The door cracks open and Hunter turns me in my seat, pulling me into his arms. Wrapping me tight, my head slumping onto his shoulder.
"Gigi, I was playing with you. We were laughing in the middle of a shit storm honey. We weren't laughing at you, we were laughing at us. Hey, look at me," he pulls back slightly and tips my head up with one of his fingers. His eyes are full of remorse.
"I am sorry if I upset you Gigi. I would never want that. And just for the record, when I do ask you to marry me, it won't be because I feel pressure from your family, it won't be to appease the media vultures and it definitely won't be because we have Dom dangling over our happy-ever-after. It will be because I want to. I would be more than happy to ask you right now because since the moment we first met, I knew it would be you. We are so close to it being our time. I have waited this long for you, I can wait a tinsy tiny little bit more,” his hands touch over my face gently, his eyes burning with his sincerity. He leans back to watch me quietly before he speaks again, “I can't believe I have never told you that I love you. I do though, with all my heart and I am so sorry Gigi that I made you think for one second that I didn't, or that I thought we were a joke, cause pretty girl, you are so not that," he moves closer to me, holding my face ever so gently, one hand wiping my stupid tears away. "I love you Verginius, with everything that I am. I do," and then he ensures there is no gap between us and kisses me softly on my lips. His kiss tells me in a single touch everything he had just confirmed in his beautiful words.
"Thank you Hunter," I whisper. I had my ‘I love you’, poised on my lips when a slow clap sounds from the end of the garage. The noise echoes around. Another clap sounds, closer this time but the direction is still hard to pinpoint as it bounces all around us. Our heads nearly clash as we turn together toward the approaching noise.
"Get in the car, lock it and phone Matthew straight away," Hunter insists, stuffing me back into the car before closing the car door on me. The car light extinguishes as I am dialing Matthew's number.
"Come quick, someone is down here. Hunter is out in the garage. He is here. Please hurry," the disconnect sounding.
I turn back to Hunter and tap on the glass quickly to tell him that Matthew and Caleb are on the way, but a hand slaps against the passenger window on the opposite side of the car scaring the shit out of me. A terror filled scream bursts from my throat and I turn to see what it is. A quick glance back to Hunter and he is already around the back of the car getting closer to where a dark shadow spirits away. Hunter takes off like a firecracker, his retreating form all I can see, even after a second.
Like any sane person will do I jump out of the car to follow after him, when I am punched in the side of the head. I stumble back into the open car door, cracking my head on the edge of the door before I sprawl face first over the garage floor. I lay on the concrete floor surprised by how quick I had ended up in this vulnerable position. A soft shoe shuffle comes from nearby and I scamper in my escape on all fours but the car tire traps me. My assailant runs in front of me, squares his body. I watch in slow motion as he swings his leg back, I focus on his tatted black Nikes in my panic, and watch as he kicks me in the stomach as hard as he can.
The force and pain explodes through me. The grunt of pain that falls from my mouth is unavoidable. I try to scamper back away from my attacker but I can’t move. I watch as those dirty sneakers close in on me again. My whimpering is obviously entertaining, as a masculine, low cackle sounds in front of me, feeding further into my panic. A noise in the distance echoes and the shoes in front of me shuffle to a stop, before spinning and moving in the opposite direction.
My laboured breathing is coupled with my grunts of pain and Caleb's frantic yells from the fire escape door on the far side of the garage. How he made it down from our floor I don't know, but my panic is quickly replaced by hysteria at the intensive relief I feel.
I am sitting in a private room after being admitted after a quick review in A & E with Caleb by my side. He is quiet in his anger. It is simmering in him and he lashes out at anyone who he doesn't know that approaches me. We are waiting for an x-ray of my cheek because the doctors are pretty sure it is fractured. I don't realise I am bleeding from the cut until Caleb pressed his t-shirt to my face after finding me. The hospital is refusing to stitch that up until they have the images they need in case it needs to be reset.
"Have you heard from Matthew?" I ask again. Admittedly I should have been asking if they found Hunter but it is a lot easier to ask about Matthew. Without speaking he shakes his head.
Caleb had jumped into the ambulance with me and Matthew had reported the assault to the police. We had an officer waiting to ask me questions straight after the x-ray. But my lawyer called ahead asking that all questions wait until he arrived.
Caleb and I sit in stony silence until one of the technicians approach quietly, inviting the hospital orderly to wheel me into the room. Initially they had been pretty insistent that Caleb wait outside, but after a few tense minutes they relented. So now he is glaring at the poor lady and the hospital orderly as they hide behind the radioactive shield, wearing a protective apron.
"Okay, last one, Verginius, can you move your head a little, that's it. Now breathe in. Hold," a series of mechanical shutters sounded. Once the lady is moving towards me again, Caleb quietly let go of my hand, and steps out of the way so the orderly can position the wheelchair for me. We are moving out of the room in a few minutes, I realise belatedly that I hadn't even thanked the technician, my head is still pretty foggy and I am crashing after the adrenaline and shock of our attack wore off.
"Leave it," he says softly when I start to turn in my seat to thank her.
"What's wrong Caleb?" I ask a little confused as to why his anger seems to be blossoming and why he isn’t comforting me instead.
Caleb's phone buzzes in his hand and I watched him closely as he rereads the text before putting it in his pocket. His teeth noticeably grinding together as he moves to stand at my side as I am wheeled back to my private room. It is crazy to fathom that now I am here, in the same hospital that Grandpa is still in.
"Caleb?" I ask again. Instead he totally ignores me and moves to stand in front of the wheelchair without looking at me or speaking with me as we approach my room. The noise between us is as confusing as it is scary. Without another word though we arrive and the police officer that is waiting is now joined by another.
They both turned to look at me, but no one spoke until the hospital orderly had resettled me and the nurse that bustled in behind us finished reconnecting the IV. Caleb is just grabbing another blanket when the first officer speaks.
"Ms Bellafonte, I understand that your solicitor Ian will be with us momentarily. I need to go though. I want to assure you that you have our full support. We have just issued a warrant for the arrest of Dominic Watson for suspicion of assault and battery. And we have forensics already onsite where the other victim was found," his calm and professional manner calms my jittery nerves until the last few words sink in. My hand flies up to my mouth but Caleb pushes the policeman out of the way so that I can only see him.
"He is coming in an ambulance now Ginny. You have to calm down. Hunter will be okay. He has been beaten pretty badly, but Matthew is with him now. Ginny, look at me. I promise you, he is okay," he holds my hand and I watch his thumb trail over my shaking hand.
"What happened?" I question.
The policeman speaks up again and shuffles back in so I can see him properly.
"Mr. Hollingsworth was located about four blocks away by one of our patrol cars. We had an APB out after Mr. Jameson called in your assault. He indicated that your friend was missing and we have been coordinating a search with Maximus Security for the past couple of hours. Obviously it is a high profile case and Mr. Jameson was pretty insistent about us working together. Neither here nor there now. The victim was found about ten minutes ago and as Mr. Savage was just advised, the ambulance was called. We have no further information exce
pt to say they are expected to be down in emergency within five minutes. Look I suspect I know what the issue is but in your words, why do you think your perpetrator is escalating. What has changed within the last week? Something has set him off, any ideas what it is?" he questions. My mind is still stuck on the fact that Hunter had been hurt so badly. Thankfully Caleb finds his voice.
"The police department is already investigating the leaked video that was released to the media only hours ago. I am sure you are aware of what it contains. We suspect that Mr. Hollingsworth being around Ms. Bellafonte at a few public outings in the past week is the catalyst. Before that Ms. Bellafonte was quite obviously not involved with anyone," Caleb spoke factually.
"Sounds about right, although from what I understand Mr. Watson has been targeting Ms. Bellafonte for a few years, so,” the lead detective says.
“They were all at school together. We all were, except for Matthew. Matthew is currently downstairs with Hunter,” Caleb added quickly.
“Why the continued harassment?” the other detective questions in a neutral tone.
“Because I said no to Dom, years and years ago. I didn’t accept his feeble attempt at an apology after he slept with my supposed best friend. He never could understand why I wouldn’t accept him back with open arms. It went on for a very long time. Dom wavered between sobbing apologies, to burning rage because I wouldn’t accept it,” I add, a rush of misplaced guilt following. Caleb looks at me knowingly before shaking his head in frustration.
“A lot of people have been told no before Ginny. Dom is more than that, his delusions concerning you are pretty complex. But this is getting more and more dangerous. He is out of control now and pretty soon he is going to lose it completely,” Caleb growled.
“This isn’t bad enough? Hunter is downstairs in emergency, he was beaten to an inch of his life,” I hiss back.
“Of course it is bad. But you know that he just used his money for that. This is personal now. He will be furious that Hunter is back. And openly involved with you,” Caleb interrupts and adds. He had lost his calm demeanor hours ago.
“It’s been a goddamn week!” My frustration is evident.
“So just imagine what he is thinking of doing next. He will be simmering in hatred and revenge about now. Especially after he has been detained and questioned,” Caleb continued.
“We have increased patrols around your office building and your home. We would suggest that you get more security and lay low. Let us do our investigation without having to worry about protecting you. I am leaving you with one of our detectives, who need to take a statement from you. I will wait for our other victim to arrive and speak with your partner, Matthew, to see if he has anything to add. Detective Smithers, will leave you a victim impact kit as well as leave detailed contact information with your solicitor. I am sorry that this has happened to you again Ms. Bellafonte, but I assure you, we take our job very seriously. We are doing everything to ensure we have sufficient evidence and following correct protocol to get an appropriate sentence when we go to trial. Excuse me," the detective walks out after a quick nod at the three of us. The clack of his shoes resounding even over the noise from the bustling ward.
I don't know how long I spoke for once Ian arrived. Caleb recounters the events after and I listen intently as he fills in the blanks I don't realise I miss. My head keeps turning to the door whenever I hear movement nearby, but it is hours before we see Matthew. The grim weariness that is etched onto his face has a renewed level of anxiety quickly sitting high in my throat.
Matthew offers me a small tight smile when he finally makes his way to my room, before he walks past Ian and the detective, grabbing Caleb in a tight embrace. He stands there and murmurs quietly into Caleb's shoulder without raising his head for a few minutes before he lifts up to kiss his partner on the lips. He doesn't let go of Caleb’s hand when he steps out of the embrace and the first thing I notice is the awful paleness of his drawn out tired face. With a final squeeze of Caleb's hand Matthew turns back to the detective and Ian and moves closer to them. The three spoke in a quiet huddle before the other two packed up their stuff and left the room. Caleb followed after them and closed the door quietly.
My heart rate picks up exponentially as I watch them leave and then I wait, with a rising feeling of nausea, before I snap.
"Just fucking tell me," I bark out. The volume of my voice sends searing pain through my head, but I can deal with that. Right now not knowing is killing me more.
"He has a broken collar bone, at this stage they think, three possible fractured ribs. A large gash behind his left ear that they are currently glueing back together and he looks like he has been bashed by an iron bar, which is pretty much what happened. He has lost a fair bit of blood. The doctors have confirmed that they don't believe that he will have any lasting effects but they have sedated him and won't know more until he wakes, which they hope to be within the next couple of hours," Matthew doesn't drop his steel gaze from mine. He had also locked up all his emotions after his earlier meltdown on Caleb's shoulder so I am looking at a very professional and very annoyed Matthew.
"I also was stopped by the detective that was waiting for us in the emergency department, and Dominic Watson and his father along with his entire legal team have just walked into the downtown precinct. He has an airtight alibi, which we expected, and he is demanding a public apology," he finishes the last statement with an indignant laugh. "Thankfully the police pretty much laughed him down and he was arrested shortly after on charges that are not yet disclosed. So for the next little while you are safe, we get to catch our fucking breath and as soon as Hunter wakes we get to go take him some pretty balloons." He adds trying to diffuse the tension in the room.
My hand is on the button calling for a nurse in an instant and I don’t release the alarm until I have a nurse in my room.
"I want to go down to the emergency department now, please. I understand it may not be good timing, I know that you are busy and I am sorry for what I say next, but I really don't give a shit. Please help me get down there now," I offer as politely as I can, to the fresh faced nurse who tips her head to the side and cocks her eyebrows at me.
"All right sugar, let's get you going. I am sure these two strapping men can help us. I will grab you a wheelchair with an IV holder and some warm blankets," she offers without further ado, her thick Irish accent making understanding her a little difficult.
The look on my face must have surprised her.
"Well look Ms. Bellafonte, after what you do for our community, I think I can help you in your escape. I was just going on my tea break anyway. You'll be mighty fine in A & E if you pass out again or show any signs of not being well. And if you need to be there, you damn well need to be there," she spoke loudly over her shoulder as she left the room to track down a wheelchair.
I don't know what I am expecting when I first arrive in Hunter's room but seeing him on a respirator with way too many tubes running in and out of his body is not it. Instead of falling to pieces though, witnessing first hand Hunter's injuries seems to awaken something stronger inside of me.
I am all sorts of pissed off as my fingers trace over his bruised face. I brush his hair off of his unconscious face gently, my hand shaking in my barely contained anger. Thankfully Matthew and Caleb are speaking with the medical staff and talking in low tones behind me. I don't need any consoling, any talking down. I just need Hunter to wake up.
It will be entirely too easy to blame myself for the state of Hunter and myself, if I think about it, but we didn't ask for any of this. We hadn't done anything wrong and all it does is solidify my fortitude. I pull my wheelchair up right next to Hunter's bed and am lost to my thoughts as I hold his hand trying to think through our options. And there are a few. One thing I know though is I am done running. I am done hiding behind everyone. It really is time for me to grow up, shed the guilt I am carrying about this being about me.
I think I sat there in that chair holding Hunt
er's hand for nearly an hour. Long enough for my eyes to droop before Caleb slowly approached, his concern evident on his face.
"Take me up to my room please Caleb. I want security on his door and no visitors. Get him the best help he needs and Matthew needs to sit here with him and as soon as he stirs he has to tell him that I am safe," my words are soft, jumbled together because of how tired I am but he heard. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head, squeezing my shoulder.
"Give me two minutes Ginny," he replies and then leaves me to the quiet and the darkness inside Hunter's room.
Me being here when he wakes up is what I want, but I need to rest too. We need to be stronger and if we need to do that apart then so be it.
"Thank you all for coming this afternoon and I appreciate you all being here so quickly. I know my team only called this press conference early this morning," the silence is instant as I speak from the small lectern in our press room at Bellafonte. There are numerous reporters and TV presenters all looking back at me anxiously. The lights they all brought with them, are set to shine straight onto my face. My marketing team decides to do this interview without me wearing makeup so my face looks pretty shitty. It has been only two days since I had been attacked and yesterday my plastic surgeon had decided to stitch the cut over my broken cheekbone, so I look decidedly broken. I don't want to play up to my injuries but I want to show the reality of what can and does happen in too many people's lives.
"Bellafonte is a family run corporation and we have always been very lucky, fortuitous even. My staff are my greatest asset and I know that, thankfully they know it too. I think it is really important for us to address the elephant in the room, and that is the unsolicited footage that was taken recently, without my knowledge, in the privacy of my office. There are entirely too many things wrong with the way I acted in my office, close to all my staff, but I suppose that is my mistake and I have already apologised to my staff and my family for getting swept up in the moment," I take a deep breath, shuffling side to side a little on my feet. I don't need to look down at my notes but I do just to reiterate the reason why we are here.
You Promised Me Page 19