Page 39 of Escape

Beyond knowing that hours had passed, I didn’t know exactly how long it was when my mom finally came into the waiting room again.

“How is she?” I asked before the door even closed behind her.

The expression on my mom’s face was solemn. I braced myself for the news. “It’s not good, Huck. She’s been very badly hurt.”

My stomach roiled. It was only by a miracle that I didn’t vomit. “She’s going to survive, though, right?”

“Yes, she’s alive and will survive. She’ll recover, too. But after I saw what I did in there, Huck, I don’t know how she’s ever going to trust anyone not to hurt her again. The physical injuries are going to take some time to heal, but the emotional and psychological wounds are another story. She’s been through something so unbelievably traumatic.”

My lungs burned as a lump formed in my throat. “Can I see her?”

My mom shook her head. “Not yet. She’s going to be transferred to a room soon, and once she’s settled, I’ll let you know where she is. It’s going to be a while yet. Plus, I suspect with all that she’s been through and the medication she’s got in her body right now, she’s going to be out of it for the next few hours anyway.”

I nodded my understanding. “Please let me know as soon as I can see her.”

“I will,” she promised.

With that, my mom turned and left the room.

I waited a few beats, replaying the conversation I had with my mom in my mind. Then I pinned my gaze on Greyson and asked, “Are you coming with me?”

His brows drew together. “Where are you going?”

My voice had dropped to lethal levels when I answered, “To get some justice for Josie.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out of the room.

Unsurprisingly, my best friend was right behind me.

NINE

Huck

The redness and cuts on my knuckles felt good.

Retribution was helping.

Seeing this asshole doubled over in pain, spitting out blood, and groaning with the slightest movement didn’t completely make up for what happened to Josie, but it was a small step in the right direction.

I was feeling marginally better than I had been.

A hand settled on my shoulder. “I think you covered it, Huck. You settled the score.”

Greyson had come with me when I left the hospital. He attempted to reason with me the entire way here, but I refused to hold back. Maybe I should have remained calm, stayed at the hospital, and waited to see Josie before I did anything, but I couldn’t.

I’d been waiting for too long. I needed to do something to seek justice for what happened to her.

So, I came here, and I waited. It wasn’t long after I’d arrived when he showed up. And when I followed him into his house, I made sure he knew not only who I was, but I also made it clear just how big of a mistake he’d made.

Greyson stayed out of it. He knew I needed to do this, and at this point, he was here mostly to make sure I didn’t take things too far.

Apparently, he believed I’d proven my point. I didn’t agree.

Shaking my head, I bent at the waist and landed another blow to his face. He groaned, and I felt nothing but satisfaction hearing it.

“Not so much of a tough guy now, are you?” I asked him. “You need to beat up a woman to feel like a man? With all that practice, I would have thought you’d put up a bigger fight with me.”

“Get out of my house,” he demanded, his voice indicating just how much pain he was feeling.