SCARRED - Part 5 Read Free Page A

wasn’t I told about any of this?”
    Chloe got the feeling that being left out of the loop was partially what Jake was so upset about.
    “Derek wanted to keep it as simple as possible. He hoped that Jesse would tire of the game at first...then he hurt Chloe’s friend. He beat her up so badly that it’s a miracle she’s still alive. We have security watching her...but it’s obvious that Jesse is not going to give up, and Derek knew that he wasn’t going to give up. You know your brother, even if Chloe had tried to send him away at that point, he wouldn’t have gone.”
    Jake ran a trembling hand through his hair and sighed heavily. Chloe could tell that he wasn’t completely convinced that this wasn’t all her fault...but that was okay, because neither was she.
    “I hate this,” he said in a choked voice.
    “So do I,” Kevin said. “We all do, Jake. But, what we have to do now...for your brother, is stick together. He’s going to need us all to be strong and united.”
    Jake nodded, Chloe hated being the subject of their conversation when she was sitting right there, but for tonight, any and all fight was gone out of her. Jake looked like he felt the same way. “Chloe, do you plan on returning home tomorrow?”
    “No! I can’t leave him and be three hours away. I’ll get a room close to the hospital...” As she was saying it, she was calculating the cost in her head. If she was still working, it wouldn’t have even been an issue, but she was living off of her savings now and she knew that they weren’t going to last forever. In this case however, she didn’t care. She would stay close to Derek no matter what she had to do.
    “Nonsense,” Kevin told her once again. “We’re all tired tonight, but in the morning we’ll discuss it further and figure something out. Meanwhile, Jake...perhaps you could take a ride with her to Rhode Island tomorrow to pick up some of her things.”
    “That won’t be necessary...” Chloe started.
    Kevin was obviously not used to being disagreed with. “It’s settled,” he said, without consent from Jake or Chloe either one. “I’ll have the car take you to the hospital so that you can see Derek and then to Rhode Island so that you can get what you need. I won’t feel comfortable with you going unless Jake is with you.”
    Jake had his jaw set in a grim line, but when Kevin looked at him and said, “Is that okay with you?”
    Jake nodded. Then he said, “I’m going to turn in. Please wake me up if there is any news from the hospital.”
    “Of course,” Kevin said. “Get some rest, son.”
    When Jake left the room Kevin looked back at Chloe and said, “Please forgive him. This is all a lot for him to take in, especially at a time like this.”
    “I understand,” Chloe said. “I feel so bad for bringing this on your family.”
    Kevin stood up and Chloe did too. He took her hand in his and said, “I’m going to say this one more time Chloe and I hope that you’ll hear me. No one is blaming you for any of this and if they do, they’ll have me to deal with. Jesse Donovan is a psychopath and if he did this, we are going to do whatever it takes to make sure he ends up back behind bars where he belongs. We’re also going to make sure that you’re safe.” Chloe nodded, but nothing was going to convince her that she hadn’t inadvertently brought this on. “Get some rest,” Kevin told her. “Things will look better in the morning. Derek is strong. He’s going to fight to get back to us, I’m sure of it.”

Chapter 3
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    W hen Chloe went up to her room, Kevin went up too but he stopped and knocked on Jake’s door.
    “How are you holding up, son?”
    Jake shrugged, “I guess as well as I can be. I just feel frustrated as hell. I want to do something. This sitting around and waiting is what is going to kill me.”
    Kevin nodded. “I know. I feel the same way. We’re fixers and we want to set everything right...it’s why we do