Page 139 of Broken Prince
Not wanting to interrupt them, I take a few steps back.
Turning around, I find Owen making his way down the stairs. “Laney,” he whispers, worry etched on his face as he rushes over to me. He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight to his body. I wrap my arms tightly around him, afraid to let go.
“Tell me you're okay,” he murmurs against the top of my head.
“I’m not, Owen. How could I be?” I pull back to look up at him with watery eyes. “Tell me it’s all a big nightmare that I drank last night and passed out sometime after the bounce house.”
He gives me a pained look. “I wish I could, baby.” He brushes the hair out of my face. “I really fucking wish I could.”
“Is he okay?” my voice breaks as I think of Benny, the sound of his cries echoing inside my mind.
“He’s okay.” Owen gives me a small smile, but it looks like it’s taking everything in him to do it. “He’s here, upstairs, sleeping. Logan is with him, he hasn’t left his side.”
“Logan.” I close my eyes, the tears spilling as I do. “He must be devastated.”
“He is. But he’s strong. At least, he’s trying to be for Benny.”
“How did I get home, and what happened after I took off?”
“I stayed with Logan until the police and EMTs got there, and once I knew they were both in good hands, I took off after you.” He cups the back of my head.
“You pulled me off her,” I whisper.
“I had to. Only because I wasn’t going to lose you, Laney. You would have gone to jail if she died of anything but an OD. That can’t happen. I need you, E needs you, Logan and Benny sure as hell need you. She’s not worth losing your life over.”
“What happened to her?” If she got off easy, I will track her down and end her myself.
“She’s in the hospital right now, but she’s under arrest. Once she’s stable enough, they’re going to take her to the local jail. As far as we know, there’s no bail being posted. But we do need to be ready for that to happen,” Owen growls. “Her slimy-ass fucking family is going to try and make sure of it.”
“But there’s proof of child endangerment!” I gape up at him in horror.
“I know, and the police said that Benny will remain in Logan’s custody. We were able to get his case in front of a judge, and the judge granted Logan emergency full custody.”
“Thank god,” I sob out in relief, scrubbing my eyes with the palms of my hands. “He won’t ever feel that pain again.”
“No, he won’t,” Owen says with promise. “She won’t ever see him again. And once we build a case against her, we can get her charged and hopefully locked up for child abuse and neglect. The videos on your phone will help a whole fucking lot.”
My eyes widen. He must have watched at the one I took before. “The one I took of her shooting up?” Owen nods. “I really hope they can use it.”
“I’m sure they will. Our lawyers are already hard at work. Anything we can use against her will be vital.”
My face falls. “I made a deal with her.” My eyes widen. “That if she didn’t take Benny away from Logan, I’d move out and stay away from all of you.”
“We assumed as much.” Owen kisses my forehead. “Based on what we talked about before you left and all the other things we’ve noticed.”
“You don’t hate me?”
“Never. And I know Logan doesn’t either.”
“Do you think he would be okay if I went up to see him?” I ask, looking up at the top floor.
“He should be up still. He hasn’t slept all night. But I know he’s been worried about you, he asked me to look after you. I was using the bathroom when I came out to find you were no longer in bed.”
“Oh.”
“They took Benny to the hospital and got him checked out. He’s okay, aside from a little bit of dehydration and a real bad rash. No, not even a rash; they are massive blisters. He’s on medicated ointment.”
Tears slip from my eyes, knowing Benny must still be in pain.