Chapter 36
JACK
Jack stares at Abby's bandaged hand while she lays in the hospital bed in the emergency room. He's supposed to be in another room, but Jack won't leave her. He can't believe that she is safe, even after knowing that Cara was the one gunning for him. The police have been able to confirm her identity as Wrath, now that they've taken her into custody. The woman was caught because she was cocky. She never thought anyone would think it was her. Everyone thought Wrath was a man. In the past, by the time things went to hell, Cara always disappeared. This time, she stayed too long, hell bent on branding Abby.
Jack looked at Abby's arm and her hand when they were admitted. She's going to scar. That memory will haunt Abby for the rest of her life. Abby stirs in the bed. Her eyes blink open slowly.
"Hey, lover," he says with a soft smile on his face. His head feels like it's been hit by a frying pan. That bitch knocked him out when he was in the cottage. Jack looked up, saw her, and didn't suspect her of a thing. By the time he saw the brick in her hand, it was too late.
Abby smiles and then winces. "Jack," she breathes, "you're alive. "
He nods and strokes the hair out of her eyes. "So are you. "
"Gus and Kate?" she asks, coughing. Jack hands her a cup of water to sip.
"Are both fine. "
"I thought I heard you in here," Nate says.
"You were standing on the other side of a sheet. I'd be worried about you if you didn't," Jack says. Every inch of his body hurts, but it'd be impossible to be any more thankful than he was right then. Abby is safe. Kate didn't shoot the dick that stuffed Gus into a closet.
"I'm glad you're alive, Jack. I'd miss those witty little comments of yours. " Nate smiles at him and shakes his head. "Listen, I know you've had a rough night, but I need your testimony. The people who did this to you are locked up and we want to keep them there. Abby, we need to know what happened. Yours is the part of the story that's missing. "
Abby presses her lips together and nods. She holds the cup of water in her good hand and recounts what happened. It takes every ounce of restraint that Jack has not to react. This already happened. It's over now. When Abby is finished, Nate thanks them. As he leaves, he turns back to Jack, "This had nothing to do with your paintings, by the way, well, at least not the way you'd originally thought. "
"What do you mean?" Jack asks.
"Cara Popadoplis has worked in many different places over the years. It was one of the ways that she got in and out without being noticed. Some of these attacks were years in the making, including yours. A few years back, her sister modeled for you. Cara had pictures from that shoot on her computer along with a rejection letter from you. Apparently she applied for the same gig and you picked her sister instead. Rather than deal with the jealousy that was there, Cara started to build a record against you. We think the media coverage of you and Abby put her over the top. She's not all there, Jack. She thought she had the right to do what she did. "
"You think she's going to plead insanity?"
Nate laughs. "I doubt it. This whole thing was premeditated. She was obsessed with you, Jack. I can't imagine what she would have done if you did hire her back then. " He nods his head and leaves.
Jack sighs and sits next to Abby on her bed. "I wish I could fix this. " He takes her bandaged hand and gently turns it over. "I'm so sorry, Abby. "
"Jack, you're alive. " Her eyes are glassy as she looks at him. "When Cara told me what she did, that when I heard the explosion, you'd be. . . " She sucks in a raspy breath, shaking. "Then it happened and I thought I lost you. "
Jack wraps his arms around her. "I'll always be here for you, Abby. I'm not going anywhere. "
___
For the next few weeks Jack and Abby took things slow. Kate and Gus on the other hand, were sucked into a whirlwind wedding. When Kate thought she lost Gus, she realized how much she loved him. After that night, the two of them couldn't be pulled apart with a crow bar.
Kate sits at the table with Abby every day, planning her wedding for the following spring. "My mother is driving me crazy, Abby. I can't take it anymore. " Kate sighs and drops her head to the table, resting her face on the side of a bridal magazine.
Jack watches them from the counter. He pours Abby a cup of coffee and then gets his own. Kate thumbs through the pages, watching them fall. "What does Gus think?"
"Gus thinks we should just elope, but I don't know. I wanted you to be there. "
"So, we'll come," Abby says. She elbows Kate and grabs the magazine. She flips back a few pages and points. "You can get married at this place. " Kate's eyes glance over at a picture of the crystal clear water. "It's really pretty and I heard they do a good job. You don't have to do anything but show up. "
Kate perks up. She snatches the magazine, looks over the ad, plucks her phone from her pocket, and wanders away without another word. Seconds later, Abby can hear her voice from the hallway asking about dates.
Jack laughs and sits across from her. "Kate's mom is going to kill you. "
Abby shrugs. "Maybe, but this will make Kate happy, and I see her more than her mom. "
"How are you feeling?" Jack asks. He's noticed she's sleeping better, but that doesn't mean anything.
"I'm fine, Jack. "
He takes her hand and says, "You're amazing, you know that?"
Abby smiles softly. After a moment, she says, "Is the new painting going to be displayed next week?" The tour ends in New York next week, and the new painting of Abby has been added to the exhibit. Kate's boss loved that they got something no one else did. And since it was Jack revealing a new piece, it means lots of press for them.
"Yes, they were happy to take it. Gus was out there this morning. "
Abby is quiet for a moment, then asks, "Were there protesters?"
"None. " They both smile.
"Holy ass cakes, Abby," Kate says, rushing back into the room. Jack laughs, but Kate talks over him. "I booked it. Pack your stuff. We are going to Bermuda. " She screeches and jumps up and down.
"Does Gus have a passport?" Jack asks, breaking into Kate's happy dance.
"Oh, shit. I don't know. " Without another word, Kate races out of the room, dialing as fast as she can.