All Chapters of Betrayed, Broken, Back for Revenge: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

100 Chapters

091 Time For A Distraction

(Jade)Owen has been awake for two hours.But in the last ten minutes he hasn’t been calm or comfortable. He’s struggling.His skin is too warm beneath my palm, he’s restless. He presses his fingers to his temples and squeezes them hard.“My head hurts again,” he says.Seeing this is horrible. I don’t know what it means.I thought him waking up meant positive things. That his ravaged body was finally going to stop attacking itself.Cole shoots a worried glance at Maya and frowns. Then he puts the back of hand against Owen’s forehead. “He’s burning up.”He doesn’t tell me. He doesn’t even look at me. It’s Maya he’s focused on.I see it.I hate it.Cole presses the call button. A nurse pops her head in the door. “How can I help?”“Owen is burning up. Get the doctor in here.” Cole orders and she nods and leaves again.My heart is in my throat. “You’ll be okay, Owen. You have to be,” I say.I don’t think he even heard my words.The doctor strides in. Not any doctor. My doctor. He gives me

092 Still There Somewhere

(Maya)I go through everything twice.I was so sure I’d find a tracker in the bag somewhere, inside bunny. But there’s nothing so far.Lucy’s diaper bag sits open on the table. Her blanket folded neatly beside it. Bunny laid on his back, ears flopped, already opened and resewn.Every pocket. Every seam. Every inch of fabric.Nothing.I sit back, my hands flat on the table.Keaton watches me without speaking.“This doesn’t mean there wasn’t something,” I say finally.“No,” he agrees. “It just means either it’s not there now or we’ve overlooked something.”“I’m going to see Tessa,” I say. “With Lucy. She might remember something we never realized was important.”“That makes sense,” Keaton says. “Call me after.”“I will.”Lucy toddles over to Bunny and hugs him to her chest. “Mama go?”“Yes,” I say, lifting her. “We’re going to see Auntie Tess.”I need to find something soon. I don’t trust Jade and she is living in the mansion with us.***The door to Tessa’s room is open. Rhett is insid

093 Smoke Without Fire

(Cole)Jade comes back into the family living area we have set up for Owen and Lucy.“How’s he?” she asks, moving straight to Owen’s bedside.“Sleeping,” I say. “Fever’s down a little.”She nods and brushes her fingers through Owen’s hair.“Where’s Maya?” she asks.“Took Lucy out for some fresh air. They’ll be gone a couple hours.”She doesn’t react much to that. Just nods again.“Maybe we should go out and grab something to eat,” she says. “While he’s settled. The nanny can sit with him if you want a break.”“I can grab food and a shower here,” I reply. “Kitchenette’s stocked.”She studies me for a second. “If you’re staying, I might go back to my wing and lie down.”“That’s fine,” I say. “I’ll text if anything changes.”She leans down, kisses Owen’s forehead, then straightens.I go to the fridge and pour a glass of cola. I guess I can do some work on my laptop. Owen’s nanny is next to him.“I’m going to shower,” I tell her.“No problem, Mr Vance. Take your time.”“If Jade comes back

094 What Happened to the Clothes

(Maya)I walk up to the emergency desk with Lucy on my hip. “Hi, I’m Maya Vance. This is Lucy… She was brought in a couple of weeks ago after a car accident.”“Yes, Mrs. Vance…” “Call me Maya. I wanted to thank everyone in here. You guys do an amazing job.”“Thank you. That’s very appreciated.”“I do have a question. When clothes are cut off a trauma patient, what usually happens to them?”The nurse smiles. “That depends on who is on duty at the time. We all do it differently but we do always try to ask if the family want them returned. But it does get crazy in here as you know…”I smile. “Is there a way to find out who was on the day my daughter came in?”She studies Lucy for a second. “Are you missing something?”“Not really. But I don’t remember being asked and I wondered if her clothes might still be here or have been disposed of.”“Let me check the roster.”“Thank you so much.”It takes a few minutes. Lucy plays with my necklace while we wait.The nurse reads off a name. “Kara

095 Finding Proof

(Maya)By the time I pull into the mansion driveway, the sky is fading into late afternoon gray.Lucy is half asleep in her car seat.I sit there for a second before unbuckling her, just looking at the sheer size of this place.It’s mine. Technically. The only home Lucy has ever known but I can’t help but wish we had that smaller place in the country we once looked at.A place where kids could run safe and free and we could grow produce and have animals. Like normal people.Being a Vance is anything but normal. Maybe one day, when this is all over, I can get my dream property and show the kids how to be kids.I lift Lucy carefully.“Home,” I murmur.Inside, security nods. Staff step aside. Everything runs like clockwork. Cole has made sure of that.I head straight to the medical wing.In the main quarters it’s quite peaceful.Owen is asleep. I place Lucy down with him on her side and she automatically scooches over to him.“Owie?”“Shhh baby, Owie asleep. You go to sleep too, okay?”S

096 What I Broke

(Cole)I’m sitting beside Owen’s bed when Maya comes back in.Lucy is curled against him. His breathing is steady. That’s what matters.Maya sets the bags down by the table without comment and comes to stand near the bed. She checks Owen’s forehead, adjusts Lucy’s blanket, then straightens.“Maya,” I say.She looks at me.“I need to say something.” Because it has been playing on my mind for days.This is going to be head on the chopping block for me.I’m scared I’ll be rejected but I have to try. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve broken us. I’ve broken her.I do not deserve her or her love, but I’m going to ask anyway and cop whatever comes on the chin.“Okay.” She goes and sits at the table.I follow and sit across from her. “I was wrong.”She doesn’t react. “About what?”“About us. About you. How I went about things.”“Let me guess, you’re sorry and I should forgive you. Same old tune.”“No. I threatened you. The photos. The videos. I deleted them right away. Immediately. They don’t exist an

097 I Can’t Be In Two Places At Once

(Cole)I pull my head of security aside before stepping back into the medical wing.“Old camera system in the main wing,” I say quietly. “Are they still operational?”He nods.“I need the living area and kitchen turned on.”“No problem.”“Do it now. In case Maya goes back anytime soon.”“Yes, sir. I’ll need ten minutes.”“Don’t tell anyone else. And I need you to stay on that doctor.”“We’ve got eyes on him.”“I don’t trust anyone else. He does not leave your sight until you hear from me.”“My job is to protect you, Sir.”“Your job is to follow my damn instructions!”“Very well, Sir.” He moves off.I go back into the medical wing.Maya is just finishing up Owen’s favorite book.She yawns and stretches. “I think I’ll go to the main wing,” she says. “I need sleep in my own bed.”I know she is not going there to sleep. She’s setting herself up as bait.“Great idea. First, I’ll make us dinner,” I reply. “Then you can relax and have some sleep.”She pauses. “In my kitchen?”“Yes. Something

098 Now

(Jade)Cole stops when he sees me beside Owen’s bed.For a second, something passes across his face.“How long have you been here?” he asks.“Just now.”“You should have let me know.”“I didn’t want to interrupt. The call sounded important.”He shrugs but I notice the intensity of his eyes. “Not really. Just filling in time.”Lucy shifts beside Owen and rubs her eyes.“Owie,” she murmurs. “Mama?”“Mommy is sleeping, Poppet. She’ll be back soon, okay?”Owen opens his eyes slowly. “Dad?”“I’m here, Buddy.”I lean in. “I’m here too, Owen. How are you feeling?” I push the call button so they can come check him out.Lucy sits up. “Juice.”“Sure. I’ll get you a juice,” Cole says to her.“I’m thirsty too,” Owen says.“You are? That’s great. Here, have some water and we’ll check with the doctor on what you can have, okay?” I say as I hand him a cup.Owen nods and takes some slow sips. It makes me feel so good to see him awake.Dr. Robert Mason steps in through the side door.“Hello everyone,”

099 Without Thinking

(Cole)My phone vibrates in my hand.Maya: How are they? I’m going to shower and then I’ll come get Lucy.I look across at Lucy curled into Owen’s side, both of them half-watching the chipmunks on the projector screen.Owen’s eyelids are heavy again, his small hand resting loosely over Lucy’s arm like he’s anchoring himself to her.Me: They’re good. Owen is drifting to sleep again. Take your time.I hit send and stand, I glance at my watch. Rhett and Tessa will be here soon hopefully.That’s when my head of security appears in the doorway. He doesn’t step fully inside.“Sir.”“What’s happened?”“Dr. Mason just caused a disturbance at the main wing entrance.”Every muscle in my body tightens.“What kind of disturbance?”“He tried to open the door. We stepped in. He insisted he needed to speak to Ms. Vance immediately. He argued a lot and when we threatened to get you, he calmed down.”“Where is he now?”“We have him detained.”“Good, keep it that way.” My phone vibrates again.Keaton:

100 An Unexpected Future

(Maya)Owen is nine today.In my first life, this was the day I died.Lucy in my arms. Sirens in the distance. Jade looking on with satisfaction.I came back and I was sure it was about revenge. I had to make them pay.But now I see it wasn’t just that. It was everything here before me now. Happy kids. Kids that are alive.I’m alive and grateful for a lot. But there’s been regret and sadness and learning as well.Owen runs past me now with his friends, yelling something about teams and fences and unfair head starts.His laughter carries across the lawn and hits me square in the chest.He doesn’t look as fragile anymore.He has a little way to go to full strength. But I know he will get there.Lucy barrels after him, her curls flying behind her, her little boots already coated in mud. She’s two. Wild. Determined. Entirely herself.I don’t rush to stop her.If she falls, she’ll jump back up. She’ll try to keep up again. And Owen will slow a little to let her catch him.When Cole and I

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