Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“Hey, what’s wrong, Owen?”
His tears fall free and roll down his face as he clings to me, terrified.
“Did Joshua scare you?” I ask softly as I pick him up.
He nods through his tears, and I pull him close to kiss the top of his head. “Oh, baby. It’s okay. Don’t cry.”
He puts his head down on my chest and I can feel him shaking with fear.
“Stan, stop being a big gorilla, scaring my kid,” I snap with a shake of my head.
Joshua comes over and rubs Owen’s hair. “Sorry, mate, but sometimes I just lose it at Blake. Pay me no attention. He’s naughty and drives me mad.”
I sit back down in my position by the fire with my son on my lap, clinging to me for dear life, and for the first time in my life, I feel my protective instincts kick in.
Owen comes first. I need to protect him at all costs.
I stare into the dancing flames…
Whatever it takes.
23
Ashley
I sit at the table and laugh for the first time in two weeks. I’m out with the girls from Club Exotic, and to be honest, this is exactly what I needed. We’ve been out to dinner, and while some of the girls headed home early, a few of us are now drinking cocktails in a bar. I need to head off soon, though. I’m working tomorrow.
A group of guys have been lingering around us all night and we even just had a dance with some of them. They seem harmless enough.
“I need to get going, guys.” I smile. “I have to work tomorrow.”
“Stay for another round.” The tall guy says as the girls all shake their heads in protest.
I laugh and get off my stool. “Thanks, but no thanks.” I wobble on my feet as I stand up. Holy shit, I feel drunk.
“Those cocktails you got us are toxic,” I murmur with a laugh. The girls all continue to talk, but I really do have to go. “See you later, guys,” I murmur, distracted by how drunk I feel.
“Let me walk you out,” the tall guy offers.
“No, you stay with me,” one of the girl’s purrs as she links her arm with his. His eyes light up in delight.
He’s in.
I smile and walk out the front doors and onto the sidewalk as a rush of color mixed with inebriation fills me. Christ, I’m so drunk.
I totter down the street in my heels as I look for a cab. All the cars sound so loud, as if the noise has been magnified.
I look up the street one way, and then the other way as things begin to lose focus. I step back to try and gain my footing.
My God, I need to get home. How did I get this drunk? I continue to walk down the street and I stagger as I nearly lose my footing.
What the hell? I haven’t been this drunk for years.
I make it to the cab rank and hold onto the sign as I try to hold myself up. A young girl comes over to me, concerned. “Are you alright, Miss?”
I frown as my vision starts to tunnel and I shake my head. “No, I’m not,” I slur.
I hear her muffled voice in the distance as my sight blacks out, and I feel the earth move from underneath me. A huge head spin hits me and I fall, smacking my head on the ground.
Confusion.
Pain.
Darkness.
Cameron
My phone rings and I glance at the clock. 10.45am. Shit, I bet it’s Gloria. I pick up my phone and the hospitals number is flashing on the screen. Here we go.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Dr. Stanton?” a strange voice asks.
“Yes, who is this?’
“This is Melissa from the Emergency Room.”
“Melissa.” That’s weird. Emergency never ring me.
“Sorry to ring so late, doctor, but we have had someone just bought in by ambulance, and one of the nurses thinks she recognized them as one of your interns.”
I sit up in bed. “What’s happened?”
“Suspected drug overdose.”
I rub my hand down my face. Shit.
“We don’t have any contact details and we’re trying to get in touch with the family,” she continues.
“Of course, I can search through their records. What’s the name?” I ask.
“Umm.” She hesitates as she reads the licence. “Ashley Tucker.”
My eyes widen. What the fuck? “Is… Is she alright?” I stammer.
“She’s unconscious at this stage.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I pace at the end of the bed. I’m frantic.
Ashley has been out cold for six hours. The toxicology reports have come back as her having drugs in her system, but they’re unsure as to what exactly they are just yet. The sun is rising outside and I can hear the nurses beginning to do their rounds for changeover.
This has been the longest night of my life.
I take her hand in mine. “Please be alright,” I whisper so only she can hear me. I lean down and kiss her forehead. “Please be alright, Ash. Baby, can you hear me?” I ask hopefully.