Stephan(27)

Going to them, I let all my rage out. “Let him go. I want to beat him while he attempts to fight back.” Brand let go and stepped away but Royce studied me for a moment before he nodded to me and let go of the arsehole. I got right up in the bastard’s face. “You like hitting people who can’t defend themselves. They are half your goddamned size? Let’s see how well you fight with someone who can hit back and harder.” I punched him in the face dodging his fist. I repeated my action again aiming for his other eye. I smiled when I heard the crunch of his nose breaking. I kept hitting and punching until Brand pulled me off.

“You need to go. I can hear the sirens.”

I felt a lot calmer now as I stared at the beaten man. “How you gonna explain that?”

Brand shrugged then punched the concrete wall of the pub. “There we go. I defended myself and he fell a lot.”

Royce chuckled and I looked over to see him giving a filthy look to the scum doubled over. Royce glanced up at me. “Go, kid. We’ve got you covered. Your girl needs you.”

I ran back to where my dad and Jade. He was on the phone still sitting next to Jade. I plonked down on the other side of her. She groaned and I leaned forward. “Wanker, you’re here. I met your dad.”

My girl was okay if she was calling me names. “I’m here, little bit. I’ll never leave you.”

“I hurt,” she rasped out.

I swallowed the lump clogging my throat. “I know. I’m sorry.”

She didn’t answer and her eyes closed again.

“Stephan, you need to keep her awake. Don’t let her sleep. The ambulance is here now. I was told not to let her sleep.”

Crap, I didn’t know what to do to keep her awake without hurting her further. Leaning down, I gently brushed her hair away from her face. “Jade, you need to stay awake.”

“Mmm,” she groaned.

I needed her to stay awake. “I put the tracker on your phone and linked it to mine. It’s how I knew where to find you.”

“Hate you.”

I smiled and thanked God I knew how to press her buttons. “I bet you don’t. I bet you love me.”

“Err, dream on.” Her voice was getting fainter but she was still fighting with me.

I stroked her cheek and glanced at my dad who was still talking on his phone. “I do. They are all filled with you.”

A wretched sob escaped and tears slid down her cheeks. My heart crumbled at the sight. I’d never felt so useless. I sighed when I saw Derick and Owen guiding the paramedics to us.

The paramedic took in the situation and went to Jade. They went to work asking her questions trying to keep her awake. When she stopped they turned to my father who was still on the phone. Dad pointed to me and the paramedic turned back to me.

“Can you tell me about her? We need to get her out of here fast so walk with me.” Two paramedics lifted her onto a stretcher and I chased after them scared when she didn’t wake while they were moving her. “I got out of her that she is Jade Black, seventeen, and not allergic to anything that she knows of. I need to know if she has had anything broken before, and everything you can tell me that might help her.”

I was glad for the report I’d gotten on her and told them everything I knew. The police were near the road and I could see them talking to Royce and Brand, but I didn’t see the bastard. I got in the ambulance still talking. I wouldn’t leave her, they would have to pry me from her side.

*****

I knew why my dad had been on the phone. As soon as we’d arrived at the hospital a group of doctors took over. A nurse came over to me and dragged me from Jade. “She is in the best hands. I have no idea who she is but she must be important. They are our senior doctors and I’m told we have a doctor flying in from Sydney and arriving any minute.”

I owed my dad big time. He must have pulled favors and pushed his weight around. I paced the waiting room eager to hear any information on Jade. It was my mother’s arms coming around me that had me stopping. “Your father and I just became temporary guardians.”

Love spread through me as I looked down at my mum. My parents were awesome, repeating again that I owed my dad big time. I knew then for sure who the bastard was I beat. “It was her granddad, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. He is in custody and it doesn’t look like he’ll be released. The police searched his place. They got a tip and someone came forward claiming something. The police are now searching his property. They found a couple of judges happy to help them.”

“Thanks. I’m lucky to have you.”

My mum stretched up on tiptoes and brushed my hair out of my eyes. “I didn’t do anything, baby. It was all your father.”