by Ivy Jordan
Evelyn listened, jotting down notes from time to time as I spoke, but didn’t try to reach out to me, which for that, I was grateful. I didn’t want to be touched, especially not now.
“What did he do when he returned to the room?” Evelyn asked, handing me a tissue for my tears.
“He pulled me up by my hair. I let out a scream, but no one could hear me. He held the knife to my wrist, told me to do myself in, that I wasn’t worth getting blood on his own hands, and then he hit me, kicked me again, and yelled some more while I cried in pain,” I continued.
“What was he mad about?” she asked.
“Damien was usually mad. I never knew why exactly,” I sighed.
“So, this wasn’t the first time you’d been treated this way?” she questioned.
I shook my head.
“It was more often than not,” I admitted.
“So, what happened next?” she queried.
Tears flowed down my cheeks, hot and steamy. I had a lump so big in my throat I could barely breathe.
“Take your time,” she said gently.
A couple deep breaths and I was back to my story, my life, one that she surely never had to endure.
“It was hours of him cursing. He drank. He’d hit me. He raped me twice. It had to be at least an entire day locked in that room with him. I was bruised, could barely breathe, and I just wanted to sleep, to never wake up. I took the knife, pressed it against my wrist while he sat on a dirty mattress watching, laughing. Just as the knife broke the skin, he snatched it away from me, laughing. ‘You can’t get off that easy,’ he slurred from drinking. I curled up into a ball on the floor, my ribs aching, my body broken, and realized that I’d never get away from him, that I would have to take whatever he dished out as long as he felt like dishing it out.” I stopped to blow my nose and wipe away the stream of tears.
My vision was blurry, but I could see Evelyn’s hand reaching across the table with another tissue.
“Continue, if you can,” she urged.
“He brought in a baseball bat. He told me I wasn’t good enough for his dick, so he’d be using that to fuck me from now on,” I let out a loud cry as I calmed myself with a couple deep breaths.
“That’s when you took it from him?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“I couldn’t take anything from Damien. He was too strong,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry. You continue. I won’t interrupt,” Evelyn said politely, her manners something I hadn’t been used to for a long time.
“He left the bat on the mattress beside me. He disappeared into the other room, to get another beer I assumed. When he didn’t return, I snuck my head around the corner to see him passed out in an old recliner he’d drug in from the curb the week before. I grabbed the bat, and I ran towards the door, no idea where I was going, but I wasn’t going to hurt him, I swear. I was too scared to hurt Damien. I knew he’d punish me badly if I ever tried. My hand was on the doorknob, ready to turn it and head for freedom, to where, I had no idea. His hand pulled my hair as I took my first step outside, and soon, I was on my back. I swung with everything I had, hitting him hard in the head. He fell back, but he only stumbled. He came at me, this time with blood on his head trickling down into his black, beady eyes. I swung again, and again, and I must’ve blacked out. When I came out of it, he was laying there, me atop him, his face bashed in pretty good, and not moving. I thought he was dead, and worse, if he wasn’t, what he’d do to me once he woke up,” I sobbed, and then wrapped my arms around myself as I rocked in the chair.
I didn’t look up to see what kind of horror Evelyn Pierce wore on her face. I could hear a screech of wood grinding against the tiled floor, and then felt the warmth of arms surrounding me. I sobbed hard, harder than I ever had before.
The hug was brief. Evelyn stood before me when my eyes opened. I looked up to see her face red and blotchy from tears she’d wiped away. An odd feeling came over me having someone show compassion as she had, someone I didn’t know until that day, or day before depending on how long I’d been at this confined police station.
“I have one thing to ask before we proceed, Miss Lennon,” Evelyn used my formal name once again, causing me to shudder.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Do you wish to press charges against Damien Jones?” she questioned.
I thought about the many reasons to and not to. I bit down on my lip, knowing that Luke was still in this police station somewhere, waiting, protecting. He wasn’t going to leave me. I was safe.
“Yes, I do,” I said with a strong conviction.
Chapter 15
Luke
Evelyn finally emerged from the back of the police station. She looked as exhausted as me when she made it to where I sat.
“We will have court first thing Friday morning,” Evelyn confirmed.
“So, I can take her home?” I asked eagerly.
“No. I’m afraid she has to stay. They consider her a flight risk, mainly because she doesn’t have an address, place of employment, or even any family that lives nearby,” Evelyn explained.
“She has my address, and I’m the closest thing to family she’s got,” I insisted.
“I understand your concerns, Mr. Sheridan, but I’m afraid there’s no way around this one,” Evelyn stated firmly.
“Call me Luke, please,” I insisted.
She nodded. I didn’t mean to be brash with her. I just wanted to know Candace was safe.
“Luke, Candace is resting. She opened up to me about everything, and she agreed to press charges on Damien. She’s a lot stronger than you give her credit for,” she smiled warmly.
“I’m sure she is,” I smiled back, even though it hurt my face.
“Go home, get some rest, and I’ll bring clothes for her to change into in the morning,” she patted me briefly on the back before she walked away.
Jake walked through the door, waving me towards him.
“You wanna see her?” he asked.
My heart raced. “Yes, please,” I gasped.
I followed Jake through the large red door and through a series of halls. We stopped at a locked door, heavy, metal, and no windows.
“I can only give you a couple minutes,” he warned and then ushered me through.
We stopped at another door, smaller, but still metal, no windows, and made with the intention of keeping someone inside.
Candace was curled up on the small cot, her head buried in a dark gray blanket. She looked up when I entered, her eyes puffy and red from where she’d been crying.
I wanted to rush to her side, to wrap my arms around her and tell her how much I loved her, how much I still did, but I stood at the entrance.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly.
“I am,” she whispered.
“I’ve been here the entire time. I promised you I wouldn’t leave you alone, but now they are kicking me out. I can sleep in the parking lot though, if you’d like,” I grinned.
A soft chuckle, a warm smile, and my heart melted.
“No. Go home. Will you be here in the morning?” Candace questioned.
“I will,” I promised.
“Thank you,” she smiled.
“Everything’s gonna be okay,” I nodded in her direction, offering a warm smile as Jake informed me I had to go.
“She will be fine,” Jake promised me as we walked silently back into the lobby.
I knew my concern was written all over my face, and my feelings for her weren’t very well hidden from my staying in the lobby waiting on that hard bench for over eighteen hours.
As soon as I turned my phone on upon exiting the police station, it lit up like a Christmas tree. I had missed calls from Theo, Lyla, Liam, Xander, and Aiden. I knew what Theo and Lyla would be calling about, but I was surprised to see my SEAL brothers’ names on the missed call list.
I called Aiden first, a voice I hadn’t heard in weeks.
“Thank God you answered. I was abo
ut to head that way,” Aiden chuckled, nervousness in his tone.
“I just turned my phone back on. Why would you head this way?” I asked, confused by his intense words.
“Theo called me,” he said softly.
At first, the thought of Theo calling the guys made me angry, but then Aiden spoke again.
“He didn’t tell me much, other than you’d be in need of support,” Aiden added.
I sighed, suddenly regretting that feeling. Now, since Theo didn’t tell them everything, or at least part of it, I would have to do it myself. I didn’t have a lot of energy, but I told Aiden what was going on anyway, asking that he pass it on to Liam and Xander himself.
“I have to be in court in the morning,” I sighed.
“I understand. What time?” Aiden asked.
“Eight,” I replied, realizing that was only about ten hours away. “I need to get off here, talk to the boss man before getting a little rest,” I explained.
“Not a problem,” Aiden replied, assuring me once again quickly that he’d fill in the others.
It felt good to have their support, but I still wasn’t certain why Theo called them. This would all be over in the morning, and Candace would be home. I laughed to myself as I realized he must be worried about me going after Damien myself. I wanted to, but that was stupid. Jake gave me a good warning, and Theo too. I was going to let justice handle it. But if it didn’t…I couldn’t guarantee my actions.
Jackson’s truck was at the office as I drove by, so I pulled in. I stepped out on a mission, hoping he was in the generous kind of mood I needed him to be in.
Before I could get out of truck, Jackson appeared from the office, starting towards his truck; he noticed me and stopped. I got out, greeted him, and explained what had been going on. He hadn’t a clue—the one person Theo hadn’t gotten to.
“What can I do to help?” he asked.
“She’s going to need an address, a job, something that the judge will see as productive so she can be released,” I explained.
Jackson scratched his chin, his eyes squinting as if in deep thought.
“I suppose she could help in the barn; Lyla said she does real good with the animals,” he suggested.
I wondered if Lyla offered that news, or if he’d solicited it out of worry about her still being around.
“I appreciate it,” I gushed.
I jumped in my truck, excited to get home, get rested, and get her home. It was going to go great; I just knew it.
Chapter 16
Candace
The door to my cell, if you could call it that, opened. The place was nicer than anything I was used to. It was certainly better than the abandoned house I’d been living in with Damien before all of this mess happened.
Evelyn stood in the doorway, holding a dry-cleaning bag. She wore a tan suit, her hair was combed back into a tight bun, and there was just a dab of red lipstick on her lips.
“I figured you might want something other than a t-shirt for court,” she said sweetly, handing me the bag.
I got up, took the bag, and thanked her.
“Is Luke here?” I asked.
“He’s already in the parking lot, ready to follow the police van to the courthouse,” she informed me with a smile.
I had barely slept, although I knew I’d passed out a time or two as the night dragged on. It was quiet there, making me wonder if I was the only one in the holding cells or if there were others. I didn’t want to ride in a van with strangers.
“Can I ride with you?” I asked.
Evelyn shook her head. “I’m sorry. They won’t allow it,” she frowned.
“When do I leave?” I asked.
“As soon as you’re dressed,” she replied, closing the door behind her as she left.
I opened the bag. It contained a pair of black slacks, a thin white sweater, and black flats. A new pair of underwear, a bra, and a small bag of makeup, deodorant, and a hairbrush was also inside the bag.
I dressed, surprised to find the clothes a perfect fit. I used the warped metal that was made to be a mirror to apply the makeup and fix my hair back into a long ponytail with the hairband wrapped around the brush handle, and knocked on the door.
When it opened, Jake, the officer friend of Luke’s, stood at the door.
“You look nice,” he smiled.
I blushed. It had been awhile since anyone told me I looked nice.
“Thank you,” I replied softly.
“I promised Luke I’d bring you to court. He was concerned about you riding with someone you didn’t know,” he informed me.
I didn’t know him, but I knew he was Luke’s friend, and that helped. I smiled, following him from the room, down the long hall, but not out the original doors we’d entered. This time, we stopped at a wide set of grey double doors with a keypad next to them. I watched as Jake entered the code: five, nine, seven, three. He didn’t even try to hide the entry from me, making me wonder why he trusted me. I would use it, if given the chance, to escape if I was brought back here.
Evelyn was on the other side of the doors when they opened, waiting with a briefcase in hand.
“I’m going to head on over. I’ll meet you there,” she said, placing her hand on my shoulder as some sort of comfort.
I followed Jake through a set of glass doors to a large white van. He opened the doors, helped me inside to the back, and shut them behind me. The seats were hard, and there was a strange smell about the vehicle.
“I’ll have to cuff you to take you into the courthouse,” Jake said sternly.
I shuddered at the thought of being cuffed and paraded past all the free people who watched.
“I understand,” I whispered.
As we pulled out from the police station, I noticed Luke’s truck. My heart raced as I watched him follow behind us, keeping up all through traffic.
“He called five times last night,” Jake laughed, looking back at me through the rearview mirror.
“You were there all night?” I questioned, surprised he hadn’t gone home.
“I was. He wouldn’t let me leave. He thinks highly of you,” Jake smiled in my direction.
I thought highly of Luke, too. I had feelings for him that had never gone away and some new ones as well.
At the courthouse, Jake did as promised, handcuffing me before letting me out of the van. We walked through the back door, another set with a code. This time, he was careful to hide his entry, and with a buzz, we were inside.
I was seated in the front row of the courtroom, my handcuffs removed. I rubbed my wrists where the metal had been, relieved the restraints were gone before my anxiety took hold.
Behind me, Luke sat in the courtroom, dressed in a nice blue button-up shirt. Lyla sat beside him, and then Theo was on the other side. I watched as the doors opened, and two men walked in, one short and stocky, the other tall and thin. Both men moved to Luke’s row, smiling wide as he stood to greet them. He looked surprised by their appearance, and I wondered who they might be.
They all looked in my direction, causing my anxiety to stir. I quickly turned around after a brief smile, wringing my hands together like old rags.
“You’re going to be just fine, dear,” Evelyn’s voice soothed me.
I turned to see her smile and felt grateful to have her beside me.
“Will Damien be here?” I questioned, something I worried about all night.
Evelyn looked distraught, but after a short pause, she nodded.
“Officer Flowers will bring him in, but he is not allowed to make any contact with you,” she assured me.
Somehow, being in a courtroom filled with cops, and in front of a judge, her words didn’t calm me much. I knew what kind of man Damien was, and I knew that if he wanted to get me, he would, no matter who was there.
“You’re safe. I promise,” she whispered the same words Luke had filled my ears with all week.
I nodded, reluctantly smiled, and tried to swallow my stress with an audibl
e gulp.
“I will present our evidence to the judge, and if all goes well, the charges against you will be dropped, and Damien will be charged. So, basically, you’ll go free, and he’ll go to jail,” she smiled.
That all sounded pretty simple, but nothing was ever that easy. I nearly killed him, regardless of what he’d done to me. He was the one who was in the hospital, and I was the one who ran.
A panic attack set in quickly, and Evelyn quickly gripped my hands, squeezing them tightly in hers.
“Breathe. Slowly,” she whispered, taking a deep breath to mimic what she wanted from me.
I tried, but nearly choked, and then the tears started, along with the shakes.
“I can’t do this,” I gasped.
“I’m afraid you have no choice,” Evelyn stated, taking another deep breath as she squeezed my hand.
Suddenly, Lyla was by my side, she sat down, her voice tender and sweet as she told me I would be just fine. She pulled out an envelope, and inside were pictures of the kittens from the barn.
“Mittens wanted me to tell you she can’t wait for you to get home,” Lyla said softly.
I held the picture, laughing through my tears at the image of the perfect little kitten. She handed me another, and then another, until finally, I’d calmed down.
Lyla rushed to the seat behind me as the doors opened behind the judge’s bench.
“All rise for the honorable Judge Garrett,” a bailiff announced loudly.
The judge was a woman, to my surprise. She was an older woman but had warm, kind eyes. Her gray hair was short, curled into a bob, and red rouge adorned her wrinkled cheeks. I stared in her direction, knowing she was the one who held my fate.
The back doors opened as she told us to be seated. I turned to see Officer Flowers pushing a wheelchair down the main aisle.
That fucking elephant was back, sitting on my chest as I realized the bandaged man was Damien. His eyes glared into mine, anger and revenge burning through his pupils. A bandage wrapped around most of his head, and what was uncovered was battered and bruised. He had an arm in a sling, and even though I knew I’d done all the damage, I didn’t remember but one or two swings.