Page 107 of Open To Negotiation

I’d caught sight of my reflection in the elevator, he was right. There was swelling and bruising on my face, a bandage on my head and dried blood matting my hair.

“Aubrey?” I asked, looking between the two.

“She’s in surgery. She was hit by a large shard of glass that cut her pretty deep. She’s lost a lot of blood and has some internal injuries. We’re waiting for an update from the doctor.” Shannon’s voice was tired; Joe grabbed her hand in support. Both had tears in their eyes, and I tightened my good hand into a fist at my side.

“I am so sorry.” My voice cracked.

“This isn’t your fault, sweetheart.” Both parents moved forward and helped sit me down in a chair between them.

“I shouldn’t have let her get in the car.” My voice broke as I looked down at my lap.

“Darling,” Shannon said as she brushed her hand over my head gently. “She would’ve gotten in that car regardless, you couldn’t have stopped her. She called us the other day and said she was thinking about moving out or coming home. Her and Max were fighting a lot. He hit her.”

“What?” My eyes whipped over to her. “She didn’t tell me.”

“She said it was an accident, that he apologized but he was drinking a lot. She said he was trying to blame your boyfriend for giving her unrealistic expectations of how he should be acting.” I saw Shannon’s eyes bounce to where Theo was still standing near my wheelchair.

Silence hung over us for a while as I digested the information that Aubrey wasn’t telling me.

“I’ve just heard. Max got some stitches but is otherwise fine, better off than Quinn. He was discharged but police caught him on the way out,” Jaxson informed us as he came into the room with Will. I could feel the gaze of some other people waiting for news of their families.

“I’ve got the protection order here,” Will said, coming forward, looking at her parents. “Since Aubrey is unable to sign for herself, you can both sign. Quinn, you need to sign yours.” He passed us each a stack of paper.

I had no idea how the men in this group got things done at such a shocking speed.

“If police have him, why does Aubrey need a protection order?” I asked.

“Just to be safe, so she can have some distance from him.” Will looked at me with a nod.

I looked over at her parents. “Sign it, he hit her and she didn’t leave and she didn’t tell me. She may have been thinking about moving out but I’ve seen them together, she defers to him. She’s lost herself. Plus, he’s going to be pretty pissed when charges are filed. He’ll lose his job. Sign it, just to be safe.” I watched her parents look at each other, nod and sign where Will had left tabs. I followed suit even though it was unnecessary, I doubt he would care about me.

Will nodded and took the paperwork saying something about going to get a judge’s signature. I sat there, growing more uncomfortable in the hard plastic chair with my injuries, as we waited for news.

The others settled in the room except Theo who just stood there. I couldn’t make eye contact with him so I stared at the floor.

“Mr. and Mrs. Howell.” Both parents shot up as a doctor came into the room. I was slower but stood up and winced.

“That’s us,” Shannon said, clutching Joe’s hand.

“Your daughter is out of surgery, she has a small brain bleed we need to monitor closely so there is a chance she’ll have to go back in but for now she’s stable. We’re getting her settled in the ICU, but you’ll be able to see her soon.”

I let out a breath and stepped back, feeling a little dizzy, before I could fall over or find a chair, Theo’s arm wrapped around my back.

“Thank you so much, Doctor.” Shannon sniffed.

She wasn’t out of the woods yet but at least she was alive and stable.

“We need to get you back to your room,” Theo grumbled from beside me. I nodded, the effects of the pain meds were warring off.

“I’ll come see her in the morning,” I told both her parents as I hugged them before me and everyone else all went back upstairs.

As I got back into bed, the guys muttered something about getting coffees and they left Theo and I alone in the room.

I was exhausted. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally.

And it was harder with him around because he was here, I could touch him but the man I fell in love with was too far away for me to reach.

“Quinn—”