A match thrown into my anger.
“Do you have my medical records?” I demanded, turning to the judge as the beady-eyed lawyer approached her.
The judge flicked her eyes from me, to the papers presented to her, and then back to the lawyer. “Mr. Richter, do you have any further questions for Ms. Sommers?”
He pressed his jacket to him as he sat down behind his table. “No, your Honor.”
Does the prosecution have any further questions?”
One man rose up slightly. “Not at this time, but we would like to request the right to call her back in later, if necessary.”
“Of course.” Judge Goddard turned back to me with a curt smile. “Ms. Sommers, thank you for your time. You may step down now, but please stay nearby in case of further questioning.”
Flames of anger burned as I marched out of the room.
Gage was up and by my side the minute the door closed, concern clear in his eyes. “What happened?”
“Those fucking assholes.” My hand shook as I pointed to the door. “They tried to say I started it. That I injured them.” I balled my fist and practically grunted with anger. I knew I had to calm down, but it was all too much.
“Who said that?” Dexter asked. “Nobody really believes that. I was just in there, they know you're the victim.”
“It was those boy’s lawyer. Why the hell do they even get a lawyer? Why the hell are they in juvenile court? This is all fucking pointless.” I grabbed my head, the reality of it crashing around me. Fiery tears burned my eyes, evaporating before they could fall. “Even if they get the maximum sentence, it’s crap. Six month in a juvenile detention center, crap.”
Gage tried to pull me into his arms, but I pushed away, not wanting to be touched.
I should have known when Detective Andres told me they found the other two, but because they were not visibly involved on the video they were ordered to perform community service and write letters of apology. Which I hadn’t received yet and didn’t want.
The door to the courtroom opened and closed, a clerk coming out. “Mr. Gage Lawson?”
“That’s me,” he said, still hovering by my side.
“The judge will see you now.” The clerk gestured into the room.
His hand brushed my elbow as he walked by. My anger had already begun to recede back to my original numb state. It didn’t matter what any of us said or did. None of this mattered. It was all a waste of time.
I slumped onto the bench beside Dexter. The wide hallway had several benches lining the wall outside of the courtrooms. People scattered the hallway, all absorbed in their own business.
“You’re right, Rea. This is crap and I’m sorry.” He slid his arm around me and I let him. “Just think when this is over we can go to the gym and take it all out on the bags there. Hell, I’ll even let you spar with me, just don’t touch the face alright?” His large smile showed his white teeth, but it wasn’t contagious this time.
Thinking about the gym did keep me from grinding my teeth to nothing though, and I nodded. “The gym is what I need.”
The door opened and I looked up surprised, Gage hadn’t been gone long. But it was Anthony that walked out of the room, hesitant as he looked towards me.
He walked over, hands in the pockets of his black police uniform. “Regan, are you doing okay?” his voice was soft, his brow furrowed with concern
Dexter’s arm tightened on my shoulder as he looked up at the man. “She’s fine.”
I stood up, stepping in front of Dexter in an attempt to diffuse the situation. Dex had always been nice to Anthony, but since he found out Gage and I are whatever we are, he had stepped up the big brother act.
“I’m good. Just frustrated by all of this.” I gestured to the courtroom.
He nodded and ran his hand along the back of his head. “The system doesn’t always work the way we want it to.”
I knew this, had a lifetime of experiences that should have been enough evidence, but still felt let down.
“I hope they’ll at least let me know what the end result is. This not knowing, not being in there, is crazy.”
His lip pulled up and he took my hand in his, squeezing. “I’ll let you know, don’t worry.”
He dropped my hand as the door opened and Gage came out. Gage paused, staring for a moment and strolled over, taking his place next to me. It didn’t escape me the way he raised himself up and lifted his head, making Anthony have to look up at him.
But Anthony didn’t look towards him. He nodded at me. “Find me after? I’ll be sure to tell you.” Then he turned and walked back into the courtroom.
Gage looked to me with a raised brow, and I flopped back onto the bench.
“He’s going to let me know what happens, since I’m not allowed in the room.” I looked up at him. “How did it go in there?”
He shook his head as he sat next to me. “Like you said, this is crap, but hopefully it will be over soon.” He moved his hand to my lower back and rubbed small circles.
***
“The primary offender, the one that you identified, he was given house arrest for six months, has to pay a portion of your medical bills, and attend counseling. The other three have to pay the remainder of your medical expenses, attend counseling, and continue to check in with their probation officer for six months,” Anthony explained with disappointment clear on his face. “I’m sorry Regan.”
He looked past me to where Gage, Dexter, and Silas waited by the exit to the courthouse, and his eyes landed on mine, a small smile on his face. “I’m sorry for the things I said before too. If you need me, anytime, call okay?”
I returned his wisp of a smile and took a step back. “I’m sorry too, and thank you.” And as always, I meant it.
***
“I’m going to stay with you. Silas can deal with it on his own.” Gage slipped his arm around me and I jumped back, shrugging him away.
“Go.” I was frustrated, too many emotions in me to deal with his too. I wanted to get lost in my workout, pound it all away, and he would only be a distraction. “Really. I’m going to stay here and work out. You might as well go and get work done. I need some time alone.”
Lines in his face deepened, proving my point. I couldn’t handle this right now.
“Go. Please. I’ll see you later, once I’m feeling better.”
He nodded, jaw tight, and looked beyond me to where Dexter and Leona were playfully boxing in the ring. “Dex, can you close up if I go with Silas? And give Rea a ride back to our place tonight.”
I rolled my eyes at his last direction. He hadn’t even asked me. “I might go back to my place. Really I’m not good company right now.”
Gage dropped his eyes back to me with a heavy sigh. “Fine. I’ll give you some space. But call if you need me. I’ll call when were done to check on you.”
I bit back my reply. He would be gone sooner if I stayed silent, and I knew I was being mean, I just couldn’t help it.
“Have a good workout.” He leaned forward, giving me a peck on the lips. His intent had been more, but I hadn’t responded.
“Have a good meeting.” I walked away and put on my headphones, ready to drown out reality.
By closing time I was drained. I could barely lift my arms to blow dry my hair after my shower, so I skipped it. It had started to rain anyways, and I just wanted to be in my own bed. Exhaustion was better than anger though, and sleep was my next best form of therapy.
“Leona did you get your phone from the office? Don’t want to leave it again.” Dex asked, spinning her around as we made our way to the door.
“Oh shoot. Let me go get it.” She jogged back to Silas’s office.
“Were the lights off in the girl’s locker room?” He asked me.
“Yup and I switched the towels into the dryer too, so they won’t get moldy.”
His smile brightened and he raised his hand for a high five, “Good looking out.”
Leona ran back out to us waving her
phone, “All ready.”
“Come here girl.” Dexter extended his hand to her, tucking her under his arm as he walked out the front door. “I swear, I don’t know-“
My heart crashed as four men with hoods pulled low closed in on us. Their guns were drawn as they hearded us back into the gym.
Leona’s shrill scream pierced through the sound of blood rushing in me.
One of the men grabbed me, pinning my arms to my side as he wrapped his around me. The cold steel of a gun was pressed into my head, just behind my ear.
“Shut that bitch up,” The tallest of the men shouted, the one with his arm extended, gun pointing at Dexter’s forehead.
The guy holding Leona backed up, releasing her as the fourth man stepped forward and backhanded her, silencing her screams and sprawling her on the ground.
That man flicked his hand, shaking away the sting of the hit. “Damn hoe has a hard fucking head.”
I had thought I was at the height of fear, until I heard his voice.
Damien turned towards me, still gripping his hand. His face cracked into an evil smile and his light brown eyes lit up as he pulled a gun from his pants, extending it towards me.
He took the few steps between us and jammed his gun to my cheek.
I tried to keep stiff, even with the gun burning my skin as it pressed and pulled into me, and I met his gaze.
“Time to make good on some debts.” Damien smirked, pure evil rage in his eyes.
25: Debt
DAMIEN’S EYES SLITHERED OVER ME AND HE used two fingers to slowly unzip my jacket.
A trail of dread running down me at the same time.
“I can think of a couple of different ways for you to pay.” The pressure of the gun never let up as he stepped closer.
The guy behind me laughed with sickly sweet breath. He no longer had his gun on me and used both hands to pull my jacket off my arms causing Damien’s smile to grow.
Leona was back to crying, I could hear her panic rising and the volume increasing with hysterics. It cracked the shield I was trying to put up. This wasn’t just me. I wanted her to be quiet though, she was only making things worse; I could tell by the way Damien’s smile dropped.
He suddenly left me, building momentum in his strides, and he kicked Leona in the stomach.
She grunted as the air escaped her and then she was quiet. To my relief she curled herself into a silent ball and Damien stalked back to me.
Dexter had called out when Leona was kicked and the tall one in front of him pushed him down and was now kicking him in the stomach.
My stomach spasmed with each kick I witnessed, as if I were being kicked myself. The man behind me tightened his hold on my arms, keeping me up, and then Damien was in front of me and yanked me to him.
He gripped me so my back was flush with his front. His hand wrapped around me grabbing my chin, forcing me to witness Dexter being beat, and his other hand held the gun to my temple.
“Where were we?” His wet breath dripped into my ear and he ran his empty hand down my neck and over my shirt. “Ways to pay…” he pushed my head to the side with his gun and ran his tongue along my neck before sucking on a spot just above my shoulder.
I didn’t even care what he did. My heart was breaking as another man joined the tall one and kicked Dexter in the face. The tall one crouched down, grabbed Dexter by the shirt and lifted him up some, saying something I couldn’t hear. Dexter’s head rolled slightly. When he lifted it, blood poured from his nose.
Damien’s hand slid into my pants and all I could do was stand there as hell took up residence around me.
The tall one, holding Dexter up, looked over at us, and his eyes flared. “What the fuck Dee, we don’t have time for that shit. Drop the girl and go check the fucking office.”
Damien removed his hand, but still kept his gun on me. “She’s part of it too. She runs with Rusnak’s crew.”
“Rock didn’t mention no girl. Finish this job, we ain’t got all night.”
Damien dragged me to where Leona was and tossed me down, stomping to the back of the gym.
“Now, where’s Rocks money?” Tall man turned back to Dexter, gun under his chin.
“I told him. After my fight Saturday.” Dexter’s voice was strained with pain.
My shock shook me so hard it felt like the building was collapsing. I attempted to scoot to Leona, but the man with the gun aimed at us told me to stay still.
“There ain’t time for that. He’s cutting all ties tonight, but first he’s getting what’s owed him. So try again. Where’s his fucking money?”
Leona started sobbing again and the man with the gun on us, standing a couple feet away, eyed her. His face dropped into a deeper frown.
“Shhh” I tried to get her to stop, but it was no use.
The man crouched low beside her, grabbed her hair and yanked her head up, only to slam it into the ground.
And she didn’t move or make a sound after that. But blood began pooling around her head.
Damien and another guy came out from the office. The other man, in the Raven’s hoody said, “There’s a safe back there, but we can’t open it.”
“Fuck’s sake. Get your ass over here. Hold him. I’ll get it,” tall one said as he dropped Dexter back to the ground and rose into standing. “Dee you’re with him. Leave the girls alone.”
Ravens jacket stood next to the littlest man, the one with his gun trained on me and only me now that Leona was unconscious.
Tall man gestured for Ravens sweater guy to come with him and they went back into the office.
Damien stood over Dexter, gun pointed down at him. “You think your running with some big boys, Regan?”
He swiftly kicked Dexter in the back. “They ain’t shit no more. You choose the wrong crew. After tonight, this is Rocks world.”
I just stared at him. I didn’t know how to process any of this, still reeling from the fact that Dexter was the target here, not me. Dexter, my funny friend with seemingly no cares in the world, brought this chaos.
He licked his lips, tongue balanced on the top one for a moment as he cocked his head, considering me. “But it might not be too late for you. I’d take you on, give you a job.” His smile glided up “After I tried you out of course.”
I didn’t say anything, just sat on the padded gym floor and said nothing. Damien didn’t like that.
He stormed over to where I sat, gun pressed to my forehead so hard I had to lean back, supporting myself with my arms behind me.
“That’s right bitch, you should be scared. Scared of me, scared of my boys. Scared of what I might do with this gun.” He dragged the gun roughly down my face, over my eyes and cheek, and jammed it into my mouth. Forcing me to open wide or lose my teeth. “Show me how you can suck?” his voice was back to an eerie whisper.
A voice yelled from behind me, from the office. “We got it. Let’s go.”
Damien looked up as the two men jogged out with full backpacks. He removed the gun from my mouth, but still kept it pointed at my head as he stood up.
Tall one went over to Dexter and kicked him again, making him groan, and then put his gun to his face. “Silas will be getting his own warning. Cause that’s all this is. A warning.” He shook his book bag. “We’re all clear now, debt’s paid. But don’t come around no more. Rock ain’t fuckin’ with your boss. Business is canceled.”
As the three made their way to the door, backwards, gun’s still drawn, Damien said, “Ask your boy, who can’t fuck with who now?”
He tossed me one last smirk before putting his gun away and following the others out the door.
The click of the door closing was a gunshot starting my actions. I popped up off the ground and sprinted to the door, locking it, bolting it. I leaned against it for a moment and listened, there was no sound and I released an inch of tension in a single breath.
I flipped on the lights and surveyed the gym with a clinical detachment. Dexter was by Leona now. He must have crawled t
o where she was; a trail of blood spotted his path. She groaned as he lifted her head carefully to his lap. Her face was streaked with blood, her hair matted with it.
I dashed to the front desk and grabbed a stack of towels and the first aid kit hanging on the wall, carefully balancing it all in my hurried walk to where they were.
Dexter's nose was slowly oozing deep red blood, and I tossed him a towel dismissively and focused on Leona.
Kneeling in front of them, I scooped Leona's head in my hands and moved her to my lap.
Looking down at the blood in his lap Dexter began to rock and cry low, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..." was on repeat.
I looked up, anger burning strong. "Call your brother," I demanded then pressed a towel to Leona’s face, trying to find where she was bleeding. It was everywhere, thin, bright red blood everywhere, and more flowing by the second.
Dexter stilled. "I can't. He-I'll call Silas."
My heart raced, recalling what the guy said to Dexter, “Silas will get his own warning.”
I pulled away the blood soaked towel and found the source. Her eyebrow was split. Opening the first aid kit I looked for anything that could be of use, not really sure what I should use.
Dexter was still sitting there, doing nothing but staring and bleeding.
"Call him then. Now. Do something," I shrieked, panic starting to rise.
I took a calming breath and dumped the overstuffed first aid kit, to better search through the contents. I found small butterfly bandages and took a handful, as well as a large bandage, Neosporin, and gauze.
Leona groaned again as I patted at her wound with the gauze and pinched the skin together to see if the bleeding would slow. It did. I tried to use comforting words as I taped her wound shut with the small bandages and put the large bandage over it all. I had forgotten to use the ointment, but wasn't about to undo everything I just did. Especially since new blood was no longer flowing over her face.
Dexter finally had his phone out. He had his head tilted back and towel held to the center of his face as he made the call to Silas.
Outside The Ropes Page 24