focused on driving, apart from the intermittent clench of his jaw. The silence forces my mind to deal with the earlier attack. I try and distance myself from it, but the images rerun over and over, blurred and fuzzy, but no less painful. Renewed tears start to fall.
The car stops and warm arms wrap around me. “It’s okay, I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
Held tight, I sob into his chest and let the pain out. It’s better out anyway; keeping it in will do me more harm. When my chest stops heaving, he releases me.
“We need to get out of the car now, okay?”
I sit up and try and rearrange my dishevelled dress, but the way my hands are bandaged stops me. My breathing stutters and I fight to regain my composure, refusing to let any more tears fall over that bastard.
Alex gets out, comes around to my side, and opens the door for me.
“Can you walk?”
“I think so.”
He gives me his hand and helps me to my feet. My knees burn and are stiff, pain shoots through my legs.
“You sure?”
Mac has taken enough from me; he won’t take anymore. I nod, fight through the pain, and walk, aided by Alex, towards a little cottage with a painted red door. “Where are we?” I glance around trying to figure it out. But I’d paid no attention on the drive.
“My mate Jase’s house.”
“Oh, okay. Is he a doctor?”
Alex bursts out laughing, a real belly laugh, and shakes his head. “No, he’s not. But he does know his shit.”
As we reach the door, a man opens it. His smile is kind, but when he turns to Alex it disappears. “Do you know what you’re doing?” he asks his friend.
Alex sighs. “Can’t this wait until we’re inside at least?”
Jase opens the door wider and beckons us in. “You need to phone him. He’s going apeshit,” he mutters as we follow him into his home. “Why’d you turn your phone off?”
“Why do you think?”
“Sending a text then going silent was gonna send him over the edge.” He takes us through into his cosy lounge. “Make yourself at home.” He gestures towards a battered sofa.
I collapse onto it, my energy level at an all-time low. Both Alex and Jase remain standing and continue speaking.
“Yeah, well it was for good reason. Would you take care of Liz’s injuries?”
Jase’s expression darkens. “Did you take care of the bastard?”
“As much as I could for now.”
This appears to appease him. He turns to me and his expression lightens. “Let’s have a look at you. See what we need to fix you up. I’ll just get my bag.” He turns and walks out.
Alex turns to me. “I need to make a call.” My breaths labour. “I’ll only be in the kitchen.” He walks over to me and cups my hands in his. “Breathe. I promise Jase won’t hurt you.”
I search his eyes and see his conviction. The pressure in my chest releases a little. “Okay,” I reply quietly.
He smiles at me, squeezes my forearm, then leaves. His voice rumbles in from the other room. I can’t hear what’s being said, but the security of the sound of his deep tone calms me.
Jase returns with a backpack and settles at my feet. “Okay, let’s take a look at you.”
My dress is draped over my knees and he touches the hem to lift it. “No.” I push his hands away. Clenching my legs together, I bend and wrap my arms around my knees. The whole movement hurts like hell.
There’s a clatter as Jase falls backwards and Alex rushes in, phone in hand. “What the fuck?”
Jase holds his hands up in the air. “Mate, I just went to lift her dress over her knees.”
“Liz?” Alex waits for my confirmation.
Heat rises, overtaking my whole body. “I… um…” I take a deep breath and rush the words out. “I have no underwear on.”
Both men visibly relax. Jase gets to his feet and leaves the room.
“I’m sorry,” I call out after him. I’m so ashamed.
Alex smiles at me. “No need to be. It’s not your fault.”
But it is my fault. I got caught out. Now I’m facing the
The car stops and warm arms wrap around me. “It’s okay, I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
Held tight, I sob into his chest and let the pain out. It’s better out anyway; keeping it in will do me more harm. When my chest stops heaving, he releases me.
“We need to get out of the car now, okay?”
I sit up and try and rearrange my dishevelled dress, but the way my hands are bandaged stops me. My breathing stutters and I fight to regain my composure, refusing to let any more tears fall over that bastard.
Alex gets out, comes around to my side, and opens the door for me.
“Can you walk?”
“I think so.”
He gives me his hand and helps me to my feet. My knees burn and are stiff, pain shoots through my legs.
“You sure?”
Mac has taken enough from me; he won’t take anymore. I nod, fight through the pain, and walk, aided by Alex, towards a little cottage with a painted red door. “Where are we?” I glance around trying to figure it out. But I’d paid no attention on the drive.
“My mate Jase’s house.”
“Oh, okay. Is he a doctor?”
Alex bursts out laughing, a real belly laugh, and shakes his head. “No, he’s not. But he does know his shit.”
As we reach the door, a man opens it. His smile is kind, but when he turns to Alex it disappears. “Do you know what you’re doing?” he asks his friend.
Alex sighs. “Can’t this wait until we’re inside at least?”
Jase opens the door wider and beckons us in. “You need to phone him. He’s going apeshit,” he mutters as we follow him into his home. “Why’d you turn your phone off?”
“Why do you think?”
“Sending a text then going silent was gonna send him over the edge.” He takes us through into his cosy lounge. “Make yourself at home.” He gestures towards a battered sofa.
I collapse onto it, my energy level at an all-time low. Both Alex and Jase remain standing and continue speaking.
“Yeah, well it was for good reason. Would you take care of Liz’s injuries?”
Jase’s expression darkens. “Did you take care of the bastard?”
“As much as I could for now.”
This appears to appease him. He turns to me and his expression lightens. “Let’s have a look at you. See what we need to fix you up. I’ll just get my bag.” He turns and walks out.
Alex turns to me. “I need to make a call.” My breaths labour. “I’ll only be in the kitchen.” He walks over to me and cups my hands in his. “Breathe. I promise Jase won’t hurt you.”
I search his eyes and see his conviction. The pressure in my chest releases a little. “Okay,” I reply quietly.
He smiles at me, squeezes my forearm, then leaves. His voice rumbles in from the other room. I can’t hear what’s being said, but the security of the sound of his deep tone calms me.
Jase returns with a backpack and settles at my feet. “Okay, let’s take a look at you.”
My dress is draped over my knees and he touches the hem to lift it. “No.” I push his hands away. Clenching my legs together, I bend and wrap my arms around my knees. The whole movement hurts like hell.
There’s a clatter as Jase falls backwards and Alex rushes in, phone in hand. “What the fuck?”
Jase holds his hands up in the air. “Mate, I just went to lift her dress over her knees.”
“Liz?” Alex waits for my confirmation.
Heat rises, overtaking my whole body. “I… um…” I take a deep breath and rush the words out. “I have no underwear on.”
Both men visibly relax. Jase gets to his feet and leaves the room.
“I’m sorry,” I call out after him. I’m so ashamed.
Alex smiles at me. “No need to be. It’s not your fault.”
But it is my fault. I got caught out. Now I’m facing the
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