Rescue Me: A Broken Boy Angsty Romance. (Hawthorn Hills Duet Book 4)

by Claire Raye

  “Ruby!”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Ruby

  As soon as my eyes connect with Caleb’s I feel instantly relieved, but it’s short-lived as Professor Keller pulls me away from him. Panic begins to rise up in my throat, choking my words and my ability to scream for help.

  I can only hope Caleb has called the police or at least the campus security. I have no idea how this guy has gotten away with this kind of shit for so long. Failing students, attacking and raping girls, and now he can add taking someone hostage to his long list of illegal activity.

  I hear the sound of another door opening and closing, and it catches Professor Keller off guard. With Caleb here and now obviously someone else, he’s outnumbered. He’s used to intimidating girls, manipulating a situation where he’s in control, but all of that is about to change. He doesn’t get to fuck with my life anymore or anyone else’s for that matter.

  I use the opportunity of the door closing and his grip loosening to stomp hard on his foot with the heel of my shoe. It connects and he lets out a groan of pain, but I don’t stop. I stomp again and a third time until he releases me.

  I have no idea what I’m doing, but all I know is he’s still standing and a threat to me, Caleb and whoever else is now in the lecture hall with us.

  Caleb calls out my name, a strangled word on his tongue and I can practically feel the pain filling the room. The anguish he feels over not being able to protect me is palpable, but he needs to stay away. Getting involved in this mess again will only derail everything he’s worked so hard to correct.

  As Professor Keller bends down to reach for the foot I stomped on and hopefully broke a few toes, I shove my knee into his face, connecting hard with his nose. As he stumbles around, I shove him into a row of seats causing him to lose his balance and eventually collapsing in a heap on the floor.

  His nose is bleeding profusely and he’s moaning and rolling around, writhing in pain, but there’s not a chance I’m stopping to check if he’s okay.

  I run to Caleb, throwing myself into his arms as the adrenaline begins to leave my body and I’m suddenly shaking uncontrollably. The tears begin to pour from my eyes, deep guttural sobs as everything hits me all at once.

  This could’ve ended so many different ways, and each one plays out in my head. What if Caleb didn’t get here? Would I have had the confidence to take on Professor Keller myself? How far would it have gone? My life could’ve been irrevocably changed by one simple act of picking up materials for a class.

  It was the only class I was taking that didn’t have the professor listed on the registration and a part of me wonders how deep the secrets at this university go. Was he intentionally left off, protected by them so students were unaware?

  Seconds later the lecture hall fills with campus security, several men stopping to take in what has just unfolded. It’s a scene that’s all too familiar to Caleb and me with Professor Keller lying on the floor bloody and injured. But this time it can’t be misconstrued as anything but self-defense.

  I look up and without words, I point to a camera mounted just above the doorway to the hall. He can’t pin this on me. I did nothing but come here to pick up my things and try to leave. He accosted me. He wouldn’t let me leave and he attacked me.

  The security does exactly what I expect them to. They run to Professor Keller, but one guy hangs back, talking with whom I assume is the person who opened the door shortly after Caleb. He has his phone in his hand, and the two men are watching something.

  “Miss, we’re going to have to call the police,” one of the security officers says. “What happened here is assault—”

  “It was assault on her,” the security guard says, holding the other guy’s phone.

  “Bullshit!” Professor Keller now yells, pointing his finger at me. “She attacked me. Look at my face and look at her.”

  “We have video of you holding onto her and I would guess the security camera footage will show even more than that,” the security guard adds, joining the other group of them.

  Another one leans down, helping Professor Keller up and as he does, I hear him say, “We can’t do this anymore. People are starting to talk.”

  What the fuck does that mean? Obviously the campus security has been in on this the whole time, covering up for him and not calling the police when they should have. Only adding to an already volatile situation.

  Every assault, every attack, every rape has gone unreported or not investigated and it’s on every one of the security officers in this room. They are the reason this continued and I hope like hell they feel the full weight of their shitty choices right now.

  “What the fuck am I paying you for!” Professor Keller now screams, shoving one of the officers away. “If you can’t protect me then I’m just wasting my money!”

  “Protect you?” I hiss, interjecting where I know I shouldn’t be, but no longer caring. These are people’s lives he’s fucking with. He’s controlling the security here. He’s manipulating women into sleeping with him based on their grades and when they don’t comply, he just takes what he wants. It’s disgusting and it’s gone on long enough. “Everyone should be protected from you!”

  Just a few minutes later, police storm the lecture hall, another security officer in tow and all I can think is this really has to be the end of this. Caleb needs a break. I need a break. We don’t need the stigma of what happened in the alley affecting the outcome of what happens here.

  “We have footage of what happened,” a tall officer says, striding over to where Professor Keller is standing. “Everything was caught on camera and we have to bring you in.”

  I’d love to say they handcuffed him and tossed him in the back of the squad car like the criminal that he is, but of course not.

  The police continue to talk with him, an officer coming over to get my statement. He recognizes Caleb instantly, the remembrance written all over his face, but he doesn’t say anything. This time it feels like he knows he was wrong, like saying something now would only make things worse. He doesn’t apologize or acknowledge that he should’ve never arrested Caleb, but at least he doesn’t try to arrest either of us now.

  My trust in the justice system is flawed and even though I give my statement, I tell the officer I’d like to contact my lawyer if he wants me to come to the station.

  He doesn’t say much more after that, letting Caleb and I go after taking down all my information.

  The whole day feels like one long nightmare and my body and mind are so exhausted I feel like I need to sleep for the next ten days.

  Caleb slips an around my shoulders, pulling me to him and I let the weight of my body fall against his.

  “Let’s get you home,” he says, guiding me toward the way to our house.

  I wake the next morning, feeling a little better but still shaken up after yesterday’s events. Caleb took the day off work, explaining to his boss what’s been happening. I know he’s kept a lot of it to himself, but it’s come pouring out now.

  It’s almost like as soon as Professor Keller was arrested, he felt validated enough to speak the truth. I never looked at Caleb as someone who would attack another person just because and anyone who knows him feels this way, too. He’s felt nothing but support from everyone around him, but that doesn’t always hold the weight it should. Knowing the police now believe him and we have evidence that shows Professor Keller has a history of stalking, has made things much easier.

  “How are you doing today?” Caleb asks, rolling over so he’s looking at me.

  “I’m okay. Better than yesterday.”

  I say this despite still feeling the after effects of what happened. You don’t just get over being taken hostage by a psychopath, but knowing he’s been arrested and has little chance of getting out helps. I also know how to ask for help if it feels like my trauma is taking over my life. Dealing with all of this with Caleb has made me hyper aware of what trauma looks and feels like.

  The muscles in
my shoulders feel like rocks under my skin and I run my fingers over them, trying to ease the stress. While my body is one big jumbled mess of tight muscles and exhaustion, I know it will pass. I know we’ll get through this together.

  “I was worried,” he says, nuzzling into my neck.

  “I’m sorry you were worried. I was scared to death,” I finally admit out loud, realizing that hiding it from Caleb is not something I shouldn’t be doing. “I have no idea how the hell I even got away from him. Sie and I took a self-defense class freshman year for something to do. I never thought I’d have to use it.”

  “I’m glad you took that class,” Caleb says, letting out a hard exhale, the relief apparent in his voice.

  “Me too. I can’t even believe I remember what to do.”

  “This is all some heavy shit,” Caleb now says, both of us feeling the severity of it all. This could’ve gone so many different ways.

  “We’re navigating something pretty damn complicated, but we’re doing it.”

  “We’re doing it together,” Caleb adds, smiling at me and with each word, I find a little bit of peace.

  There’s no one else in the world I would rather be going through this with than Caleb. I’ve watched our relationship go from a friendship to falling in love and there’s nothing better. I’ve watched him fight for himself and accept help and learn from everything. The growth he’s made over these last few months has been unreal.

  “Have you talked to Ed since all this happened? The civil suit?” I ask, even though not enough time has passed for this to all just disappear into thin air.

  “Not yet. I figured I’d give him a call this morning and let him know what happened. He may already know.”

  “Yeah, that’s possible, but I’m sure the police aren’t clamoring to tell him they fucked up.”

  Caleb laughs a little, thinking about what that would look like. “I can’t imagine they’re jumping at the chance to say they were wrong.”

  “So, do you think Professor Keller was paying the campus security to keep their mouths shut? He made that comment and it was kinda weird.”

  “It seems that he was. He sorta was spouting off all kinds of shit when he knew he was going down. I’m sure those security officers don’t make a lot of money and getting a few extra dollars from an esteemed professor seemed like easy money. It’s hard to pass up when you’re poor. Trust me, I know.”

  I’ve never lived like that and it’s hard to even imagine, but I’m sure it’s a struggle. I can understand how people are manipulated though and that’s exactly what happened once again with Professor Keller.

  “Hey, what happened yesterday at work with Ken?” I now ask, totally forgetting that Caleb’s boss wanted to talk to him.

  Our day was so crazy that it was pushed to the back of my mind, not that it wasn’t just as important. Caleb being worried about losing his job should be something we focus on. It’s been a huge part of his recovery and he doesn’t need any setbacks now.

  “Oh, that,” he responds. “It feels like that was years ago. Shit, yesterday was the longest day I’ve had in a long time.”

  “Yeah, I know, but stop rambling and answer my question,” I tease, tickling his stomach, my hand trailing across his warm skin.

  “He’s selling the bar,” he responds back immediately.

  “What does that mean for you?” I feel myself grow a little panicked over how this will affect Caleb and his job. I know there are other jobs out there, but for him, this job has been his starting over point, a time when he finally felt productive and needed. It helped him gain the confidence he desperately needed.

  “He said he’s going to encourage the new owners to keep me on, but I’m sure that won’t happen.”

  “Why would you say that? You’re doing an amazing job.”

  “I don’t know. I guess because a new owner usually changes things. Tries something new to bring in revenue and that usually means cutting the staff and starting over,” Caleb says, as if he already knows the outcome.

  “Who’s buying the place? Maybe you could talk with them ahead of time?”

  “You’re full of suggestions today, aren’t you?” Now it’s him teasing me as he nips at my neck playfully. “He hasn’t sold the place yet. It isn’t even on the market, but I’m sure he has someone interested.”

  “Okay, I’m going to make another suggestion since I’m full of them today. What if you bought it?”

  Caleb laughs out loud as if this is the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. “I can’t buy the bar, Ruby. You know what happened last time I owned a bar.”

  “Um, that bar was already failing. You had no way to turn it around. And well...” I stop for a second trying to figure out how to say it. “I mean you have the money. You and Sie and Reid. That money you got from Reid’s dad. What if you invest it in the bar and get an official do-over?”

  He stops laughing, my words now resting in his head, an idea churning and hopefully sinking in. It’s a good idea, one that would allow him some freedom and some financial stability. It would also be exactly what he needs to prove he can do this.

  “I don’t know. That’s a little...”

  “Scary?” I say, filling in his missing word because I know that’s exactly what he’s thinking.

  “Yeah. That and what if I fail again?”

  “You won’t. You were set up for failure before. Talk with Sie and Reid about it, please.” I plead in the hopes he doesn’t just dismiss this conversation.

  “Yeah, I guess I could give it some thought.”

  “Maybe even talk with your therapist about it? See what she has to say and if she thinks it could be good for you.”

  “The money is there, but still...I don’t know.”

  “It’s just an idea, Caleb. If you don’t want it to be something more it doesn’t have to be.”

  I lean over and kiss him, a smile forming on both our mouths.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Caleb

  I’d like to think that Keller getting arrested is the magic bullet that fixes everything that’s fucked up in my life, but it’s not. I mean it’s a good thing for sure, but everything else is far from over.

  I still have no idea what’s happening with the civil suit. No idea what’s happening with everything he did to Ruby or the other students on campus. I already feel a ton of guilt over the fact that he managed to get his hands on her again, that I wasn’t able to protect her from him and it was just lucky she was able to get away before he did much worse to her. She’s doing amazingly well, all things considered, but if the past two years have taught me anything, I know this will come back to haunt Ruby.

  And I know I have to be here when that happens.

  My head is still a huge fucking mess too and far from being fixed. I probably need to go see Liz again soon, maybe more frequently given everything that’s happened.

  And now I also have to contend with the possibility that I may lose my job.

  I wish it could be as simple as Ruby says, but it’s not. I have no idea how much Ken even wants for the place or if he already has a buyer lined up. No idea if Sie or Reid would even want to buy it with me. Fuck knows it would be Reid putting up most of the cash. Would he want to take that risk?

  But the biggest part of me is wondering whether I can do this again. Whether I can set myself up for failure. To fuck up like I did back in Rhode Island.

  “Hey, where’d you go just now?” Ruby asks, smiling against my mouth as she pushes me onto my back.

  My hands move to her hips. “Nowhere,” I say, trying for a smile.

  Ruby smirks down at me, her hands resting on my chest. She looks so relaxed and at ease, as though what happened yesterday is all a distant memory. As though it’s barely even affected her.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, my memories all too fresh still.

  Her smirk turns to a smile as she leans down and presses her lips against mine. “I’m okay, Caleb,” she whispers against my mo
uth. “I promise.”

  I want to tell her that I think she’s amazing, the strongest person I know, but my words are cut off by the sound of my phone ringing. Ruby pulls back as I let out a groan, reaching for it on the side table.

  Ed’s name lights up the screen and when I glance at Ruby, her eyes widen. Answering, I put the phone on speaker as I say, “Hey, Ed. I’ve got you on speaker phone with Ruby.”

  Ed exhales. “Good, I wanted to speak to both of you. First things first, how are you both?”

  I turn to Ruby who’s smiling as she says, “Good, glad he’s finally been caught.”

  I shake my head in amazement at how unbelievably resilient she is, at how strong and amazing and selfless this woman can be. “Yeah, I’m good,” I chime in, my words not quite as enthusiastic as Ruby’s.

  “Good, good,” Ed says. “I just heard what happened when I got into work. Seems things have taken quite the turn now.”

  “This is good news, right?” Ruby says, sliding off my hips as she sits beside me, pulling the covers up. “I mean surely the case against Caleb will be dropped and things—”

  “Slow down, Ruby,” Ed replies and that tiny seed of hope I was allowing to take root suddenly stalls out at his words. Ruby and I share a look before she turns back to the phone, still lying on the bed between us.

  “What do you mean?” she now asks, a frown on her face.

  I reach for her hand, holding it in mine as Ed continues. “The case against Caleb is still pending,” he says, his words measured. “But given the evidence they now have, the security camera, the statements from you, Meagan Wade, Kate McMillan, I’d say it’s going to be hard to make it stick. I’ll petition for it to be dropped, but he’s still being questioned and we have no idea what the charges will be. I’m cautiously optimistic, okay?”

  “Okay,” Ruby says warily as she squeezes her hand in mine. “When we will know?”

  Ed exhales again. “I wish I knew the answer to that,” he says. “But I’m going to speak with the police and the DA soon and I promise to let you know as soon as I know more.”