Chapter 3
Macie
"Who do you want me to call?" Darren asks as he keeps me wrapped in his arms. "You have to report this."
I know he's right, but a part of me is rebelling.
I don't want to make a big deal out of it, have always been taught not to make a fuss, but this?
My face and my stomach is killing me. If I let this go, then he's liable to do it to the next person who doesn't do exactly what he wants them to do.
"Who is an option for me to talk to?" I whisper, before closing my eyes and inhaling his scent.
"If it were up to me, you could talk to me, but I'm officially at Laurel Springs Fish & Wildlife first, SWAT only when they need me.
I'd recommend either my dad, or my grandfather.
My grandfather on my mom's side is Chief of Laurel Springs Police.
I'm not sure if you knew that or not." He curls his fingers around the back of my neck, holding me close.
"My grandfather on my dad's side is well respected too.
You just let me know who you feel comfortable with. "
This is just a decision I just don't want to make. "I don't know, Darren."
He makes a noise when he hears the distress in my voice. "Let me call my dad and my grandfather. If they think we need to involve the Chief, then we'll call him. Is that okay with you?"
"Yeah that's fine with me." I walk over and take a seat on the couch, wrapping my arms around my middle. As he puts his phone to his ear, I block out what he's saying, trying to forget the way I felt on the ground, trying to keep my body from getting hit.
“They’re on the way,” he says, coming over to sit next to me.
I don’t have the strength to ask him who has said yes, so I sit on the couch, and pull my knees up to my chest. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I’m just going to be right here with you.”
Tucking his arm around my neck, he pulls me in, and I allow myself to rest against his chest. We’ve been this close before, but it’s never felt this serious.
I’ve tucked my fingers into his t-shirt, and I’m holding on for dear life.
My body is shuddering, and although I know that’s the adrenaline, it still makes my teeth chatter.
Darren makes a move to stand, and I grip his t-shirt harder.
“Just gotta get the door, honey.”
That’s when I realize someone is knocking softly. “Okay,” I mumble.
He goes quickly across his living room, and looks out, before opening the front door.
My eyes watch as three people walk inside, more than I thought would be here.
There’s two men and a woman. Darren comes back over to where I’m sitting, and reaches down to pull me up.
“Macie, this is my dad, Nick Kepler, my grandfather Ryan Kepler, and for some reason my mom showed up.” He raises his eyebrows at her.
“Kels,” she says, smiling softly.
I nod back at her. “Nice to meet you all. Wish it was under other circumstances.”
The one Darren called his dad steps forward. “I’m here to take your statement. Would you like to tell me what happened?”
“Dad,” Darren’s voice carries a tone that’s a warning. “Why don’t you process and get the pictures first? That way she can change into something more comfortable.”
“Would you prefer that, Macie?”
My jaw is starting to kill me, and my scrub pants are stuck to the dried blood through the cut on them. At some point I guess I must have gone down on my knees. I want these clothes off. “Yeah, I would prefer that, please.”
I’m numb as they pull me over to stand in front of a wall with no identifying factors.
They turn on a bright lamp, and both Nick and Ryan begin taking pictures of me.
My mind wanders as I listen to them ask for me to show them all my cuts, and then they start taking pictures of my jaw, next up is lifting my shirt so that they can get a picture of the bruising already showing up on my stomach.
When they’ve taken all the pictures they need, Darren’s mom steps forward. “You need to put your clothes into this bag, now.”
I glance over at Darren. “I wasn’t assaulted sexually.”
He licks his lips. “They’ll still try to get DNA off of it, and it helps the DA to see how badly things are ripped and torn. It paints a picture. That’s what they’re going for.”
A sigh works its way out of my throat. “I don’t have any clothes to change into.”
His mom holds up another bag. “When I heard Darren talking to Nick, I asked what happened. For a good portion of my adult life I’ve worked in healthcare.
Luckily I’ve been mostly in private practice, and I’ve never been assaulted, but I wanted nothing more than to help you.
Here are some clothes the girls have left at our house through the years.
I’m pretty sure I found some that’s going to fit you. ”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her how she even knows who I am, but right now it doesn’t even matter.
My own mom is three states away, and I’m not about to call her in the middle of the night to tell her what went down.
Which means I’m beyond thankful for Darren’s mom.
“I appreciate this more than you know. Where can I change?”
Darren puts a hand behind on the small of my back, and ushers me down the hallway. He opens the door, and turns on the light. “If you need anything, let me know. You can take a shower when they leave.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He’s grinding his molars together as his eyes take in my face. “Whoever this motherfucker is,” he says low enough so that only we can hear. “He better hope I’m not the one who arrests him, it won’t be an easy take down if I do.”
Swallowing softly, I lift my eyes to his. The words that come out of my mouth are unexpected, but true. “Normally I would say not to do that on my behalf. But this time? Hurt him as much as he hurt me.”