After the police, firemen, and paramedics arrived at the scene, I was gently pulled from my car and placed on a gurney as they loaded me into an ambulance. I stayed alert throughout the process, but the feeling of the accident and the sensation of being loaded into an ambulance was all too familiar to me, as images of my past accident flashed in my mind. Panicked, and after a final request to call my dad, I somehow lost consciousness before making it to the hospital.
When I finally woke up, I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but I was in a hospital bed with my arm now in a sling and a thick bandage over my shoulder. My dad was in the room, but he was chatting with an officer and another man off in the corner. The officer wasn't doing much of the talking, but the man next to him was holding something in his hands that looked to be an FBI badge. He was a very large man--muscular and definitely above 6' as he was much taller than my dad. He was dark skinned, bald, and looked to be in his 50's. He was dressed in a suit, and he spoke with conviction, his voice just loud enough for me to hear."Sir... your daughter is in danger. Now that she's medically stable, she can't stay here. As soon as she wakes up, you both need to come with me to the station."At the mention of danger, memories of what had just happened to me came flooding back into my groggy mind. It was enough to completely overtake my body again and tears immediately sprung to my eyes."Dad?" I croaked out, wanting him by my side to provide me with a little bit of comfort.Without hesitation, my dad rushed to me. He sat on the edge of my bed, placing a palm on top of my head and running it from my forehead down my cheek. "Hey honey. I am so glad you're okay," he breathed. On the outside, he looked calm, but I could see the fear and sadness in his eyes. Something wasn't right.Off in my peripherals, I noticed the man in the suit exit the room and begin talking with one of the doctors. "What... what's going on? Why is the FBI here?"My dad scrutinized my face for a moment as if surprised I figured out who the man in the suit was. "It's complicated, Emmy. They're going to explain it all to us, but right now they gave everyone orders to leave the hospital. They're going to discharge you, and you're to go with SSA Hale," he explained, gesturing to the suited man before continuing, "to the station. I am supposed to drive separately and meet you there."My body trembled. There was so much to process. I couldn't wrap my head around what had happened, I was still sore all over and feeling groggy from whatever pain killers I was given, and now they were saying I had to relocate with an unfamiliar FBI agent without my dad?I opened my mouth to question everything when the doctor walked in, ending the conversation."Okay, Emery. We are going to have to discharge you, so I just need to go over some things with you before you leave. How are you feeling?""Um... I'm okay." I answered. That was a loaded question, but I assumed he was only referring to my arm, which actually didn't feel too terrible at the moment."That's good. Basically, the bullet hit you in the upper arm near your shoulder, but you were extremely lucky with the placement. It didn't hit any major blood vessels and it was a to and through wound, which means the bullet exited immediately and didn't cause further damage. It's definitely going to be sore for a while because it went through the muscles, so you need to be careful with it, and it's best to keep the sling on for the next day or two; you don't have to sleep in it, but just when you're moving around. Take ibuprofen when you need," he explained.I was listening to him, or at least listening as much as I could. I knew he said I was lucky, but honestly, I wasn't feeling too lucky at the moment."Wash the wound with clean water 2 times a day and do not use peroxide or alcohol; it could slow the healing. If you want, you can cover it with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, like vaseline, and a bandage, which is what you have on now. Replace the bandage as needed and make sure to keep it clean and dry. If you need, an ice pack can also help with the swelling," he rambled.I felt like my brain was mush as I could barely register these care instructions. They all seemed basic to me anyway. I was too occupied thinking about SSA Hale and what he had to talk to us about, and why they were rushing me out of here so quickly; I mean, hospitals were supposed to be safe, weren't they?As soon as the doctor concluded telling me how I didn't sustain any further injury from the crash, other than a minor concussion and some severe whiplash that would hurt later on, he said I was free to go.As to not completely fall apart, I focused on one task at a time to preoccupy my mind from the vivid imagery of the crime. I slowly stood from the bed, and the nurses helped me to change from my hospital gown into a pair of leggings and a t-shirt that my dad had brought for me.Then, before I knew it, I was being rushed from the hospital under the protective arm of SSA Hale and a couple officers following suit.***********I was now seated in a tiny room at the local station on a hard, uncomfortable chair. It looked to me like an interrogation room, which made me even more on edge than I was before. I was seated alone as Mr. Hale, or Chief Hale as he liked to be called to keep things simple, went to get things in order.Leaving me alone with my thoughts before trying to speak to me probably wasn't the smartest idea. I was a blubbering, shaking mess by the time my dad finally arrived at the station to join me.He held me in a tight hug, not asking questions, not begging me to speak, just hugging me and giving me the comfort that I needed. The hug was kind of hurting my sore body, but I didn't care. It was his strong embrace that helped me get through relaying every last horrific detail to Chief Hale.After listening to my story with a furrowed brow and hardened expression, he placed a file on the table before us. It was a thick file, and I had to wonder what kind of criminal could ever acquire a file that large... after all, how many crimes could a few shooters possibly commit?My questions were soon answered as Chief took us through the file, relaying his theories about what most likely took place at the store tonight, and the motive behind the shooting."A mob? Here in Iowa? That seems unlikely..." My dad thought out loud after listening to Chief."As unlikely as it is, Mr. Starr, it happens. From our understanding, the grocery store in your town is family-owned, correct?"We both nodded our heads in response, urging for him to continue."Background checks on the family revealed the owner was once part of one of the largest mob's in the FBI's database. From what we know about them, nobody is allowed to leave after becoming a member. Turns out, Mr. Solara left the mob years ago and came here to start a family. They are relentless, and he and his family were the targets of the attack. However, there cannot be witnesses, and that's why they shot everyone at the store tonight."I shook in my chair, remembering vividly the kind smile of Mr. Solara as he gave me my change just moments before the shooting, and the bodies of the innocent customers who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time; much like myself."Emery... Mr. Starr... I'm not going to lie to you. The mob that Emery is now a target of is extensive. We've been trying to learn the identity of the kingpin and all his members so that we can put a stop to them once and for all. The problem is, they are unpredictable. They show up and disappear out of thin air, and the second we find and incarcerate one of the members, he gains two more. Until we can get the leader, you won't be safe. He will come after you because without your testimony on this incident, we have nothing concrete to prove the mob's involvement; nobody has ever lived through one of their attacks to testify before."I let a new wave of tears flow from my eyes as I let the words soak in. Listening to the chief, I realized I was in much greater danger than I knew, and I was terrified. My throat seized as I tried to choke back my sobs.My dad placed a comforting arm around my shoulder, being careful to avoid my injuries. "Okay. So, what do we do to keep my daughter safe?""Well, given the immediate threat to her safety since none of the subjects were apprehended at the scene, she will need to be placed in the witness protection program immediately; and as an added precaution, she will be assigned a bodyguard to look after her."I cocked an eyebrow in confusion. I never heard of the W*P assigning bodyguards to people, but then again, what did I know?"We don't usually do this for our witnesses," the chief stated as if he read my mind, "but the crime you witnessed wasn't ordinary, Emery. You are in more danger than most. I'm not saying this to scare you, but you need to be aware."I nodded my head. I didn't think I had it in me to say anything without completely falling apart. What would I even say anyway?"Okay, well thank you; I appreciate the extra measures being taken," My dad said, trying to remain calm. "Where is this bodyguard? I'm sorry, but I'm not exactly comfortable with Emery being so close to someone I haven't ever met, especially when it comes to her safety... I'm sure you can understand."Chief nodded in response before turning his attention to the mirror behind us. "Jaxon, can you come in here, please?"Seconds later, the door to our tiny room opened, and in walked a striking man. He was tall... very tall; and he was built like a marine. I could see he had muscles even through his black jacket, as the material looked strained over his thick biceps. His ocean blue eyes shone bright in contrast to his tanned skin and chocolate brown hair. I noticed his full eyebrows, long lashes, and his jawline; so sharp and defined it could cut glass. This man was definitely handsome, and incredibly intimidating. He strode forward with a look of determination, confidence, and professionalism, taking his spot behind the Chief, arms crossed over his muscled chest."Mr. Starr, Emery; Meet Jaxon Hale, your bodyguard."“Hello, I'm Jaxon," my bodyguard spoke; it was here that I realized he was probably around my age or maybe just a few years older. "Mr. Starr, I heard your concerns, but I just want to assure you that I am very good at what I do. I will keep Emery safe." I was mesmerized by the sound of his voice. It was so velvety smooth and yet so masculine; definitely a voice that demanded attention. He sounded very convincing when he spoke, and I almost felt safer just with him being in the room. Almost."Thank you. I appreciate that. I don't mean for this to come across as rude, but... aren't you a little young to be a professional bodyguard?" The corners of Jaxon's full lips twitched as if he was expecting this question. "Well yes, I am young; I have to be in order blend into the college where Emery will be placed. Chief will explain all of that in a minute; but once again, I assure you, I've had all the required training." "Jax is one of the best. He was top of his class, and as my adopted s
Almost 5 hours had passed since Jaxon and I left the station, and I already felt like it had been an eon. I shifted in my seat, crossing my legs and hugging my arms tight to my chest for comfort and warmth. "You okay?" Jaxon asked, turning the radio down a few notches. This was the first thing he said to me since we left; I must not have moved much until now. Although his question was nice, it seemed he was trying to keep me at a distance; like he asked more for common curtesy rather than legitimate concern. But to answer his question, no. I was in no way okay. My arm was throbbing from the gun shot, I had whiplash starting to kick in from the car flipping, and I was freezing from the inside out. But, the absolute worst part, was knowing that everything was about to change, and knowing that my poor father was left behind, on his own, to sell my death to everyone. So no... not okay, Jaxon. "Emery?" He asked again while still remaining focused on the road. This time though, I did c
My heart was pounding. I found myself trying to be impossibly closer to Jaxon as we walked, longing to touch him for a sense of security. I hated feeling so vulnerable and weak, but Jaxon did have a way of making me feel safe; even though he wasn't Mr. Sunshine. With a big, muscular frame and chiseled features, a person would need to be crazy to try and fuck with him."Stay close and act normal," he commanded while opening the door. We were instantly hit with a cool breeze from the air conditioning being sucked outside. I nodded in response, my whole body shuddering once again as it adjusted to the new temperature. He frowned at me before shrugging out of his black leather jacket. "Here. Put this on." I quickly accepted it and tried to thank him, but he was already turned away from me and walking towards the front desk. I quickly put on the jacket and hugged it tight to my body as I followed him, a waft of cologne hitting my nose.The receptionist was very pretty and not what I expe
After my shower, I made quick work of getting dressed and crawling into bed. Jaxon and I only exchanged a few words, and he hadn't looked at me even once since I was out of the bathroom. He had the TV on and asked if I had a channel preference, which I politely declined. I knew I wouldn't be awake long anyway once I was tucked into the firm hotel bed. Sure enough, I fell asleep within moments despite the fact that I had a lot to process. My brain and body were just completely drained at this point. However, because of everything that happened, my subconscious was on overdrive, and it made for some horrifying dreams. I don't remember the specifics of the dream, but next thing I knew, I was being woken up by Jaxon. He had his hands placed gently on my uninjured arm, shaking me slightly as I came to. I was surprised to find I had only been asleep for about an hour and that tears were still streaming down my face as my body trembled. Honestly, I was amazed I even had any tears left in
I must have fallen asleep again in the car; I wasn't sure for how long, but boy was my dream intense. When my eyes finally fluttered open, all I saw was a man's face hovering in front of me. Since my dream was so incredibly violent and I had been in such a deep sleep, I couldn't register what was happening, or that the man I was looking at was Jaxon and not an attacker/shooter.Without thinking, I struck out with my good arm and kicked my legs, fighting off my assailant.The man caught my fist as it flew, but the momentum sent me tumbling sideways out of the vehicle until I was seized around my waist."Woah woah! Emery, it's me!" Jaxon called as he caught me and held me to his body to stop me from fighting. He held on tight while I was eased from the car and placed gently onto the ground.Immediately, I snapped back into reality and let my body sink into his large, sturdy frame. "Jaxon? Oh god... I am so sorry! Did I hurt you?"I felt Jaxon chuckle slightly as he steadied me on my fe
After Laurie took my measurements for new clothes and took my photo for my new ID, she lead me through a series of hallways until we arrived at a different room. She opened the door to reveal a small, plain room where Jaxon was seated, going over what looked to be blueprints with another man— Cal, I assumed."Jaxon, she's ready for you," Laurie announced. He and Cal immediately turned to look at me, and I suddenly felt self-conscious. I was about to reach out and stroke my hair out of nervous habit, but stopped when I realized I no longer had the length that I used to."Wow... nice job, Laurie," Jaxon stated. My heart was pounding. He had complimented Laurie, but did that mean he thinks I look nice? I willed my face to stay neutral as I approached the table. "Did you look at your file?" Jaxon asked me before I had time to overthink his comment. I nodded in response, feeling nervous for some reason about finding my voice. Something about the small, bland space was oddly off-puttin
Here's the thing about the witness protection program that I didn't think about prior. You get your documents and a new identity, but you still look the same. Sure, they gave me some highlights and a new style, but essentially I still looked like Emery Starr, and that's why I felt a constant pang of paranoia. I was confused at first why we didn't take a private plane, but Jaxon assured me that they used commercial flights to blend in. We had new ID's and nobody would be looking for a Skyler Finley or a Mason Walker. I was fine with all of this, and despite my paranoia I felt calm as we made our way through security and onto our plane.However, the minute Jaxon left my side to go to his seat near the back of the plane, I felt eyes on me. It was probably nothing, but I kept thinking about Chief's words. The line of followers that this particular mob leader had created was extensive, and they could be anywhere. Comforting, right? I settled down into my window seat and waited anxiously
Finally, the flight attendant's voice flooded the cabin and Jaxon immediately released my hand. They went through their safety demonstration as we began taxing towards the runway. I didn't have it in me to pay attention even though I didn't fly often— I had too much on my mind and felt like I could fall asleep at any moment. Jaxon and I remained seated in comfortable silence until we were in the air. I was staring out the window, looking at the city structures become smaller and smaller; my old life becoming farther and farther away. "I know you're probably tired, but let's review some of our information quick for when we get off the plane. At least the basics," Jaxon stated, breaking me away from my somber thoughts. We were speaking so quietly nobody would hear us even if they tried to listen in. I nodded, "That’s a good idea." Although I agreed, my mind felt fried and I doubted I'd be able to cover a lot before actually falling asleep. "What's your name?" Jaxon started on the q