Page 48 of The Encounter
“The doctor will be with you both shortly,” Susan said, before she slipped out of the room.
Maddie pulled her phone out of the bag and dropped the sack with the rest of the items onto the bed next to her. She powered it on and found several text messages and a voicemail all from Jace. The time on the screen showed it was four a.m.
She looked at the text messages first. All had been sent over the last four hours.
Maddie, please text me as soon as you see this. The hospital won’t let me see you until tomorrow morning. Day or night, please contact me.
Maddie, please let me know that you’re okay. This is torture.
Maddie, I’m sorry.
Baby, please call me.
Her heart leapt into her throat at the last name he called her. Baby. She quickly clicked on the voicemail message.
“Message received at 3:30 a.m.,” the automated voice said before Jace’s voice filled her ear.
“Maddie, I just needed to hear your voice. It’s been a long night, but I know yours has been far worse than mine. The hospital won’t give me any information or let me in to see you. I just need to know you’re okay. Please call me as soon as you get this.” His voice cracked on the last word, and he cleared his throat. “Please call me.”
“To delete this message, press 1,” the automated voice started. Maddie ended the call and immediately clicked on Jace’s name in her contacts.
The call rang only once before his voice washed over her.
“Maddie?” He sounded frantic.
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Oh, thank God. Are you okay?”
She gripped the phone to her ear. “I’m okay. I’m pretty tired, but I just woke up a little bit ago, and the nurse kind of told us what happened. We are just waiting for the doctor to come in and speak to us.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay. I’ve been so worried,” he said softly.
She smiled. The emotion that swept over her took her off guard. It had been a long time since she had someone worry about her. Tears pricked her eyes, and she gripped the phone tighter.
“I wish I could see you,” she whispered.
“Me too. I’ll be there as soon as visiting hours start in the morning. I’ll even bring you that coffee I promised you.”
“You better.” She giggled, which caused a chuckle to spill from him.
“It’s so good to hear your voice. You gave me quite the scare.”
“Who found us?” Maddie glanced over at Kayla, who was also on her phone.
“Robert and I did. We both noticed you hadn’t come back out, so we went to check on you.”
She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “I don’t suspect they caught the guys who did it, huh?”
“Actually, we did. Robert remembered them since they tried to follow you back to the bathroom. We got their photos from the security footage. Long story short, Reggie and I chased them down the alley after they tried to take two other women they drugged shortly after you two. We apprehended one, and the police caught the other.”
Maddie blew out a breath. “You’re both heroes.”
He chuckled. “Or they’re just idiots.”
“I’m glad they were.”
“Me too.”
