Chapter 14 - Cayden
I watched her closely as the doctor was listening to her heart. Her eyes are still red, but they look better after a long night of sleep. If she was in pain, she wasn't giving any signs. She kept smiling when the doctor came in.
I swallowed, glancing back at the doctor. "How's her heart sound?"
"It sounds good," he said, pulling the stethoscope back. "Your heart wasn't a big concern of mine, but with all the smoke you inhaled, I wanted to keep an eye on it. How is your head feeling today?"
I looked at Riley, who gave him another half-smile. "Better than last night."
My eyes went to her throat and the red marks that had started to bruise. My fingers tightened on the chair arm, and I ground my teeth together, feeling pain in my jaw from clenching so hard. They had been red when I first got her, but now it was clear that there were fingerprints. Someone had wrapped their hands around her neck and squeezed. I didn't want to know how long they had been there or how much pressure had been applied.
Riley looked at me, her eyes snapping to the armrest of the chair. "Cayden, you're ripping the chair fabric."
I glanced down, quickly released my fingers, and crossed my arm. I swallowed, leaning back against the chair. I was trying hard to remain calm about this, but it was becoming difficult.
"She's doing better," the doctor said, giving me a reassuring smile. “She'll be going home tomorrow."
I nodded as he stepped out of the room. Riley looked at me, her fingers rubbing together nervously as the silence filled the space. I took a deep breath, knowing I would need to send a message to April and let her know that Riley was going to be getting out of the hospital.
"You heard him say I was okay."
I nodded. "I did, but that doesn't mean that cools my frustration."
She looked away, her eyes snapping to the floor. I didn't like it. I didn't want her to feel that she had to shut down when she was talking to me, even if I was unhappy.
"Riley, what happened? You have handprints on your neck, and you were tied to the bathroom cabinet with a tie. Who left you there like that?"
She softly sighed. "Brad. He's my ex."
I ground my teeth together, feeling an anger I'd never felt before. Rage filled every part of my body, and I felt my jaw click because of the pressure.
"You're angry."
"I'm furious," I corrected her. "You have fingerprints on your throat, Riley. Of course, I'm furious. He choked you, for god sake! That's not okay! He put you in this hospital, and you're acting like it's fine!"
She flinched, and I realized I was yelling. I ran a hand over my face, taking a deep breath. "I'm not mad at you. I'm angry about the situation. This shouldn't have happened."
"It doesn't sound like it."
I looked at her, softening my expression. "Has he ever done this to you before?"
I couldn't imagine it. It didn't want to. The thought that this was something he'd done before, and she just took it, made me sick enough to vomit. It was taking everything in me not to storm the streets looking for the fucker. I didn't know who he was, but I was going to find out everything I could as soon as possible.
She shook her head. "No, he's never put his hands on me like this before."
"Has he hit you?"
She shook her head again. "No, Cayden. He's never raised a finger to me. He's always been a talker more than a physical person. He's good with his words, not his hands."
Her face reddened at the words, and it did little to settle my anger. So, he'd never hit her, but he certainly hurt her, which wasn't any better.
I swallowed and shook my head. How could she have stayed with someone like that? Why would she? But as the question bloomed, I knew better than to ask. It wasn't the time nor the place.
"Well, you'll be staying with me until your trip is over," I state, "I already called April and informed her about everything going on."
She looked a little relieved as she nodded her head. I let the silence form over the room, soaking in the knowledge that she was safe.
I knew that Riley was going to be in the hospital for another night because they were worried about her lungs. While she was there, I made sure to get the apartment ready for her. I went out and bought some new things that I noticed she would need that the fire took. I wanted to make sure she was comfortable while staying with me.
The following morning, I brought Riley back to the apartment. She was nervous as we arrived, and I showed her to the guest room. It was a simple room that I didn't really decorate. I went out and bought new bedding and pillows, hoping they could help make her feel more at home.
"The bathroom is through the right door, and the closet is on the left."
She eyed up her suitcase, which we'd found was safe from the fire. Although the fire took out the living room and part of the hallway, most of Riley's things were safe.
"I was thinking of ordering some sandwiches for dinner," I said as she walked into the bedroom, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
She nodded her head, and I frowned. Last night, she had opened up a little, but since leaving the hospital, Riley had clammed up. She didn't say much on the drive back, and I started to worry. I wanted her to feel safer with me.
"Is there anything else you need?" I asked. "I found your brush and toothbrush but didn't find your phone."
She shook her head. "I hit Brad with it. I'm sure the fire took it. Even if I found it, I wouldn't want it. Brad would know my number."
I ground my teeth together, stopping myself from saying anything.
She swallowed, rubbing her hands together. I walked over and bent down. I took her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. "You are safe here, Riley. No one is going to hurt you."
She gave me a weak smile. "I know that, but my mind doesn't. I kept replaying it all over and over."
"You know I would never allow anyone to hurt you," I tell her.
She nodded. "Can you…just stay here for a little while longer?"
I leaned forward, pulled her into a hug, and inhaled her scent. I felt her relax against my chest, and I could feel her heart race as she did. She was terrified, and it angered me. I wanted to find the fucker and snap his damn neck. I wanted to run him over with a truck and then back up and drive over him again. I wanted to do twenty different things to him.
I knew it would take time for her mind to catch up and realize she was safe. So, I patted her head, holding her against me, hoping it would help.
The next couple of days, I focused on what I could. I made breakfast and went out walking with Riley. I went and bought Riley a new phone, and when I had to work, I called her to make sure things were okay. I made sure I was there when she needed me and that I was giving her space when she requested it.
When I arrived home on Christmas, Christmas music was playing in the living room. Riley was in the kitchen wiping down the counter. I took in decorated gingerbread cookies and tilted my head at the sight.
I knew that Riley wasn't a baker, but I knew that the girls were. Wendy had gotten into baking, and this was certainly something she'd do.
"Hey, you look like you've been busy."
Riley smiled as she turned, looking at me. "The girls stopped here, and one thing led to another. We made Christmas cookies and drank some eggnog."
My eyebrows went up. I had asked the girls to stop in and hang with her for the morning. We all had a few things to finish at the fire station, and I didn't want her to be alone for Christmas.
I swung onto a chair and leaned onto the island. I grabbed a cookie and took a bite. I was impressed. They were really good.
"You look like you had a good day," I said, taking another bite.
She nodded her head. "I did. It was really nice to be around them. They seem like good people."
"They are. The girls have helped me through a lot."
She tilted her head. "Really? You're not even going to give the guys credit?"
I snorted. "The guys are great, but the girls listen. They give good advice when you need it, and they are there for you when things are rough."
She nodded. "We do have that talent."
I smiled, watching her relax as she leaned over and grabbed a cookie. She took a bite and smiled. "These are good," she said.