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A fewonon our joined hands I can feel hismy skin but I can’t make out his whispered words "Izzy, please wake up Please, please Princess" I don’t knohat shocks le war we pass ti Axel so if he wants to leave and take a break The cops cos and vitals All the while, I a to make my body listen; to wake up

Dee is back in the roo the abuse I lived I can hear Dee explaining to Axel what happened that night she ca I was forced to stay in the hospital to heal, and how much worse the injuries had been then

"Jesus fucking Christ" I hear Axel say when she tells him how many bones I had broken then He starts to speak but stops short when I finally force a whisper past my lips

"Dee…"

"Oh God," she cries out before rushing over to my side I crack open my left eye and take in her face She’s adown her cheeks, her eyes are red rimmed and swollen With just the sound offool "Oh, Iz…I was so scared!"

"Okay, I’m…okay" I look around the roo that Axel was speaking to but Maddox and Coop are standing off to the side, faces set in stone When I ht and full of compassion

"Hey Princess" That’s all it takes for

The nurses co all theon ht eye A doctor that looks like he is well past time for retirement comes in next and attempts to clear the rooain and refuses to budge The fight would be futile, so I just shake

"Ms West," he begins, looking over at Axel orry He must assu?"

Even though I know it’s going to hurt like a bitch, I can’t hold back the laugh that bubbles up

"Like I was hit by a truck, thrown a few feet, then run over by a bus"

"Well This is no joking matter, Ms West I understand that you had an altercation late yesterday evening?" Did he just say yesterday?

"U to let you go home later this afternoon I was assured by your roommate, Ms Roberts, that you will be ency roons of concern She has the list of what to watch out for You need to keep your head dry for the next 48 hours After washing your hair, dry as best as you can Your back needs ointment applied every six hours Keep the open wounds covered and watch for signs of infection I’ve given her all the prescriptions for your home care Antibiotics, as well as sorandpa doesn’t specialize in bedside cheer

"No, Sir"

"Ms Roberts has already signed all of your discharge paperwork Try to be rowl from Axel I squeeze his hand to make sure he keeps hiswheeled out to the entrance and loaded up into Axel’s et my medication filled Maddox and Coop cli smell of death

A few ht direction of ?" I roll my head to the side with the help of the backrest and look over at hiood eye

"My house," he replies as calht with you, Ax Please take me home Dee can take care ofyou back there, Princess Not until I know that fucker is no threat"

"Take me hoainstmy attitude all over the cab of his truck

"No" That’s all I get in return

"Axel Take et ht up There were three trucks in the driveway, not to ainst the ay He walked right up to your door like there wasn’t a probleripping the steering wheel so tight, I start to worry he ht off, "I will not send you back into a house that he has no fear of strolling right up to and risk hi" He looks over atand I can see the blood pounding through his veins He looks like a rabid beast "Never again will I allow you to be har about it, so pitch your fit another time"

"Please…"

That earns lare "NO!" he booirl?" His grumbled response comes from behind me

"Take me with you, please?"

He pauses for a second and I can feel the vibes coirl"