Finding Strength: A Club Dark Novel

by Reagan Hollow

  With my heart in my throat, I take one look at the rage in Aaron’s eyes, and I’m out the bathroom door. No sooner than I make it past the doorway, I feel his hand take a firm hold of my hair, pulling with enough force that my body flies back and collides solidly into his.

  I feel the vibrations resonate throughout my entire body as I’m thrown to the hard floor, the weight of his body pressed tightly on top of me. I’m lucky my injured arm didn’t get caught under my body, but the gun, however, did.

  He wraps his hand tighter around my hair, pulling my head back at a very uncomfortable angle; lifting my chest up off the floor. My body fights to get away. I’m squirming in his hold, which only makes him tighten his grip.

  My scalp starts to burn as little by little, the strands start to break away, but still, I fight.

  “Get the fuck off me.” I grit out.

  I feel his hot breath on the back of my neck just before he whispers in my ear. “What did you think you would accomplish here, Lace? You aren’t capable of shooting me.” His voice is condescending.

  “Then why don’t you get off me, mother fucker, I’ll show you what I’m capable of!”

  I feel his laugh more than I hear it, as the rumble travels down my spine. He knows me though; I’ve never been a violent person. I’ve detested guns since watching my parents murdered by one.

  Yet, he’s underestimated me here, as well. I’ve already made up my mind that I’d rather die than stay another minute as his captive.

  Gun still in hand, now thankfully free, since I’m half lifted off the floor, I start feeling around for the safety. I’m not unfamiliar around guns, I just don’t like them. I decided a long time ago that I needed to learn how to handle a gun, if I wanted to ease some of the fear I had for them. Finding the safety is easy for me, even though I didn’t get a good look prior to being attacked.

  What I’m worried about now, is him catching me. To flip the safety off, I have to release my hold on the gun and hope he doesn’t see or hear me.

  “You’re really cute when you try to act all tough,” he coos into my ear. “But we both know you aren’t woman enough. You’re still that scared little girl that watched mommy and daddy get murdered.” His laugh is now menacing as his hold on my hair grows tighter. I don’t even feel the pain anymore as anger takes over my body. I feel him tense just before he begins to back off me, bringing my head with him. I’m forced to stand when he does and I use it to my advantage.

  Safety off and gun back in my hand, I waste no time catching him off guard as I quickly spin in his grip. I feel the hairs ripped from my head, but I don’t even register the pain with the adrenaline pumping in my system.

  I don’t think. I’m all action; with my finger on the trigger, I shoot. Everything slows down as he realizes what I’m about to do. I hear the loud crack as the chamber releases and his eyes grow wide.

  Suddenly, I’m backed up against the side of the refrigerator. As my back collides with the hard surface, a piercing pain resonates down my side. My breath becomes labored as the pain increases. He snatches my hand with the gun in it, squeezing my wrist to the point that I’m screaming and the gun drops to the floor. I can’t tell if the bullet hit him. All I can see is the sick smile painted across his face. A burning sensation takes over my lower belly as I feel something slowly being pulled from within. Moments later, he brings the pocket knife into view, blood dripping from the tip and onto the floor.

  “You fuckin bitch, you’ll regret that.” His smile is gone, a sneer left in its place. There’s a look of pure evil in his eyes, as he wraps his hand back in my hair and smashes my head into the nearby wall with such speed and force, I don’t even have time to prepare.

  My vision starts to turn black and I just know that I’m on the verge of unconsciousness. From the look in his eyes, he’s not just looking to scare me anymore. He’s going to kill me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

  Just as the blackness takes over, I hear a loud crash and a lot of different voices screaming all at once.

  No longer caring, I welcome the dark threatening to consume me, promising that I no longer have to fight.

  My feet are moving before my brain even gives the signal, going straight for the last door in the building. In no time, I’m standing just to the right of the door, hunched over with my hands on my knees, willing my breaths to come easier and my heart rate to slow down.

  There’s an eerie silence coming from the room. We know they’re in there from the surveillance Kevin has been able to do. My gut tells me the gunshot came from here as well.

  Just as Alex and the rest of the team make it to me, I hear her scream. The sound resonating down to my soul, propelling me into action. With as much strength as I can put into it, I kick the door in, wasting no time making my way inside.

  What I walk in on, has my muscles locking in place and my blood boiling to extreme temperatures.

  What makes me sick, his ass is bare and he’s got his hand wrapped in Lacey’s hair. She’s gone limp in his hold and the only reason I haven’t peppered his body with holes, is because he’s now using her as a human shield.

  There’s blood surrounding them, a lot of it. It’s hard to tell who it’s coming from, though there’s a nice size gash in the tattered shirt she’s wearing and there’s fresh blood all over it.

  “I’m going to fuckin’ kill you.” My gun is steadily pointing at his head. The fucker laughs, he actually fucking laughs. He’s truly gone psychotic and I need to get Lacey away from him before he kills her, if he hasn’t already.

  I stop those thoughts right in their tracks. I refuse to believe she’s dead.

  I feel my men moving around me, attempting to create a circle around him. Alex is the closest, closing in on the doorway of what I’ll assume is the bathroom. This place isn’t very big, but the dining area is a decent enough size that there are now ten of us, including Lacey and this sad excuse for a man, packed into the room.

  “Come any closer, and I’ll slit her throat.” You can hear the panic is his words. I’ve been so focused on assessing her battered body, that I didn’t even notice the knife held to her neck. The blade is long and wide, gleaming in the overhead light.

  “How do you see this playing out?” I ask, showing no emotions in my tone.

  “If you want to see your little girlfriend,” he bites out with so much venom, I’m sure he’d kill me with his words if he thought he could, “breathing again, then I suggest you and your men leave now.” My eyes shift to Alex, who’s inched just a little to the right, subtle to someone who’s not paying attention. We have a moment, where our eyes lock, and I hope he can read everything I’m trying to convey to him.

  My attention switches back to Aaron. “How do I know she’s still alive?”

  “I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it, or I could just squash any doubts right now.” With that, his arm begins to move and a small red bead starts to trail down her neck.

  “Stop, you’ve made your fuckin’ point.” My hand tightens on the gun, itching to pull the trigger and put this asshole out of his misery.

  “Alex,” I call, not taking my eyes from Aaron. “Pull your men back.”

  He gives the orders, not moving from his spot either. Once nearly half the men have backed out of the room, I take a giant step to my left, satisfied when Aaron's moves mirror my own.

  That’s when it happens and my whole life flashes before my eyes. So thankful, yet again, for the military training Alex came with, as he fires his gun into Aaron’s side, effectively causing his hold on Lacey to drop. Not able to make it to her in time, I watch helplessly as she folds to the floor.

  Knowing Alex can now take care of Aaron, I race over to her, cradling her head into my lap. Tears start leaking from my eyes as I frantically search for a pulse. Finding one, although faint, I signal for Kevin to come over.

  “Dude, she’s lost a lot of blood,” Kevin says no sooner than he gets within a few feet from us. “She needs a ho
spital, now.”

  “Already on it.” I hear one of the other guys yell from the doorway.

  I glance up at Kevin. “Can you do anything?” Kevin retired when Alex did. He was a military medic once upon a time.

  He squats down on the floor and lifts her already short shirt, revealing the fact that she’s bare underneath. I swallow my anger, knowing that it’s only Kevin looking her over. He abruptly stands, walking out of the room, only to return with a towel.

  “Only thing we can do right now, is apply pressure and try to slow the bleeding. At very least she’s going to need stitches. X-rays will be needed to determine if there’s any internal damage.” He places the towel on her stomach and begins adding pressure.

  “Mind taking my place?” I ask. “I have some unfinished business to take care of.” He motions one of the other guys over to take over holding the towel and I gently lift her head for him to slide into my place. It takes every ounce of self-control to leave her there.

  Straightening out my spine, I make my way over to Alex, who now has Aaron curled up on the floor like the little bitch he is, his gun trained right at his head.

  “I got it from here,” I say to Alex. “Make sure an ambulance is on the way.” I don’t even look at him, knowing that he’ll do whatever needs to be done. No, my focus is on the worthless piece of shit bleeding out on the floor.

  My boot connects with his exposed side and a thrill of satisfaction rolls through me as I hear the crunch of a few ribs cracking.

  Squatting down so I’m face to face with him, my hand buries into the hair at his forehead. Pulling back, I raise his head to meet my stare.

  My fist crashes into his nose and immediately, the blood comes rushing out.

  “Nothing to say now, Aaron?” I taunt, “How did you really think this was going to end?”

  “Fuck you.” He spits blood at my feet. Bad move. Over and over, I begin smashing his head into the floor, the sickening crunch of his skull caving in is the only thing filling my ears.

  Releasing my hold on his head, my fists rain down, hitting anything they can reach. No thoughts coursing through me, only action as the carnage of Aaron’s face blurs my vision.

  All rationality has left me, feeling as if I’m on auto-pilot with only one thought on my mind, make him suffer.

  Suddenly, I feel myself airborne and thrown up against the wall. Looking into the eyes of Alex, my temper flares. “What the fuck are you doing?” My fist connects with his jaw, causing him to stagger back. He recovers quickly, slamming himself back into me.

  “I will let that slide, because you are my boss and clearly not in your right mind. But that’s the only free shot you’ll get. I need you to calm the fuck down and get ahold of yourself.” His words don’t truly register with me until I hear one of his men call out, “There’s no pulse, he’s dead.”

  Breathing a huge sigh of relief, I look Alex in the eye, hoping to convey that I’m okay. My sights fall on Lacey’s still unconscious form on the floor and I push him off me, rushing back over to her and taking my place back under her head.

  “Where’s that fuckin’ ambulance?” I shout at no one. I notice her breaths are coming faster and more shallow. She needs medical attention now, dammit.

  “We can hear the sirens, they’re on the way.” Not sure who was talking, I run my hands through her sweat soaked hair.

  “Hang on Lacey, you’re going to make it,” I say to her, not knowing whether she can hear me or not. “You have to make it.” I finish, more to myself. I don’t think I can picture a life without her in it. Her light has shone against my darkness, brightening my world when it’s known nothing but shadows for so long. I refuse to let her flame burn out.

  Soon, the room is once again crowded as it’s filled with men in uniform. I stand aside, helpless as two large men lift Lacey off the floor and gently place her onto a stretcher. Moments later they’re out the door and I’m face to face with two of Oregon’s finest.

  “I’ll answer any questions you have, once I’m at the hospital with my girl.” I say to them and shoulder my way past, leaving them no room for argument.

  My mind is foggy as I open my eyes to a room painted all white. The smell is sterile. Where am I? The last thing I remember was welcoming the darkness taking over me. I’d take that any day, over the piercing agony taking hold of my body right now.

  I listen as a frantic beeping grows faster in my ears.

  “Hey, you’re okay. Calm down.” That voice!

  Tears prick my eyes as Cory walks into my line of sight. I never thought I would see him again, hear his beautiful voice again. Though he looks like shit right now, he is still the most spectacular being I have ever seen. His hair has started growing out, giving him a slight disheveled look. There’s stubble on his face, as if he hasn’t shaved in a while. He looks scruffy and unkempt and nothing compared to his usual, well put together, self. It’s kind of sexy.

  My voice has left me as I choke on the salty tears.

  “Hang on baby, I’ll get a nurse.” He hits a button on the bed I’m lying in, making me realize I’m in the hospital.

  “Can I help you?” I hear a small voice come in above my head.

  “She’s awake.” Is all Cory says.

  That’s when it all comes crashing back to me.

  “Aaron–” My eyes grow wide with panic.

  “Is dead.” He cuts me off.

  Before I can formulate a response, there’s a soft knock on the door before it’s opened to reveal a small, beautiful African American woman in a white lab coat. No way she’s a doctor, she looks so young. Yet, she must be. She walks in with such an air of authority, mistaking her for anything else would be a crime.

  Her hair is down in tight ringlets, trailing her shoulders. Her face is soft roundness, with just a hint of pink sitting high on her cheekbones. She only stands about five feet tall, yet the way she holds her shoulders high, you’d think she’s a foot taller. She’s holding a clipboard in her hand; a stethoscope around her neck and a gentle smile on her face.

  “Miss. Carter, I’m Dr. Samuels, how are you feeling?” Like I’ve been hit by a train, but I don’t say this. Instead, I just look at her.

  “Mr. Lewis, could you give us a few minutes, please.” Panic takes over me at the thought of him leaving me. What if Aaron comes back to finish what he started? Irrational as it may seem, the thoughts are still there.

  “I’d rather stay right here.” He gives me a look, saying he knows what I’m thinking and won’t leave my side.

  “Okay then, may I speak freely?” This she directs the question right at me. I give her a small nod, not at all sure I want to hear what she’s got to say.

  She clears her throat, that small gesture alone, tells me I’m not going to like what she is going to say.

  “Miss Carter, you spent about six hours in surgery when you first arrived. You suffered massive blood loss from a laceration to your lower abdomen. You were very lucky that no major organs were punctured, but we did have to repair layers of muscle and tissue damage as well as a nick to your aorta.” She glances over at Cory, before continuing with her diagnoses.

  “I had my team run a rape kit on you shortly after surgery. We weren’t sure how long you were going to be out, and the police said it was needed for their investigation. While some of the results have not made it back yet, we did find signs of forced entry and had to apply a few sutures. Other findings show that you have three broken fingers, a shattered wrist, and a fractured rib. We’ve set your fingers and placed you in a cast. However, your rib is going to have to heal on its own. You’re going to be on strict bed rest for a bit, but you should make a full recovery. Your recovery will be based on your activity, as well as your body’s ability to repair itself. You’re still young, I expect you’ll do just fine. Be sure you incorporate the appropriate amount of protein in your diet.”

  In the back of mind, I can hear everything she is saying, but my eyes are more focused on Cory. The more the ni
ce little doctor talks, the more the fire in his eyes heat.

  “How’s your pain right now?” The good doctor questions as she places her stethoscope against my chest. She directs me to take a few deep breaths before I answer.

  “It’s okay,” I manage as a wave of fatigue crashes over me.

  She runs her hands in various places, squeezing my arms, poking my belly; though she’s careful not to touch my wound. She does lift my gown though to get a better look. My cheeks flame red to have her study me in such an intimate place as well as the fact that I can still feel Cory’s eyes burning a hole through my flesh.

  “The sutures placed here,” she gestures towards my inner thigh, “should dissolve on their own, as well as the ones on your abdomen. You’ve been placed on a morphine pump and there’s antibiotics flowing through your IV. The antibiotics are just a precaution for any infections that may arise. You’ve got a button here,” she places a small circular device into my hand, “if you find you are in too much pain, you can press this little button. My team will be back in to check on you in the morning. We can discuss your release then. Do you need anything?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Very well.” She gives me another look before adding, “Please get some rest Miss Carter. I know you’ve been through a lot. This hospital has many resources, if you find you need someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to ask.” She gives me a warm smile before heading to the door.

  It closes with a gentle click, leaving Cory and I alone once again. As much as I want to soak it all up, I feel my eyelids growing heavy. They flutter closed before I snap them back open, not wanting to miss another second with him. I have so much to say, so many unanswered questions.

  I feel a gentle hand rub across my head, “Rest, Lacey,” he commands softly. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  Knowing I have no other choice, I allow the darkness to consume me once more.

  Sitting here watching her sleep, I can finally put my mind at ease. At least as much as I can allow myself. All that keeps running through my head is the constant worry over the first few hours of being in this God forsaken hospital.