Twenty-Three
I felt like I’d been stabbed in the gut, because she was too quiet and too clingy, all things that were setting red flags literally on fire in my mind. I’d been there, hadn’t I? I’d been forced into things I didn’t want and had no power to prevent, and I knew it left you either desperate to never be touched again, or just as desperate to feel safety in the arms of someone you trust.
If that bastard had raped her, I’d make sure I did the same to him. Even thinking that made me feel ill, but killing isn’t always enough for some people. Sometimes they needed to understand exactly the degradation they’d forced on their victims first.
As Elise started crying quietly again, with her face buried in my chest, I felt tears on my own cheeks. For every second of her pain and suffering, I was dying right there with her. I wasn’t worthy of touching her before this, and now I’d failed her and let this happen to her? Maybe once I avenge her, I should follow that bastard into the fucking void. I deserved it for letting anything bad near this fucking angel, who had always been too good for me.
The van had stopped, and I didn’t even realise until the door was wrenched open, and I let out a threatening snarl at the intruder, before I even recognised him. Stitch looked shocked as hell, and lifted both hands, showing me he wasn’t a threat to her.
“Let’s get her inside, man. Doc needs to check her over.”
I didn’t want to let go of her, and she definitely didn’t want me to let go, because she let out a scream when I even tried to release my tight grip on her. I also didn’t want the fucking doc touching her, but I knew she needed help.
“Has, please. Help me get her inside.” I let Stitch and Ry drag me out of the van, but I refused to let go of her, or let them take her from me. How could I simultaneously know she wasn’t meant for me, and at the same time be so certain that she was mine?
The warring thoughts were tearing my mind into shreds, because all of my usual defences were down. Her fear and her pain had blasted through the last of them, and I didn’t want them back up, because I didn’t want anything between the two of us. Ever.
“Bring her in, lad, that’s it. Let’s take a look at her. Anyone who isn’t Stitch or Has, get the fuck out.”
People always listened to Doc, well, mostly. If he hadn’t included me in that statement, they’d have had to kill me to get me away from her.
“Has… I need you to loosen your grip a bit so I can check her out. Hi Elise, remember me? I’m not gonna hurt ya. It’s okay.”
I helped her onto the bed, but I had to fight to make my arms release her, and even then, I could only go as far as the side of the bed, with her hand in both of mine.
Stitch cursed, and turned his back for a moment, as the doc removed the shirt I’d covered Elise with.
“Do you want both of these chuckleheads in here, love? I have the power to remove anyone you don’t want in the room.” Elise shook her head, but I noticed she wasn’t flinching from him like I’d expected. Was it merely that inherent trust in a doctor, or did they know each other better than I thought? And why the fuck was I feeling jealous of a fucking doctor?
“She uh… there was blood,” I murmured, feeling wetness in my damn eyes again. Stitch cursed again, but he kept his back turned.
Doc nodded, easing my t-shirt back over Elise’s bared thighs.
“Did he hurt you, love?” She swallowed hard and nodded, keeping her eyes lowered, but I saw tears forming again. Fuck. I wished I could go back a few hours and never leave the fucking clubhouse. This was all my fault, and I wasn’t the only one thinking that. Stitch proved that by suddenly lunging at me and shoving me across the large room, crashing into another bed before we both hit the floor.
“You should have fucking stayed here! You got her raped, because you fucking sneaked out when we were trying to keep her safe! I’ll fucking kill you for this!” Again I didn’t fight. I just lay there and let him punch me, before the doc dragged him away.
“Will you fucking listen?”
It was then that I realised Elise was trying to talk.
“He… he hurt me, but he didn’t do that. I… I wasn’t raped.”
Elise
I hated having to even say that word. Rape . I was so relieved that he’d been interrupted, because he hadn’t planned to waste any time. I’d been tied and terrified in that van, and he was slicing my clothes open with a knife, not caring when he caught my skin a couple of times with it. Maybe he even did it on purpose. His breathing was raspy and excited, and he cruelly groped at my breasts for a moment, before he pulled my jeans open.
It was a horrifying experience after the sweetness of my earlier encounter with Has-Been. I’d tried to keep him firmly in my mind but when that monster jammed a hand between my legs, I panicked and struggled against his touch, which was actually assisted by my jeans trapping my legs tighter together. I’d forever be grateful to my jeans for saving me from him.
The rumble of motorbikes had reached his ears at the same time as it reached mine. He’d let out a string of curses, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and whispered something horrible to me, before he lunged out of the van and ran.
Those words had been playing on me this whole time. While my brother and Has-Been worked on freeing me, and getting me back here. The whole time I was safely wrapped in Has-Been’s arms, those words were repeating in my mind.
“Next time I get my hands on you, there won’t be any escape. I’ll rape you until you die.”
I shuddered as I felt like I could hear his voice in my ear again, his breath warm against my skin, flesh crawling at his closeness.
“He… he didn’t?” Has shoved my brother aside, and grabbed my hand again, pressing it to his lips. He’d cried with me in the van. I’d seen it, and felt it, felt his breath hitching in his chest as mine did. If I’d ever wondered if we were meant to be together, it was no longer a question. We were always meant for each other. I was more certain now than ever.
Seth joined the doc and Has-Been at my side.
“Sweets, tell us what happened.”
I glared at him. “Firstly, I’m saying this once, and never again. I love Has-Been, and if you try to keep us apart, I’ll run and take him with me. No more dictating who I can be with.”
Seth cursed, running a hand through his hair.
“Fucking hell. We can talk about that later. For now, I need to know what happened tonight.”
Has practically growled at Seth, and the doc rolled his eyes.
“You two, give us a few minutes. You can stay in the room, but I want you over there.” He pointed to the corner of the room, and they both reluctantly backed away, even as Has seemed to be unable to release my hand. Finally I pulled my fingers free, because I needed a moment anyway.
“Did the bastard touch you anywhere, love? Did he uh… did he penetrate you with anything? I’m sorry to ask this.”
I shook my head, even as I felt my lips trembling and tears threatening again.
“He wanted to. He was cutting my clothes off, and uh, and… and he put his hand down there, but he ran when he heard the bikes coming.”
Doc looked older and more tired, even as his eyes practically radiated compassion at me.
“I’m sorry you’re having to talk about this right now, but once I’m done, you don’t have to say any of it again. I can even be your voice with the others if you like. I see some cuts, where I’m guessing he caught you with that knife. Are you comfortable with me cleaning those up and dressing them?”
I nodded, my eyes straying to the corner where Has and my brother were both standing, studiously ignoring each other as they watched us.
“I… he groped me, but he didn’t uh… get inside. I’m still you know… what I was.”
Doc smiled at me. “It’s okay, love. I don’t need to know more, as long as you weren’t injured down there, I don’t have to go anywhere near that area. You’d prefer it if I didn’t, right?”
I nodded again, wincing as he cleaned one of the cuts with a wipe that must have been dipped in acid or something.
“Sorry. Just one more and we’re done. You’ll probably want to have a chat with Ice’s missus, she’s a therapist, so you can speak freely and she won’t say a word.”
I shuddered at the thought of telling another person. Weirdly, I felt like if I told anyone, it’d be Has-Been. He’d been closer to me than anyone ever, and he’d seen me. He’d treated me like I mattered, and he was hurting right along with me right now.