by Rae Spencer
“You really are a coward, aren’t you? Leaping a table to harm a woman.” Clay’s fingers squeezed Jason’s throat. “You didn’t really think I would allow that, did you?”
Jason grabbed Clay’s wrist trying to break the hold on his throat, but he couldn’t. “Do you know who I am,” Jason choked out, “can you imagine the swarm of media, the damage to me, you, my band, and yours.”
“You are so wrong, Jason,” Clay’s fingers tightened, “this may destroy your band, but mine is no danger.”
“I wonder if your band mates would think the same. You should consult them before you destroy them with you,” Jason croaked, his face turning purple, “a public trial all over a piece of ass.”
“Lily is not a piece of ass,” Clay growled, “and I am not concerned over a trial.”
“You should be,” Jason gasped, “won’t be pretty.”
Clay eased his fingers from around Jason’s throat, “No doubt. Everyone will find out what a cruel man you are. Stay the hell away from Lily.”
Clay reluctantly took a step back, letting Jason stand.
Jacob moved pinning Lily between him, Amy and Melissa, his hands gripping her wrists.
“I suggest you leave, and don’t come back,” Clay snarled.
Jason looked at Lily, hatred seething from his eyes, “This isn’t over, Lizzy. You will pay for this.”
“No, Jason,” Clay moved blocking Jason’s view of Lily growling, “you will.”
Jason swung.
Lily gasped, went to move, but Jacob held her still.
Clay caught Jason’s arm with his left hand, brought his right up under Jason’s chin, snapping his head back and knocking him off his feet.
Jason struggled up off the floor glaring at Clay then charged. He wrapped his arms around Clay’s waist knocking them both into the table, cracking it in the center. Glasses fell, shattering; the liquid running over the table mixing into a colorful array as dishes fell on the floor breaking, silverware clinking as they banged off one another.
Clay shoved Jason off him, sending him flying. Clay stood with his fists clenched daring Jason to come at him.
Jason swung again. Clay caught Jason’s fist with his forearm, slamming his fist into Jason’s cheek knocking him backwards.
Lily twisted her head toward Jacob, tears in her eyes, “Do something, stop them.”
“No.” Jacob pulled her tighter against him, so her back rested against his chest. “This is Clay’s fight. It has to be this way.”
“Why?” Lily cried.
“You have to figure that out for yourself,” Jacob replied, softly, offering her a small smile.
“But he will get hurt,” Lily sobbed.
“No, he won’t,” Jacob laughed, “Clay can handle Jason. Jason can’t beat him, no worries there.”
“No one should get hurt because of me,” Lily whispered, watching Clay deflect another punch from Jason while landing one of his own.
None of Clay’s band mates or security helped, they all just watched. Tom and Sara came over standing by her as well. Tom stood right next to Jacob, within arms reach of Lily, just in case.
“Please,” Lily cried to Jacob as Jason landed a punch on Clay’s face, snapping his head back. She could see blood on his lip.
“I can’t, Lily,” Jacob answered.
Lily stared at Clay, tears falling freely down her face. She struggled desperately against Jacob’s hold. She had to do something, what she didn’t know, but something to put an end to the fight.
Tom placed his hand on her shoulder, pushing down gently, holding her still. Lily looked at Tom her dusky eyes pleading with him. Tom just smiled softly, shaking his head. He wasn’t going to let her interfere as far as they were all concerned this was Clay’s fight.
“Lizzy,” Jason snarled, blood pouring out of his nose, “I will get you for this. You hear me!”
“You will never hurt her again,” Clay growled lowly a second before he landed a vicious uppercut to Jason’s chin sending Jason sprawling over a chair.
Police officers rushed toward them, people stared, watching the fight. Some took pictures, knowing who the combatants were. The police officers stopped in front of Jason, helping him into a chair, standing between him and Clay, stopping any further fighting.
Jason sat on a chair, his face covered in blood, his elbows resting on his knees.
Clay took a deep breath, turned to Lily holding out his hand.
Jacob and Tom let her go.
Lily ran into Clay’s arms, crying.
He wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding her against his chest, his face in her hair.
Lily looked up at him, her fingers trying frantically to wipe the blood off his face. She grabbed a napkin from the table wiping blood away from his mouth.
“I am so sorry,” she dabbed the cut on his lip, tears rolling off her chin and landing on him.
He squeezed his arms around her. “No, Lily, don’t be sorry. This was my choice, my decision.”
“I don’t understand,” she whispered staring into his eyes.
“I know,” he smiled, squeezing her again, “I will explain it to you later, in bed after I make you scream.”
She blinked, her brows wrinkling in her confusion.
Clay lowered his head kissing her hard, stealing her breath.
When he let her lips go, Lily took a deep breath glancing over at the cops. “The cops are here, what if you get in trouble, arrested?”
“I won’t get into trouble,” he kissed her forehead, guiding her away from Jason to stand among his friends. Not one of them said anything just waited, quietly.
Jason sent murderous looks their way from the chair. Lily trembled against Clay. His arm tightened around her, her eyes shot to his.
“It will be okay, love,” Clay whispered. He had hoped Jason would swing at him, had wanted him to. He needed to get some of his aggression, his anger out and what better way than to take it out on the one who caused it.
A police officer came over, began taking everyone’s statement. Each one took their turn, told the officer what they witnessed. No one interrupted the other. They were all calm. Then came her turn.
“Ms. Travis,” the officer began, “please explain what happened.”
“I can’t,” Lily whispered, her eyes on Jason, her body still trembling.
All eyes snapped to her.
“Why not?” the officer asked.
“I didn’t hear… see… I was too afraid…,” she stuttered, “I couldn’t get past seeing Jason, being in the same room with him.”
Everyone listened, watched, waiting for explanations.
“You know Mr. Carr then,” the officer asked.
“Yes,” she murmured.
Clay’s arms tightened around her, squeezing her fingers.
“How?” the officer’s eyes roamed her face, her fear apparent.
“He… he was a friend of my family’s,” Lily glanced at Clay over her shoulder, seeking reassurance.
He smiled gently down at her, caressing her trembling fingers.
The officer motioned toward Jason. “You two have a history.”
“Yes,” her hands clenched on Clay’s, her voice shaking, “he… he… he tried to kill me.”
Silence reined. All eyes were on Lily.
“Are you serious?” the officer croaked. That was the last thing he expected the woman to say.
“Yes,” her fingers clenched Clay’s harder, her nails digging into his skin. “My name isn’t Travis, it is Shelton, and I believe I have a restraining order against Jason.”
“Yes you do.” Jacob offered her a reassuring smile, turning toward the officer. “She does have a restraining order in place against Jason.”
“Let me clarify, your name is Lily Shelton and you have a restraining order against Jason Carr,” the cop pointed toward Jason.
Lily replied, “yes, sir.”
“I have a copy at my office,” Jacob input, “I can have someone bring o
ver a copy.”
The officer nodded at Jacob, then looked at Lily offering her a sympathetic smile. He refrained from asking her anymore questions and spoke to Clay.
Another officer was talking to Jason who was irate, gesturing wildly. When the two officers finished speaking to all parties, they spoke quietly, and then handcuffed Jason.
“You will pay for this, Lizzy,” Jason shouted, “if you think what happened before was bad, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
Chapter 22
“You still haven’t learned how to shut your mouth,” a man's voice echoed through the room.
Lily gasped, turning in Clay’s arms she looked. Detective Martin! The man who helped her, held her hand the first night in the hospital. He had stayed with her while they took pictures of her injuries, came to visit her everyday as she struggled to breathe, to live.
“Detective Martin,” Lily whispered, “but how?”
Jacob hesitated looking at Lily. “I talked to him earlier, Lily.”
“You called him,” Lily whipped her head around, gaping at Jacob, “why?”
Clay leaned down kissing her cheek. “I asked Jacob to investigate your past, Lily.”
Lily’s eyes snapped to Clay’s, hurt shining from her dusky depths. “You didn’t believe me?”
“Of course I did,” he brushed his fingers across her cheek, “but I had to find out who he was and about your parent’s house, your trust fund. I don’t want you hiding anymore, Lily, I want you by my side.”
She saw the truth in his eyes. He had kept his word, his promise. He had protected her, refusing to let Jason harm her. She smiled tremulously at him.
Detective Martin and one of other officers walked toward them.
“Did Mr. Carr,” the officer asked, stopping in front of them, “approach you or did you approach him?”
“He approached us,” Scott answered, wrapping his arms around Melissa.
“Did he notice the young woman before he approached?” the officer looked around the group, seeing many nods.
“Yes,” Amy glanced at the officer, “Jason stared at Lily from across the room.”
“And when he leaped the table,” the officer asked meeting Tom’s eyes, “who was he leaping at?”
“Lily.” Tom glanced over at Clay and Lily.
“You are sure?” the officer asked.
“Yes,” Melissa wrapped her fingers around her husbands, “Clay intercepted him.”
“Thank you,” the officer said then walked away joining the other officer. They walked Jason out of the restaurant.
“Lizzy,” Jason yelled, “you will pay for this.”
Lily stood still. Clay’s hands on her waist flexed at Jason’s words, but her eyes were on the detective who was staring at her, a frown on his face.
“Hello, Lily,” Detective Martin said.
“Hello, Detective Martin.” Lily smiled softly.
The detective shook his head, a grin quickly replacing his frown. He placed his hands on her cheeks giving her a kiss.
“I am so happy to see you,” Detective Martin brushed her cheek, checking her over, trying to determine how she was doing. “I have been looking for you.”
“You have,” she tilted her head, confused, “why?”
“Why?” Detective Martin answered, surprised. Didn’t she know, understand? He quickly realized she didn’t. “Lily, we have searched for three years for you, concerned Jason may have murdered you. When Jacob called today about the case, it was one of the happiest moments of my life, I have been afraid someday I would find your body.”
Lily flinched, she hadn’t realized. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would try to find me.”
“Because of the letter you sent,” Detective Martin asked.
Her brows drew together. “What letter?”
Clay’s fingers tightened on her waist. “The letter saying you didn’t want to press charges.”
Lily glanced up at Clay then over at Detective Martin, her eyes filled with confusion. “I didn’t send a letter.”
Detective Martin grimaced slightly. “I didn’t think you did, but someone did and we couldn’t verify the handwriting.”
Lily looked down at the floor, embarrassed to have so many people listening to her story. It was private, personal. She didn’t like people to know because they judged assuming she had done something to deserve what happened.
“Did you think we wouldn’t try to find you?” Detective Martin asked, noticing her embarrassment.
She leaned against Clay, her legs shaking. “Yes.”
Detective Martin caught her chin, guiding her face up so he could see her eyes, “What did you think was going to happen?”
She shrugged, swallowing hard. “I… I… just thought it would be over, if he couldn’t find me, he couldn’t…”
“Finish what he started, threatened?” Clay asked, looking down at her then over at the detective.
Lily glanced up at Clay, nodding, her lips quivering.
“Threatened?” Detective Martin asked.
Clay met the detective’s eyes. “Jason confronted Lily two days before the trial and threatened to kill her if she testified against him.”
“What! You never said anything, Lily. So you left – went into hiding.” Detective Martin couldn’t be angry with her, he understood more than anyone else did. He had seen what Jason did to her. Knew she had been all alone, she had no family left, and Jason had stolen all her friends.
She swallowed, looking down at the floor again.
“Lily, you have a new ID, and you live in Florida which is far from LA, how did you manage all that?” Detective Martin questioned.
“One of the girls helped me,” she whispered, not looking up.
“One of the girls,” the Detective stared startled, “considering what Jason had going on in your house, I am surprised one of them helped you.”
Lily glanced up at the detective then back down to the floor. “It was Jessica.”
“Ah, I see,” Detective Martin smiled.
“You do?” Clay’s voice laced with confusion.
“Jessica wasn’t like the other girls,” Lily whispered, shifting against Clay.
“How was she different?” Clay asked.
Detective Martin shifted to his right, trying to see Lily’s face. “Jessica wasn’t one of the groupies. She was a friend of Steven's. She agreed to testify against Jason. When, Lily?”
She pushed her hair behind her ear, her fingers trembling, “The day after I saw Jason, she told me if I ever needed anything to ask her, so I did.”
“She helped you get a new ID,” Clay asked, entwining his fingers with her trembling ones.
Lily nodded.
“How did you get a job?” Jacob asked.
Lily blushed, shifting her feet.
Detective Martin smiled noticing her movements, “not on the books?”
“She was only trying to help me,” she bit her cheek, glancing at the detective.
He grinned. She was worried over getting those who helped her in trouble. “Don’t worry, Lily, I am not going to get anyone in trouble. They helped you and that is good enough for me.”
“For me as well,” Clay squeezed Lily. Everyone who was listening agreed.
“How did you end up where you are?” Detective Martin asked.
Lily hesitated. Detective Martin added, “I promise, no one who helped you will get into trouble, but I do need to figure all this out. It is important.”
She looked up. “The café owner is Jessica’s aunt. She agreed to help me. I stayed with her for a month before I found my own place.”
“Jessica made the arrangements?” Detective Martin asked, shaking his head.
Lily nodded. “I used the advance the trustees gave me to get an apartment and some furniture. I walked to work so I didn’t need a car.”
Detective Martin looked at Clay, then back down at Lily. “Jessica never said a word. I asked her, many times. What about your therapy, you
had months left when you disappeared?”
“I worked on the therapy in my apartment,” she whispered softly, “I had the information.”
“Have you been to a doctor, Lily?” Clay asked, “to check on the injuries?”
She glanced up at him, hesitated, “I couldn’t risk it.”
“So, how did you end up here?” Detective Martin motioned to the others.
“I met Clay a few times through my neighbor Don. Clay asked me to join him for the week and I agreed,” Lily whispered, her cheeks getting hot, because that wasn’t exactly the truth. “I didn’t realize when I did Clay might know Jason.”
Detective Martin could see the strain on Lily’s face, her embarrassment over others listening to her story. “I understand it has been a long day, and we have much to discuss yet.”
Lily grimaced, shifting her feet again.
“But it can wait until tomorrow,” Detective Martin nodded toward Clay. “Jason will not make bail tonight. He will be charged with violating the restraining order and I think we can finish this talk tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Lily relaxed a little against Clay.
“You and Clay will meet me for lunch, and we will talk.” Detective Martin said sternly. “We will make arrangements, decisions, do you understand? We must move forward with the trial, Lily, no more hiding.”
She stared at the Detective, unsure.
Clay’s fingers squeezed hers. “I agree with Detective Martin, Lily, no more hiding.”
“I will see you tomorrow.” Detective Martin kissed her cheek, shaking Clay’s hand.
She watched the detective leave, glanced up at Clay then over at his friends. “I’m sorry for everything that happened tonight.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Kevin hid a smile as Clay rolled his eyes.
Amy smiled at her. “Lily, what happened tonight wasn’t your fault.”
Lily offered her a small smile.
“Melissa never liked Jason.” Scott looked down at his wife, “or the stories he told about Lizzy, she said he was lying.”
“I did, and he was.” Melissa smiled at Lily. “There was just something about him that made my skin crawl. Lily, don’t you worry. We know who is at fault. I hope you will tell me everything when you are ready.”