JARED-1(Lane Brothers, Book 4)(9)

Unfortunately, that’s one of the reasons Clyde could get to me so easily and one of the reasons I couldn’t even fight back. I wasn’t able to, pathetic as it sounds, and it got worse when—

No, not again Paulette. Push that other shit aside and focus, I snarl as I feel the onslaught lessening slowly and become aware of hushed voices and the feel of methodical hands running over me.

When my eyelid is raised and the blinding glare of the doctor’s light hits my eye, I cringe and pull back with a moan and a jerk that wrenches my aching neck.

“She’s okay, Mr. Lane. It looks to me to be a panic attack—”

“That looked like a seizure!” I hear Jared yell and it makes me want to smile when I feel the doctor’s hands tremble as he adjusts my head comfortably and releases my eyelid.

“Sir, Miss Hayes is not epileptic and suffers from no physiological signs of tumors or other disorders. From what you described, I can confidently say that was a panic attack, albeit a rather severe one. It worsens with stress and I’d say she’s been having them for a long time now just by looking at her back molars and feeling some of the lumps on her head. She needs rest and calm right now.”

“You think I don’t know that, asshole?! You saw her! How the hell—”

“Son, calm down. Dr. Steve is right and you’ll have to accept it. Paulie’s had a very stressful time lately, and she’s always been a skittish little thing.”

“But, but she’s already so hurt. She can’t be having these things,” he croaks and I wonder if that tone is as soft and caring as it sounds or just my own, hopeful, foolish imagination.

“They will lessen over time with proper care and minimal stress. I’ve seen these before, Jared, and it’s not life threatening or anything serious. Just keep an eye on her, and if she seems to be getting upset try to calm her.”

I hate that it’s happening now, in front of these people, and I hate even more that it’s another thing to make others pity me. And I freaking despise knowing that it’s all psychological shit messing with my body this way.

“Cupcake.”

Great. He did use my nickname after all, and while I feel a small amount of relief, I also feel total dismay. He’s being nice now. After all this, he’s being nice, and I know that if not for this episode I’d still be staring into cold eyes that hold nothing but loathing for me.

That hurts more than his dislike, and I look away with a frown, refusing to meet his gaze.

“I need to go home.”

“Cup—”

I’m so sleepy all of a sudden and I just barely manage to shake my head and cut him off.

“It’s all under the floorboards beneath my bed,” I whisper, letting my eyes droop closed.

***





Jared

Her eye finally drops closed and I hear her even breathing as the medication the doctor gave her takes effect and knocks her out fully. My own relief pours through me and I look away from her battered face with a curse, only to see my family standing, looking at me with anger and compassion.

“She doesn’t need you yelling at her at every turn, Jared Esiah Lane,” Ma mutters, wiping at her wet cheeks as Pop pulls her closer.

“Bro—”

“I can’t let her go back, no matter how hard I have to be on her. They did not just beat her, Wyatt,” I say, pulling at my hair as anger and a feeling of hopelessness hits me.

I don’t know how I’ll tell them this. Hell, I don’t know how I’ll tell Paulie if she doesn’t know, which seems likely now that I know that it could have happened while she was having an attack and dead to the world.

“Explain,” Wyatt says and I stiffen when Dad draws himself up and narrows his eyes at me.

“What are you saying?”

I can see they all know and yet none of us want to believe it. Fuck, I can’t even think it without having the urge to tear this place down brick by brick.

“She was bleeding…vaginally when they checked her out.”

With all the trauma she sustained, they can’t say for certain that she was raped, but I feel…terrified at just the thought of my cupcake having to endure that horror on top of the pain she suffered.

“Jared, you need to talk to her about it,” Ma croaks, sniffling loudly into Pop’s shoulder as Ellie covers her mouth with her hand.

My throat is too tight to speak, and for a guy like me, who never cries or shows emotion unless necessary, I feel a part of myself crack with the need to cry.

“I don’t want to talk about it, Ma.”

“But, honey, you must. Paulie needs you to be strong. She needs you to be there for her and to help her through all this. You can’t hide from this sort of thing, Jared, and if they did…hurt her that way, you need to help her heal from it.”