29. My kind of chaos.
Chapter 29
My kind of chaos.
Amelia
T his is an impossible situation, and I have no idea how I’m going to escape.
I’m trapped in Badger’s grip and surrounded by a group of people as old or older than my parents. The only person younger than me is the cashier. He’s barely out of high school. At some point, he snuck around back and slipped into the storeroom. He’s currently guarding the door that Badger dragged me through moments ago.
I don’t know what he thinks he’s going to do if Badger decides to exit through the storeroom. If Badger wants to get through him, he’ll do it without difficulty.
“The police are on their way,” Betty calls out. “They should be here soon.”
She runs back to us, out of breath and frantic. She slipped away without a word and disappeared shortly after we were discovered. The only saving grace in this situation is Badger doesn’t have a gun or weapon. The only person he can hurt is me, making it possible for Betty to make that call.
“Ha!” Badger snorts. “We’ll be long gone before they arrive. Ricky’s probably sitting in some open field taking a nap.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I say. “Just let me go. I won’t press charges.”
My heart hammers against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the rising panic as I wait for his reaction. I claw at his arm. His grip around my neck is too tight. It’s hard to breathe. Dark spots form in the peripheral of my vision as his grip does the opposite. I don’t know how much more of this I can withstand before I pass out.
If I pass out, I’ve lost. He’ll drag me out of here with ease.
I’ve always known he had the potential to hurt me, but he’s never acted this erratically. It’s as if he’s lost his mind.
Badger’s grip tightens, digging into my flesh. Pain shoots through me, but it’s nothing compared to the fear that’s constricting my throat. I try to twist away, but he’s too strong.
He snarls, his face contorts in a grotesque mask of rage and lust. “You think you can just walk away from me? After all this time? No, princess. You don’t get to walk away from me ever again.”
Please, God, hurry.
I squeeze my eyes shut, the image of Christian’s furious face flashing before me. If he knew what Badger was doing to me, he’d kill him. But he doesn’t because I pushed him away. All I want is to see him one more time. I’d tell him how much I love him. Tell him that the stupid poker game doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I have him.
“Please,” I beg, my voice trembling. “I don’t love you. I never have.”
He leans closer, his breath hot against my skin. “You will,” he growls, his eyes burning with a dangerous intensity. “You’ll learn to love me.”
“No, I won’t.” I cry. Tears run down my face and settle in a pool between his hand and my throat. I swallow as I gasp for air. It hurts and burns my chest.
A loud crash from the front of the store fills the air, followed by the sound of my name.
“Amelia!” My heart leaps into my throat at the sound of Tanner’s voice.
“I’m back here!” I call out.
He presses his mouth to my ear and whispers. “Shut up, bitch.”
“And you expect me to love you when you call me names like that?”
He removes his hand from my throat. I cough and suck in a deep breath. It’s enough to fill my lungs. But the reprieve is short-lived as he covers my mouth with his hand. “I said shut up.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Bro, what are you doing?” Tanner comes to a stop a few feet away from us. His expression shifts from one of fear to utter confusion. Badger may be Linden’s best friend, but Tanner has known him just as long. They all thought he was a great guy.
“I’m taking what was promised to me.” Badger growls. “I’m tired of waiting.”
“Dude, she doesn’t want you.” Tanner tries to reason with him. “You can’t force her into this. It’s kidnapping.”
Badger shakes his head and takes a step backward. He’s inches from the storeroom door. If he gets me through there, this is over.
The storeroom door creaks, and Badger spins us around. Relief washes over me at the sight of Christian blocking Badger’s only means of escape.
Christian is a whirlwind of rage. His eyes, usually a warm shade of whiskey brown, are now black with fury. His jaw is clenched, and his knuckles are white as he grips the worn leather jacket he wears. He moves with a predatory grace silently stalking its prey.
Badger, distracted by Christian’s sudden appearance, loosens his grip around my neck. It’s enough. I wrench myself free, stumbling to the ground, my legs weak.
As soon as I’m out of harm’s way, Christian lunges. His fist connects with Badger’s jaw, sending him crashing into a display of canned goods. The clatter of falling cans drowns out my gasp.
Hands grab at my arms, causing me to flinch.
“It’s just me,” Tanner says.
I whip my head around and meet his worried gaze. Then I lung into his embrace and sob.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He runs his hand over my hair and hugs me close. “He’ll never touch you again.”
Badger roars, and we both look in his direction. He scrambles to his feet, kicking several cans out of his way. He lunges at Christian, a crazed animal. The two men grapple, a whirlwind of fists and fury. With every punch Badger takes at Christian, he receives two in return.
I watch, paralyzed with fear. I know Christian is strong, and a better fighter, but Badger is bigger, and clearly out of his mind. His mental state makes him far more dangerous than Christian.
The fight spills into the next aisle, knocking over shelves and sending produce flying. I scramble back, my eyes wide with terror. Tanner holds me tighter, doing his best to comfort me and let me know I’m safe. I don’t think I’ll ever feel safe again unless Badger is locked up.
Christian gets the upper hand on Badger, and pins him to the ground. His fist flies in quick succession, pounding Badger in the face over and over again. It gives me a relief I’ve never quite felt before.
A figure materializes in front of me. It’s Linden, his face grim. He steps between me and the raging men, his body shielding me. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “Christian. Help him.”
Linden whips around, and then rushes toward the two men.
“Christian! Stop!” Linden roars, his voice booming with authority. “You’ll kill him!”
Christian pauses, his eyes locked with Linden’s. He’s breathing heavily, his face a mask of savage fury. But Linden’s words seem to penetrate. He looks at me, his eyes filled with a desperate plea.
I shake my head frantically. “Christian, he… he tried to…”
My words are enough to cause Christian to start punching Badger again. His face is already a bloody mess. Too much more of this, and Badger might not survive.
Linden’s gaze hardens, and he grabs Christian’s arm before he can punch Badger again. “He’s not worth it, Christian. Think of Lia and the baby. They need you here, not rotting in prison for murder.”
Christian looks at me, his eyes filled with a raw, primal emotion. He sees the fear in my eyes, the terror etched on my face. And he sees the pleading look in Linden’s expression.
Slowly, reluctantly, he lowers his fists. He steps back, his breathing still ragged, his body trembling with the aftermath of adrenaline.
Badger is a mess of blood on the floor. He’s beaten, but the rage in his eyes burns with a terrifying intensity as they lock with mine. It’s a threat that, if given the chance, he’ll come for me again.
Christian staggers to me and sinks to the floor. Tanner releases me so Christian can wrap me in his arms. I’m safe. But the fear that grips me refuses to subside. As long as Badger is free, this isn’t over.
“I’m so sorry, angel.” Christian holds me close. “I’ll never let him hurt you again. I’ll die before he does.”
The sound of sirens wail in the distance, growing louder with each passing second. The police are finally here.
I look at Christian, his face hard, his eyes still filled with a simmering rage. He looks at me, his gaze filled with a mixture of relief and something else … something deeper, something I’ve been waiting for.
Christian brushes my hair from my face and cups my cheek. “Baby, I love you. I should have told you sooner. I’m such a chickenshit, but you must know. You’re my world.”
“I know.” I reach up and run my thumb along the line of his beard. Then I press a kiss to his lips. He’s covered in blood, but I don’t care. He’s mine, and nothing is ever getting between us again.
“Sorry to break this up.” Linden kneels beside us, his hand resting on my shoulder with a protective hold. “The EMT is here. We need to get you medical attention.” Then he looks at Christian. “You too. You might need some stitches.”
“I’m fine.” Christian grumbles. He rubs my back soothingly, his presence bringing me comfort in the chaos that surrounds us.
The store is a scene of utter devastation. Shelves are toppled, food scattered across the floor, and the air is thick with the smell of blood and fear.
Ricky, the local police officer, bursts through the front door, his gun drawn. He takes in the scene, his eyes widening in shock.
“Looks like I’m late.” He shoves his gun back into his holster. “Someone mind telling me what happened?”
Betty steps forward, her voice trembling. “Badger… he… he tried to take Amelia.”
Ricky’s gaze sweeps over the room, landing on Badger, who is still on his back on the floor, his face bruised and bloody. Ricky looks at me, his eyes filled with concern.
“Are you alright?” he asks gently.
I nod weakly, unable to speak.
Backup arrives, and two more police officers come rushing in. Ricky turns to one of the men. “Cuff him and get him out of here,” he orders.
As they drag Badger away, I see my family standing at the end of the aisle, watching the scene unfold. Aaron is the first to rush toward us, his face grim and his eyes filled with a cold rage.
He walks towards me, his footsteps heavy on the tiled floor. He kneels beside me, his eyes searching my face.
“We have to get you to the hospital,” he says, his voice low and gruff. He may be furious, but he’s already in doctor mode.
I shake my head and hold Christian tighter. I don’t want to leave his embrace.
Christian pulls me into a fierce embrace, his arms a cage of steel and comfort. “It’s okay, Lia,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble against my ear. “You’re safe now.”
I cling to him, burying my face in his shoulder. The scent of sweat and leather fills my senses, a familiar and comforting aroma.
Footsteps approach, heavy and urgent, and I look up to see my family gathered around us, their faces pale with shock.
“Lia!” My dad’s cry, a raw, guttural sound, pierces the air. He drops to his knees, his arms encircling both of us, offering a fragile shield against the pandemonium that surrounds us.
Forget about the feud, or my family’s hatred for the Mutters. All that matters right now is that I’m safe. Hopefully, this means my family is one step closer to accepting my relationship with Christian.
A wave of relief washes over me, surrounded by the love and protection of those that matter most to me.
It’s going to take time for the fear that gripped me earlier to completely subside. The image of Badger’s crazed eyes, the feel of his icy grip around my neck, will haunt me for years to come.
I look at Christian. He’s watching me with an intensity that makes my heart race. His face is still pale, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and love.
He presses a light kiss to my lips, his gaze never leaving mine. “I love you,” he says, his voice low and husky.
I nod, unable to speak. His words send a jolt through me. I look into his eyes, and I see everything I’ve ever wanted from him. It’s far more than just anger and protectiveness that’s driving him now. It’s love.
My emotions are too much, and my breath catches in my throat. I’ve waited for so long to hear those words, and now he’s told me twice.
He reaches out and gently touches my cheek, his fingers tracing the outline of my face. His touch is surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to the raw fury I witnessed earlier.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmurs, his voice barely a whisper. “I promise.”
More sirens sound outside, adding another layer of chaos to the already chaotic scene.
“We have to take you to the hospital,” Aaron says again.
Christian looks up and meets Aaron’s gaze. Then he nods. “I’m not leaving her side.”
“Understood.” Aaron squeezes Christian’s shoulder. “You can ride in the ambulance with us.”
Within minutes, I’m ushered into the back of the ambulance, Christian and my brothers flanking me. Linden and Aaron exchange worried glances while Christian clutches my hand tightly, his knuckles white.
The ride to the hospital feels surreal. The sirens wail, a constant reminder of the terror I just endured. I glance at Christian, who’s sitting just a few feet away. He maintains his distance, allowing the emergency medical professionals space to do their job, but his eyes never leave mine.
At the hospital, I’m examined by a flurry of doctors and nurses. They check for internal injuries, but thankfully, I seem to be physically unharmed with the exception of a few bruises. As far as they can tell, the baby is fine too.
The emotional trauma, however, is a different story. That might take years to recover from.
Once I’m settled in a room, my family comes to see me. I’m overwhelmed with love and hugs and tears.
I glance around looking for Christian. My brothers had to pry him away when I was wheeled into the ER. He didn’t want to leave my side, but they wouldn’t let him in the examination room with me.
“Where’s Christian,” I ask.
“Talking to the police,” Mom answers as she takes my hand. “He’ll be here soon.”
My family takes turns sitting with me, telling me stories and trying to distract me from the terrifying events of the day. It feels like a lifetime passes before Christian finally shows up.
He stands awkwardly by the doorway, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He looks exhausted, his face tired and drawn.
He must have seen a doctor because his face is cleaned up. He has stitches on his forehead and chin. He’ll likely have some new scars once those heal.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, his voice barely a whisper.
I manage a weak smile. “I’m okay.”
He nods, but I can see the worry etched on his face. “And the baby?”
My smile grows, and I rub my stomach in a protective motion. “Also fine. They want to monitor me overnight, though. That was a lot of trauma for someone this early in a pregnancy. So they want to make sure we’re both fine.”
Relief washes over him as the tension and stress of the day begin to fade away. “Good.”
Mom pats my hand and pushes to her feet. “We’ll leave you two alone for a bit.” Then she kisses my forehead. “Get some rest, dear.”
My family leaves, each of them patting or hugging Christian on their way out. If I didn’t witness it with my own eyes, I’d never believe it.
Christian pulls up a chair and sits beside my bed, his gaze fixed on me.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I should have been there sooner.”
I reach out and take his hand, my fingers intertwining with his. “It wasn’t your fault,” I whisper. “There’s nothing you could have done.”
He squeezes my hand, his grip firm but gentle. “I won’t let him get away with this,” he says, his voice hardening. “I’ll make sure he pays for what he did.”
I know he’s serious. He’ll kill Badger if he ever lays a hand on me again. I can see the fire in his eyes, the simmering rage that still burns beneath the surface. But it’s masked behind the love he feels for me.
I lift my hand and cup his cheek. “I love you.”
His shoulders relax, and he lets out a low breath. “Fuck, Lia. I needed to hear that.” He presses a gentle kiss to my lips and whispers, “I love you.”
He sits by my side, refusing to leave despite hospital policies, his presence more comforting than the security of these walls or the knowledge that Badger is behind bars tonight.
I have no idea how much time passes before my eyes feel heavy with sleep. Christian’s gentle hand brushes against my hair. I open my eyes to see Christian’s gaze fixed on my face.
He smiles, a soft, almost hesitant smile. The kind of smile I so rarely see on his face. “Get some rest, angel,” he whispers. “I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
I squeeze his hand and close my eyes. As I drift off to sleep, his words, his touch, the look in his eyes is all the comfort I need.
This terrifying ordeal has changed everything. It brought me face-to-face with my own mortality, and it has brought me closer to Christian than I ever thought possible. He loves me, and that’s enough.
As I finally succumb to sleep, I know this is just the beginning of something new, something beautiful, something that will heal the wounds of the past and pave the way for a future filled with love and happiness.