Chapter Thirty-Eight
Luke
Tonight took a turn that I never could have expected. I was planning on whisking the woman I love back here and doing very bad things to her. Instead, I have two women staying over. One is hopefully settled in my spare bedroom, whilst the other whimpers softly in my arms.
I don’t know what to do here with this information.
It got to the point that I needed to know.
The half a story bullshit was eating me alive.
But knowing what I do now, this is far worse.
What he did… he doesn’t deserve to live, but death would be too easy.
Rotting in prison should hopefully feel much worse to him.
I don’t know how, but I will use everything in my power to help her do this.
It’s a good job money isn't an issue, as I plan on getting her the best legal aid I can find.
John Tatum.
The name keeps running through my mind on repeat ever since his name left her lips. How do I know this name? Have I treated him before? I didn’t go to school around here, so it can't be that. But I do know it, I just don’t know how.
Fallon's face is expressionless as silent tears drip down her cheeks. I use my thumb to wipe them away, but I have no clue what to say. What is there to say? I’m clenching my teeth so hard, I don’t think I could get a word out even if I wanted to.
Other than the fact that I am going to fucking kill the bastard.
I don’t know how, but I will. The pain radiating from her just speaking about it, I can't even imagine what she must have felt like at the time.
And to lose a child? At such a young age.
No wonder she is the way she is. There is so much more I want to know.
Who was there for her? Who helped her through it all?
I won't allow anything like this to happen to her ever again. I will prove it to her in any way I can that she deserves more. No… she deserves the fucking world.
She looks so lost, lying in my arms, and there's nothing I can do but pull her closer. She curls into my chest, burrowing her head under my chin, her body starts to vibrate as she cracks, her sobs wracking through her body as she trembles against me.
“Baby, I’m here. I’ve got you,” I coo, threading my fingers through her hair with one hand and drawing circles on her lower back with the other. “I’ve got you.”
“Luke?” She asks, sniffling against me.
I lean back a little to look at her, but she follows me, keeping her face hidden.
“Do you… Do you still want to try with me? Now you know how broken I truly am?” She asks. The pain laced in her words breaks my heart in two.
“Fallon, there is nothing I want more than to be with you. Or for you to want to be with me. This changes nothing about how I feel about you. I promise you, I’m not going anywhere. Not unless you tell me to.”
“You’re sure?” Her quiet voice asks.
“I have never been more sure of anything in my life.”
It took what felt like a lifetime for her sobs to subside and for her to finally fall into somewhat of a peaceful sleep. But when I check the time, it's been less than an hour. I can no longer feel the arm that lies beneath her anymore, but I can’t bear the thought of moving it.
My gorgeous, strong girl. The things she has carried…
It’s not fair. No person should ever hurt another.
She may have been of legal age, but it’s still grooming.
What he has done needs to be brought to light.
Is he still teaching? Still surrounded by young women whom he can take advantage of?
Fuck, we don’t even know how old Layla is.
I bury my face into her hair, and her golden curls tickle my nose.
Fuck, my own eyes start to sting just thinking about what she has been through, even though she’s here, safe, and in my arms. I have never felt this way about a woman before.
I have dated women, I've even had girlfriends, yet nothing has ever felt like this.
Is this what love feels like? Because if it does, I never want it to end.
The way my heart beats faster just at the mere mention of her name is proof of my feelings. But how can I prove them to her? Am I proving it already? Is it enough?
Finally giving in, as sleep seems to be avoiding me right now, I lie on my back and grab my phone off the nightstand. I need to know how I recognise that name.
Luke – I need your help. Are either of you at work?
Dom – What have we said about shoving things up your arse? It is never a good idea.
Will – What have you done now?
Luke – Boys, this is serious. Without going into it too much, do either of you recognise the name John Tatum?
Will – It sounds familiar. Is it a patient?
Dom – I have no idea, you know me and names don’t go well.
Luke – Are you at work, or not?
Will – I am. I’ll check the system to see if he's one of our patients.
I wish I could say that his checking the systems helps my brain to switch off, but if anything, it makes it worse. We see so many people, there is no way I'd remember everyone. He must have been in for something major, rather than a stomach bug.
Will – You saw him last year. From the sound of it, he’d been jumped and ended up with a broken nose, eye socket and fingers. There was also a police presence.
Ah, I do remember him, and what is even fucking worse, I'd liked him. He wasn’t in for long and said it was some students fucking around.
I’m sure he didn’t want to press charges, either.
I remember him saying that he didn’t want to corrupt their futures for a silly mistake.
Which makes more sense now, since they’ve done it for a good reason.
If he had pressed charges over them, his dirty little secret would have come out.
Fuck. I helped him when I should have just left the bastard to suffer. How am I supposed to ever get over that? I guess the only way I can is by being there for Fallon and helping her get the peace she needs to move on.
I need to sit down with both the girls tomorrow, and maybe get Maya round here too? They need a plan of action going forward. Something to help to keep them safe and out of his way. Especially Layla. I’ll make a call to my family's legal team first thing tomorrow to see where to go from here.