Lydia whimpered. The sound grated on her nerves.
“If that had been me I would have lied my way out of it. I’d have told the asshole that I didn’t know you, that there was no way to find you.”
“Jess—”
“You didn’t do that. You led him right to me and put my life in danger.” Tears spilled out of her eyes. She stared at her friend and saw nothing. “We’re done. Do you hear me? We’re through. I’m not going to be there for you anymore. You’re on your own.”
“Jess, please, I’m really sorry.”
“No. I don’t want to listen to it anymore. From now on you stay away from me.” She shouted for Snake.
“No, Jessica, please, don’t leave me. I don’t want you to go.”
She ignored Lydia, and Snake walked in. He didn’t question her as he wheeled her back to her room. Lydia called out her name, and she ignored the call. Snake helped her back into bed, and she was so happy to be in her room.
“Are you sure about this?”
“She didn’t even try to help me, Snake.”
“Lydia answered the phone.”
“She lured him back to my place. She put me in danger, and she didn’t even warn me. I could have phoned you to let you know what was going on. Nothing.” Tears fell from her eyes. He climbed onto the bed, wrapping his arms around her.
“I’m with you, baby. You know I don’t care about the bitch. I never cared about the bitch. The only person I want is you.”
He kissed her neck, and she turned into his arms.
“I love you, Snake.”
“I’ll protect you.” He cupped her cheek. “I’m going to find him, and I’m going to kill him.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”
“You’re not worried about what I’m going to do?”
“No, I want you to tell me when he’s dead, Snake. I need to know.” She touching his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin seep through her fingers. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
“Oh, honey,” Bethany said, rushing into the room. Jessica was pulled into a hug that almost choked her. Looking over her mother’s shoulder she saw her father and brother enter the room.
“Everything is taken care of. You’ll have the best love and care here. When you’re well, we’re taking you home.”
“No, you’re not, Dad.” She expected the threat of being taken back home. It was what her father always said when he found out she’d been hurt or in danger, even when she was a little girl.
“Jessica, you could have died.”
“What happened today wasn’t Snake’s fault. It was Lydia’s. I’m not leaving the man I love. We’re going to get married.”
William didn’t look convinced.
“I’m not going anywhere, and if you try to make me, I’ll never speak to you again. I mean that. You can’t protect me from everything, Daddy. I know you want to, but you can’t.” She rested against Snake needing his warmth more than anything. “Snake loves me, and there’s nothing you can say that is going to make me change my mind.”
Her father hesitated for many minutes. He clearly wanted to say something else or get her to agree to go home. “There’s nothing I can say?”
“Nothing. I’m going to be happy and married very soon. Be happy with me for that.” She held onto Snake’s hand tighter than ever before. He was the only person she’d ever loved and trusted. Over the past couple of weeks he’d proven to her over and over again that he wasn’t the man she first thought he was. She wanted a future with him, to have children, grow old.
“It’s okay, honey. We’ll all get through this. Don’t ever think I’d willingly let anything happen to you. I’m sorry, but when you’ve got kids of your own, Jess, you’ll understand.”
She smiled. “I already understand, Dad.”
After a tense couple of minutes, they all sat down. Jessica was happy to finally be with her parents. She wasn’t a fool though. She knew Master was still out there somewhere. He was going to come back whether she liked it or not. She shuddered, and Snake held her a little tighter for it. Even with Master out there, Snake was now alert, and no one was going to hurt her.
****
Lydia couldn’t stop crying. She’d just lost the only friend who’d ever really given a shit about her.
Dick entered the room. He sat down on the chair beside the bed, staring at her. She was indebted to him. When Snake had entered the room, he’d caught Jessica before she fell in her own vomit. Snake, Death, and Sean had been there for Jessica. Dick, he’d been the one to help her while no one else cared.