Jackson (Mercy Ring Book 1)
Jackson: Chapter 23

Jackson stood beside the bed as the doctor shone a light into River’s eyes. She’d barely been conscious on the way to the hospital but seemed a bit better now, thank God.

The doctor nodded. “You have a mild concussion, and the wounds on your head and finger will need stitches.”

Jackson tensed at the mention of her finger. The cut across the top knuckle was deep. He’d wrapped some material around it on the way here to stem the bleeding, but the cloth had already been soaked through when they arrived.

The doctor lifted her hand, removing the bandage and studying her finger for a second time, his white brows tugging together. “How did this happen, Miss Harp?”

Her gaze skittered to Jackson almost nervously before looking back at the doctor. Dread pooled in his gut. He wasn’t going to like this.

“The attacker put a knife against my knuckle. He started cutting me but was stopped.”

The doctor’s gaze shot up to hers. Jackson’s entire body turned to stone. His muscles vibrated with the need to get up, go, replace the asshole who did this, and murder him.

The doctor cleared his throat. “Well, you’re very lucky to have gotten away. I’m going to send a nurse in to do the stitches. After that, the police will be here to talk to you.”

She swallowed, giving a small nod.

The second the door closed, he stepped in front of her, taking both sides of her face in his hands. “How are you doing?”

Fear flashed across her eyes before she quickly hid it. And God, but that tore him apart. She was his to protect. Had been since the second he stepped into town. And he’d let her down. Fuck, the brazen asshole had attacked her while he’d been inside the goddamn building.

“I’m okay. It’s just a couple of cuts. It could have been a lot worse.” She paused, eyes shuffling between his. “And this isn’t your fault, so don’t you dare get that idea stuck in your head.”

Not true. “I should have heard something. Why didn’t I hear anything?”

“Because he put a hand over my mouth and dragged me outside. He was quiet. He knew what he was doing.”

The muscles in Jackson’s limbs tensed at the visual. He’d been picturing it since they’d found her, but hearing the words from her mouth…it was worse.

“Did you open the door?” It was a question that had been rolling around in his head. How had the attacker reached her? The door should have been locked.

“No, it was open when I got there. I noticed it a second before he attacked me because a breeze blew the door in slightly.” She frowned, massaging her temple. “It’s all a bit of a blur. I think he was hiding behind the door leading to the gym.”

That couldn’t be right. There was no way he or his team would have unlocked that door. Unless…

His limbs iced, a new fury rising in his chest.

When he felt the small shudder race up her body, he pushed it all down. Focus on her, Jackson. She needs you.

He shifted his hands to her shoulders and touched his forehead to hers. “We’ll figure this out. No one will touch you again.” When he straightened, he swiped some hair from her cheek. “How did you scare him off?”

There was a heavy pause.

He tilted his head to the side. “What is it?”

“I’m going to tell you something…and I need you to believe me.”

“Why wouldn’t I believe you?”

She wet her lips. “The guy was cutting my finger. I could feel the pain of the knife as it sliced into me. He wasn’t going to stop, Jackson.”

It took everything in him to remain as he was. To not turn and plunge his fist through the wall. She didn’t need that right now.

“I could barely think or move after he threw my head into the side of the building,” River continued. “I couldn’t do anything. But…Ryker saved me.”

Jackson sucked in a sharp breath. “Ryker?”

“Yes.” Her gaze never wavered from his, and in those black eyes, he saw that same desperation again. Desperation for him to believe her. For someone to believe her.

“You actually saw him?”

She hesitated. “Kind of. My vision was blurry. But I saw his outline. I know it was him.”

So no. She hadn’t seen him. Not really. He opened his mouth, not exactly sure what words were about to come out, but at that moment, the nurse stepped into the room, saving him.

“Hi, guys, my name is Nurse Petra, and I’m here to do the stitches.”

River’s gaze was still on him. “Jackson…”

He kept his voice low. “We’ll talk about it tonight, honey.”

Disappointment washed out the hope.

God, he felt like an asshole. But he couldn’t lie, either.

Even though he couldn’t believe it had been Ryker, the question still remained—who had saved her? And why had they left? Where was the attacker?

When the nurse started working on the stitches, a text came through on Jackson’s phone. He typed back a quick response, and a second later, Declan stepped inside the room.

Jackson turned to River. “I’m just popping into the hall for a second. Declan’s going to wait in here.”

She frowned but gave a quick nod.

The second Jackson stepped out, he saw him.

Jackson was in front of Erik in under a second, grabbing him by the shirt and shoving him against the wall. “Are you working with them?”

“Working with who?” His question was quiet.

Cole touched his arm. “Jackson—”

“Them. Are you working with Elijah and his guys? The men who put a hit on Ryker.”

Erik’s features remained neutral, but his eyes were stormy. Like he was right on the verge of fighting back. “Why the hell would you ask me that?”

“Because you were the last person in the damn kitchen,” Jackson yelled. “Did you leave the fucking door open for them? Did you text to let them know she was coming? To let them know she was heading back there so they could grab her and cut her fucking finger off?”

This time, Erik’s features darkened. “No. I’m not working with them. I didn’t open the door. And I didn’t text anyone. Check my fucking phone if you want. Or better yet, check the lock on the kitchen door. Someone broke it.”

Jackson didn’t release the guy. “Bullshit.”

“While you and Declan came here, Cole and I have been at the gym. We checked the lock. It was tampered with from the outside.”

“He’s telling the truth,” Cole said quietly.

For a second, Jackson didn’t move. Cole wouldn’t lie. He trusted the man with his life. Which meant it was true. Someone had broken in and hurt River, but it wasn’t Erik’s doing.

Jackson let go of the guy’s shirt and stepped back.

Erik pulled a small bag out of his pocket, shoving it at Jackson’s chest. “We also found these. You’re welcome.”

Then he turned and stormed down the hall.

Jackson lifted the bag, cursing under his breath when he saw the small cameras inside. Cameras which were almost identical to the ones they’d found in River’s and her parents’ houses.

River lay on the couch. The news was on in front of her but she barely paid attention. The events of the day played over in her mind. Had been playing in her mind all freaking evening.

She scrunched her eyes, trying to recapture that image of Ryker fighting the man who had attacked her. God, she wished he’d been clearer. But it had been him. She knew it. She didn’t need her brother’s image to be crystal clear to recognize him.

At the feel of hands on her shoulders, her eyes flew open. Jackson lifted her upper body, sitting on the couch and gently lowering her head down onto his lap.

They hadn’t said much to each other since getting back from the hospital. What could they say? He was pissed he’d been in the other room while she’d been attacked, and she was disappointed that, yet again, no one believed her.

“How’s your head?” he asked quietly.

“It’s fine.”

Even though her eyes were on the TV, she could feel Jackson’s gaze on her. It had been on her all day, like he was scared she’d disappear if he looked away.

When he started to stroke her hair, her eyes shuttered again. The feel of his hands on her always had that effect. It was like the man could calm every little part of her soul with a single touch.

“Are you upset with me because I don’t believe it was Ryker today?”

She tried not to flinch at his words, but it was impossible. She’d known he didn’t believe her, but he hadn’t confirmed it until now. Hearing him say it out loud hurt worse. “I’m not upset.” Okay, maybe she was a little bit upset. “It would just be nice if someone believed me.”

Maybe then she wouldn’t feel like she was in the middle of a river, paddling a boat upstream, all on her own, seconds from running out of steam.

On his next stroke, his thumb grazed against the side of her face. It was right beside the cut, and it soothed some of the ache in her head.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“You don’t need to be sorry for what you believe.”

She just had to pray that sooner rather than later, they found Ryker. That everyone would see she was right…before she lost faith herself.

They remained like that for a while, Jackson stroking her hair, his thumb grazing the side of her face, while the TV changed to some movie she’d never heard of.

Jackson cleared his throat. “So, the guys and I were talking about what happens after all of this…”

River’s breath halted in her throat, almost scared of the next words to come out of his mouth. Scared that he’d confirm her worst fear. That he’d be leaving town. Leaving her. It took her a few goes to force her voice to work. “Really?”

“Yeah. I told them I want to stay.”

She shot up into a seated position—and immediately regretted it when pain bolted through her skull.

Jackson cursed under his breath, touching the side of her face again in that soothing way. “Careful, Rae.”

She took a quick breath. “Are you serious? You want to stay? Here in Lindeman? But your father’s here, and even if he wasn’t, you hate this town.”

“Maybe I’ve come to realize that staying away is just me letting him control my life. I’m not willing to do that anymore.” He lifted her hand, threading his fingers through hers. “And I don’t hate this town. How could I? You’re here.”

She felt the wetness of tears in her eyes. “What will you do here?”

“I have an idea. But mostly, I just want to be with you.” His gaze skirted between hers. “I love you, Rae. You’re the first person I ever loved, and I want you to be the last.”

Her eyes closed, and a tear trickled down her cheek. At the feel of Jackson’s finger swiping it away, she looked at him again. “I love you too. I’ve loved you for so long, the feeling has just become a part of me.”

Fire ignited in his eyes. Then he was kissing her like she was everything he’d ever wanted and needed.