Remember Your Worth | Jackson Avery

forty-six

"Where are you?" The Avery asked through the phone.

"I'm leaving the hospital."

"And James is with you?"

I looked back at the buff bodyguard following me.

"Can't miss him."

"It's for your safety, babe. Who knows when Dalton could pop up again. God forbid he does."

Rae suddenly cried in the background. Jackson showed her holding an empty box of graham crackers.

"No one ate them but you." He told the kid.

"I'll swing by the store and pick some up."

"You're coming back to the hotel, no stops."

"So I'm completely stopping my life? Jackson, no." He huffed, looking down then back to me.

"To avoid a time consuming debate, I will let you stop at the store. However, James will not leave your side. Got it?"

"Roger that, Sergeant."

I ended the call as James got comfortable in the passenger seat, looking around.

"You sure you don't want me to drive?"

"I'm fine. I would prefer that you're home with your wife, but who listens to me?"

"Mr. Avery is just looking out for you."

"I know."

We drove down the road, on the way to the hotel. Since it was late, the grocery stores were closed resulting in my stop at a liquor store.

"My wife has been looking for these." He held up a bag of gummy bears.

"Get 'em." He shrugged, walking with me to the counter.

I paid for the crackers and gummies, now making my way to the hotel. I pulled into the parking space, groaning at the long walk to the door.

"If you're lazy, just say that." James said then laughed.

I pushed his shoulder, getting out.

"You see that walk, James. It's so far! All because everyone wanted to take up the parking spaces."

I looked to the other end, noticing a door. I remembered the key in my pocket, now happy that I didn't have to walk that far.

"Yes! Far but still closer than that."

I locked the car then we made our way towards the door.

"I'd offer to carry you but I don't think Mr. Avery will like that."

"I'm old enough to make my own decisions." I said.

James body suddenly dropped beside me. My head snapped to the syringe in Nick's hand as he smirked.

"Yes, you are, sweetheart."

My heart pounded against my chest; my body was frozen. My brain yelled for me to run but I couldn't move.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall, right?" He joked.

I quickly reached for my phone, turning to run away but he snatched me back, slamming me against the wall.

"Always trying to get away from me. I told you, I'll always find you."

"They have cameras, idiot. Cops are probably already on their way." He laughed, pulling a knife from his back pocket and holding it to my neck.

"Don't worry about that, sweetheart. I took care of security already. Have you noticed anything about me?" He quickly asked.

"You're a delusional psychopath who is going to rot in prison." I spat.

His fist connected with my cheek, knocking me to the ground. I groaned, spitting out the blood as he yanked me to my feet.

"I thought you loved me. You let him beat me in front of everyone like I was some random guy on the street. What type of love is that?"

"You're pretending like you did nothing to deserve that beating."

"Because I loved on you? Because I touched you? Baby, that isn't anything compared to what I'm bout to do to you."

He kissed all over my face, holding my hands behind my back. I knee'd him in the stomach then elbowed him in the face.

He yelped and groaned in pain, sticking the knife into my side. The rush of pain stopped me from escaping; my legs becoming weak.

"You're gonna get what you deserve, bitch."

His fist connected with my face over and over, throwing me to the ground. I felt pain in multiple areas of my body at once due to him kicking, slapping and punching.

The blood stained the concrete as it poured from my body causing me to black out.