“Am I hurting you?” She asked.
“Lucy, just damn well kiss me will you?” I said firmly. She relaxed then and kissed me again. I couldn’t let anything happen to this spectacular woman. I loved her madly and without her I would be utterly lost. Eventually the pain won out and Lucy had to return to her chair beside the bed. I held her hand tight and noticed the way she continuously trembled.
“Baby, Matt’s right. You are totally exhausted. You need to get out of here, go home and rest.” I ordered.
“I don’t want to leave you Rob.”
“Where do you think I’m gonna go? I’m fine now Lucy. I’m going to be up and about in the next day or so and home in a couple more. I’m not going to disappear if you go home for the night.”
“I almost lost you.” She whimpered as she started to cry.
“No Lucy, you didn’t. I told you, I would never have left you and I never will, but if you go on like this, you’ll be the one who’s sick. I need you to go home, shower, sleep and eat before I see you again. Do you understand?” I knew I was being a little sharp, but I needed her to listen to me. I was worried sick about her, as was Matt and probably Jack too. She looked at me with a pout and I knew she wasn’t happy, but that pout was the cutest damned thing and it only made me love her more.
“Fine!” She conceded. “But I’m not leaving until you go back to sleep.”
“That’s a deal honey,” I agreed with a smile. “But make sure Jack or Matt go with you Lucy. Don’t go alone.” I quickly added.
“I won’t.” She agreed and then suddenly her smile dropped as if she had remembered something. “I can’t believe he shot you Rob. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, this is not your fault Lucy. It has nothing to do with you so don’t you dare blame yourself, do you hear?”
“If you’d never met me…….”
“I’d be miserable and alone. I will never ever regret meeting you, not for one second sweetheart, so don’t. We will take care of Phil and this will all be over, then you and I will move forward together.”
“And live happily ever after?” She asked with a tearful smile.
“Of course!” I agreed. “We just have to make sure you stay safe until Phil’s dealt with, ok?”
“So will Alec be stalking me again then?” She said with a slight hint of annoyance.
“You met him then?” I asked.
“My fist did.” She said as she showed me a bruised, swollen fist.
“What do you mean? What happened?”
“When you were on the steps I tried to get to you and he tried to stop me, so I punched him, pretty hard in the face. He didn’t try to stop me after that.” She said with a little satisfaction.
“You punched him?” She nodded. I couldn’t hold in my smile as I thought of this tiny woman punching my 6’2 employee. She was one tough cookie. “You’re a little live wire aren’t you?”
“That’s one way of putting it.” She smiled and I loved it.
“I love you sweetheart.” I whispered, once again exhausted. Damn painkillers!
“I love you too Rob.” She reached in and kissed me again and I never wanted it to end.
“You should sleep now. You look really tired.” She said as she pulled away.
“I am a little. Are you going to do as we agreed?”
“Yes. I’ll find Jack and head home for a bit.”
“That’s my girl.” We barely said goodbye before my eyes were closing without my permission once again. I just managed to watch her leave the room before darkness descended.
JACK
Cal had been amazing. He had stayed at the hospital with us all until Rob had opened his eyes and we knew for sure he was out of danger. Even then, he only left because I insisted I wouldn’t allow him to lose another day’s business keeping the gym closed for me. He was everything anyone could ever want in a partner and I was so surprised he was interested in me.
The way he had handled things with Lucy and the strength he brought out of her was astonishing and I realised quickly that he cared for her almost as much as I did, which was vital if a relationship between us was to work, because Lucy was a major part of my life and she always would be. She was part of the strange family we had all formed and to me, family was everything. Cal got that, he understood it after only knowing me and Lucy for a few weeks. There was no use denying it, I was falling very quickly for the man.
I sat in the waiting room considering all of this. Lucy and Matt were in with Rob and I was trying to get a little rest while I could. The three of us had barely slept a wink in 72 hours and we were beyond exhausted, but we didn’t care. Rob was safe. He would live and make a full recovery eventually. Actually, knowing Rob I expected him to be bouncing around again in no time. That man didn’t know how to take things slowly.
“Jack?” I looked up and found Lucy in the doorway. She was visibly shaking and as pale as I had ever seen her.
“You ok sweet?” I asked as I lowered my feet and sat up opposite her.
“Tired. I promised Rob I’d go home for a while and rest. Do you mind taking me?” I was so relieved to hear that. It was blatantly obvious she needed to rest for a while, but try as Matt and I might, we could not convince her so. I grabbed my opportunity and practically dragged her out of the building while I could, letting Matt know as we passed him. He told us he would just finish up a few charts and then follow us home shortly.
I barely started the car before Lucy was very quietly snoring in the seat beside me. Thank fuck, I thought. Finally she slept! I drove home the long way, just wanting to let her have a sleep for as long as possible. She seemed so settled and I hated the thought of disturbing her.
Eventually we reached home, and I pulled into my space in the underground parking lot. It was middle of the afternoon and the place was pretty much deserted, everyone out at work. I got out and pulled on my jacket. I still wore the same clothes I had dressed in days ago for my date with Cal, having not had a chance to get home and change in the chaos, and I was desperate to get them off. I grabbed my cell from the hands free and slipped it in my jeans pocket, then moved round to get Lucy from the passenger side. I just got around to the back when I sensed someone behind me. I moved further away from the car, so I had a better space to move in and made it look like I was looking at my tyres. They saw their opportunity and I heard movement behind me. I turned before they even knew what was going on and came face to face with Phil. He had on brown corduroy trousers and a very outdated blue puffer coat, all of which were shabby and filthy. His hair was wild, and he looked like he had truly lost it. He had a Taser in his hand.
“What, no gun today, you coward?” I asked with rage.
“I have a plan for you, lover boy!” He hissed.
“Bring it on you sonofabitch! I owe you a good ass kicking!” I moved before he even registered what was happening and drop kicked him to the ground. He dropped the Taser and I started to kick him as I knew he had Lucy so many times. I wanted to make him suffer and then I wanted to get rid of him. He was done! It would be hard with Lucy in my car, but no way was I letting the fucker get away. I bent and punched him hard in the ribs, then backed up.
“Come on then! Get up and fight you piece of shit!” I spat. He struggled to his feet and took a swing at me, but he was slow and clumsy. No wonder he only hit women; he was pathetic! I dodged the hit and hit him hard in the left kidney. He screamed in pain and Lucy instantly flew out of the passenger side of the car looking terrified.
“JACK!” She screamed.
“Lucy, stay back!” I ordered as I circled Phil and dropped him again with another swift kick. He fell to the floor and I turned to check on her while he was down, just in time to see a second guy running behind her. “Lucy, look out!” I was running towards her, but the guy, dressed all in black was too close. She turned towards him in a panic and he punched her hard in the face. She crumpled to the floor just as I neared her. I was so consumed with getting to her I didn’t see the guy wh
o hit her pull out a Taser. He got the back of my shoulder and I was on the floor beside Lucy, unable to move momentarily.
“Jack?” I heard Lucy whisper and then everything went dark as I was hit on the head with something heavy. Oh God, protect Lucy, please protect her!
LUCY
After the punch everything was spinning and very fuzzy. I saw Jack hit the floor and there was blood where he lay, but I couldn’t make myself move to get to him as I wanted to. I stared at him and tried to talk, but all I could get out was his name.
“Hurry up and get her. He won’t be down for long!” hissed a voice I had hoped I would never hear again. The man who had punched me, the guy who had picked me up and taken me to that damned hotel room, picked me up and started across the car park. I tried to look back to Jack. was he still alive? But Phil was behind, and he was all I could see.
“Hello Angel!” He said with that stone cold, evil smile. I fought hard then to escape the grip of my attacker. I had to get to Jack. I tried to wriggle from his hold and when that didn’t work I used every ounce of strength I had left for one punch right to his nose. It landed perfectly and he cried out and dropped me to the ground. I didn't waste any time. I leapt to my feet and set off running to Jack who still lay unconscious and bleeding.
“JACK!” I screamed.
I had barely moved when I was cut off by Phil. He punched me with such force that everything had gone black before I even hit the ground.
I knew it was over. Phil had me and whatever he had planned would end in my death. I accepted the fact as he moved to punch me. I knew my time was up. My last thought as I crumpled to the ground was, I just hope Jack’s isn’t.
JACK
My eyes snapped open and my first thought was Lucy! I sat up, my head pounding and blood dripping down my face. I looked around frantically, but she wasn’t there. I got to my feet and ran around my car to check she wasn’t laid hurt anywhere, but the passenger door still sat open and there was no sign of her.
“Fuck!” I yelled as I ran across the lot looking for her. She wasn’t there, but there was a small pool of blood not far from my car. Was it Lucy’s? I hoped to God it wasn’t, but I knew it most likely was. Phil had her and it was my fucking fault! I had been taking far too much delight in making him hurt the way he had hurt Lucy so many times. I should have just taken him straight down and then I’d have been ready to protect Lucy from the second guy. I had seriously fucked up and now it was Lucy who was paying the price.
I ran back to my car and got in. I had to get to Rob, he was the only one who would be able to find her. His guys were the nest chance we had at tracking her. I couldn’t waste a second. Every minute Phil had Lucy, he could be hurting her, and I was terrified for her.
I grabbed a dressing from my glove box where I kept emergency supplies and tore it from the sterile wrapper. I used it to wipe the blood from my head and face so I could actually see to drive and then I raced, faster than I had ever driven, to the hospital.
I must have run at least ten red lights and narrowly avoided several collisions, but I made it to the hospital in less than five minutes. I abandoned the car outside the ER and ran straight through and up to the ICU, ignoring concerned questions about the fact I was bleeding, from my colleagues as I went. I didn’t have time!
“Jack, what the fuck?” Matt gasped as I burst into Rob’s room. Rob was sleeping and Matt was stood looking over his chart. Rob, obviously awoken by my bursting into his room, jumped up and stared at me.
“What’s going on?” He demanded. I stared at him, trying to find the words to tell him I had let the woman he loved be taken. “Jack, where the fuck is Lucy?” He yelled as he pulled himself to a sitting position.
“He took her…..I tried to stop him, but I think he took her.” My head felt as though it were filled with cotton wool and I could barely think straight.
“When?!” Rob demanded.
“I don’t know…...I blacked out.” I admitted. I looked to the clock in the room and tried to work out how long it had been since we left the hospital. “Not long, about 15 minutes. He and another guy jumped us in the parking lot at our building.”
“Oh God!” Matt cried. “He’ll kill her, he’ll fucking kill her!”
“Not right away. He took her, he didn’t kill her, so he has a plan. We have time, we need to find her, now!” Rob barked. I knew he was trying hard not to lose it, but he was terrified. It was clear to see on his face.
“There was blood, near my car. I think it could have been hers. He wasn’t bleeding.” I was becoming incredibly dizzy and leant back against the wall to try and steady myself.
“Oh Jesus!” Matt gasped. “It might already be too late!”
“No it fucking isn’t!” Rob raged. He ripped out his IV and jumped up, his injury the last thing on his mind. “She’s still alive and we will get her back!” He opened the cupboard by his bed, but all that was in there was his phone and his wallet. The police had taken all of his clothes for evidence.
“Someone get me something to fucking wear, now!” I looked to Matt who was falling apart. He was staring at the ground, his eyes filled with tears. I knew I needed to get myself together for my family. We needed to be strong.
I ran on unsteady feet across the hospital to my locker and grabbed my gym bag. I had left it there last time I worked, hoping to get to the gym after my next shift. I knew the joggers and hoodie in it would be a snug fit on Rob, but there was no way he would fit into scrubs, which was the other option. At least the sneakers would fit! I was a shoe size bigger than the giant!
I could hear Rob yelling as I got back to the ICU and I realised I needed to get him out of there. It was a place for critical care and Rob bellowing was a major disturbance.
“Just get me a fucking location Mason. You have the plate!” I found Rob stood by the bed screaming into his cell. “I don’t give a shit! Just call me back when you have it!” With that he hung up and threw the cell on the bed.
“You got something?” I asked as I handed him my gym bag. He ripped it open and started pulling out the clothes.
“Mason pulled surveillance in the parking lot. He got the plate of the van they put her in.”
“Did he see what happened?” I almost dare not ask. What if they had just killed her?
“Phil knocked her clean out. He fucking hit her! I’m going to make him pay a million times over!” He was absolutely scathing with Rage. I wondered how he was managing to keep it in check as much as he was. He wasn’t exactly good at hiding his emotions.
“Can you find the van then?” I asked. Rob had pulled on the joggers and hoodie and he was bent over pulling on sneakers. I knew he must be in agony, but it never once showed on his face. Tough fucker!
“He’s trying to track it now. He’ll find it.” Matt walked in then with a handful of dressings and a bottle of pills. He had changed out of his scrubs and into his jeans, sweater and coat.
“Let me clean that up Jack.” He said, pointing to my head. I sat on the bed and Matt hurriedly cleaned up the gash and closed it with butterflies, He seemed to have somehow pulled himself together, thank God. It was going to take all of us to find her.
When he was done we headed out to Rob’s office. We needed to see the surveillance footage, we had to see what had actually happened and Rob wanted to trace the van himself, since it was taking his guys way too long in his opinion. Matt had brought him pain meds, but he was refusing to take them. I knew he was worried they would dull his brain and his reflexes. There was no way he would take them. The only thing going through his mind was finding Lucy. It was all any of us could focus on. I just hoped she could hold on until we could get to her. I would never forgive myself if we lost her.
LUCY
All I could feel when I started to come around was pain. It was radiating from my nose and across my face and my head throbbed more than it ever had before. I remembered Phil punching me and then the terror hit me. He had caught me. Where was I? I forced my swolle
n eyes open and looked around. It was dark and it took me a moment to adjust to that along with the terrible dizziness I was experiencing.
I took a breath and looked around again. It was a huge space with corrugated metal walls. It was freezing cold and I was shivering. I was laid on a concrete floor in one corner of what I guessed was some kind of empty warehouse. I sat up and touched my very swollen face. I swallowed and it felt like I had eaten glass. I tasted something I knew well, my own blood which had poured down my face from a cut on my left cheek. It was then I noticed my clothes. I had been changed into a dress I recognised. I pulled at the garment and studied it. It was a hideous floral sundress I had worn on a rare holiday with Phil years ago. He had picked it out and I had absolutely hated it but had still had to wear it. He had brought it with him from, the house in the UK and changed me while I was knocked out. What else had he done? I leapt to my feet, my legs very unsteady and studied myself. I realised right away I wasn’t wearing the same underwear either. I felt the familiar discomfort of the cheap G-strings Phil would always force me to wear.
Tears filled my eyes as I realised how much trouble I was in. Phil knew where I was, he had put me there. What was he planning to do to me? Whatever it was, it would be bad, really, really bad!
I tried to run then. I had to get out of there before Phil came back. I got a few feet before one of my ankles was torn from beneath me and I landed painfully face first on the ridiculously hard ground. I landed hard on my right arm and cried out as I felt something break. I took a deep breath and made myself get up. I didn’t have time to breakdown as I needed to. I had to find a way to escape. I turned over, cradling my agonising left arm against my chest, and sat up. I looked for what had tripped me and broke down when I found a chain clamped to a metal cuff around my ankle. It was locked shut and I was tethered to a huge metal ring in the floor with a couple of metres of heavy chain.
Something Other than Fear Page 22