36. The Aftermath
The Aftermath
Mercifully, the sirens had been turned off. All that was left were the blue lights, flickering on and off in front of her. Kate sat on the metal railing of the ambulance, not even noticing the cold as it seeped its way into her weary bones.
Another ambulance had rushed Isabel to the hospital, its tires screeching over the parking lot. Isabel had been breathing, fighting against death’s hold as she was raised into the emergency vehicle.
The medics wanted to rush Kate off to the hospital as well. Not the greatest of ideas, considering there were people waiting to find her and kill her off. None of her words had swayed them from doing so. That was until Georgia called Lucien, who was already on his way here.
Twenty seconds in a call where the medic couldn’t get a single word in.
And it was taken care of. Lucien had asked Georgia to let Kate decide.
She’d merely glanced at them all and shaken her head.
The last thing she needed was to be whisked off to a blindingly white room where cries rang out, footsteps dashed over the linoleum floors in haste, and doctors touched her aching body.
Maybe this time too… they’d ask whether she was faking it.
No. She had been there before. She needed silence, and maybe… she needed Lucien.
They settled for a check up in the ambulance, lifting her shirt to see the many bruises creeping along her abdomen, checking her pupil response, asking her a barrage of questions.
Conclusion: Heavily bruised ribs, who luckily and quite admirably had resisted to break, considering the impact.
Cuts and scrapes, a myriad of bruises, and last but not least, a hell of a lot of loose hairs falling from her scalp.
Each time she ran through it with a hand, she swore she’d be bald after.
The staff had disinfected the cuts, which didn’t feel very thorough, considering that she was still covered in blood from head to toe.
It was still light out, which didn’t make sense to Kate. It had felt like she was here for a week straight, while in reality it had only been several hours. The day far from over.
She glanced at Emily, who stood sobbing and shaking near Heather and Georgia. The last one with a look that could only be described as guilt. They’d come up to her to talk before, followed by tight hugs and that was it.
Kate understood why the two women had disappeared into the shelter, knew that most would freeze, or flee. Still, if they had outnumbered the men, maybe Isabel wouldn’t be going into surgery, where they would try and save what was left of her.
Anger warred with fatigue and clashed with sadness. The only thing that kept her from screaming was the numbness that held a hold over her entire body.
A black car turned the corner, not bothering to park it was left deserted on the driveway.
The driver strode straight up to Kate. That smooth walk, even burdened with urgency, she’d recognize it anywhere.
Before she knew it, Kate stood upright, ignoring the shaking in her legs as she limped over to Lucien, leaving behind Georgia’s sniffling.
She stopped in the middle of the parking lot, blinking back the tears.
From a distance she felt his gaze sweep over her, saw him halt at the bruises littering every part of her. She had refused a jacket, welcomed the chills over her sweat-slick skin. With nothing but butchered leggings and a short sleeved t shirt. Her body was a painting of the fight she’d delivered.
He was in front of her now, his green eyes a swirl of emotion. Without missing a beat, he spread his arms wide and drew her in. “Come here.”
No longer in control of her emotions, she sobbed. His hands came up around her, pulling her tightly against him, breathing tickling her ears, he whispered. “You’re safe now, sweetheart, it’s okay.” She nodded feverishly, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
“You should have been here.” It kept pouring out of her like a broken record on repeat while holding onto him, fingers digging into his sweater.
“I know, I know. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
She felt silent, leaning against him for support.
Kate heard him voice. “Are you okay?” Georgia’s reply came in a high pitch, higher than the warm and confident tone she’d gotten used to. “I’m fine, we’re all fine. Due to Kate.”
Not entirely truthful.
Lucien must have sensed how she struggled to stay upright because he pulled her even closer to him, one hand resting on the small of her back to keep her flush with him. Heartbeat thudding firmly, rhythmically in her ear. So at odds with her own, still struggling pulse.
He bent down to murmur in her ear, “adrenaline wearing off, hmm?”
Not trusting her strength yet she merely nodded.
An unknown male voice spoke up over the gathered murmuring of the crowd. “I’m sorry but I’ll need to speak to miss…” Plainly fishing for her name, authority heavy in the young man’s tone. Law enforcement.
Before she could even lift her head, Lucien answered for her. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”
The same authoritative voice asked. “Who might you be to decide that?”
Even in her altered state, she felt a mental “ouch” cross her mind. This man clearly didn’t know who he was speaking to.
Lucien’s deep voice went even lower, reverberating against her ears.
A warning as clear as a lake of ice. “Can’t you see?
She’s trembling like a leaf.” He spread something, his jacket judging by the calming scent of sandalwood, over her, partly shielding her from view.
“The last thing she needs is to be questioned for information.”
An older man cut in, he was familiar. The croaking in his tone, the slight accent.
He was the cop she’d gone to for help at the supermarket. Richard.
His hushed answer betrayed his hope of sussing his younger colleague. “Let’s leave it at this, I know Lucien. If I need info, I’ll catch up with him.”
Scary, the sway Lucien held over the paramedics, the cops. Over everyone she’d encountered thus far.
Georgia’s high pitch joined the discussion. “I can give you a detailed statement, sir. Let’s let Lucien take the poor girl home.”
Still the police man droned on. Kate didn’t need to look at him to know he was getting frustrated. “She’s a witness Richard. Since when did we stop questioning witnesses?”
“A witness?” Kate pulled herself away from Lucien, who steadied her with his hand still resting on her back. “A witness you dare say?”
The young cop with brown stubble framing his chin, stared at her with his eyes wide.
“Maybe if you! The cops.” She spat. “Would have taken Isabel’s grievances seriously, had done more than issue a goddamned restraining order, I wouldn’t have needed to hold her stomach’s contents in my hands!”
She’d have thought Lucien would stop her but no. He merely tightened his grip around her in support.
“If you would have taken any, any of these women seriously, snapped back against these.” She clenched her teeth, words pouring out like a broken dam. “criminals, all of us would have had a better life, a better fucking childhood!” She screamed.
The world around her tilted, dizzy she bent over, hands on her knees. Breathing erratic.
Lucien brushed circles over her back, keeping her from throwing up. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’ll get you home.” He left no room for further argument. “Now.”
With a sigh Richard cut in. “Lead the way Georgia, so we can all go home soon. Forget this traumatic event soon as we can.”
“One more thing.” Lucien looked around the circle, met the gazes of the women head on.
There wasn’t an ounce of his usual swagger left.
“I’ve made a call for increased security.
They will be in place within half an hour, until that time Richard and his…
assistant will remain on the premises. I’m truly sorry for what has happened here today, knowing what I know now.
I would have been present myself, had handled things differently.
Although I am sure.” Lucien glanced at her, respect glinting in his eyes.
“That Kate has done everything in her power to defend all of you. I hope all of you are willing to see it too, and that even in fear… there is a chance for strength.”
The grip on her lower back tightened. Richard was right. Every single woman in the shelter would be left feeling unsafe. The laughter wouldn’t be as free as it had once been. And she could only hope that with time, the wounds that had been ripped open, would heal.
They all nodded, the crowd broke up with the women speaking among themselves in hushed whispers. Walking back to the doors of what had been their sanctuary.
She bet that in Lucien’s mind it would also be far from over.
Even if the shelter had started as a way for him to make what he did for work okay.
He had come to care for the women here. At least in that, Georgia had been right.
As for what he had said about the fight in her.
She doubted she would ever feel the same way about it.
Isabel was in a hospital, where people fought to save her life.
She had failed. Period.
Richard and his young colleague veered toward their black-and-white patrol car. The doors were thrown shut behind them with a harsh clang. Making her wonder what an interesting conversation they’d be having.
Kate felt steady fingers take hold of her chin, gently turning her head from side to side. Lucien lingered on a blackening bruise over her eye. Anger swirling in him when she winced.
She shrank away from the intensity in his eyes, he looked just about ready to kill someone.
“It’ll be okay, sweetheart.”
Was it to convince her? Or himself? Kate didn’t want to worry about that, not now.
“Let’s go home.” Lucien guided her over to the car. The power of her legs was yet to return, leaving her stumbling along painfully slow. Lucien reached over, whispering invitingly into her ear. “I could carry you to the car you know?”
“Not in a million years.”
“Hmmm, a shame, yes would have been so much easier.” Without warning, his hand moved higher up her back, sweeping her up in his arms.
Kate didn’t even attempt to fight him on it. The adrenaline was finally, wholly gone, leaving her with the broken pieces of the day.
Footsteps slapped on the pavement. Running footsteps.
Her throat constricted, chest heavy at once.
Lucien had felt her tense. “Don’t worry, it’s just the cop, I’ll take care of it.
” With that he helped her in the car and shut the door with a resolute push of his hand.
Turning to face the young police man speeding up to them.
***
Lucien
He came to a halt in front of Lucien, a stern look on his face. “I need to talk to—” Lucien held up a hand, stopping him mid sentence. “What’s your name?”
Normally he would admire the young man’s tenacity. But not today.
Face a flushed red at the interruption, he stated his name. “Luke, now if you would let me continue.”
Lucien wouldn’t, instead reaching out his hand for the man to shake. Luke took one brief glance, before shaking his outstretched hand shortly.
“Lucien Alexander Evans. I’d wager you’re new in town?”
With a curt nod Luke answered.
“I see, welcome to the fold. But let me inform you, there is a certain way of doing things here.”
It wasn’t his preferred method of dealing with this. But with the rage coursing through his veins after seeing the state Kate was in. It took all of his considerate patience to keep his calm.
Wiping his hand off his trousers, Luke asked. “So I figured. What would that entail in your mind?”
Tilting his head at the movement, Lucien answered easily. “Well, for one it’s heeding the word of your superiors.”
Luke shifted, dancing on his toes. Lucien felt what he was about to do, and stepped into Luke’s path the second the cop’s hand fished for Kate’s door handle.
Stopping mid-gesture, he looked Lucien in the eyes. “You’re too close Mr Lucien.”
Lucien allowed a hint of his darker side to shine through in his answering smirk. “You just entered my personal space, Luke. I would advise you not to do so again.”
He could see in the young man’s eyes that he knew he was treading into dangerous territory. Nevertheless, his question followed.
“You were saying something about superiors, let me guess, you’re one of them?”
Leaning against the car to halt any other advances, Lucien continued. “I’m not, but your boss is walking down here right now.” Pointedly glancing past Luke to prove his point. Lucien leaned in closer as the man huffed, seeing his partner. “It would be wise to leave me be before I lose my patience.”
“That sounds an awful lot like a threat, sir.”
Lucien waved a hand toward Richard, smiling as he said. “Consider it a polite warning since you’re new in town.”