by Michelle Day
Julian lost all reasonable thought when he saw his daughters face, leaping forward and grabbing the front of Gavin’s t-shirt; he hauled him across the hallway and slammed him into the nearest wall.
“What the hell have you done?” he yelled into the younger man’s face.
Taken aback by Julian’s amazing turn of speed and sheer power, Gavin stood stunned, making no attempt to speak or free himself.
“Dad!” Angel gasped. “Quinn did this! Gavin rescued me. Because of him, I’m not still lost in the middle of nowhere.”
Julian looked from Angel to Gavin “You didn’t do this?”
Gavin shook his head. “I’d never lay a finger on her.”
Julian released the boy and went to his daughters’ side, wrapping his arms around her.
“I’ll leave you to it.” Gavin spoke to Angel who nodded her agreement. She felt safe now her parents were home and was grateful to him for watching over her.
She stepped out of her parents embrace and unlocked the front door for him, “thank you for everything,” she said. Gavin cupped her face with both hands and kissed her forehead.
“Re-consider calling the police?” he asked.
“Maybe,” she answered. “Go. I’ll call you,” she closed the door as he got into his car and turned to explain the chain of events to her parents.
Chapter 10
After Angel had kicked him in the groin and ran away, Quinn had stumbled back to his car, holding his aching appendage in both hands. Catching sight of his face in the rear view mirror brought forth a bout of cursing as he saw his swollen and bloody nose just knowing that it would result in black eyes.
Starting the car, he decided he wouldn’t go home until he’d found her and finished what he’d started. He drove the section of road for almost two hours, never once catching a glimpse of her. Three times he pulled over and got out of the car, walking a little way into the woods but coming up empty every time, he even tried calling her mobile before remembering he had thrown it out of the window. He eventually gave up the search and headed in the direction of home, a plan forming in his devious little brain.
When he reached the edge of Kingston he figured he’d take a drive by Angel’s house before going home. He hadn’t intended on stopping but the unmistakable shape of Gavin’s Supra in the driveway had him slamming on his brakes. White hot rage bubbled inside him. His initial thought was to burst into the house and have it out with the pair of them but he knew, realistically, he didn’t stand a chance in a one on one face off with Gavin. Then he thought about simply sitting in front of the house until Gavin left but his car stood out like a sore thumb making him drive off while dialling the number of one of his friends with a more non-descript car so that they could return and stake out the house.
Quinn was woken by the sound of Gavin’s car starting and slowly turning around in the driveway. He sunk down in the passenger seat of the car and waited until Gavin had driven away before he shook his friend awake, once again fuming that Angel had chosen Gavin over him. On the drive to his house, Quinn called the police and anonymously reported Angel’s assault.
Novak was doing laps of the pool when Gavin arrived home.
“Surprised you have any energy left,” Gavin called dropping his large frame into one of the poolside chairs.
“The wanderer returns,” Novak quipped stepping out of the pool and grabbing a towel. “I thought I’d give Kiera a chance to recover,” he grinned. “How’s Angel?”
“Remarkably composed,” Gavin replied. “And refusing to go to the police.”
“Silly girl.”
“Yeah, but she may have a point, she said Quinn’s Dad is some hot shot lawyer so he’s off the hook whatever he does.”
“Well isn’t that crap?” Novak said. “How about you and Angel are you two ok?”
“Hard to tell, she didn’t want me to leave but she was having a hard time being close to me. I just need to give her some space I think. She said she’d call me when I left,” he shrugged. “Is my Dad home?”
“Not yet. You hungry?”
“God yes,” Gavin rose. “I think I may forego the diet for one day and have a fry up.”
Gavin started breakfast while Novak went to wake Kiera and James, the latter slinking into the kitchen with the lovely Gabrielle on his arm.
“Charming,” Gavin muttered. “We all slept with girls last night and yet I’m the only one who didn’t get laid.”
“That’s cos you’re a nice guy,” Novak grinned, “I’ll get it,” he said when the door bell sounded.
Gavin had just put a large platter of sausages and bacon on the kitchen table when Novak escorted two police officers through to the kitchen.
“Er Gav,” Novak spoke, Gavin looked up from the plate.
“Gavin Jensen?” one of the officers asked.
“Yes,” Gavin confirmed.
“I am arresting you for the assault of one Angel Palmer,” the officer stepped forward and continued to read him his rights while the other officer moved to cuff him.
“What?” Gavin, stunned, offered no resistance as his arms were pulled behind him, “I haven’t touched her.”
“We had a tip off,” the second officer spoke. “Where were you between the hours of midnight and nine this morning?” he asked.
“At Angel’s house.” Gavin answered. “This doesn’t look good,” he continued in a quieter voice. “Can I just empty my pockets before we go?” He asked.
The officers conferred before agreeing and releasing his wrists and waiting for him to put his belongings on the table in front of him.
“Call my Dad,” he told his friend.
“He’s here.” Novak nodded towards the open front door .
“What’s going on?” Paul asked standing in the kitchen doorway preventing the officers from leaving with his son.
“You are?” the second officer spoke again.
“Paul Jensen. Gavin’s father.”
“I’m sorry to have to inform you that your son has been arrested for assault.”
Paul wasn’t surprised at the charge; it wasn’t the first time he had heard that.
“Gavin?” he questioned.
“I didn’t do anything,” Gavin told his father. “This time it wasn’t me.”
“Don’t say anything.” Paul told him stepping aside to let the officers pass. “I’ll send the solicitor.”
“I have nothing to hide,” Gavin answered. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Paul was already dialling the number for Jake Robins, his friend and solicitor and after a brief call, he turned to Novak for an explanation.
On arrival at the police holding centre, Gavin was booked in, his shoes and belt taken from him, he was searched then his finger prints recorded and his picture taken, he was then shown to a cell to await the arrival of his solicitor before he was interviewed.
In the meantime, Paul had used his son’s phone to find Angel’s home number as Novak had explained her mobile was trashed. The conversation he had with Julian was startlingly brief before he jumped into his car and headed to the Palmer home.
Julian was waiting for him on the doorstep as he stepped out of his car. He took Paul through to the living room confirming that it hadn’t been them who had called the police.
“Holy shit,” Paul said on laying eyes on Angel. “Please tell me Gavin didn’t do that.”
“He didn’t.” Angel confirmed. “He was nothing but a perfect gentleman.”
“You’re not just saying that to protect him?” Paul asked.
“Of course not!” Angel protested. “He was great, I would still be sitting wet and confused in the woods if it wasn’t for Gavin.”
Paul sighed with relief. “Then who the hell called the police?”
“I’m guessing Quinn….” Angel answered.
“Would you be willing to come to the police station with me?” Paul asked the girl. “I understand if you aren’t up to it.”
“I’ll come,” she c
onfirmed.
“I’d better join you,” Julian put in, “I owe Gavin an apology.”
Paul’s solicitor was waiting for them by the time they reached the holding centre.
“I don’t know how much I’m going to be able to help him this time.” Jake told Paul.
“He’s innocent.” Paul replied.
Jake looked long and hard at his friend, in all the years that he had been called in to defend Gavin, not once had Paul used those two words.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Jake, this is Angel, the girl he’s supposed to have assaulted; you need to get the police to interview her first.”
“I’ll see what I can do, wait here.” Jake went to talk to the duty officer.
Eventually, Gavin was taken to an interview room. Angel was escorted to another interview room at the same time. With the time line of their stories matching, the police admitted they had no reason to hold Gavin, they did, however, send a unit to pick up Quinn, as both Angel and Gavin had said that he was responsible for her injuries and on searching Quinn’s car they found her handbag in the glove box where she said it would be.
Paul and Julian were pacing the waiting area much to the annoyance of the officer on reception who had asked them several times to sit down. Both men finally gave up their pacing only for Paul to jump to his feet again when Quinn was escorted in, struggling and protesting between two strapping officers followed moments later by his father.
“Simon Masters.” Paul spoke. “I should have known you would spawn a pathological narcissist.” He finished stepping in front of Quinn’s father.
“Can’t say I’m surprised to see you here, I’ve done a little digging and from what I’ve heard your son appears to be a serial bully and repeat offender.”
“You two know each other?” Julian asked standing at Paul’s side.
“We’ve come across each other from time to time.” Paul answered.
“Don’t think you’re getting Quinn off for this Simon.” Julian warned “My daughter has been beaten senseless at his hands.”
“From my understanding, Angel did her best to lead Quinn on and drove him over the edge of good sense.” Simon scoffed.
“How dare you.” Julian exploded and took a step forward, only Paul’s hand on his arm stopped him.
“He’s not worth it Julian,” Paul said quietly before turning back to Simon. “Even if Angel did lead him on which I seriously doubt, any man who hits a woman is the scum of the earth and should be treated as such,” Paul snarled.
“You aren’t so squeaky clean yourself you know.” Simon shot back.
“Something which I have never covered up, so if you are planning on trying to ruin my reputation go ahead,” Paul shrugged. “You have nothing on Angel or Gavin, whereas I’m sure once the police get a good look at your son’s knuckles, they will find all the evidence they need.”
“By the time I’m done here, Gavin will be firmly on the hook for this, I will insist on a sentence so severe that it will have the entire Jensen family on their knees begging for leniency.” Simon hissed.
Paul laughed, he’d seen Gavin and Angel on their way through reception and knew, legally, nothing could touch his son. “If you pursue a case against my boy I may just have to make public my affair with your wife, after all, that in no way is going to harm me, my wife knows all about it.”
“You wouldn’t stoop so low.” Simon frowned.
“Try me.” Paul warned. “Come to think of it, the last time I saw your wife she was on her knees, begging me to stay,” he mused. “Are you sure Quinn is your son? That temper of his is a typical Jensen trait,” he enjoyed watering the seed of doubt he knew must have always been in the other man’s head. Then he caught himself, “actually ignore that, he’s no Jensen. We are hot headed, but we would never sink so low as to assault a woman.” Then turned to the two waiting youngsters, “let’s get you two home.”
Simon Masters was furious, he’d been well aware that his wife Eleanor had had an affair with Paul and the only reason he was sure Quinn was his son was down to the paternity test he’d insisted on.
Paul taunted him with the affair on the few occasions they met which would spark yet another argument with his wife, as not only did she still look at Paul longingly but she would encourage Simon to do some of the disgusting things Paul had done to her during their fling. Paul would insist on taking Eleanor for a spin around the dance floor on their social meetings, something he hated but would allow to prevent his wife from causing a scene. Simon had been even more insulted when Paul’s luscious wife had looked at him as if he were something she had stepped in and steadfastly refused to dance with him and now he was kicking himself for not being able to taunt Paul further with threats of incarcerating his son.
Sitting in the back of Paul’s Jaguar, Angel by his side, Gavin bit down on the tirade of insults directed towards Quinn that were urging themselves forward, instead he occupied himself with cleaning his sunglasses and slipping them on.
“I’m so sorry,” Angel spoke quietly, Gavin hadn’t looked at her once in the police station or in the car, he turned to face her now, his expression inscrutable behind the dark shades.
“It’s not your fault,” he told her but he didn’t smile or make any effort at further conversation, he did however, place his hand, palm up on the seat between them, his long fingers wrapping around her hand and squeezing, when she placed it in his.
On reaching Angel’s house, Gavin climbed out of the back seat, intending on taking Julian’s place in the front passenger seat.
“Gavin, I owe you an apology, I jumped to the wrong conclusion,” Julian offered his hand, Gavin grasped it firmly.
“I would have reacted the same but like I told you on our first meeting, I would never hurt Angel. I may be many things Julian, but being a woman beater isn’t in my repertoire.” Gavin replied.
“I know that, I shouldn’t have judged you,” Julian apologised again, he had a few quiet words with Paul then followed Angel into the house.
“Do you want to go for a drive?” Paul asked, easing the Jaguar out of the drive and onto the road.
“I just want to go home and grab a couple of hours sleep. I have work this afternoon.” Gavin shook his head.
“I’m sure Linda will understand if you took the day off.”
“She would, but I made a promise to a little girl that I’d be there and I will,” he answered before lapsing into silence.
Paul only put up with his son’s brooding silence for a few minutes.
“Promise me nothing will happen to Quinn.”
Gavin looked at his father. “I can’t, I think you know that. I can promise you I won’t go to prison for that dick head.”
“That’s not all together comforting.”
“If I do anything to Quinn, I won’t get caught, or I won’t be in the country long enough to get caught,” he answered, then sighed. “What kind of man beats a woman? I just don’t get it,” he finished.
“Me either, I never have and I never will,” Paul agreed. “Try to avoid any sort of confrontation with Quinn but if you can’t, make sure he throws the first punch.”
“I’m really not stupid Dad, I know how it works,” he smiled for the first time that morning, “I hate him, I really do, for what he’s done to Angel.”
“That’s understandable but I think your feelings toward him are fuelled by your involvement with her.”
“Or lack of. This is going to put a big crimp in our relationship; it’s going to be a while before she can trust anything remotely male.”
“Oh I don’t know,” Paul mused. “She seemed fairly comfortable with you, she didn’t hesitate when you held out your hand,” he grinned when Gavin tutted.
“You don’t miss a trick do you?”
“Rarely boy, rarely, plus, you were the one who picked her up and kept her safe. Her trust in you is intact, you just need to be very careful how you handle things going forward.”
�
�Yeah, baby steps, that’s ok, I can go at whatever pace she dictates.”
“Just don’t try to rush her.” Paul warned.
“I won’t,” Gavin paused, “did you really boink Quinn’s Mum?”
“I certainly did, it was a long time ago though.”
“Obviously still a sore point. Thanks Dad, now I have ammunition,” Gavin smiled.
Pulling into their garage and switching off the car, Paul put his hand on his sons arm.
“Angel told me everything you did for her. I’m proud of you.”
“What was I supposed to do? When she couldn’t get hold of her parents she called me. I’ve told her everything Dad and she still called me. There’s something between us, it’s strong and it draws me in like a magnet, it scares the shit out of me but I’m not going to let that stop me. I think she’s the one.”
Pleased that his son was actually opening up to him, Paul recognised what he was going through.
“That’s how it was with Suzie,” he said a little sadly.
“You got the girl in the end.” Gavin answered.
“Yeah, but I wasted a lot of time, don’t make the same mistakes I did.”
“I don’t understand. You and Suzanne have been together for years.”
“We’ve been together on and off since I was a teenager, it’s only the last five years or so that we’ve actually been in a relationship. I knew early on that she was the one but I refused to be a one woman man, I wanted to play the field. By the time I was your age, I’d been with around a hundred women. Suzie knew I wasn’t ready and refused to make our relationship a full time thing until I grew up and she was right, my infidelity would have torn us apart and we wouldn’t have the relationship we do if it wasn’t for her.”
“I don’t have that problem. I generally only have one girl on the go at a time these days. It was different when I lived with Mum, I was different. I’ve changed, I know what I want, I seem to be able to think clearly now that I don’t have all the anger issues clouding my vision. I want Angel. I want to have the sort of relationship you have with Suzanne and I think I’m capable of it now.”
“Yeah, I think you probably are,” Paul nodded. “Come on, people are going to think we’re arguing if we stay in here much longer.”