31. Oh God Ma!
Oh God Ma!
Dani
Josh is nowhere to be seen as I pull up next to the curb in front of my house. I fire off a quick text to Luke to let him know while I drag my ass inside and lock the door, using both the deadbolt and the child lock. Josh used to break into houses for fun back in high school and I am not taking any chances.
Tossing my purse on the table by the door, I kick off my heels. I need a shower. I’m a mess from my earlier romp with Luke. I grin to myself. That man has a magic dick. I climb the stairs, stripping as I go and I’m naked by the time I reach the top.
"Holy fuck!"
Gasping, I turn to find Axe, completely frozen, standing in the doorway of Mason’s room. I swipe my shirt off the floor and cover my nakedness the best I can.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
Axe says nothing, his mouth just hanging open as his eyes roam my body.
"I thought Mason was at your house." I try again.
"Naked." Axe mumbles.
Oh God.
"Axe, what the hell—oh God Ma!" Mason closes his eyes and pulls his shirt off his back, tossing it at me.
I pull it over my head, and it settles at my knees. "I thought you were at Axe’s. I didn’t see your shoes or hear anything."
Mason opens one eye before speaking. "Janelle called. She said some dude was sniffing around here, so I came home."
"And you didn’t think to call me and tell me you were home? What if I brought Archer home and we started fooling around on the couch?" I ask.
Mason gags and shakes his body out. Axe, on the other hand, snaps out of his stupor and smiles.
"That’s something I wouldn’t mind seeing," Axe says, his eyes running the length of my now covered body.
Mason grabs Axe’s shirt and drags him out of the room. "We were just getting ready to leave when you walked up here naked," Mason gags again. "Is this what you do when I’m not home? Parade around naked?"
I swat him arm. "No, I don’t parade around here naked."
"Too bad." Axe mutters.
I fire him a look and he flashes that Axe smile.
Mason shoves Axe towards the stairs. "I’ll see you tomorrow sometime, Ma."
"Be home for curfew." I remind him.
"I know. Make sure you have clothes on when I get home."
"Smartass."
They haul ass downstairs and out the door, leaving me standing at the top. Letting out a breath, I scoop up my clothes and head into my bathroom.
Banging on my front door startles me and I sit up on the couch. Netflix is stuck on are you still watching . I glance at the clock, a quarter to one in the morning. The banging continues as I climb off the couch.
I keep the top child lock in place as I open the door enough to look out. It could be Mr. Wallace again. He has been known to lock himself out of the house, so he gave me a spare key. But he usually calls first.
"For fuck sakes. What the fuck are you doing here?" I demand. The scent of stale beer hits me in the face.
"Let me in." Josh pushes on the door.
"No." I throw all my weight into the solid wood door, but he has a good seventy pounds on me.
"Dani, let me in."
"Go fuck yourself," I say, leaning all my weight against the door.
"I’ll break it down," Josh warns.
I manage to get the door closed but before I can throw the deadbolt, Josh slams into it, busting the child lock, and sending me flying into the stairs.
"Where’s my son." He slurs.
I pick myself up. "Not here. Get out."
Josh grabs my arm and flings me into the wall, pinning me in place with his body.
"Where did he go? He was here two hours ago." Josh demands.
"Have you been watching the house?"
"I have been watching my son. Seeing as how you’re out all night. Where is he." Josh grabs my arms tightly and slams me against the wall, rattling the pictures above my head. "Answer me!"
"I know where he is and that’s all that matters." I bark.
His hands tighten on my arms and I bite my tongue to keep from crying out. It’ll just fuel the fire. He snarls and slams me again, this time knocking a couple of pictures off the wall. They smash on the floor, sending shards of glass everywhere.
"Did you send him out to wander the streets so you can invite Luke over. I know you’re fucking him."
I spit in his face. "What I do is none of your business and no, Mason is not wandering the streets. I would never do that to my son. No matter what you believe."
"I wouldn’t put it past you. You don’t give two shits about that kid. I can see it and so will the judge and they'll have no problem handing my son over to me."
"He stopped being your son the minute you left us and never looked back."
Josh slams me against the wall once more before hauling me to the floor and pinning me there with his massive body. The glass shards cutting into my bare arms. His face softens as he looks at me. I push against his shoulders.
"I miss your pussy," he yanks at my shorts. "Fucking was the only thing you were good at."
I smash the heal of my palm into his nose, causing him to roll off me. I scramble to my feet while Josh is preoccupied and run out the door. I’m not going to allow him to hurt me again. I’m not that scared sixteen-year-old girl anymore.
The street is quiet as most of my neighbours are away for the weekend or in bed. I make it as far as my car before I’m tackled to the ground. My face smashing off the bumper of my Honda. Blood floods my mouth as my teeth connect with my lip.
"Where do you think you’re going," Josh says into my ear, his forearm pressing into my neck. He stands and grips my ankles as I scream and kick. I attempt to grab hold of something but end up ripping my nails to shreds on the sidewalk. He drags me across the pavement, my bare skin splitting and tearing as he pulls me into my small yard.
"Someone help me!" I scream.
"Shut up!" he yells as he flips me onto my back and straddles my hips.
I punch and claw at him, sinking what is left of my nails into his cheeks, drawing blood. I go for his nose again, knowing if I hit it hard enough a second time, it would break. I smash the heel of my palm into his nose and hear the snap. Blood drips onto my face. Josh shouts, holding his nose, giving me a chance to get out from under him.
I look around fanatically for something I can use against him. I lunge for the lid of my metal garbage can. It might not do much damage but it’s harder than my fists.
"Think you’re tough, Dani," Josh grunts as he straightens. Blood gushing down his face, his nose swelling. "You’re still that scared teenage girl I fucked on a dare."
I hold the lid by the handle with both hands. I am going to need as much strength as I can muster. "That’s such bullshit. Sean told me that you were stalking me for months. He said you were obsessed with me." I fire back.
He growls, his hands squeezing into fists.
"You love bombed me, making me believe that you were this sweet, caring guy that when you asked me, I said yes!" I yell. "But you were nothing but an abusive fucking prick who’s still attached to his mothers tit!"
Josh dives at me and I swing. The vibration from the hit reverberates up my arms causing me to drop the lid. It clangs against the walkway. Glancing up, I find Josh a few steps away from me. I managed to hit him in the face and slice his cheek. Blood pours from the deep laceration, and I smile.
He spits out blood and charges me, tackling me to the ground. My head smashes off the front steps, making me see stars.
"Get off me!"
"I said shut the fuck up!" his meaty hands wrap around my neck, and he bangs my head against the stairs.
A wave of dizziness washes over me, and I fight to keep my eyes open. I reach up and dig my thumbs into his eyes. Josh hollers, shaking his head. I hold on, pushing my thumbs in harder. His hands tighten around my neck, and he beats my head against the stairs again, knocking me out cold.
I startle, sitting up slowly. I’m sore, I can taste blood in my mouth, and I’m wet. I’m outside, and it’s pouring rain. I look around, blinking away the dizziness.
Climbing to my feet slowly, I gasp at the sharp pains throughout my body, the wooziness in my head and the nausea rolling in my belly. I manage to make it inside and grab my phone. The phone rings twice before it’s answered.
"Sweetheart? What’s wrong?"
I breakdown in sobs at the sound of his voice.
"I’m on my way." He hangs up before I have the chance to explain.
I steal a pair of Mason’s sweatpants from the laundry room, throwing them on, rolling them at the waist. Swiping my purse off the table, I step outside to find Luke walking up the walkway. I should have checked myself out first, because going by the anger on Luke’s face, I can tell that I wasn’t looking good.
Luke meets me halfway, his eyes wander, taking me in. It’s a few minutes before he finally speaks.
"What. Happened." He growls.
I only shake my head. "I need to go to the hospital."
"No shit. You’re bleeding," he lifts my face. "Your face is starting to bloom with bruises. Your stomach is torn up," he turns me, "your back looks like someone took a food grater to your skin and blood is matted in your hair."
I look down to find that my shirt’s in ribbons, showing off the road rash from where Josh had dragged me across the pavement. I reach up and feel my head, hissing when I touch a sore spot.
"Oh God." I sob and cover my face with my hands, regretting it immediately.
Strong arms wrap around my shoulders causing me to whimper in pain. I’m scooped up and carried into the house. Luke brings me upstairs and into my bathroom, sitting me on the toilet lid. He brushes hair off my face, his fingers ghosting over my skin.
"First aid kit?" he asks.
"Under the sink." I whisper.
Luke pulls the box out and leaves, coming back with a shirt, and another pair of sleep shorts. He helps me out of Mason’s sweatpants and my destroyed shirt, tossing them with the rest of my dirty clothes.
"Jesus fucking Christ." He mutters as he takes me in. "Sweetheart," Archer stands, "I'm going to ask again. What happened?"
I refuse to look at him.
"Daniella." His voice is stern, almost furious.
I chance a look at him. "I wasn’t raped."
"Glad to hear it, but that’s not what I asked."
"I was attacked."
"Where’s Mason?" he questions.
"At Axe’s." I answer.
Luke says nothing as he wets a cloth and sinks to his knees in front of me. He swipes at my skin gently. The sting of the cloth against the raw skin on my thighs and stomach has me hissing through my teeth. Luke stays quiet as he dresses me, leading me outside and helping me into his truck.
I can feel the rage radiating off him as he drives, his body’s shaking with it. He drops me off at the ER doors and speeds off. I stand there dumbfounded, watching the taillights of his truck disappear around a corner. Tears spring to my eyes. He left me. He said my scars don’t bother him. Guess these new ones were his breaking point. Swallowing the steel ball in my throat, I walk in and towards the triage window, knocking once.
The window slides open, and an incredibly young nurse smiles up at me.
"Can I help you?" she asks kindly, and I freeze.
I can’t go through this again.
The nurse waits me out. I look around before leaning in.
"I, ah…I was…um…attacked." I whisper.
Her face softens. She passes me a clipboard and a pen. "If you could fill this out and bring it back, we’ll get you seen as soon as possible."
I nod, taking what she gave me and sit by the windows.
Away from prying eyes.