He released one of her arms to grab her breast, squeezing the mound painfully. Tears sprung to her eyes, but she refused to show weakness. The man’s hand slid down her ribs to her hip. He lingered there a moment. There was no way in hell she’d become one of his victims!
“It’s been a good week since I’ve had me a nice, soft woman like you.”
So it was going to be rape. She’d held on to her virginity this long, she wasn’t about to lose it in a filthy alley to some lunatic intent on causing her harm. Her complacency had lulled him into a sense of security. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned that she would fight him, maybe because she’d always been docile at the hospital, never causing any trouble.
Reaching for her throat, he gripped it tightly.
“You’re going to be a good little bitch and do what I say, aren’t you?”
She tried not to gag from the scent of his fetid breath. When he leaned in closer, she brought her knee up between his legs, hitting him as hard as she could. His grip loosened enough for her to twist away. While he was incapacitated, she ran. If her circumstances were different, she would have yelled for help, but the last thing she needed was to have the police involved. The least amount of interaction she could have with them the better.
Lacey ran until her lungs burned from the exertion. She didn’t dare look behind her. She could hear footsteps, but she pushed onward, darting around first one corner then another. After a few blocks, she no longer heard anyone behind her and thought she was safe, for the moment. There were enough people walking up and down the street that she felt certain the man wouldn’t bother her again, not now at any rate. She darted into the Laundromat. Unfortunately, the facility was empty, so if the man did track her down she’d be defenseless against him. She doubted she’d catch him by surprise a second time.
With shaky hands, she put quarters into a machine for laundry detergent and dryer sheets. Moving over to the washers, she loaded her meager belongings into one. She poured her detergent in, loaded quarters in the slot and turned it on. She crossed to the front window and the line of chairs there and curled up in one. Keeping an eye on the street and another on her clothes, she felt tight as a drum, every muscle in her body tense and aching from her assault.
She looked down at the marks on her arms, visible under the three-quarter sleeves of her shirt. From the ache in her breast, she knew she bore marks there, as well. She felt dirty from the man’s touch and wanted to scrub herself clean, but going to the hotel and taking a shower wouldn’t have done her any good with nothing clean to change into, not to mention the expense. She had very little cash left and didn’t want to spend it on a hotel room. Not that she’d really been thinking about that at the time of her flight, she’d just run to the destination she’d had in mind before he’d dragged her into that alley.
After a while, the washer turned off and she put her things in one of the dryers, then resumed her seat. It didn’t take long before the hum of the machine lulled her into a light sleep. When the bell jingled over the door, she startled and jerked upright in her seat.
“Easy, I didn’t mean to scare you,” an elf said. He smiled. “You must be the new waitress over at the Big Bear Diner.”
She nodded. “How did you know?”
“The guys mentioned you after breakfast yesterday morning.” He held out a hand. “I’m Blevin. I work for the fire department.”
Taking his hand, she shook it. “I’m Lacey.”
“I must say, Rafael didn’t do you justice.”
She felt her cheeks warm.
Blevin carried his clothes over to the nearest washer and started the load. When he was finished, he sat beside her. A frown marred his handsome features as he reached for her arm. “What happened?”
What could she say? She needed to tell him something. Maybe the partial truth? “A man pulled me into an alley on my way here.”
His concerned gaze met her hesitant one. She wasn’t sure how much she should tell him. She’d just met him, after all. He seemed nice, and if he worked for the fire department, surely he was trustworthy. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you, other than the bruises?”
She shook her head. “I managed to escape before he could do anything else.”
“We need to call Chief Hale.”
“No!”
He looked surprised. “You don’t want to report the man?”
“I didn’t get hurt, not really. I’d rather just forget it ever happened.” Suddenly uncomfortable, she excused herself. “I think I’ll just go splash some water on my face.”
He let her go without comment and she escaped into the bathroom at the back of the Laundromat. She could hear his voice and wondered if someone else had come in or if he was on the phone. It was doubtful he was talking to her or he would’ve followed her.
What was she going to do? He was asking questions, and she couldn’t really blame him, but she didn’t have answers, not ones he would like. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to turn that man in, because she did, but she couldn’t. Right now, the chief only knew her as a temporary resident, but if she turned in the guard, he’d hear the whole sordid story. And she knew the guard wouldn’t put her in a very favorable light. There was no doubt in her mind she’d end up in cuffs.
She wondered how long she could hole up in the bathroom. You could only splash water on your face so many times before you’d drown. He seemed like a really nice man, only concerned for her wellbeing. She’d just have to convince him that she really was fine.
Lacey exited her haven and rejoined Blevin on the chairs. He was slipping a phone into his pocket, which answered her question of who he’d been talking to. Well, sort of. She didn’t know who was on the other end of that phone, but at least she knew no one else had come in. She only hoped it wasn’t the police that he’d called.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said.
“It isn’t your fault. I just really would prefer to forget the whole thing.”
“Can you describe the man to me? Maybe it’s someone I know.”
“He was about your height, brown hair, brown eyes. His features were sharp. He’d definitely been using drugs for a while, he had that look about him.” She hated lying to him, but what else was she to do?
“He doesn’t sound familiar, but I know his kind. They usually keep to their part of town. He must have been looking for trouble if he wandered into this section.”
“He was probably looking for someone to rob, or something to steal. I’m sure he just needed drug money,” she said. No way was she going to tell him what the man had really intended.
“You’re probably right. You’re still very lucky.”
Lacey nodded.
The bell jingled over the door again and she turned toward it. Her eyes widened in surprise when Draco walked in, heading straight for her. What was he doing here? It was obvious from his lack of laundry that he hadn’t come to wash clothes. And he looked so intense, and angry! Why was he angry?
He stopped in front of Blevin. “Why did you call Rafael and not the police?”
Blevin frowned. “Forget that, why did you show instead of him?”
“We were together when he got the call.”
Blevin’s eyebrows arched. “Yes, but that doesn’t answer the question.”
Draco turned from him. Kneeling in front of Lacey, he took her arm in his hand, his touch gentle as he examined her bruises. His fingers lightly traced the faint marks she’d seen on her throat in the bathroom mirror. His eyes glittered with an intense ferocity and smoke curled from his nose. She was momentarily startled and wondered just what he was, but was too afraid to ask. She’d known he was a powerful man, had sensed it from their brief meeting at the diner, but faced with the force of his anger now she could clearly see the strength in his bulging muscles, the intelligence in his eyes, and wondered if she’d done something to make him so upset.
“Who hurt you?” he asked in a low growl.
“I -- I don’t know
.”
“We’re going to the police and you’re going to describe him to Chief Hale.”
She adamantly shook her head.
“What do you mean no? Do you realize what could’ve happened to you? By sheer dumb luck you managed to escape with your life, but that’s not to say he wouldn’t have played with you first.”
She swallowed painfully. “I know.”
“If you won’t think of yourself, think of his next victim. She might not be so lucky.”
She needed to stall. There was no way she could go to the station. Or could she? She could always report what happened, just leave out certain parts, and give a partial description, not enough for them to actually catch the guy, because that would be bad for her, but enough to convince them she was a concerned citizen.
“But I need my clothes first,” she said.
Right on cue, the dryer dinged. She got up and gathered her clothes, placing them back in her bag. If either man noticed that she only had two changes of clothes, neither said anything, for which she was grateful. When she neared the door, Draco placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her outside to a waiting car. Thanks to a boyfriend who was fanatical about classic cars, she knew it was a 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda. Sunburst yellow with a black stripe down the side, it was a true thing of beauty.
He opened the passenger side door for her and she slid inside, inhaling the scents of leather, some sort of air freshener and a scent she knew belonged to Draco himself. When he got in and started the car, the engine rumbled to life. The police station was only a few blocks away so it took only a few minutes to reach their destination and Lacey was almost sorry the ride was over. It had been so long since she’d been in such a nice car that she’d enjoyed herself.
Draco helped her out of the car and ushered her into the police station. Being after hours, no one manned the front desk, but there were only a handful of other desks and a few doors, one of which read Chief. One of the desks was occupied by a man wearing the Moonspell P.D. uniform she’d seen on the chief. He approached and smiled at Draco. “What can I do for you, Draco?”
“Hey, Rich. We need to report a crime. This is Lacey. She was accosted tonight.”
The officer frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that, Miss. Why don’t you come over here and have a seat? I’ll just get the form I need and I’ll take your statement.”
Lacey followed him back to his desk, Draco at her back. When she sat, Draco placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She had to admit that if she was going to do this she was happy to have him by her side. There was something about him that made her feel safe. Even when she’d thought he was angry with her, she’d known he wouldn’t hurt her. Call it a sixth sense, or whatever, but she’d known without a doubt that he would never harm her.
It took about a half hour to give her statement to the officer and have him file the report. He got on his radio and called out a description of the suspect to the officers on duty that were out on the streets. He assured her that they would catch the man and thanked her for being brave and coming forward.
When they left, she faced a new dilemma. Draco wanted to take her home, but she didn’t have one. She’d thought about going back to the motel, but there was no guarantee they’d have a room open, not to mention the expense.
“What do you mean you were going to get a room at the motel? Where did you stay last night?” he asked.
She firmed her lips and refused to answer.
“Lacey, did you have a place to stay last night?”
Hesitantly, she shook her head.
Draco cursed under his breath. “And tonight, what were you going to do tonight? Stay at the motel?”
“I don’t know that I have enough funds for the motel.” She shrugged. It wasn’t his responsibility to worry about her, to care for her. If he’d just drop her off at the motel, she could take things from there. For that matter, she could walk from here. Just because he left her there didn’t mean she had to get a room.
Seeming to come to a decision, he put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking space -- and headed in the wrong direction.
“The motel is the other way.”
“I’m not taking you to the motel. It’s obvious you’re barely making it day to day. I can’t in good conscience leave you there not knowing whether or not you’ll have a roof over your head tomorrow.”
“It isn’t your job to take care of me.”
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Someone needs to.”
She bristled at his comment, but at the same time knew he was partially right. She’d never been on her own before and had no clue what she was doing. After having someone tell her what to do and when to do it for eight years, it was easy to give up control to someone else. It was ingrained in her. Being taken care of wasn’t so bad, when the people actually had your best interest at heart.
When they pulled into his driveway, or rather down the long winding one, her eyes widened in surprise. This was no normal house. It looked like a miniature castle, complete with turrets. She almost expected to see a moat and drawbridge. She’d never seen anything like it before. The wooded lot surrounding it was beautiful, peaceful.
As they entered the house, her gaze took everything in, from the chandelier hanging in the front hall, to the spiral staircase leading to the second floor. The two-tone marble floor was stunning and contrasted nicely with the dark wood accents. Draco dropped his keys on a table by the front door and locked up, setting an alarm. He took her by the hand and sparks shot up her arm and settled in her stomach. No one’s touch had ever done that to her before.
He led her back past the stairs through a door and into a great room. A large sectional dominated the middle of the room, with a coffee table that looked like it had been made from a castle door. A gigantic flat panel TV hung on the wall over the fireplace and bookcases flanked the stone structure, two on either side filled with movies. She figured he must own every movie available. She’d never seen so many before.
He opened a door to the right and ushered her inside. It was a small hall with a bathroom to the left and another door ahead of her. When she stepped through, she couldn’t stop the gasp of surprise that sprang to her lips. It was a beautiful bedroom, fit for royalty. The ceiling had a mural of a sky with fluffy clouds. The walls were a soft gray. Instead of curtains, the windows were covered with plantation blinds. An ornate bed set against one wall, the brushed pewter spindles dipping and swirling in a beautiful design. A dark gray comforter covered the bed. There was a comfortable looking chair in the corner near a window, a great place to read a book. Her feet sank into the Berber carpet as she crossed the room to set her bag at the foot of the bed.
“This will be your room for as long as you need it,” Draco told her. “It’s the only bedroom on this level, so you’ll have your privacy.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” His gaze caressed her. “I would imagine you’d like to take a shower after your ordeal. When you were pulling your things out of the dryer, I didn’t notice any nightclothes. Do you have something to sleep in?”
“Oh, I’ve just been sleeping in whatever I have on.”
He frowned. “Wait here.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already out the door. He returned a few minutes later with a large blue tee in his hands. When he handed it to her, she thanked him and marveled at how soft it felt. She knew she’d owned things like this at one point in her life, but it had been so long ago she’d forgotten what such luxuries felt like. Having worn the rough pajama-like uniforms handed out at the hospital for the past eight years, wearing regular clothes was still a novelty for her.
“I’ll leave you to your shower. If you need anything, my bedroom is on the second floor, last door on the right.”
She nodded. “Draco, I…”
He moved closer. “You don’t have to say anything, Lacey.”
“Yes, I do. It’s
been a very long time since someone was kind to me. Thank you for everything. I’ll try not to overstay my welcome.” Especially now that she knew they’d found her. She wasn’t about to bring trouble to his door. He didn’t deserve that.
“I somehow don’t think that’s possible.”
“Is it just you in this house? I mean, I just… I wasn’t sure if I would run into anyone else. I didn’t want to be surprised by a wife or girlfriend in the morning.”
He smiled. “No, there’s no wife or girlfriend. I’ve never been tempted to settle down.”
“Then why the huge house? I’d think it would get lonely.”
“I like my space.”
She cast her eyes down. “And I’m encroaching on your privacy.”
He gently tipped her chin up. “Never think that. You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want you here. Okay?”
Lacey nodded.
His thumb stroked her jaw and she fought the urge to lean into that touch. How long had it been since someone had touched her in a kind way? If she wasn’t careful, she’d let herself get too attached to this man. He was so kind and caring, a real life hero. What woman hadn’t dreamt of finding her knight in shining armor? In Lacey’s case, it was impractical.
“Good night, Lacey.”
“Good night.”
She watched Draco walk away and heard the hallway door close. Getting a clean pair of panties out of her bag, she went into the bathroom and started the shower. She hoped she’d feel better afterward, less dirty, but she knew the dirt she needed to remove wasn’t the kind you could wash down the drain. It was more of an emotional and mental scarring than anything else, something she would have to live with the rest of her life. But she’d escaped! She had to remember that, remember that he hadn’t been able to defile her, that she’d gotten away in time.
Romance in Moonspell Page 18