by J. L. Drake
“Now,” he pulled out thick, black zip ties, “I wanted to wait for the cabin to do this, but…” He caught my left wrist and roughly pulled it to the metal bed frame. I started to fight, but he shifted so his knee was on my chest and leaned his weight to hold me down. It was excruciating.
“Please, stop,” I cried out in desperation. He ignored me as he yanked my other arm and repeated the same action. “I’m not Julia! I’m nothing to you!” I sobbed, wrenching my face back and forth. Helpless was a horrible feeling.
“Oh, Emily, it’s not just about you, my dear.”
I stopped my thrashing and locked my eyes with his cold, grey ones. “What? What do you mean?”
His face snapped back, almost like he didn’t mean to say anything. He crawled to his feet and paced the room. I lifted my head to see him better.
“Who is this about? Jamie?”
He shook his head like he was fighting the split in his personality. “Stop,” he snarled.
I took that moment to see if I could get him to surface. “Jamie,” I whispered through a fire-lined throat, “I know you can hear me.”
“Jamie can’t come out and play right now.” He reached for my dress and ripped it hard so it tore to the top of my hips. I yelped at the force. I closed my drenched eyes as the shakes I had contained up to now came back in full force. I felt one of his hands drag upward and circle around my pelvic bone.
“Help me, Jamie. If not for me, for your daughter!”
He stilled suddenly, which made my eyes pop open. He blinked a few times, then shot off the bed.
His posture fell. “There’s no saving you, Emily. There’s more to this than—”
Another shift in body language came over him. “Stop!” he snapped, then whirled around and grabbed the Jack Daniels, tilted his head, and downed the entire bottle.
He tossed the liquor bottle across the room and wiped his wet mouth along his arm. His eyes were hard again; alcohol must have been a trigger for his personalities.
“You’re good, darlin’, but I’m better.” He removed his shirt and dropped his pants. His arousal had dampened his underwear. Oh God. His icy fingers went for my ankles, and I drew them back and waited for him to come close enough before I drilled my heels straight into his nose. Blood sprayed everywhere as he tumbled backward.
“Help! Someone help me!” I screamed as loudly as I could, but a wracking cough followed. Ahhh, it hurts! “Help—”
“You fucking bitch!” Lasko lunged forward and scrambled on top of me. He drew back his hand and smacked me across the face. Everything went quiet for a moment, then a loud ringing assaulted my ears. He fumbled with his underwear. No, no, no! I would rather die a thousand deaths than have Jimmy Lasko inside of me.
***
Seth
I pushed the master key card into the second room, gun raised and sweat pouring down my face. “Police officer, show yourself,” I announced quietly. I took a careful step forward and rounded the corner, only to see another empty room. Clothes were scattered about, and opened food and a child’s toy lay on the floor.
“Clear,” I barked into my radio.
“Clear,” Garrett’s voice said right behind me as he cleared the room across the hall.
I turned down the hallway, and Garrett followed, while Riggs and Riley kept watch on opposite stairwells. My right ear had my Bluetooth on mute so I could hear what was going on. A lot of it was muffled.
“Connors.” Riley made me look over at him and pointed to the room on his left, Room 329. He made a signal that he heard something.
I nodded and rubbed my sleeve over my damp forehead. My mouth was dry. My tongue ran along the inside, but it didn’t help. I normally loved this part of my job; it was a twisted love affair with right and wrong. I loved to catch the bad guys. But this…this was a whole new level, one I never wanted to revisit. My heart beat in my ears as my unsteady fingers pushed the card into the slot.
***
Emily
Lasko grabbed his bare erection and stared right in my eyes. “Now, you’ll be mine.”
I closed my eyes and slipped into autopilot. I said goodbye to this life, because there was no coming back after this. I would not return as me.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Something sprayed across my face and hit my chest with a heavy thud.
“Ahhhhhhh!” I screamed and lost all sense of sanity.
“Emily!” His strong voice ripped through my hysteria.
I opened my eyes, and Lasko was on top of me. Seth stood at the end of the bed with his gun pointed at us. He lunged forward, yanked Lasko’s arm, and threw him to the floor.
Seth began to frantically pat me over. I had to blink a few times to remove the fog. My lungs burned and my throat pulsed in agony.
“Is this your blood?” he asked as his hands swiped around my stomach.
I couldn’t answer. I was still in shock. He pulled out a pocket knife, freed my wrists, and covered me with a sheet.
“Baby, look at me. Are you hurt?”
It took me a few moments to realize that yes, I was all right, and that the warm, wet liquid on my face was Jimmy Lasko’s blood. I looked down at his limp body and attempted to absorb it all. I shot to the top of the bed. There is so much blood.
I began to sob as Seth crushed me to his chest. I grabbed his shirt and hid my face from the world. I felt his hand pull down the sheet to better cover my bare parts. His body shook against mine.
“I got you, I’m right here.”
“I can’t…he…I…” I couldn’t sort my thoughts.
Seth turned my head so my ear pressed into his chest. “Listen to my heart, and count the beats.” I closed my eyes and tried to focus.
“Oh my God,” Garrett shouted as he ran into the room. “Is she all right?”
“I think so.” Seth shifted and picked me up. My arms wrapped around his neck. I was terrified to let go.
Garrett bent down and checked Lasko’s pulse. “He’s dead.”
My chin quivered as I shook harder.
Riggs and Riley burst through the door. Garrett shouted for them to call it in.
“You’re okay, baby, you’re okay now,” Seth’s repeated, almost like he needed to hear it too. Things started to go quiet as my shock kicked up a notch.
Garrett’s mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear him. It was all gibberish. Seth’s attention was on him now.
Seth sat me down on the bed and bent down in front of me. “Baby, did he…” his lips pressed together, “did he have sex—?”
I shook my head and pulled the sheet tighter around my waist. His face nearly fell as he brushed my hair off my neck.
“Oh, Christ.” His eyes watered. “Garrett.” Garrett rushed over, and he too went white at the sight of it. I turned my head away. I didn’t like their expressions.
“Jesus.” Riley pointed at Blake’s body, then at the cocaine. “This is so fuc—” He stopped himself as Seth rose and shook his head to stop talking.
I needed to get out of here. Things started to surface, and I couldn’t deal with them yet. I started to move, but my heel hit something heavy. My fingers felt the cool steel, and a sudden rage burned through me as I reached down and wrapped my fingers around the handle of Lasko’s gun—the one that killed Blake. I didn’t think as I pointed it at his head while I slowly stood on shaky legs. One hand held the sheet in place.
“Em,” Seth whispered beside, me but he didn’t stop me.
“I-I need to know he’s gone.” I could barely hear myself as I squeezed the trigger. As soon as the hammer clicked, I jumped back and dropped the gun like it was on fire. I let out a loud scream followed by a horrible sob.
Seth hooked his arm around my waist, lifted me back into his arms, and hurried out of the room. Garrett followed us down the stairs and out to the wild media storm that the police were yelling to keep back. Garrett shielded us until we got to his car and slipped inside.
Seth pulled out his cell phone and called his sergeant.
***
Seth
After twenty-four hours of observation, they discharged Emily from the Huntington Hope Hospital. Her neck was badly bruised, she had a cut under her right eye, and her ankle was sprained, but, all things considered, she was physically all right. Fuck, this sounds all too familiar.
Over the next two weeks, she slept off her injuries with me sitting at the end of her bed as often as I could, just watching her sleep. Every night at almost the same time she would wake with a start. She’d cry out and reach for me, so I knew I needed to be there for her. I’d hold her and help chase the fear away. I wanted to take back the past and rewrite it for her. Bring back her father, perhaps replace his grave with her mother’s. I tried to erase that unkind thought immediately. I only knew I wanted to surround her with endless love. Even if that meant I couldn’t have her, then so be it.
“No, please, stop!” she cried as I jolted forward to grab her arms and raise them above her head, holding them firmly. Emily could send a mean punch in her sleep.
“Baby,” I whispered, “wake up.”
Her eyes popped open, and I got a glimpse of Jimmy Lasko inside her soul, messing with her reality.
“Seth?”
“I’m here.” I watched as she looked around the brightly lit room. She didn’t like the dark at night anymore. I slowly released her hands and waited to see what she needed.
“Did I wake you?” She pushed herself up to a seated position and flinched at how sore her neck still was. She saw my chair with the rumpled blanket on it and her eyes filled with tears. This is the first night she noticed I had been staying beside her bed. “Have you slept at all?”
I slapped a smile on. “Some.”
She flipped her hair back and drew her knees to her chest. “I’m sorry.”
I shifted so I could tuck my ankle under my leg. “Why are you sorry?”
“Seth.” She lowered her hand as a few tears slipped down, marring her beautiful features. “I’m fine, so you should go back to your room. You have to work tomorrow. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to you, if something—”
“Em, no, I really don’t mind.”
Her head tilted up, her blue eyes telling the complete opposite story of the one she was spinning. “I mind.”
“You want me to leave?” I had to admit, it stung, but I did deserve it. I told her I wanted space. I kept her at arm’s length as she was going through one of the worst times of her life.
“What I want is for you to get some sleep.”
“Oh, okay.” I reached back and removed my grey t-shirt. I lay back and tucked myself under the covers and made myself comfy.
Emily sighed. “I’m okay, Seth.”
“I know, but your bed is more comfortable than mine.” I tucked an arm under my head, and she shrugged. I could see she was exhausted. “Emily.” I made her look at me. “Come here.” I pulled her arm gently so she had to lie down beside me. She turned her back to me a moment later, and I felt the bed shake. I wrapped my body around hers, my arm hooked around her stomach, and I kissed her shoulder. “I know you’re fine, but maybe I’m not.” Her hand found mine and held it tightly. “I need to hold you.”
“I need you to,” she whispered.
***
Emily
I woke to an empty bed. The only way I knew he was with me was by the dent in the pillow and his scent. The shower felt nice, especially as I found my ankle felt a lot better. I headed to the closet and stood there for a while. My brain was still in a fog, and everyday things took a little longer than they used to before all this. I wished I could find my way out of here.
I decided on a dark grey pencil skirt and a deep purple silk blouse. I carried my high heels downstairs. I was determined to wear them; I hated flats. Once at the bottom, I slipped them on and tested them out. My ankle was still a little tender, but I could push through the pain. I’d pushed through a lot worse, I mused as I grimaced.
“Hey, you.” Riley grinned from the kitchen table. He set the newspaper down as I poured myself some coffee. “Where are you off to?”
“School,” I answered into my mug.
Garrett emerged from the laundry room. “Seriously?”
I rolled my eyes. “Fourteen days is plenty of recovery time, Garrett.”
“Hmm,” he grunted as he slid his hand inside his pocket to pull out his cell phone. “Huh?” His face scrunched.
“What?” I asked with a glance at Riley, who watched him too.
“There was a couple found dead outside of Gary’s nightclub.”
“As in Mom’s boyfriend, Gary?”
“Yeah.” He started to text.
I didn’t know why, but that information didn’t shock me much. There was something about Gary that led one to think trouble was never far away.
“No witnesses, no leads, just says the female was shot in the back of the head, and the male was set on fire—”
I gasped, and that made him stop short.
“Oh, shit, I’m sorry, Emily.” Garrett closed his eyes.
“No,” I waved him off, “it’s all right.”
Riley picked up his newspaper and went back to reading. I wondered if it was like that for them. Dead bodies, domestic violence, missing children—all of it was an everyday occurrence. I shook away the prickles that crawled up my spine.
Riley looked up. “Oh, Em, Sue and Dave called the house phone last night. They wanted to know when you’re going to come and visit now that everything is back to normal.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I should call them and touch base.”
“Please do.” Garrett grinned. “I loved it there.”
“Me too.” I beamed and thought it was about time I started to include them in my life again.
Seth came in the side door as he pushed his blond hair out of his eyes. Fate wasn’t fair to make someone look as sexy as he did after an hour-long run. Sweat covered his smooth, bare chest and drained into the waistband of his gym shorts. Those shorts rested low on his hips, low enough that his V almost came to a point. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from letting out a single low, desperate groan. My body betrayed me as my chest heaved with need.
He glanced at me, and I saw his jaw flex. His eyes raked down my chest and stopped at my cleavage.
“You look good.”
I fought my grin. “So do you.”
The grin that spread across his lips was enough to erase the darkness from my heart and make it daytime bright. “Give me fifteen and I’ll drive you to school.”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to, I—”
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to.”
“Okay.” I glanced at Garrett and Riley and saw they were both watching us with interest. “What?”
Garrett grabbed a napkin and pretended to wipe his eyes. “It’s just nice to see the family together again.” He laughed as Seth rolled his eyes.
“I have to admit, I see what Nicholas was talking about.” Riley took a bottle of water out of the fridge. “You seem to equal each other out.”
“Nicholas doesn’t know Emily,” Seth shot back.
“No,” he took a long sip of water, “he doesn’t. But you’d be blind not to see it.”
I shook my head as I walked out of the room. I needed to get my books before we left. Outside, the sun was bright and the morning air was crisp. I took a moment and savored the knowledge that I was back to my old life again. My grin spread as I opened the car door and slid over the cool leather seats.
Seth wore a light jacket over his uniform so as not to draw attention to the fact he was a cop. I knew the guys often did that so they didn’t become an easy target.
I turned on the radio and plugged in my phone. I went through my play list and stopped at one of Seth’s favorites. “Ki
ng” by Weezer. I relaxed back into the seat and thought this was the first time in a long time I felt I could leave my house and know I’d be okay.
Seth started to mouth the words to the song. I loved to see him comfortable enough with me to show this side of him. He looked over at me and winked.
He pulled up to the curb and put the car into park. I reached for my bag when he stopped me with a hand on my thigh.
“Can I take you to dinner tonight?” I looked at him like he had two heads. “Is it really that surprising that I want to take you out?”
Umm… “A little, yes.” I couldn’t lie. It was.
He nodded, then took a deep breath as he looked out the window for a moment, then brought his gaze back to me. “Emily, will you join me for a date tonight?”
My lips twisted to the side then broke into a giddy smile. “Yes, I’d like that.”
“Great.” He leaned in and waited for me to meet him. I did and stared into his deep blue eyes. “I’ll meet you at your place at six.” His hand slid along my jaw, then pressed his lips to mine and gave me a gentle kiss. It was sweet, mixed with a dirty promise.
I reached for the door handle. “Em,” he stopped me, his face changed, “please call me if you need anything.”
“I will…I promise.”
***
Seth texted me to meet him at The Cut in downtown Huntington, since he was running late with some paperwork. I didn’t mind; it gave me more time to get ready. When I called Pete to tell him my news about my ‘official’ date, he raced out and bought me the perfect dress for the evening. I swore he was more excited about this than I was.
I stepped out of the taxi and saw my reflection in the marble wall. The soft, flowy, white dress clung to my body, crossed along my chest, and clipped behind the neck. It sat mid-thigh and showed off a sexy amount of cleavage. My heels were a little higher than I’d normally wear, but I loved how they crisscrossed up my ankles, matching the style of the dress.