Freeing Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series)

by Ashley, Sarah Elizabeth

  Once Thomas has given his account, the police officers seek me out again. I’ve relocated myself to James’s office. Katie has arrived and her and Anna have gone off for the day, or what’s left of it. James and I are chatting about what’s happened over a cup of tea, and I’m very slowly pulling myself back together. If there’s one good thing that I’ve learned from my years with Lewis, it’s that I can get back up again, carry on, hide the bruises and act like nothing has happened – outwardly, anyway! There’s a knock at James’s door and he calls for whoever is knocking to come in.

  Both police officers walk in. The man does the talking. “We’re off now, but wanted to say thank you for your co-operation, we’ll be in touch.”

  “Will he be charged?” I ask.

  “Most definitely. What happens after that is up to the courts, but he’ll certainly spend most of the day with us,” he says.

  “What will he be charged with?” If I had my way he’d be charged with some heinous crime and punished accordingly, but that’s just wishful thinking!

  “Initially Common Assault or maybe ABH, but it’s not up to us. The guys at the station will make the decision over that, but certainly charges will be brought against him.” The male officer smiles.

  “Can I stop him contacting me or coming anywhere near me?” I ask, because I am genuinely scared and I don’t mind admitting it to anyone, anyone at all. I’ve seen Lewis in a rage, in a temper, many times – but never anything as wild as today. When he was held down and then led away, I’ve never seen him like that, like a madman.

  “You could consider a restraining order, but let’s see what happens at the station first,” the officer with the kindly face says.

  James looks at me and then at the police officers. “Have you told the officers about your other injuries, Alex?”

  “Other injuries?” the female officer says sharply. “You mean it’s not just your face?”

  “No, no more today, he just hit me today, although I suspect I’ll have bruises where he gripped my arm.” I pull my sleeve up. “Yes, just starting, look.” I show the officers the top of my arm and the finger-shaped bruises are clear.

  “And the rest, Alex,” James pressures.

  I look at him. I’m not happy that he’s raised this. “No,” I say flatly.

  The female officer walks over to me. She bends down in front of me, the hard face now softened ever so slightly.

  “If you’ve other injuries it would make our case stronger. Mrs Drake, please show me. I’ll ask these to leave.” She nods towards her colleague and James.

  I look at James and mouth “Why?”

  “Because you have to, Alex.”

  “They’re very old, too old to do anything about now,” I say, trying to get away without showing my back to this woman.

  “Yes, maybe they are, but if we can let the courts know, include them in our notes, say that this isn’t a one-off incident… Well, it all goes to helping your case,” she says calmly. She looks around to James and her colleague. “Boys, can you leave us?”

  James and her buddy leave the room. They close the door carefully and I hear the latch click shut.

  “Are you sure you want to see this?” I ask.

  “Come on, please show me.” She places her hand on my arm. “Come on,” she says again reassuringly, quietly.

  “I really don’t want to do this.” I look at the officer, my fingers on the zip pull of my dress, I really don’t. Inside I feel so pressurized into doing this, almost as if I have no control over what’s happening, like I’ve been railroaded into showing this bloody woman. Sighing deeply I work the zip down and look at the officer, “Just for the record, I don’t want to show you this, okay?” I’m firm, and so cross with James for bringing the subject up.

  The officer nods in acknowledgement. “Mrs Drake, just show me quickly, you say yourself their too old to do much about, legally, but at the very least I can include them in my report.” I look at her as I slide out my shoulder and pull the short sleeve down, exposing the mark left by the iron. There’s silence, the police officer doesn’t say a word. I pull the dress down further and pull my bra strap away. I turn so that she can see the small brand that clearly says “LD”.

  “Have you seen enough?” I ask bitterly. I didn’t want to show anyone, but James has forced me to do this and I’m far from happy about it. I’m fuming, upset and to be truthful I feel as though my privacy has been violated.

  “Thank you,” she says quietly. “You’re right, if they were very new we’d ask you for photographs, you know, to support the case, but as you say, they’re old. We’ll put it in our report anyway,” she tells me.

  I pull my dress up and rearrange myself with my back to her.

  As I turn around, the young woman smiles at me. She places a hand on the top of my arm again and rubs gently. “We’ll be in touch, Mrs Drake… Now, you look after yourself,” she says with a patronising tone, exactly the reason I didn’t want anyone to see the scars. I don’t want sympathy, I do want to get on with my life. She lets herself out and as she does, James comes barging past her and into his office. He waits until she’s gone and then he grabs me and pulls me into the tightest hug, and kisses the top of my head.

  “Alex, if I’d known the bastard was around I would never have left you.” He pulls me close. “It’s my fault, I should never, ever have left you here on your own – you said you weren’t happy being on your own… Shit, I should have taken the smack, not you!”

  I push him away. “You made me show my back to that woman. That woman thinks… Well, I don’t know what she thinks!” I take a deep breath and compose myself. “James, it’s private. You only know because… because I crumbled!” My words spew out. “It’s my secret, James, mine. It wasn’t yours to share with anyone, especially that woman!” I hiss. I’m furious absolutely furious with him for breaking the trust that I placed with him.

  He just stands there, raking his fingers through his curls. “It’s my fault, I should never have left you,” he repeats. He brings his hand down and makes a fist. “My fault. I’ll never, ever forgive myself. You got hurt because I wasn’t here!” he’s shouting. “My fault, all mine!” He smashes his hand on his desk with such force that the office paraphernalia jumps around, the pen pot crashing to the floor.

  “For heaven’s sake, James… It’s NOT your fault!” I take a step back. Have I swapped one monster for another, albeit a beautiful monster?

  “But if I’d have been here it wouldn’t have happened, you’d have been by my side, not sat downstairs on your own, and no-one came to help until it was too late! What’s wrong with all those fucking people downstairs, why did nobody help you until it was too late? Where was Roger, Thomas?” He’s angry, very angry.

  “I’m okay.” I try to calm him. I walk towards him, my hand outstretched. “I’m okay.” I cup his face, his beautiful face with just the trace of a day-old beard. He puts his hand around my waist and pulls me towards him, holding on tightly, and looks into my eyes with that look again, looking into me. “I’m never leaving you again, not until we know that bastard is behind bars,” he spits.

  “What if that never happens? Can you honestly see him going to prison for this? He’s never been in trouble with the police before, although I don’t know why.”

  “Well then, I guess I’ll never, ever leave you alone.” He’s holding me closer and whispers, “I’ll never let him hurt you again, I promise!”

  He holds me so close. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so protected, apart from when I was very young by my parents. He cocoons me, I feel safe in his protection, but why me? Why me, why has he chosen me, the older lady, when I’m sure he could have the pick of the crop?

  “I want to go out,” I insist. “I don’t want to stay here, not today… Please take me out. Can we do what we planned, go and look at some cars, maybe have some lunch?”

  He puts his hands on my shoulders and pushes me away ever so slightly. “We can do whatever you want, bu
t I don’t think you should be walking around, not after you’ve been assaulted like that.”

  I ignore the last part. “Good,” I sigh. “I’ll freshen up, put some makeup on this—” I point to my face, “—then you can take me to look at some cars.”

  He huffs in response as I turn to walk out of his office and he follows. “You’re coming too?” I ask.

  “I am. I’m not leaving you, remember?” It’s that grin again.

  “I didn’t think you meant literally.” I frown at him. Surely he’s not going to stick to my side all of the time?

  “Well, I’m not letting you out of my sight today, that’s for sure,” he mutters.

  “Oh! Well you can’t stay by my side forever James, I do have my own life you know!” I look at him, this stunning man so desperate to keep me safe but at what cost to me, my freedom yet again. “James, I want move on, I need to move on and I like having you by my side, I really, really do as a very good friend. But I don’t want to be swamped, or pressured”

  He looks at me with those bloody gorgeous eyes of his, “I just want to protect you Alex, that’s all.” He says it as if I’ve hurt his feelings, well he’s going to have to learn to live with it, because I’m not going back to a relationship where I have no say of what goes on.

  We use the staff staircase and walk the single flight up to the room that I’ve been using. “I think I’d like to go home this evening, James. Anna and Katie will be okay here by themselves, won’t they?”

  “They’ll be fine,” he reassures me. “I’ll make sure that reception know that they’re not to be charged for anything and I’ll ask Sam to let tonight’s Concierge know that they’re here, they can keep an eye out for them.”

  “Thank you. They’re going to Henry’s so they should be okay.” I use the bathroom mirror to make up my face, applying a good thick layer of makeup pinched from Anna’s room to cover the bruise as best I can. I fix it with an extra layer of translucent powder, that’ll do.

  We leave the hotel and on the way to the car I drop by at reception, leaving an envelope for Anna and Katie. James has a word with Sam before walking back to me. He takes my arm and leads me to the car which he left in the car park. Once we’re in and settled, we head off and I send Anna a quick text:

  Won’t be at hotel 2night, going home. Ask for Clive at Henry’s, covered VIP entrance. £500 at reception for u and Katie, 2 nights on me. Have a good time. Watch ur drinks. Hve a meal b4 u go out. Love you. Mum xx.

  She texts back very quickly:

  Mum, u r a star. Hope ur ok. Love Anna XX

  Chapter 10

  I really love this car, it breaks my heart not to drive it any longer but I just truly hate driving around London, and honestly I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. Well, maybe one day. I’m just so used to pootling around country lanes at a snail’s pace.

  “Mercedes – I want to go to Mercedes!” I say.

  James looks at me. “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “Come on then, Bossman, get a jog on!” I laugh.

  He smiles, I can hear him as he curses me under his breath. “Bossman,” he says. “She could have called me many things… but Bossman!”

  I giggle. “It suits you. Anyway, I could have called you hot pants, you’ve a great arse. Really hot!”

  He just raises an eyebrow at me and curls his beautiful mouth into a smile, the killer smile that makes me melt every time.

  We slip through the London streets with ease. James knows his way around and cuts through the traffic, the side-roads that are used as rat-runs by commuters and locals alike. My day so far has been crap, but with this beautiful man by my side it pales into insignificance, although my bloody face stings like mad.

  “You are okay, aren’t you?” I place my hand on his knee and squeeze. He smiles.

  “I’m fine, just a full-on day, Alex. Not what my normal Saturdays are like. Not so… so relaxed!” He grips the steering wheel with both hands and visible relaxes. Sitting back into the plush leather of “his” new car, he focuses on the road ahead.

  “I love this car,” he says. “She’s so responsive – a bit like her owner.” He grins.

  “It’s your car, James, you can give her what she needs, what she wants.” I smirk.

  “Oh, yes I think I can… give her what she wants – most definitely needs!”

  We both know that what we’re saying is innuendo, and yes, it appears that he can give me what I want and what I need – more, in fact, than I ever expected from any kind of relationship with anyone. It’s such a pity that my last few days have been blighted by that bloody bastard.

  James turns and looks at me, I see him do it out of the corner of my eye.

  “Keep your eyes on the road!” I say firmly.

  “You’re beautiful, Alex.”

  I look at him again and down at my lap. “James. Why don’t you move in with me, just until you find a place?” I ask him. I like having him around.

  “I don’t know, maybe I could, just until I find somewhere.” He pauses. “Okay then, as long as Anna doesn’t mind?” he agrees.

  “She won’t, and anyway, she moves out soon. The moment she gets her results and decides where she’s going to I’ll be sorting an apartment out for her,” I tell him.

  He takes his eyes off the road, turning to me for a moment. “Okay, as long as she doesn’t object, though – and it’s on the understanding that this is until I find somewhere.”

  “Agreed!” I say firmly, although at this precise moment in time I have no intention of letting him go anywhere!

  He continues to weave his way through the streets until we pull up at a Mercedes dealership. He slips into a customer parking space and turns the engine off. Leaning over, he places a gentle kiss on my cheek, “Come on, blossom, let’s get you another car.” He walks around to my side and helps me out, holding my hand as we walk across the forecourt.

  “Blossom! That’s what you call a bloody cow!” I quip.

  “The Bossman deserves a blossom!” he counters.

  I huff. At least my name for him isn’t farmyard related. Blossom!

  “I think I might get a house keeper as well,” I announce.

  “Really.” He puts his arm around my waist. “And what will this house keeper do?”

  I shrug. “Oh, you know, a bit of cooking, a bit of cleaning and a bit of ironing.”

  “So you can do even less than you do now.” He smirks at me.

  “So?” I snap, slapping his arm as we stroll across the forecourt.

  “No reason, I just thought you liked to be busy, that’s all,” he says as we continue our walk.

  “You keep me busy!” I laugh.

  “No, Alex, you keep me very busy!” He winks.

  He stops and turns me towards him. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he looks directly at me, giving me that look, into my soul. “And I really love that you keep me busy.” His voice is husky.

  “This is real, isn’t it?” I ask as we stand there, looking at each other.

  “It is.” He sighs. “You feel it too?” he says, so quietly, his tone gentle.

  “I do.” I flush, I feel myself getting redder and hotter as he stands there just looking at me. I look at the floor, my feet, anywhere to avoid the gaze. “Come on,” I say eventually. “Let’s buy a car!”

  There are several cars to look at but all with reasonably long lead times. I need one now, well, by next week really. We discuss availability with the salesman. Because delivery time is what this all hinges on, it’s pointless me choosing a car in a colour I like only to find that the colour I choose isn’t available for the next six months.

  By five I’ve been relieved of just a little over £70,000 and have purchased a silver Mercedes S Class, one of their demonstrator vehicles. They didn’t want to sell it but after a lengthy discussion with the dealer principal it was agreed, and I have secured my new mode of transport.

  We drive back to my home in relative quiet.

  I open my shiny
front door, pick up my mail and heading straight through to the kitchen and the kettle, I throw two tea bags into mugs and set about making drinks for us both.

  “Shall we send out for a takeaway?” I’m aware that lunch came and went without anything being eaten.

  “Sure, Chinese or Indian?” he says, fiddling with his mobile. “Which room shall I use, now I’ve moved in?” There’s a devilish grin on his face as he asks.

  “Oh, I think you know which room you can move into!” I purr. “Where are all your clothes?” I know he’s got the small holdall, but surely there are more.

  “I’ve only the one bag, my suit’s hanging in the back of my Vauxhall,” he says.

  I turn towards him. “We need to go shopping, James. Tomorrow?”

  “No, I’m fine, I’ve got all I need. I’m hungry,” he mutters.

  “I’ll order, any preference?” I have two menus which I flash his way.

  “Indian, make sure there’s plenty. I’m a growing boy, blossom.” He winks.

  “You are!” I look at the front of his trousers.

  I walk barefoot back to the kitchen and make the calls, ordering a selection of things. I open the fridge to get milk for the tea but decide on wine instead. I think I need it. As I’m pouring two large glasses James appears from behind me. He puts his arms around my waist and hugs me closely. “Thank you so much for letting me use the Audi.” I turn around so that I’m facing him. I place my hands on his chest and trail gently towards his manhood.

  “You are a growing boy,” I whisper as I feel his cock harden. He stops and moves my arms to his waist, then he grabs me and pulls me into the most intense kiss. His mouth slams against mine, I feel like my legs have turned to jelly as the longing courses through my very core, and my sex tingles in anticipation. Then he pulls back and picks up a glass of wine. He drinks deeply. “Not bad stuff this, for a supermarket.”