“I don’t know yet. I’m taking Huntley to the hospital.”
Brody looks at the tiny body in my arms and frowns. We exchange a look and I know what he’s thinking. He knows what’s wrong with her and he knows who’s responsible. “I’ll come with you.”
I nod stiffly and resume carrying Huntley out to my truck. I put her into the back seat and look at a frightened Demi, “Wait right here. I’ll be right back.”
I turn to look at Brody, “Call Coach and tell him to meet us at the hospital. I’ll be right back.”
He jumps into my truck and I stomp back inside the bar, scanning the area quickly before I spot Luke grinding with some bimbo on the dance floor. What kind of asshole drugs his date and then just leaves her? The fact that it’s Huntley just makes me furious.
I tap his shoulder and as he spins around my fist connects with his jaw. He hits the ground and the girl next to him screams. I grab his shirt collar and yank him up again. I know security will be here in less than one minute so I need to make it short. I’m quite a bit bigger than he is so I look down at him and we’re so close our noses are touching.
“Listen here you piece of shit,” I growl so only he can hear me. “If I find out you drugged her I will find you and I will break every fucking bone in your body. You better pray I don’t find you near her again, because if I do, you’ll wish you were dead.”
His face pales and his eyes widen to the size of saucers. “You got it?”
He swallows and nods once before one of the bouncers pulls me off him. I willingly let go and then tell the bouncers to get him out before he drugs anyone else. I don’t stay to watch what they do to him. Instead, I make a beeline for my truck.
All I want to do is get Huntley to the damn hospital.
** ** ** ** **
“Where is she?” Coach Morgan yells while running into the emergency room. Mrs. Coach isn’t far behind and she looks as terrified as Demi was.
“They’re busy checking her out now and running some tests,” I reply. “Demi called me from Nicky’s and I got there as soon as I could.”
“Thank you Grayson,” Coach Morgan says. He wraps his huge arm around his teary eyed wife and kisses her forehead. I look over at where Demi is sitting with Brody, who’s comforting her and telling her it will be ok. I will never forget how terrified she looked. I just hope Huntley is going to be fine.
Just then the doctor comes walking out holding a clipboard. The look on his face worries me. “Mr. and Mrs. Morgan?” he asks, looking around.
“Here,” Coach Morgan replies. The Doctor motions them into the waiting room and I follow behind. “Are you her parents?” the doctor asks.
Coach Morgan shifts a little, looking down at his wife with a sad expression on his face, “No, we’re her aunt and uncle but we’re all she has. Both her parents are dead.”
Something inside me shifts, sinking low into the pit of my stomach. I can’t imagine losing both my parents and the thought alone is enough to make me break. My need to protect Huntley is stronger now, knowing how alone she really is.
“Alright. I believe this is the young man that found her and brought her in,” the doctor gestures towards me. I nod, waiting impatiently to find out if Huntley’s ok.
“Is she ok?” Mrs. Coach asks, her voice cracking with emotion.
The doctor takes a look at his clipboard again and then back up at all three of us, “She tested positive for Rohypnol.”
“Sonofabitch,” I curse, loud enough to make the doctor flinch.
“What concerns me,” he continues, “Is the dosage. Had she not vomited most of it out and had this young man not known to bring her here immediately, she might’ve been in serious danger. We pumped her stomach and we’ve given her some fluids through an IV drip but she will have to stay here overnight for observation. Our visiting hours are over but you can go see her if you’d like, just not too long. Room 405 down the hall.”
The doctor shakes Coach’s hand and then leaves. My body sags in relief knowing that I got to her in time.
“Sweetheart, why don’t you go see our girl,” Coach Morgan says softly, wiping his wife’s tears, “I need to talk to Grayson for a few minutes.”
She shoots me a small smile and nods, leaving me alone in the small waiting room with Coach. “I can’t thank you enough,” he says turning to face me. He’s a large man, only two or three inches taller than me but right now he looks small, worried. “I don’t know much about the nature of your relationship with my niece, but by the look on your face I know you care about her, a lot.”
I swallow hard. How do I explain my feelings for Huntley when I don’t even know what they are? I should probably just be honest. “Yes Coach, I really do.”
I meet his unreadable expression and watch as understanding makes its way across his tired features. “Do you know who might’ve done this?” he asks. His voice is so low but I can hear the anger coursing through every word. I know Coach pretty well and I’ve only seen that signature tick in his jaw twice – the first time was when someone insulted his wife and now.
“I have my suspicions, but nothing concrete. Demi said Huntley went on a date last night, with Luke Bailey, and then they stopped by the bar for some drinks. Demi also said she was with Huntley all night and she only had the two drinks that Luke bought her.”
“Alright, I will have a word with his swim coach in the morning and then I’ll call him and his daddy in for a little chat. He messed with the wrong girl.”
“It’s not the first time he’s done something like this. I’m just sorry it had to happen to Huntley for the fucker to get caught,” I say, not even worrying about cussing in front of Coach.
We leave the waiting room and while Coach heads towards Huntley’s room I go to where Brody is sitting with a sleeping Demi. “Take her home,” I whisper, “I’m going to wait to see Huntley.”
He gets up, careful not to wake Demi as he places her against his chest. “Call me later,” he says. We bump fists and then he’s gone, leaving me alone in the emergency room. Memories of the night my sister died come flying into my head, crash landing like it happened yesterday. I push them away, not wanting to deal with all those emotions again.
I must’ve dosed of because when a small hand grabs my shoulders, I startle. My eyelids fly open and Mrs. Coach is standing in front of me. “Grayson honey,” she whispers, her voice soothing but tired, “Huntley’s asking for you.”
I stand and stretch, feeling stiff from the position I fell asleep in. It’s already close to four am.
“We’re going to head home now but we’ll be back later as soon as Huntley’s been discharged.” I hug her goodbye and feel her shake. She’s crying again and I think it can only be from relief. Coach takes her from my embrace and places her in his own, saying goodbye as they exit the hospital.
Huntley’s room is quiet and dark. The sliver of moonlight skims through the tiny gap between the pale blue curtains and falls on her face. Even in a flimsy hospital gown with messy hair, she looks iridescent. Picturesque.
I walk to her bed and start taking my shoes off. The distance between us is enough to push me over the edge and I need to be close to her, knowing that close isn’t close enough. “Grayson?” she whispers, her eyes barely open. Her voice is scratchy and hoarse and if I didn’t know what caused it I’d think it was sexy. But the sound makes me angry all over again. Someone hurt her. That makes me see red.