Shattered

by Haven Anne Lennox

  “Rain, you have to go. The cuts on your stomach are too deep to not get checked out. We need to have your ribs checked out, too.”

  This comes from Liam. While he says it he brushes my hair from my face with his fingers. I reach my hand up and put it over his.

  “Ok. But I don’t want to stay. They can do their x-rays and whatever but after, I’m leaving. Tyler will come for me and that will be the first place he looks.”

  Storm growls. “The fucker isn’t coming for you. He was locked up. We will be taking you to the police department as soon as we leave to press charges. And don’t fight us on this. The fucker has to be stopped and the only way to stop him, and we all stay out of jail, is to let Falls handle him.”

  “Storm, papers won’t stop him.”

  Liam doesn’t let me finish.

  “Shh, Rain, you’re safe now. We got you and we aren’t letting you go back no matter what.”

  “Oh god, Genesis. Where is Genesis?”

  “She is fine. She is on her way out of town with a friend of mine. I have known her since high school. She is a private detective too. She will keep Gen safe. Don’t worry. Everyone is fine.”

  Storm says all this in one breath, like he knows I’m on the verge of another break.

  “Rita said they will call when they get where they are going. She didn’t tell me where they are going just to be safe. But we will know soon, ok? Everyone is safe, Rain. Just be chill,” Storm says to me.

  We pull up to the hospital and all four doors open at once.

  I try to move to get out but Man tightens his arms around me.

  “Mom, stay still, I got you,” Man tells me.

  I feel safe. But still I can walk.

  “Man, put me down now. I’m not a broken child. I do know how to walk.”

  Man stops on the sidewalk, looks down at me and says, “No, you’re not a broken child, you’re my mother, and my father has beat you and cut you. I will not be letting you down. You are with me and I will keep you safe. Now I love you but hush and deal.”

  He kisses me on my forehead and continues to walk into the hospital.

  Man heads straight for the desk.

  “Hi, this is my mom and she needs to be seen by a doctor like yesterday. Can you help with that, please?”

  The lady picks up a clipboard and holds it out. She doesn’t even bother to look up from her magazine.

  “Fill this out, bring my pen and clipboard back to me, and then have a set. Someone will get to you as soon as they can.”

  “Um, excuse me, ma’am. If you would look up, you would see how important it is to get her seen now,” Callum says. Always trying to be nice.

  She looks up then, takes us all in.

  “Well, see, I don’t pick and choose. There is a lady in the waiting room with a temp of 102, and a man that dropped a two hundred pound pole on his foot. I think they feel the same as you.”

  She picks up the clipboard and passes it to us once again.

  “Man, let’s just go. Please, let’s just go home.”

  The woman’s eyes meet mine from behind her desk.

  “I remember you. You were just released this morning, right?”

  Man stands me up but keeps a hold of me and lifts my shirt.

  I hear her gasp, I let my head fall down. I don’t want people to see this. Why did they make me come here?

  “Is this important enough for you, lady? Does she meet your fucking standards to be seen now? The cuts are still bleeding. Can you get her some fucking help?”

  “Man, I don’t care what is going on, you do not talk to a woman like that. Do you understand me, young man?”

  Man knows that I hate from men to disrespect women. It doesn’t make you a man. It makes you weak and it makes you a pussy.

  “Sorry, Mom, she is just pissing me off.”

  He turns back to the nurse at the desk and says, “Ma’am, I’m sorry for being disrespectful. My mother really needs to be seen by a doctor.”

  “Thank you, yes, ok.”

  She is clicking around on her computer and moving around papers.

  “Ok, take her to room 115 down the hall and on the left. It’s a glass room but you can pull the curtains. I’ll have a doctor there in the next few minutes. Take your clothes off and put on the grown when you get in there. There is also a sheet in there; use it.”

  Man picks me back up and the pain causes me to cry out.

  “Mom, I’m so sorry,” Man says.

  “It’s ok baby, I’m ok. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  We make it to the room. Liam makes everyone stay outside the door, so I can change. A nurse came and told them they couldn’t all be back here but all she got to that was three growls. Her eyes got huge and she said, “Ok, just no problems and you can’t stand in the hall.”

  Liam is the only one in the room. I told him I was good and could undress myself.

  In response to that, he says, “Yeah, but I can do it in a way that causes you no pain. Stand up, please.”

  I stand up from the bed. He walks to me and pulls his pocket knife out. He cuts the top of my tank top at my shoulders, then cuts down one side. The tank falls to the floor but Liam’s eyes haven’t left my stomach. He shakes his head and moves to my shorts. He cuts down one side and then slides them down. I step out and the gown is in front of me to put on. He then lays me on the bed, pulls the sheet over me, and walks to the door, not saying a word.

  “Thank you, Liam. For everything. Will you ever get sick of saving me?”

  He doesn’t turn to face me. He stays facing the door.

  “I know it’s too soon but I love you, Rain. I told you a few weeks ago and I’m telling you again now. I will never get sick of saving you. I never will be. And you never have to thank me. You mean the fucking world to me, Rain.”

  He turns around, putting his hands on the bottom of the bed.

  “We will be talking, Rain. Not right now, but as soon as you are feeling better, I’m going to be laying everything out for you. But for now, let’s let the boys back in before they blow the door down.”

  When Liam opens the door, the doctor is standing there.

  The boys follow him in. He turns to look at them.

  “Um, I’m going to have to ask you guys to wait outside.”

  “Yeah, sorry, Doc,” Storm starts. “But this is our mom, sister, and should be wife. We aren’t going anywhere,” Malachi finishes.

  “Ookay, well, Mrs. Childs, what brings you back to us so soon?”

  I don’t say anything. Hell, let’s let it speak for itself. I pull the gown up and wait. I know it’s coming.

  “Oh dear God, who did this to you?”

  He is looking around the room like it was one of the guys.

  “My husband. The same man that put me here last time.”

  He rolls the stool over to him and just plops in it.

  “With everything that’s happened to you…Lord. I’m sorry. I don’t even know what to say.

  That’s ok. If you could stitch me up, I’ll be out of your way.”

  “Well, I would like to run more tests. I would like an X-ray of your ribs. I can see boots prints that weren’t there this morning when you left. I would also like to get blood work and a CAT scan just to be on the safe side. You have a pretty bad gash on your forehead.

  “Wait, I do?” I reach up and touch my head. Shit, when did that happen?

  The doc looks uncomfortable, I know what he wants to ask.

  “No, I don’t need a rape kit. These guys saved me before it got that far.”

  He takes a deep breath and releases it.

  “I’m glad. That’s good. Ok, let’s get started.”

  He calls for the nurse.

  “Can you get Mrs. Childs in for X-ray and CT? I would also like blood work. Just to be safe, do a full work up.”

  After all the tests, I’m wiped. All I want now is a full night sleep. When the doctor comes back into the room his face is stone. He is showing n
o emotion at all. I’m almost too scared to ask. When he put in my stitches, I saw him gritting his teeth. Almost like he was mad.

  “What’s up, Doc? Why do you look like someone just ran over your puppy?” I couldn’t help but ask. I try to smile a little to back it up but it falls short. It can’t be that bad.

  “Come on, Doc. Out with it. I’m tired and I would like to get some sleep.”

  “Well, I got all your tests back. Your head is fine.”

  “Says some,” says Storm.

  “Asshole,” I say. I turn back to the doctor.

  “Sorry, Doc, go on.”

  “Your X-ray is what concerns me. Your ribs have been broken again. I’m going to send your X-ray to a friend of mine to see what can be done. You will be sore for a lot longer then you should be. We can’t wrap your ribs because of the lacerations on your stomach, and we can’t leave the cuts open.

  So what has to happen is, I want you to stay here for a few nights.”

  I’m already shaking my head.

  “I told you all that I didn’t want to stay here. I’ll get checked out but then I’m going home.”

  “Rain, listen. This is for your safety.”

  “No, being safe would be sending me home. Sending me where Tyler can’t get to me.”

  I’m getting out of bed and remember I have no clothes. Liam cut them off me. So I just brace myself on the bed. I’m in so much pain but I can’t take the chance of Tyler coming here to find me.

  “I can’t take the risk of Tyler coming for me. He will come here first, I know he will. And if it’s not him, he will send his friends. You think I’m safe right now?”

  I know I’m freaking out but I will not stay here. The tears have started again.

  “Mrs. Childs…”

  “Oh, stop with the ‘Mrs.’ shit. You think you can keep me safe here. He is my fucking husband. Some nurse will let his ass get to me just by him batting his fucking eyes. I refuse to fucking stay here, Doc. Think of something else.”

  Liam has come to stand beside me.

  “Ok Rainy, let’s just calm down. We can figure this out. You will have to sign some papers but we will figure this out.”

  “You need rest and lots of it Mrs…..Rainy. No moving around. I don’t even want you walking to the bathroom.”

  “Oh, come on, Doc. I’m not dead. I’m hurt. Is this really called for?”

  “You heard the doc, Rain, now sit your ass down.” Storm walks over to the bed. “If the doc says you don’t walk, you don’t fucking walk. You have three almost grown sons, me, and Liam. You have no reason to be complaining right now. One of us will be with you at all times, anyway. At least now, we will have something to do other than sit there and stare at you.”

  Storm tries to laugh at the last part but it falls short when he looks around and no one else is laughing.

  “What?” he says. “It was funny.”

  “Oh, Doc, what else?”

  “Three weeks, Rainy. No walking, no stress, and most importantly, no husband. I may be over stepping here but you should get as far away from that man as you can. If you, any of you need help to get her away, just call me. I haven’t seen a case this bad is all my years.”

  The doctor touches my hand and says,

  “We are going to get you fixed up. But I mean what I say no anything. And if you get a fever, no matter how low, I want you back here. Headaches, blurred vision, if your speech gets wonky I want to see you again.”

  He looks around the room,

  “Is all this understood? I don’t want anything to happen.”

  Everyone says or nods yes.

  “Ok, Rainy, let’s get you stitched up and home. I don’t see you being left alone for a while.”

  “Um, guys, I kinda need clothes,” I say to the room.

  The doc did his work and gave me all kinds of meds for the pain that I will not take but I took them just in case. Plus, if I wouldn’t have taken them, Storm would have and made me take them, too.

  “Why don’t you have clothes, Mom?” Callum asks.

  “Well…”

  “I cut them off her. it was easier than trying to make her lift her arms and pull the shirt over her head,” Liam says

  “So…you, like, seen our mom naked?”

  This comes from Malachi.

  “I did. But it wasn’t like anything your pervy little brain is taking it.”

  Liam throws a soda cap at him.

  “Ok, can we just find something for me to wear home, please? Wherever home is at this point.” I say that last part under my breath.

  “Your home is my home, Rain, where it should have been from the start. No games.”

  Liam, Lord love the man.

  Man comes in with some light blue scrubs. “Well, it’s better than nothing. I put them on and look at my feet.

  Well, fuck. I left with no shoes. Oh, well. I’m just ready to bail. I’m so done with hospitals. I take two steps to the door when all the guys, and I mean all of them, are standing right in front of me. They are so close that I could reach out and touch Liam.

  “And what is it that you think you are doing, sweet heart?”

  “I’m going to your apartment is what I’m doing. What are you guys doing?”

  The smile I love the most on Liam shows itself after so many years. That smile will do me in every time. I melt. Fuck, I’m weak as hell.

  “No, no. Doc said you aren’t to walk. So, my lady, your carriage awaits.”

  Liam holds his arms out.

  Storm tells the boys to go get the car and bring it around front.

  When Storm turns around back to us, he is smiling.

  “I always knew this right here,” Storm says, pointing at me and Liam.

  “This here was always meant to be. I’m looking forward to seeing Rainy chew your ass out.”

  Storm laughs. When he walks up to stand in front of Liam, the smile and all jokes are gone. This is big brother mode right here.

  “But if you ever harm her, I will kill you. She doesn’t need to be hurt anymore. Tell me you understand, brother?”

  “I understand. I would never hurt her and you know that. I love her, man. Always have and always will.”

  Liam holds out the hand that’s under my knees to shake Storm’s hand, or do whatever guy thing they do.

  “Ok. Well, now that that is over, can we please leave?”

  We head for the door. I know that this isn’t over. Tyler isn’t just going to let me leave like this. I know he is planning. I know he is planning on ending me. I’m hoping that I’m the only one he has plans for.

  I don’t ever want to go back but I know that sooner or later he won’t give me a choice. For now though…For now I’m going to enjoy my boys and Liam and Gen and my mom and brother.

  Three weeks later

  You wouldn’t think that three weeks is a long time. But it is. I have had three weeks of the guys carrying me around from one room to the other, to the bathroom to the living room.

  Three weeks of not leaving this apartment other than the one time to go to the doctor and the guys walked around me like I was the freaking Queen of England or something. I was boxed in, and that was just to the car. What they did at the hospital…was just embarrassing.

  I have had three weeks of wanting to leave this apartment but being too scared. Three weeks of nightmares, three weeks wondering if this is the day that Tyler comes for me.

  I know he isn’t finished with me. I can feel it in my bones.

  Tyler got out on bond the day after he was locked up. I just knew that he would come after me then, but he didn’t. Maybe this is his plan. To freak me out, always looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to come for me.

  No one has been able to find him. I have seen him though. Out this very window I’m looking out of now.

  I was just standing here looking out at the people that aren’t living their life in fear, wishing I could be one of them. I looked across the street and he was there. Leaning against
the wall next to the store.

  I froze. I had no idea what I should do. I kept asking myself if this was it. Was he coming for me? But now I think he was just trying to tell me that he knew where I was, that I couldn’t hide from him and if he wanted me he could have me.

  Liam had come up behind wrapping his arms around my waist like he has been doing since they let me stand up on my own. I saw Tyler’s eyes get wide when he saw who was behind me and he stood up from the wall.

  Liam asked me what I was doing and I jumped. I was so lost in my head. When I jumped, Liam knew something was going on. He looked out the window where my eyes were locked.

  “Fuck,” he said. He started for the door, telling the boys that Tyler was outside. Callum stayed behind with me.

  They would never catch him. By the time they got outside, Tyler was gone. He had blown me a kiss and winked at me. Then took off down the alley.

  No one has been able to find him since that day but I know that if I would go to his apartment and use my key, Tyler would be there. I don’t know why I don’t tell anyone.

  After everything he has done to me and put me through, shouldn’t I want him gone?

  What I really want for it all to never have happened. I want it all to just go away. All the pain and the fear and the loss. I would just like it all to go away.

  Tyler is hiding in plain sight. After that day I had to promise everyone that if I saw him I would tell them. The police are looking for him and Vegas. But I know they will never find them unless they want to be found.

  Just because he is hiding doesn’t mean that he won’t come after me.

  So now, I’m standing here in what everyone has taken to calling my window. Maybe it isn’t smart but fuck, I’m so sick of being scared. I don’t want to live in fear anymore. The boys say I’m free now. I want to live free. I have spent my whole life living in fear.

  Is it wrong that I want to live life? That I want to start a life with Liam and the boys? That I want my boys and Genesis and Liam and Storm with me every day for the rest of my life?

  Am I moving too fast? I don’t think I am. I think I have wasted enough of my life not being happy. I think it’s time to push all the bad shit back and fucking live. And I want to live with Liam every day.