Page 13 of Jax & Knox

I look down at Owen in my lap. He's playing with my fingers, oblivious to the conversation happening around him.

But the idea of accepting this much help, of letting these women, these strangers , take care of me... it terrifies me.

"What if I can't pay you back?" I whisper.

"You don't have to," Lucy says. "That's not how this works."

"Then how does it work?"

"You heal," Erica says. "You get stronger. And when you're ready, you help the next person who needs it. That's how it works."

I blink hard, refusing to cry in front of them.

"Come on," Tessa says, pushing off the dresser. "Let's get you moved."

Before I can protest, there's another knock on the door.

Scarlett opens it, and a woman steps inside. She's older than the others, maybe late forties, with soft curves, kind eyes, and an aura of calm competence that fills the room immediately.

"This is Bella," Lucy says. "She's a nurse. And she's going to check you over."

"I'm fine," I say automatically.

Bella smiles. "I'm sure you are. But humor me anyway."

She sets down a small medical bag and moves toward me with the kind of gentle authority that makes it impossible to argue. Owen reaches for her immediately, and she takes him with practiced ease, bouncing him on her hip while she studies me.

"Can you lift your shirt for me, sweetheart?"

I hesitate, then slowly pull up the hem of my shirt, exposing the bruises on my ribs. They're dark purple, almost black in places, with sickly yellow edges.

Bella's expression doesn't change, but I see the flash of anger in her eyes. She sets Owen down gently on the bed and kneels in front of me, her hands cool and steady as she presses carefully along my ribs.

I wince.

"Deep breath," she says.

I try. The pain flares, and I gasp.

"Okay. Shallow breaths. That's good." She continues her examination, her touch gentle but thorough. "Nothing's broken. But you've got some serious bruising. It's going to hurt for a while. A week, maybe two."

"I can work through it," I say.

Bella looks up at me, her expression firm. "No, you can't. You need to rest. Let your body heal. If you push yourself too hard, you'll make it worse."

"But—"

"No buts." She stands and pulls a small bottle from her bag. "Ibuprofen. Take it as needed for the pain. And rest . That's an order."

I take the bottle, my hands shaking.

Bella cups my face gently, her thumb brushing over my uninjured cheek. "You're going to be okay, sweetheart. Let us take care of you."

I nod, not trusting my voice.

They don't ask if I want to move. They just start packing.

Tessa grabs the diaper bag. Hadley folds the blankets from the laundry basket. Erica gathers the few toys scattered on the floor. Scarlett makes notes in her notebook, probably a list of things I'll need.