Damaged Souls (Broken Man) by Christopher Scott Page A

if you need me.”
    Delaney quietly stepped into his room and prepared for the worst. Unfortunately, all of her preparation wasn’t enough when she finally saw him, his eyes blackened, his face swollen, his beautiful black hair gone and replaced by a stitch-filled gash. As she put her hand on his, Delaney started to cry.
    “Greg,” she whispered and prayed he would wake up as he refused to respond to her touch. “Greg,” Delaney tried again as her mind began to spin and she remembered the night before.
    How did this happen to us?
    Delaney tried to find the answer to her question as she kissed Greg softly on the forehead. If only I had listened to my heart, if only I had told him how I felt, none of this would have happened. We were just too late, Delaney realized their mistake as she felt a tear roll down her face and she remembered Greg’s words from the night before.
    We are in love, Delaney understood what she had always known as she softly touched his damaged face. We are woven from the same cloth, cut by the same knife, and now victimized by the same crime. Greg and I are meant to be together, Delaney finally acknowledged their connection by tragedy as she leaned over and kissed him again.
    We are broken and battered, yet bound by love. Just trying our best to survive, just trying to heal our damaged souls.

Chapter Twelve
    “I shouldn’t even allow you to go over there,” Jack’s attorney tried to talk sense into him. “But, if you are going, there is no way I’m not going with you.”
    “Thanks, Mike,” Jack appreciated his friend’s advice and loyalty. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything crazy.”
    “I’m not sure it’s you I’m worried about,” Mike responded and took a bite of potato salad. “But seriously, Jack. Let me do the talking.”
    “You’ve got it,” Jack replied and ignored his cafeteria lunch in favor of a coke. “So, what are you going to say.”
    “I’m going to tell Mr. Caldwell to have his son voluntarily surrender to authorities by midnight,” Mike outlined his strategy. “It’s just a courtesy, and if they don’t comply, we’ll file a formal request to have him arrested.”
    “Whatever you think is the right way to handle it, Mike. But, I’d just assume we bring the police with us and have him arrested on the spot.”
    “It’s not going to be that easy,” Mike paused and looked at Jack to be sure he understood. “Mr. Caldwell, as you know, is very well connected.”
    “I don’t care who he knows,” Jack lost patience for a second. “His son tried to rape Delaney and put Greg in the hospital, and he is going to pay for it.”
    “Take it easy, Jack. I’m on your side,” Mike reminded him. “How are they doing.”
    “How do you think. Greg can barely open his eyes and Delaney is still in shock. It’s going to take a lot of time for them to get better.”
    “They are going to be okay,” Mike reassured him. “It could have been a lot worse, but they are tough kids. They will bounce back quickly.”
    “I hope so,” Jack calmed down a little.
    “Jack, when was the last time you slept.”
    “It’s been a while,” he replied vaguely, not wanting to get off track. “Don’t worry, I’ll sleep fine once I know Mitch is spending the night in jail.”
    “I’ll do my best,” Mike reminded him that it wasn’t going to be easy. “I’m also going to have to talk to Greg and Delaney as soon as possible. I know it’s tough right now, but do you think maybe tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow will probably be good,” Jack responded, hopeful they would be back at the house and able to discuss what happened.
    * * *
    “Greg,” Delaney again said his name as she woke with a start and realized she had fallen asleep. How long have I been sleeping, she wondered as she looked up at the clock and realized it had been an hour.
    He’s been through so much, Delaney remembered his mother’s earlier visit that Greg had practically slept through. I wonder why he