when she lightly smacks my arm and giggles. “What? He was a doofus, actually still is.” She giggles again, and I can’t help but chuckle. I’ve missed her laughter. “When did you know you loved me?” She rolls her eyes, fighting off her laughter. “Hey! It’s only fair. Come on! Spill it, Al.” She adjusts a little, and I hide my wince. My wound has really started hurting, ever since I went in the damn water, but I don’t want her to know.

“Uh, let’s see.” I poke her side with my finger, and she laughs. “OKAY! Um.” Her eyes move up to mine and stare into my soul. “I’ve always loved you,” she shrugs like it’s no big deal, like it should have been common knowledge. Maybe it was and I was just too stupid to see it. “I loved you like a brother, when we were little. It turned to best friends and then a crush when I was about ten. I always loved you in some way.”

I lean down and kiss her forehead. Her eyes close briefly but then open again full of love. “But when did you fall in love with me?”

She blinks and then smiles. “As soon as I knew what falling in love was,” she whispers. We both move at the same time, our mouths pressing together. If I felt better I’d push her down and make love to her over and over. A moan escapes her mouth into mine, but then she moves back a little, giving me a smile, knowing neither one of us are in any shape to take this any further. “We’d better get some sleep.” She reaches up and puts her palm on the side of my face. “You feel a little warm to me and you’re looking a little pale. We need our strength for tomorrow. I need to get you home and take care of you.” My heart couldn’t be any fuller than it is right now. But she’s right. I feel like shit and we need to get outta here tomorrow. I’ll need all the strength I can get.

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

The cave begins to lighten as the sun starts to rise. I don’t think I slept all night. Jase’s fever got worse, and I stayed by his side. At some point, I’d stripped off a piece of t-shirt that I found in one of his bags. Using some of the flowing water from the rock to wet it, I washed off his face, arms, legs, and everywhere I could to try to cool him down. He talked incoherently a lot and when I checked under his bandage, redness was all around his wound. I think it could be infected. I’m at a loss of what to do yet I need to do something.

After wetting the rag again and wiping him down, I walk over to one of the bags and find his prepaid phone, wrapped up tightly in thick plastic. An idea hits. I changed into one of his t-shirts and put on the shorts I was originally wearing, dry now from the fire, and I make sure one last time that he’s okay. I take a few deep breaths, jumping into the cool water. My arm hurts as I move it, swimming through the small opening and then kick my feet hard to get to the top of the water. The waterfall is louder than I remembered as I breakthrough, coughing and sputtering. It’s early morning so it’s not fully light outside yet, but it is enough that I can see fairly clearly. I wade over to where the water is pouring down and look around trying to see around the outside of the pond and into the trees surrounding it. There’s no movement except for the tall grass blades from the wind.

I take another deep breath and dive under, swimming slowly until I feel I can come up. Finally, I break free and swim over to the rocky edge. I shiver as I climb out and quickly pull out the phone in its plastic confine, taking it out and looking to see if there’s a signal. Thank God! I dial a number quickly and keep looking around while I wait for an answer. “Hello?” His voice is rough from sleep.

“Brandon. It’s Alena Spencer. I….”

He coughs, and I can hear rustling sounds. “Alena. Where the hell are you? The whole towns been looking for you. Are you okay, honey?”

“Jase. Jase is hurt badly. Do you remember his parent’s cabin?”

“Yes, I….”

“Good. Off to the left there is a trail, rocky, into the trees and it comes out to a clearing and pond with a waterfall at the back. Behind the waterfall, down into the water is a small opening to a cave. I need help, Brandon! Hurry! He’s….”

“Alena. Slow down, darlin’. We have an APB out on Bill. He beat up Scott trying to find you and….”

“Brandon! Jase is hurt. Please come and….”

Something hits me with such a force across my face that the phone falls from my hand as I hit the ground hard on my hands and knees. I feel dizzy and pain travels down my arm from my wound and into my hand. I reach up with my other hand and wipe across my mouth and when I bring it in front of me, there’s blood all over it. “Omph!” I cry as I’m kicked in my side, falling over onto the grass. I groan and when I open my eyes all I can see is haze.

“Why? Why couldn’t you just be a good bitch and mind me?” My heart starts beating fast as fear sets in when I hear Bill’s voice. He kicks my side again, and I curl up into a ball, yelling out in pain. “It could have been so good. You would have made a respectable wife, done everything I told you to do but you ruined it.” My hands grab his as he grasps my hair, pulling me up until I’m standing. “No matter, bitch. This is actually working out better. With your death, there’ll be no mistake to give me all your money and your business. I can play the grieving fiancé easily.”

I tug at his hands to no avail. “It won’t work, Bill. Everyone is on to you. You’ll never get away with it. Just let me go.”

He pulls my hair so hard I yelp when he pulls back my head. “Oh, it’ll work. I have the signed contract. There’s no denying what’s mine.” My knees feel weak. My body hurting all over and it’s difficult to breathe. “Let’s just take a little swim, darling. I think it only fitting you and your lover die together, don’t you?” He pushes my head back down, and I feel something sharp against my throat. “We’re going to go to your lover now and it would be in your best interest if you don’t push me or you won’t get a last look at him.” I feel the coolness of a blade swipe against my skin, slightly, and try to nod. “Good girl. Now come.”

He pushes me to the edge and grabs my arm, right over my wound, and I wince. We jump in together. His hand tightens around my arm, making it difficult to stay above the water. I start kicking my feet, trying to kick him in the process, but he just keeps pulling on my arm, the pain throbbing. My eyes close as we move under the pounding water from the waterfall but then open once we reach the dim light behind it. “Now, where the fuck is he?” Do I tell him? Do I lead him to Jase knowing he will try to kill him? Jase isn’t strong enough. “Bitch, better tell me!”

“I…. I don’t know. He must have left.”

A slap across my face makes me go down under water. His hand brings me back up abruptly by my arm, and I start choking, spewing out the unwanted water that flowed into my mouth. I watch his hand with the knife move underwater then he brings up a divers flashlight, turning it on, and smiling at me. He pulls me under, not giving me time to take a deep breath, and I watch in horror as he shines the light all around. I need air desperately, but I’m not showing him where the opening is. He moves us around, waving the light, and then takes us deeper. I struggle in his hold, my arm almost feeling numb, when he spots the small area that leads to the cave. I start tugging, trying to push back, but he pulls my arm so hard that I see spots forming in my eyes.

He drags me through the opening, and finally I take a loud deep breath as we break the surface. I’m coughing and sputtering, and I keep taking breaths as he pulls me over to the ledge. “Nice little place you have here. All the comforts of home,” he sneers. I’m shivering and hurting so bad as I look over at Jase. He’s still and my heart stops. “What do we have here?” I quickly look at Bill and then back at Jase. “Hmmm, seems I might have done more damage than I thought. Good.” I struggle against his hold, kicking him under the water, and place my hand on the rock above me, trying to get leverage. “Stop it, bitch! You’ll get your turn.” I let go of the rock and hit him in the face, scratching it with my fingernails until I draw blood.

“Fuck you, Bill. Leave us alone!” I scream, my voice echoing off the rocks around us.

“I grow tired of your mouth but I grew tired of it a long time ago.”

He releases my arm suddenly, and I grab the ledge with both hands, looking at Jase’s unmoving body, trying to climb up to him when Bill grabs my hair. He pulls me back and shoves me against the rock; the side of my head hitting so hard that darkness overtakes me.