Wicked Warning (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

home again that you’ll be amazed at the love they’re willing to share.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “Because only someone who was truly loved could’ve survived what you went through,” Ivy replied. “Your parents made you strong, and now they’re going to be strong for you. I have faith in them. You should, too.”

    “ H OW IS she ?”
    Jack waited for Ivy to emerge outside Jessica’s hospital room. She looked despondent, tears streaking her cheeks when she slipped into his open arms.
    “She’s … very unhappy,” Ivy replied, choking on her words. “She thinks they’re going to blame her for what happened. She thinks she’s filthy and they won’t want to look at her.”
    “Oh, honey.” Jack smoothed Ivy’s hair as he swayed back and forth. “Believe it or not, that’s a normal feeling amongst rape survivors. She’s going to need counseling. First, though, she needs to be reintroduced to her family.”
    “I don’t know how to help her, Jack,” Ivy said, her tears causing Jack’s heart to roll. “I keep trying to put myself in her shoes and I can’t. How could someone take a thirteen-year-old child and … do that?”
    “There are some sick people out there, honey,” Jack said. “I wish you weren’t seeing this. I wish I could protect you. I can’t, though. We’ll do the best we can to help her.”
    “She’ll never be the same, though,” Ivy argued. “She’ll never be the girl who liked going to the park with her mother again.”
    “No, she won’t,” Jack agreed. “She’s very strong, though. She wouldn’t have survived this if she had an ounce of weakness. She’ll forge a new life, and it could be great.”
    “It could be awful, too.”
    “I can’t make you any promises, Ivy, at least not the ones you want me to make. I can swear that we’re going to find this man and make him pay, though. I can swear that we’re going to do the very best we can to help Jessica. Those are the only things I can offer you.”
    “I’m so glad you’re here.” Ivy buried her face in the hollow of Jack’s neck.
    “I’m glad you’re here, too,” Jack said, kissing the top of her head. “You’re exhausted, though. You should go home and get some rest.”
    “I’m not leaving without you.”
    “I have to stay until her parents get here,” Jack said. “We need to catch the man who did this. We’re going to need her help to do it. I’m hopeful that she’ll be willing to talk when her parents arrive.”
    “She won’t,” Ivy said matter-of-factly. “She’s already burying everything that happened and trying to pretend she’s living a different life. She’s not going to talk to Brian or you, at least not right away. She can’t be around men.
    “Dr. Nesbitt came in to check on her while I was there and I thought she was going to scream when he patted her arm,” she continued. “She’s terrified of men.”
    “Because one did the worst thing possible to her,” Jack said. “I get it, honey. We’ll do the best we can by her. We’ll be careful and patient. You should still go home.”
    “No.”
    “Ivy.”
    “Jack.”
    Jack blew out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. You can stay. If you hit a wall, though, I’m having the doctor knock you out.”
    “You’d better sleep with one eye open for the rest of your life if you ever try anything like that,” Ivy threatened.
    “As long as I’m sleeping with you for that entire time I’m willing to do almost anything.”
    The admission knocked Ivy for a loop. She’d only been dating Jack a few months and she was already closer to him than she’d ever been with anyone else. They still hadn’t said the L-word. Ivy felt it. She believed Jack did, too. They weren’t ready yet, though.
    “When are her parents supposed to arrive?” Ivy asked, opting to change the subject. “Will they be here soon?”
    “They’re on their way,” Jack replied. If he noticed the conversational shift, he didn’t comment.
    “What did they