“Babe, I gotta go talk to Chris for a minute. Will you be ok with Izzie? I really won’t be long I promise.” Kissing her softly he left her with his sister as he walked out of the room and headed down to the makeshift bar in search of his manager. He wanted to make sure the meeting he had requested had been organised. He heard Ben fall in step beside him, “Is this what I think it is? You’re gunna tell him you want out aren’t you?”
“Ben, the contracts are up for renewal, I just wanna make sure that I work in a lot of down time for me. The endless fucking touring is killing me, anyway since when did Jez turn in to a fucking tosser? You should have heard him with Grace earlier; I had to really rein it in.” They stood outside the office that housed the makeshift bar, both leaning on either side of the hallway mirroring each other’s stance. One foot firmly rooted to the floor, the other leg bent at the knee and foot rested against the wall. Their hands firmly tucked into their jean pockets.
“You only just noticed? He’s always been a prick. You’re just usually zoned out to it, no offence but your heads not been in the game recently. He’s probably done a line or two as well as drunk his own body weight in booze.” Ben rubbed his hand along the back of his neck, “look, just take it easy on Chris. He can negotiate a good deal if we keep him on side.” Alex smirked at him, suddenly not understanding what this hold was that their manager seemed to have over the guys. He knew Izzie had never liked him, she could barely mention his name without shuddering. He was sure the feeling was mutual but that wouldn’t be a problem for much longer. Izzie was no longer his PA after tonight. Tomorrow she was his sister again.
“Right.” Holding his hand aloft, Alex high fived Ben before tapping on the door and disappearing inside to speak to the arrogant son of bitch.
Ben made his way back down to the room where he had left Izzie with Grace. Lifting a glass from the tray of a passing waiter with one hand, as he collected something that resembled a miniature burger topped with green leafy fronds with the other. Scanning the room his eyes searched for Izzie, the amount of bodies had dwindled but he still couldn’t see her. Deciding that the pair must have stepped outside he made his way towards one of the open doorways. His eyes searched the sea of people swarming around the grounds, he still couldn’t see her. Strolling across the lawn he paused outside the hired in toilet bays – so over the top, why they couldn’t piss in the house toilets he didn’t know – hovering for a few minutes waiting to see if the girls emerged from there. That proved fruitless. Scanning the area again he realised he hadn’t seen Jez or Max either. His pulse instantly spiked. He knew the pair of them together was bad news but even more so when they’d downed who knows what. His need to find the girls became more desperate. Even both the girls together were no match for the two drunken men.
Alex jogged across the lawn, tense from his brief encounter with Chris. He had spotted Ben wondering around outside, presuming his girlfriend would be in the same vicinity. “Hey, where’s Grace? I can’t see her inside.” Alex ran his eyes over Ben’s face, the worry immediately apparent. If he was worried something must be really wrong. The guy was so laid back he was virtually horizontal.
“I can’t find them, but more importantly I can’t find Jez or Max either. Al we need to find them. Now.” The normally serene man now appeared to be stressed out; the beads of sweat running down Ben’s temples gave him away. Alex’s fists clenched at his sides, his jaw working from side to side. He now scanned the grounds looking for his sister or Grace. “They’re not out here man. Believe me I’ve looked. C’mon.” Ben grasped Alex’s shoulders, turning him and almost shoving him into action. Pushing him towards the open doorway and back inside.
The distraught pair didn’t communicate, both still scanning the room as they walked through main room before crossing the hallway to the bar area. Ducking his head inside, Alex ran his gaze over the room which was almost empty. It was way past midnight, the majority of the guests had started to drift off leaving mainly the band and a few record company or management people floating around. The familiar feeling of fear settled over him now, his arms were beginning to tingle. He could hear the swishing in his ears growing louder. Grace would know how uptight he would be if she hadn’t stayed where he left her. She wouldn’t have wondered too far, something was seriously wrong. Lifting his fist he punched the door frame as he exited the bar.
Standing in the hallway Ben ran his hands through his hair in frustration. It was then that Alex heard his sister’s voice. Loud and angry.
“Max, get out of my fucking way right now!” Her voice was shaky almost hysterical. Not stopping to make sure Alex was with him, Ben shot off at a startling pace in the direction of her voice, as he neared the end of the hallway he heard Max laughing. Rounding the corner at the end her voice was louder now, but more worryingly Ben heard someone slapping at skin. He prayed to God that it was Izzie hitting Max and not the other way around or he may just do time for this. Taking the stairs two at a time, both of them desperate to get to her now. As they neared the top Izzie came into view. She was pushing at Max who appeared to be standing guard outside a door. “Fucking move you bastard!” She yelled as she pummelled his chest with her fists. The man remained sturdy, his legs spread keeping his balance as the poor girl tried in vain to move him. Reaching out he grabbed Izzie in a bear hug, gripping her arms to her sides immobilising her.
“Get your fucking hands off of her right now!” Ben roared as he ran full pelt towards them. Max dropped his arms instantly, holding them aloft in submission. Izzie, seizing the moment, stepped to the side just out of Max’s reach.
“Whoa, calm down. I’m just giving Jez some privacy. Nothing to worry about.” Max backed off, his eyes growing wide. Ben landed one almighty punch roughly on the stunned man’s jaw causing his head to snap sharply to the right.
“Ben, its Grace. He’s got Grace. I couldn’t stop him. Max wouldn’t let me past.” Izzie sobbed the words out. The normally relaxed man growled in Max’s direction before pulling Izzie into his arms, holding her tightly.
Alex’s vision blurred, fury ran through his veins. Scanning Izzie quickly, making sure she was safe in Ben’s arms, he turned his attention to the door in front of him. Trying the door knob he wasn’t surprised to find it locked. Taking a step backwards he steadied himself before lifting his foot and ramming it into the door. It took two hefty blows before the door flew open. The sight that greeted Alex almost caused him to vomit from the anger surging through him now. Hearing the roar that escaped his mouth sent Ben cold.
“Wait here. Do. Not. Move.” Ben warned Izzie before he entered the room behind Alex just in time to take in exactly what was happening. He watched as Alex grabbed Jez yanking him away from Grace with such force he that he flew backwards across the room.
“Get her and Iz out of here. NOW!” Alex screamed; his focus now completely on the man that lay dazed on the floor with his jeans now around his knees. Gripping the shirt of his so called friend he dragged him upright prior to raising his fist and slamming it squarely into the face that would no longer taunt him.
Grace stood cowering in the corner like a naughty child. Her shirt hanging off of her shoulders revealing the lacy bra she had bought that morning. Bruises were beginning to bloom on her wrists where Jez had obviously gripped her tightly. Her breath came in heaving sobs, exhaustion from fighting against the huge man finally hitting her. Turning her into his arms, he saw the black streaks running down her face as the silent sobs wracked her body. The realisation that the ordeal was over enveloped her. Ben’s heart was filled with rage and sadness at the same time as he watched this delicate young girl tremble, her eyes wide in shock as though she had not registered what had actually happened.
Ben moved in front of her, blocking her view of Alex and Jez. Lifting his hand he gently repositioned her shirt back over her shoulder before steering her from the room. All the time putting his body between the terrified girl and the fight. As they emerged from the room he handed her over
to Izzie. Removing his jacket he wrapped it around Grace as she continued to shake violently.
“There’s a car outside Iz, take Grace to Alex’s place. Not his mums. I’ll come get you from there. Go.” He watched briefly as the girls, huddled together, walked down the stairs. Taking a deep breath he re-entered the room. Although quite who he was going in to protect was unclear as he watched his friend pound his fists into Jez as he cried monstrous tears.
Chapter 20
Perched on the edge of the colossal sofa, Grace’s head remained lowered. Her gaze fixed on the wooden floor. Her hands, palms together were wedged between her knees. She hadn’t spoken a word the whole time they had been in the car. Only the silent shuddering sobs continued. Izzie didn’t know what to do; nothing she did or said was getting through to the poor girl. Seizing the bottle of bourbon from her brothers’ stash of booze she poured two hefty shots. Placing Grace’s on the glass table in front of her, Izzie sat next to her lifting her own glass to her lips. She threw the shot to the back of her throat. Gulping down the smoky liquid, she savoured the after burn.
Noticing the glass on the table remained untouched; Izzie placed it in the still silent girls’ hands. Effectively helping to wrap her hands tightly around the glass. The silence in the room was deafening, suffocating even. Izzie moved to the window, peering out into the dark night, wondering where on earth her brother was. They had been back at the Notting Hill property for well over an hour waiting for the boys to arrive. But still there was no sign of them. She could only imagine what her enraged brother had done to Jez. It wouldn’t be pretty. Raising her eyes to the sky she offered a silent prayer that neither of them hadn’t been arrested.
The sound of shattering glass startled Izzie back to earth, spinning around she took in the sight of Grace sat in the same position. The glass she had held in her hands now lay shattered around her feet. The sticky brown liquid that had filled it now covered her feet and legs. Grace sat motionless as Izzie rushed to kneel at her feet, picking up the pieces of glass that splintered around the room. “Ok, just stay where you are. I’ll get this cleaned up in no time.” Placing all the pieces she could find in the waste bin she began towelling off the poor girls drenched feet. Mopping up the liquid from the floor as she went. Grace was numb; she had completely shut down to the outside world.
In all the commotion of the glass smashing she had missed the sound of a car pulling up outside. The front door flew open with Alex dashing in, closely followed by Ben. Izzie dashed across the room to her brother. He looked a mess. He was ashen, his chest rising and falling in a fast rhythm. His whole being still shaking from the adrenalin that must have be surging through his body. His face sported the beginning of a black eye but his fists were another matter. His knuckles swollen and red, cuts spread across them. The blood drying now but still visible. Izzie couldn’t tell where her brother’s blood ended and Jez’s began. Horrified that he may be in more pain than he looked, her eyes implored Ben’s begging for him to fill her in with some details.
“He’ll be ok. He just wants to see Grace. How are you?” Ben moved from behind Alex, holding out his arms for her to come to him now. Cradling her against him he ran his hand up and down her back. “Did either of them hurt you? Did that bastard hurt you?” Ben held her away from him, inspecting her arms where he had seen the scumbag grip her. She shook her head, squirming out of his grasp. She wanted to be back against his chest where she felt safe, not held away while he checked her over.
“You think he would dare hurt me? I want to kill that bastard. Christ, Jez was off his face, high on whatever it was, but Max? Max knew exactly what he was doing.” Nestled back against him, held tight in his arms she watched her brother kneeling next to his girlfriend now. He spoke quietly to her before sitting down on the floor, his back rested against the sofa. Twisting around, he grasped her around the waist, pulling her down onto his lap. Grace lifted her stare from the fixed spot on the floor that had held her interest for the last two hours. She locked eyes with Alex. Focused now completely on him. Scrutinising his hard features she checked every inch of his face for marks or bruising. Turning her attention to his hands she lifted one tenderly to her lips, kissing it gently as he kept his lips rested against her temple. His other hand still firmly wrapped around her back, cradling her to him.
Grace still didn’t speak. Alex appeared to be whispering to her but it was inaudible. He rocked her gently from side to side as she settled her head into the crook of his neck.
Ben and Izzie stood awkwardly in the corner of the room. Feeling like they were intruding on some intimate act Ben guided her towards the kitchen, wanting to give Alex some space. Once there he poured them both another shot from the now half empty bourbon bottle. Taking his place on a barstool, he settled Izzie between his legs. Not willing to let her out of his grasp. He watched as she downed the drink before she spoke to him. “Did he...I mean please tell me he didn’t actually rape her did he?”
Ben shuddered at the thought, shaking his head fractionally. “No love, we got there just in time. A few more minutes and it would be a different story.”
“I only went to get us a beer. Those bloody champagne cocktails were shit. When I came back Grace had gone. It wasn’t until I heard Max laughing upstairs with Jez that I realised she hadn’t gone off with Alex.” Ben let her continue without questioning her. He sensed her need to talk through it. “I ran upstairs shouting at Max, begging him to let me in the room but he just laughed. Said Jez just needed a bit of alone time with her. I couldn’t fucking move the fat bastard. I couldn’t get to her Ben. I could hear her screaming and crying but I couldn’t get past Max. I just couldn’t get to her.”
Forcing her head back to his shoulder he shushed her. Halting her tirade. “Love, even if you’d have gotten in there you couldn’t have stopped him. He had taken a shit load of who knows what. Then the alcohol on top. He could have hurt you too Iz.” If he had have hurt her Ben would have done time for him. The bastard wouldn’t be still breathing. As it was Ben knew he would take a long time to heal from the injuries Alex had inflicted on him. He had only stopped when Ben physically pulled him from the room. Telling him that Grace needed him had been the only thing that had gotten through the red fog that had descended over Alex, blurring his thought and vision.
Izzie lifted her head; it was her turn now to examine Ben’s hands. They weren’t as bad as her brothers but she could tell he was hurting now the adrenalin was wearing off.
“I think we should check on them, and then I’m taking you back to my place. Give them some space. You ok with that?” Ben questioned her, dipping his head to meet her gaze. Izzie nodded. She knew Grace would be fine now Alex was home. He would take care of her.
His sister had left a long time ago; he had since moved Grace from the floor to the sofa where he continued to cradle her in his lap. She was slowly becoming more animate now. He had managed to get her to tell him she was ok even though he knew she wasn’t. Kissing her forehead once more he grasped her around the waist and placing his other arm under her knees, he lifted her in his arms. Not taking his eyes off of her for a second he walked them to the stairwell. Carrying her upstairs and into the bathroom where he sat her down on the lone chair that was positioned in the corner of the room. As the bath filled he stripped off his clothes. Turning off the taps he helped Grace to stand before he removed her clothes then lifted her into the tub. Once she was in he slipped in behind her, wrapping her in his arms and legs protectively as he washed her gently. Resting her head against his chest she finally spoke. “I’m so sorry Alex.”
Alex squeezed his eyes tight shut. If he hadn’t left her alone none of this would have happened. It was entirely his fault and he couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that rested in the pit of his stomach. “Why are you apologising? You have done nothing wrong. This is my fault. If I hadn’t left you alone you wouldn’t have been in that room with him. I should have been taking proper care of you.”
She placed he
r hand on top of the hands that were now wrapped tightly around her shoulders. “I love you.” Her voice barely above a whisper.
“I love you too Gracie. Forever and a day.” He breathed out on a sigh.
They sat together, in the bath until the water got cold. Taking turns at washing each other.
As she stood before him shivering, Alex towelled her dry. Gently starting with each arm before moving down her body to her torso and legs. Helping her into his robe he tied it securely around her then embarked on wrapping a towel around his waist.
Once she was settled into his bed he flicked off the lights climbing in behind her dragging her into his chest again, securing her in place. He held her until the shivers subsided and he felt her breathing even out. Only then did he allow himself to close his eyes.
Grace slept fitfully. Every time Alex moved her eyes drifted open, tightening her grip on him. Making sure he didn’t leave the bed. By the time the sun rose she had given up trying to sleep. Sneaking out of bed she tried not to disturb him. Knowing she had most likely kept him awake most of the night. They had the naming ceremony to attend today; quite how they were going to explain Alex’s battered hands was yet to be decided. Slipping on one of Alex’s shirts she had found on the back of the door she left the bedroom in search of caffeine.
Alex woke with a start, suddenly realising Grace was missing from his bed. Throwing on last night’s boxers he flung open the bedroom door shouting her name as he ran downstairs. “Kitchen,” she shouted out as she heard the panic in his voice. His heart rate settled the moment he heard her voice.
“You scared me. I thought you’d gone. Did you put the washing machine on?” Enveloping her in his arms again he breathed her in. “How’re you feeling?”
Taking A Risk Page 13