Circumstances Unraveled Read online

  Jack sets his computer on the table beside the bed and takes hold of both my hands. I grab them like a lifeline. I’m eager to see if my dreams are just dreams, or if they’re my reality. Jack glances to the others and back to me, looking a little unsure whether to answer me or not. I tip my head and squeeze his hands in encouragement. I need to know.

  “Sydney Waters is dead, Mel.” I don’t let him finish speaking. That can’t be true. I feel it in my bones that she is me. I mean, that I’m her.

  I pull my hands from his and grab for the note pad. Scribbling as fast as the thoughts come. You’re wrong. I’m her. I know I am. I look from Belle to Gabe and worry etches itself on both of their faces. They can’t believe this, can they? I look back at Jack as tears roll slowly down my cheeks.

  Jack takes my hands in his again. He leans down and kisses them, caressing my knuckles with his thumbs before he looks at me with sincerity. “Slow down, you. You didn’t let me finish talking.”

  The asshat told me I’m dead, so yeah, I jump to conclusions. Who wouldn’t? I press my lips tight and growl. My way of telling him to get talking.

  He shakes his head at my growl. “Our firecracker is still in there.” He chuckles and smirks. “Anyways, yes—an obituary was found, but the photo that is provided with the notice is a photo of you only younger. So we’ll have to look further into this. Okay?” He raises his eyebrows in question.

  I sniff back my sobs and wipe away my tears. I look like her, so all hopes are not dead yet. I nod in approval and smile.

  Jack stands and leans over me and kisses my forehead. A tingly feeling is left where his lips touch. Every time he does something so sweet, I feel more and more for the man.

  Everything feels heavy, my eyes are weighted down and I want to open them. I hear voices around me, calling my name. Telling me everything is okay. I swallow what little saliva I have and attempt to lick my lips, they are so dry. Anesthesia. That’s what’s wrong. I’m coming out of the anesthetic. I had my surgery to have my jaw unwired. The excitement of this runs through me and helps me open my eyes. Everything’s blurry at first, but they’re all here. Jack, Belle, and Gabe. I smile as best as I can. I open my mouth and stick my tongue out a little. I don’t know why, maybe just because I can. I hear laughter and turn toward it. Belle, she’s giggling at my silliness.

  I stick my tongue out again and cross my eyes looking down at my nose. Belle giggles again. I love the sound. It’s comforting and familiar. Familiar? A stabbing pain shoots through my head. I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, until the pain passes.

  “Shit, are you okay, hon?” Belle asks as she takes my hand.

  I nod a slow nod and open my eyes to her. I swallow again and try to talk. “Just a little pain.” I manage to garble.

  “She speaks. A wonderful sound it is.” Jack says and Gabe agrees.

  I turn my head to a smiling Jack. His smile is lazy, sexy and deliberate. It too is comforting to see. A sharp pain strikes my head again and I cringe. A flash of Jack and I talking in a coffee shop plays in my mind and then it’s gone.

  I blow out a breath and look at him. I’m starting to remember. I smile. He tips his head and raises his eyebrows. “Everything alright? That looked painful.”

  I nod my head quickly and answer. “I just had a memory.”

  Excitement and concern is expressed among all their faces. Jack reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “That’s great.”

  “What did you see?” Belle asks.

  “It was…”

  Mel’s getting some of her memory back. That’s great. I tell her so. I’m about to ask her what she remembers, but Belle beats me to it.

  “What did you see?” Belle asks.

  “It was…” Mel’s eyes roll back and her whole body starts to tremble. Her arms and legs shake and drool is starting to come from her mouth. Shit. What’s going on?

  I jump from my chair. “Help. Can we get some help in here?”

  Belle and Gabe move out of the way as nurses run in. Dr. Horsley rushes in right after them. “Stats?” He asks.

  “Blood pressure is one eighty-seven over one hundred, pulse is one ten. She’s seizing, doctor.” One of the nurses assessing her calls out.

  Dr. Horsley quickly looks her over and then to the monitors. “One milligram of Ativan IV push, stat.” He looks to me, concern worn on his face. “Jack, is it?”

  “Yes.” I respond.

  “What was going on before this happened?” He asks me.

  I shrug my shoulders. “She said she had a memory. Her head hurt for a minute and that was it. I don’t know what else to say.” I lean against the wall, waiting, watching. My heart pounds so hard that it feels like it might pound right out of my chest.

  The doctor nods and looks back over to Mel. Her body isn’t shaking anymore. “The medicine’s working. Thank you, ladies. Please check on her in an hour.” He has the nurses leave and he turns back to me.

  I, of course want to know what happened, so I ask. “What’s going on, doc?”

  Dr. Horsley looks around the room to make sure that Belle and Gabe are paying attention. “I was afraid of this. Her memories are returning.”

  I narrow my eyes, confusion apparent. “Is having her memories returning not a good thing?” I look to Gabe and Belle. They both look confused, just like me.

  “Yes and no. Yes, because then she’ll know who she is, past and present. No, for the fact that when all the memories come all at once that it can be very traumatic. I mentioned this a while ago. Her body and mind have been through so much already. The seizure is her body reacting to the overload of memories.” He glances around the room, making his point across.

  I take in what he says and put two and two together. It actually makes sense. It’d be a lot to process all at once. Does this mean that Mel knows who she is now? I guess we’ll have to wait until she wakes up. “Thank you, Dr. Horsley. I understand what you’re saying.” I stick my hand out in request for a hand shake.

  Dr. Horsley accepts and we shake hands. “No problem, Jack. The medicine should allow her to rest for a little while. When she wakes, truth will be told whether she has her memories back or not. If you need anything, have the nurses page me.” He nods to us all and leaves the room.

  I return to my chair beside the bed, as does Belle and Gabe.

  After seeing my firecracker fizzle out, I’m a little on edge. I’m sure you would be too if you saw someone you love have their eyes roll back and whole body shake. So, now here we all sit, just watching over her, praying she wakes up and feels better. When Mel’s body was trembling and the machines started beeping, I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to breathe. I have grown so attached to this woman and care for her more than she even realizes yet. I know it’s strange considering I never used to be the loving man, but Mel? I’d hang the moon for her.

  I hear moaning and immediately look up to see Mel’s head moving back and forth on her pillow. I set the magazine down that I was reading and take hold of her hands. “Shhhh, baby. It’s okay.” I watch her as her head stills and her eyes slowly open.

  She blinks a couple times, licks her dry lips and asks. “Jack? What happened?”

  She tries to sit up, but instead I encourage her to lay still. “Lay still, Mel. You need to rest. You just had a seizure, so please lay still.”

  She clears her throat and looks over at me. Smiling a small grin, she ensures me she understands. “For you I will. I’m so glad you’re here.” She swallows. “I need a drink please.”

  I act fast and hand her a cup of ice water. She takes small sips, which I imagine feel wonderful on a dry throat. “Better?” I ask.

  She nods. “Yes, thank you.” I take the cup and set it back on the stand beside me. Mel looks around the room and returns her gaze to me, puzzled. “Where are Belle and Gabe?”

  “They’ve gone to eat. They’ll be back in a little while.” I smile.

  She reaches for the bed controls and sits herself up in the bed. Once Mel situ
ates herself, she blows out a breath. “I remember, Jack.” She whispers.

  Her voice was so low I’m pretty sure I heard her right, but just in case I want her to repeat herself. “Say that again?”

  “I remember. I remember everything.” A lonely tear glides down her cheek. She moves quickly to wipe it away.

  I stand and lean over her and kiss her forehead, pressing my lips and holding them to her skin for a moment longer than I need to—but I need to feel her. I drop my forehead to touch hers and look into her eyes. They shine bright, but I see worry. “That’s great to hear, baby.” I tell her.

  Another tear leaks out. I reach up and wipe it away. “It is, but now I need to leave the city, Jack.” She licks her lips and swallows.

  What? Why? Why would she have to leave? What am I missing?

  The confused look on his face crushes me. While not knowing who I was, having Jack by my side was everything. Getting to know him—all the sweet and kind gestures he did—I couldn’t help but fall in love with the man. But now they know my real name. They used government contacts to search my real name and with that comes my father’s ties. My father. A very powerful man—the senator of Washington—will search me out and finish what he started. I can’t have that. I can’t let anyone get hurt.

  I cup my hand to Jack’s cheek and run my thumb across it. Our eyes gaze into one another.

  “Why? Why do you need to leave?” He asks. His tone’s soft.

  I drop my hand and look away. He has no choice but to pull back. He sits back on the chair. When I know he’s sitting I look back. “My real name’s Sydney Waters. Fifteen years ago I escaped from my father, changed my identity, and never looked back.”

  I watch him take in what I tell him. His eyes go from dull to bright to confused in the matter of minutes. I know I need to explain more of my situation to him—but I need to wait for Belle and Gabe to be here, so I don’t need to explain it over and over.

  He stands from the chair and walks to the window. Running his hand through his hair, he looks back to me. “I still don’t understand, Mel. Explain to me why you need to leave, please.” He leans against the window sill and crosses his feet in front of himself.

  “Can you call Gabe and get him and Belle here so I can explain everything? I’d rather explain this once.” Ugh, my jaw hurts. I touch my face and grimace. I look for my call bell and ring it. I think I’ll need some pain medicine if I’m going to be talking so much.

  Jack’s eyes narrow when the nurse comes in. He must not have noticed me push the button while he was on the phone. “Are you in pain, Mel?” He watches as the nurse takes a needle and sticks my arm with it. He closes his eyes for a second and shakes his head. “Jesus. I’m sorry. I didn’t think about this. Making you talk.” He moves to my bedside and sits again. He waits for the nurse to leave and takes a hold of my hand closest to him.

  Feeling the effects of the medicine, I start to relax. I’m not really good at handling narcotics, but I’m not going to let this dose pull me under. I want to stay awake and be with Jack. I want to spend as much time as I can with Jack before I have to run. “It’s okay, Jack. I’ll be fine. Are they coming?”

  He nods. “Gabe said they’ll be here in ten minutes.” He leans down and kisses my hand. “Then I want to know everything. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Almost to the minute, Belle and Gabe walk in with a tray of beverages. Concern mars both their faces as they hand both of us drinks and take a seat. I take a sip of my delicious iced coffee and lick my lips, moaning. “Yum.” I say and everyone laughs.

  “It’s so great to hear you talking, Mel. We’ve missed that voice of yours.” Belle grins as she opens her coffee and takes a small sip, being cautious not to burn herself.

  “It feels great to talk again. It feels even better to know who I am.” I bite my lip then smile.

  Belle sets her coffee down and jumps from her chair rushing to me. She leans toward me, giving me a gentle hug. “Oh, hon! That’s amazing news!” She pulls back. A tear runs down her cheek and she laughs lightly. “I have missed you like crazy, girl. I’m glad you’re back.”

  “Thanks. It’s great to be back…but I have things we need to talk about.” I turn my happy face to a serious one and Belle returns to her seat.

  Gabe takes ahold of her hand. “Jack mentioned something about that. Tell us what’s going on.” He stares at me intently.

  I blow out a breath, look to Jack and reach for his hand. He’s quick to respond and takes ahold of me. “Well…as I told Jack, I’m Sydney Waters.”

  Belle gasps. “What? How?” Her hand covers her mouth, shock ever present.

  This is going to be so hard. I never told anyone about this, except for Sebastian and I haven’t seen him since that day. Ugh. “When I was fifteen, I witnessed my father murder my mother.”

  “WHAT?!”

  “FUCK!”

  “No…”

  All three spoke or shouted at once. I close my eyes to help contain my composure. “I heard them arguing in the bedroom. Mind you it wasn’t the first time I heard them, but I was tired of it, so I was going to tell them to stop.” I pause and look to Jack. He squeezes my hand and nods for me to go on. “Only when I opened the bedroom door and walked in, it was just in time to see my father stab my mother in chest.” Tears started to leak down my face, I had no control over them. I blink trying to stop them, but it doesn’t help.

  Jack sets a box of tissues in my lap. I look up to him and smile a small smile for him. “Thanks.” I take one and wipe my face. Clearing my throat, I continue. “My father heard me come in the room and looked up. His face was beet red, full of anger. He pulled the knife from my mother’s chest and tossed it aside. I stood in shock for a moment, watching his every move until he stood. Then I tried to run.” I shake my head. “I tripped and he caught up to me. He threw me against a wall, I broke my arm. I did get away, but it wasn’t for long. I ran right into my father’s driver. I thought for sure I was dead. But I was wrong. Sebastian saved me. He helped me get a new identity and leave the US. Since then, I’ve never looked back.” I blow out a breath and watch each of their expressions, waiting for questions.

  “That’s a very big secret to carry alone.” Gabe says while he holds a now grief stricken Belle. Tears run down her face as she looks at me.

  “It’s been my burden to carry.” I tell him. “Belle? I’m still me. You just now know my alter ego.” I try and giggle in an attempt to make her laugh with me. It doesn’t work.

  After a few minutes of awkward silence, Jack clears his throat and asks the question I’d hoped he forgot. “Are you going to tell me now why you have to leave the city?” He raises his eyebrows in question.

  This catches Belle’s attention. She sits up in her chair and wipes the tears from her face. “You’re leaving?”

  I give Belle a sad face and turn to Jack and scowl. I wanted to tell that part slowly, but apparently Jack’s impatient. “Well, my father is a senator in Washington. He has many connections. When Jack had his friend do a search for me, I’m almost a hundred percent certain someone on my father’s end would’ve been made aware of this.” I take a slow, deep breath. “If he knows I’m alive he’ll come for me. He’ll finish what he started.”

  “Like fuck he will!” Jack grunted. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying here. We’ll protect you.” He narrows his eyes, lips thin and fierce. His anger is fully present. The way he looks at this moment, Jack’s definitely not a man to reckon with.

  I bow my head and close my eyes. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Why can’t they see that?

  My heart’s pounding. My lungs constrict. Anger. I need to calm myself. I look to Mel and see that she’s docile. Defeated. Tears leak from her face and land on the sheets in her lap. Suddenly, my anger’s gone.

  “Mel?” Belle calls from across the room. Mel shakes her head.

  I look to Belle and she shrugs her shoulders. Gabe does the same.

  I lean
close to Mel and whisper. “Baby, are you okay?”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt, Jack. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” She mumbles.

  Ah, fuck it. I put the rail down on the bed and gently push Mel over. I sit beside her and pull her close, wrapping my arm around her. Her head falls to my shoulder and I start to caress her hair. “Oh, baby, we’ll all be okay. Don’t you worry about us. Gabe and I are trained for this shit and Belle will be with you.” I kiss the top of her head and then hold her. “The local police are searching for Matt and Riley. Let us do this. Trust us.”

  She reaches her arm up and takes ahold of my hand. “Are you sure?”

  “We got this. Nobody’s going to hurt you. Ever! You are mine to protect. Mine to hold. Mine to love. As long as you let me, Mel.” I give her a gentle squeeze and hear her sigh in content.

  “It’s about time.” Belle grumbles and Gabe chuckles from across the room. I look to them and smile. They must’ve known something was brewing between us before we did. Oh, well. Love is in the air and I can’t deny it.

  “So…do we have a plan?” Mel asks as she sits up and turns her head to look at me.

  I gaze into her gorgeous eyes and stare for a moment. I see fear right off, but I also see trust. And damn, I’m the luckiest man around to have earned that. Trust is the hardest thing to gain and I know if I lose it, I may never get it back. I’ll do my damnest to keep it. The longer I stare, I see her skin flush. I smile and glance to her lips. They look soft and very much inviting. Calling for me. Who am I to ignore an invitation? I look back up into her eyes and lean in. I gently place my lips on hers and fuck, I was right. Soft, warm and they taste like coffee. I want more, but I won’t push. I run my tongue along the seam for an extra taste and nibble gently. She kisses me back and I’m in heaven. Why I ignored her courageous advances not so long ago, I don’t know. I’m kicking myself now, that’s for sure. After another taste I pull back and rest my forehead on hers.