Chapter 38

Heath POV

Jade and I sit outside the diner listening to the conversation between Melanie and Tonya. I know what Jade is thinking and why she wants me here. I know all about Tonya’s past. She told me everything about how she seduces these twenty-year-old men for flings during the summer. She was even honest with me about how she began to feel for Dakota and how she was cruel to Jade. What Jade does not know is the Tonya is genuinely trying to change. She knows she made a mistake and that she let a little dick fuck her mind up over the summer. If it does not bother me, then she needs to let it go. I asked Tonya for honesty, and she gave me the whole truth. That is more than anyone has ever given me.

“Are you listening to this tramp?” Jade asks me.

“Stop being so judgmental, Jade,” I say to her.

“Okay, I just hope whatever the two of you are doing is worth it when she flips out on you,” Jade says to me.

“Jade, she told me everything, and besides, she is helping you out a lot. It would be best if you were grateful to her right now, not trying to judge her for her past. Do we need to bring up your past?” I ask her.

“That is not fair,” Jade says to me.

We listen to the two of them talk. Jade is more than happy with the information she is getting. She calls the police to come to the diner to arrest Melanie. We wait outside in the car. We were not expecting her to admit to killing Luke. I damn sure wasn’t expecting Tonya to admit to knowing him. Why in the hell did we not think to ask her if she did?

The police pull up beside us, and Jade begins making a copy of the tape to hand over when we hear screams coming from inside the diner. I run inside the restaurant to get Tonya out of there.

As I go in, I see Melanie holding a knife over Tonya, stabbing her. I rush over to them; I grab Melanie and throw her off of Tonya. The police come in behind me and take Melanie out of the diner. I sit with Tonya.

“It doesn’t look too bad; an ambulance is on the way,” I lie to her. It looks bad.

Tonya does not say anything. She lies on the floor, looking up at me. I maintain eye contact with her and continue to talk to her while we wait on an ambulance to come for her. Jade stays outside talking to the police officer that is outside.

A waitress comes over with towels. I place the towel over the wound and hold it tightly. “Just hang on, I hear the ambulance,” I tell her.

She does not say anything. I do not think she can speak. Her eyes stay on me. “They are here,” I say to her as the ambulance pulls up.

I get out of the way for the paramedics to work on her. I cannot believe this is happening. The paramedics get her stable and take her out to the ambulance.

“Can I go with her?” I ask them.

“She is in bad shape. You will have to meet us there,” he says to me.

I rush over to the car. “Jade, take me to the hospital,” I say to her.

Jade gets in the car, and we follow the ambulance. “You can drop me off and come back. I know you have things to handle,” I say to her.

“I am sorry, dad, this is not what I wanted,” Jade says.

“I know and do not even think this is your fault,” I say to her.

“I do feel responsible, dad,” Jade says.

“Well, do not think that way. Tonya would not want you to feel that way,” I say to her.

Jade drives quickly to the hospital. She pulls into the emergency entrance. I get out of the car.

“Hey, dad, I hope she is okay,” Jade says.

“Yeah, me too; I will call you later,” I say to her.

I go into the hospital. I check in with the nurses’ station, so they know I am there for her.

“As soon as she is stable, I will have a doctor come out and talk to you,” the nurse says to me.

I sit down in the waiting area to wait for some news. I know it will be a long wait, and no one has ever accused me of having patience, but for her, I will try to be calm.

I pull out my phone to check work emails while I wait. Nothing is really happening at the resort, so it doesn’t really help me take up any time while I wait. I hope she is okay.

Jade texts me, * Melanie is in custody. They are dropping the charges against Dakota. I hope your friend is okay*

Well, she tried to be nice. I know she does not like Tonya, and I get it, but I know Tonya is at heart a good person. I want to see what happens between us.

I text her back, * I do not know anything yet*

I get up to walk around. I do not want to go too far in case the doctor comes to talk to me. I just need to move around. As I walk out of the waiting room, a young doctor comes into the room.

“Are you with Tonya Russel?” he asks me.

“Yes, I am,” I answer.

“Come with me.” He says.

I follow him into a small room. Oh damn, I hope he is not about to say she is dead.

“She suffered from multiple stab wounds, but lucky for her, nothing is fatal. The cuts were not that deep. She will be okay,” the doctor says.

“Can I see her?” I ask him.

“Sure, she is pale, but she lost a lot of blood. She will be fine,” the doctor says to me.

I shake his hand. “Follow me, and I will take you to her,” the doctor says.

I follow the doctor to Tonya’s room. I go in, and she is sleeping. I stand over her. She is very pale but still beautiful. I reach down and take her hand.

“I think I am falling in love with you, my little vixen,” I say to her.

“I hope so,” she says softly and falls back asleep.