by Cami York
Once he was done he turned back to Lisa, “I have one question for you, not that it makes a difference, but did you know she was pregnant when you attacked her?”
“Yes she did. She kept saying she was going to kick the brat outta her.” One of the women who’d been cheering her on told on her from amid the crowd.
Those words were like throwing gasoline on a fire and before his brother could step in, or before he could caution himself, Chase slapped Lisa across the face hard enough to knock her down. It took everything in him to leave it at that.
He turned to Colin and Emory, “bring her.” Lisa screamed and yelled to no avail when Em picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and followed the others.
Chase hopped into the truck he’d bought Annabelle since he’d sent her off in his car, while Em and Colin headed to Colin’s truck with Lisa, which is what they’d driven here in with Kimmy.
34
Chase raced through the streets on his way to his parents’ house, hoping for the best. His mind hadn’t quite processed everything yet. From the moment he drove up and saw the crowd gathered he knew she was involved, but he didn’t know to what extent.
The fact that someone had put hands on her was more than he could bear. And though that Dirk guy hadn’t been the one to do it, he’d played a part in it. And because he couldn’t very well wipe the floor with Lisa’s demented ass, he did the next best thing.
The truck had barely come to a stop when he jumped out and ran up the stairs to his parents’ home. The looks on his mother and sister’s faces made his stomach drop. “No, don’t tell me…” He shook his head as the life drained out of him.
“No son, she’s okay. Your dad said her face got the worst of it, the baby’s fine.” His mom rushed to assure him. Everyone kept telling him about the baby like they didn’t understand. Sure he wanted his child to be okay, but he was more concerned about his Belle.
“Where is she?”
“Your father took her up to your old room, she’s resting now.” Chase took the stairs two at a time and almost ran into his dad who was now coming out of the room.
Chase looked past him into the room where he could see her asleep on the bed. Someone had cleaned her up and she was wearing a nightgown instead of the bloody clothes he’d sent her home in.
“How is she dad?”
“She’s fine son, the bruises are mostly superficial; she protected the baby that’s why her face took the brunt of it.”
“If she’s fine why is she sleeping like that?” Even from here he could tell that she wasn’t just sleeping, it looked like she was out.
“I gave her a little something to help her sleep through the pain. It’s not going to hurt the baby and she needed it poor thing. Where’s the one who did this? Do I need to get bail money ready?”
“I told Em to bring her here, I wasn’t thinking straight. I should’ve called the cops and have them take her, I just didn’t want her getting away.”
“I’ll take care of it son, you go sit with your girl.” Dr. Worthington looked back at her before shaking his head and walking away. He’s been a good southern boy all his days, had raised his sons to be the same. But today for the first time in his life he was tempted to do harm to a woman.
His wife and daughter were waiting for him when he got downstairs and he knew from their expressions that he had to put his own anger aside and deal with theirs. “Where’d they take her?”
“I don’t want that thing in my house, I’m likely to kill her as soon as look at her.” Mrs. Worthington yelled loud enough to be heard outside. She was so mad she could do some serious harm to somebody.
She’d never liked that Lisa girl or her damn mother, but because the girl was a child she overlooked her own prejudice, but this was too much. This time she’d gone too far.
“Kimmy, where are they?”
“I guess they’re sitting in the car. If mom didn’t get her I would’ve daddy. What are we going to do? You know once Chase gets through seeing to Annabelle he’s going to kill her right.”
“I know, he has that look in his eye, that’s why I’m going to take care of this before it comes to that. And you, I’d expect better from you. Come ‘ere.” He pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her hair before reaching out with his other hand for his daughter.
His little girl had seen violence for the first time in her life. He’s protected her and her brothers from this sorta thing all their lives. He didn’t blame the poor beaten girl upstairs though, no, she was one of his now.
But now wasn’t the time to cast blame, he needed to take care of his family and get this mess sorted out before someone ended up behind bars. He called their lawyer first who advised him to call the cops and meet him down at the station.
“Chase isn’t going to leave her so we’ll have to go after I call them to come pick her up.” He hung up the phone and made the call. Having never called the cops before for any reason he found it a very confusing experience.
They wanted to know what the emergency was, but there was no immediate danger so the lady on the other end of the line acted as if he were wasting her time. But once he explained the situation with a little heat in his voice, she got the ball rolling.
It wasn’t long before two cop cars pulled down his driveway. It was only then that Dr. Worthington learned that Chase had a recording of the whole ordeal from Em, but the cops seemed to be hip to the way these things were done nowadays because it didn’t take them long to find it on YouTube.
That was just another headache but he was going to let his lawyer deal with getting it removed. His main worry now was getting the cops and the girl off his property before Chase got wind of it, because like his daughter, he was convinced that the boy just might get himself in trouble.
He knew it was hard for him to hold back himself so he could just imagine. His one consolation when the cops removed Lisa from the back of the car where Em and Colin had been sitting on her, in Em’s case almost literally, is that she looked worst than his daughter in law.
He knew from the position of the blows Annabelle had suffered that she’d been trying to protect her child, his grandchild. And there he stopped his thoughts. He was already pissed enough as it is.
Chase heard the cars coming and going, but because there were no sirens, and no lights, he didn’t know that it was the cops. He wouldn’t have cared much about that now anyway, all his focus was on his woman and their child.
He’d slipped off his shoes and climbed into bed beside her as soon as the door was closed behind his dad. He wanted to hold her but was afraid of hurting her, so he just laid there and watched over her, wondering how he’d gone so wrong that he’d let something like this happen.
It’s true that he’d been going easy on her, giving her time to get used to things. She’d moved in with him, got pregnant and engaged in less than six months. That was more than enough on her plate.
But after this the gloves were coming off. He’d thought that in a little over a week after they got married, that it would be time enough to see about easing her into things, but this shit just moved things up.
He didn’t let his mind go to Lisa, he didn’t care enough about her. And had she not done this, he wouldn’t have even remembered she existed; but now she’s going to become a big part of his life, because he just didn’t have it in him to let this go.
And Ms. Scacci; what kind of mother does this to her own child? Chase wasn’t about to let any of them off. Not even the ones who stood around and watched.
He had an idea as he laid there beside her for the next few hours. The girl that had given him the video was supposed to get in touch tomorrow. He’ll ask her then what he needed to know. He needed to watch the tape but something was holding him back. He couldn’t bear to see her actually being hurt.
Some time later Kimmy put her head around the door. “Everything okay Chase, how is she?” He held his arm out to her. He could tell from the tracks on her fa
ce and the hoarseness in her voice that she’d been crying.
She walked over to the bed and sat beside her brother with her head on his shoulder. “Where’s everyone? Why’s the house so quiet?” She tensed up and sat up but refused to meet his eyes.
“Mom and dad went down to the police station and Em and Colin are downstairs.” Chase sat up, “the police station? Why?”
“Dad called the lawyer and he said to call the cops and have them take….Lisa. Chase wait.”
She pulled him back when he flew off the bed, almost knocking her over. “Think about Annabelle, think about the baby, they need you.”
“They’re gonna give her a slap on the wrist, they’re just going to brush this off as a fight between two women…”
“What do you plan to do Chase? Your wedding is a week away, Annabelle’s hurt, she needs you.” She was so nervous and afraid of what he’d do she was rambling. Chase was pissed. Though he had no sure plan of what to do with Lisa he didn’t want her getting away.
He’d never had to contemplate revenge of this magnitude but he knew it was coming. Maybe it was a good thing that the cops came and got her. Now that he thought about it, he could’ve been charged with kidnapping or unlawful imprisonment at the very least.
With his mind settled once again he got back in bed and looked at Annabelle to make sure he hadn’t disturbed her with his rash movement. Kimmy didn’t hang around much longer because her brother had gone quiet.
His attention was once again on Annabelle. She looked back when she reached the door and saw him brushing her hair back gently from her face. The tears that were ever present this evening fell down her face again as she closed the door and left.
In the quiet of the room Chase heard a beeping sound coming from her purse. He got up and walked across the room to get her phone. There was a message and without thinking he hit replay.
“Annabelle, this is Tim, I heard what happened, I’m sorry, shit, I…”
“Look, I knew your mother was up to something but I didn’t think she’d go this far. She asked me last week to set you up, that’s how I got your number, but I turned her down…”
“I knew something was up when I saw that Lisa girl hanging around your house but I promise I didn’t know this is what they were planning. Lori told me that she was crazy, that night after she dragged me to that picnic.”
“I thought she was telling me the truth when she said that you were afraid of him, but Lori told me later that Lisa’s crazy and that it’s all in her head. I hope you’re okay, I’m sorry I wasn’t there. Call me…if you want, I’m sorry.” The line went dead.
35
Sometime around midnight Annabelle woke up; her mouth was hot and dry, and a sharp, throbbing pain passed through her head as she moved to sit up and she grabbed it with a stifled moan.
The room was in complete darkness but she felt the body next to her and knew it was Chase. He’d fallen asleep in his clothes. Annabelle looked around the room in pain as she felt her stomach to make sure everything was still okay.
She felt achy but most of the damage was to her face and head, and her father in law had assured her hours ago that the baby was safe, but she couldn’t help but to worry all the same.
She shivered from the cold but the heat was on, so she kind of figured it was because of what had happened to her. She wanted to get up to grab another blanket but was too cold and sore to move from her place on the bed.
She looked down at Chase, at the worry lines on his face and her heart twisted. Now that she knew her child was out of danger, her mind could focus on other things and one of those things was what a mess she’d made of his life.
At every turn she’d fought him, because she was afraid that he’d hurt her and here she was the one who’d brought this ugliness into his life. She couldn’t hold back the tears that fell as she gingerly rested her head next to his on the pillow.
“Don’t cry, I’m here.” Chase didn’t feel her move until she laid her head on his pillow. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep but whatever his dad had given her had knocked her out for hours. He reached over now and wiped her tears with his fingers, feeling the pain in his heart as he did.
“Why are you shaking, you cold?” He didn’t wait for an answer but got out of bed and went to the closet to find another blanket to throw over her. “Are you hurting baby?” He pulled the covers up to her chin and got settled beside her again.
“My head hurts really bad but I don’t want to take any more medicine, it might affect the baby.” Chase was out of bed and out the door calling down the hallway for his dad, who came running as if he’d been awaiting the call.
“Her head hurts, is there something she can have that won’t hurt the baby?”
“Of course, I’ve been expecting this. But you need to get her to eat something first son or she’d be very sick.”
“I’ll go get her something.” He started to leave already wondering what places would be open this late at night, or if he should find something to make downstairs. His mind was still a jumble it seems.
“Your mom already made soup, she shouldn’t have anything heavier than that for now.” Chase left to go warm the soup while his dad got the medicine ready.
While he fed her the soup, which he refused to let her do herself he felt her eyes on him each time he raised the spoon to her bruised lips.
“What is it?”
“You’re angry.” Chase took his time answering her.
“Yes I am, but not at you. Here, have some more and don’t worry about that.” He fed her half the bowl before she said she’d had enough and then he gave her the medicine and climbed into bed to hold her.
“Go to sleep sweetie, I’m here.” She laid with her head on his chest over his heart listening to it beat. “Chase?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry.”
“What’re you sorry about?”
“You didn’t want me to go there, I should’ve listened to you. If I had none of this would’ve happened.”
“You think I blame you.” It wasn’t a question but more a statement.
“Don’t you? I mean…”
“Belle, I don’t blame you, I love you. I blame myself.”
“You…” She tried lifting her head but he brought it back down gently. “Stay still before you hurt yourself.”
“Why do you blame yourself?” She didn’t understand his reasoning, or see where he was to blame for any of this. Surely she was to blame.
“Because I didn’t take better care of you, I’ll never make that mistake again. No one will ever hurt you again as long as I live. Now go to sleep.” He kissed her hair and held her a little bit closer, being sure not to hurt her.
Annabelle was sure she’d slept as long as she was going to but the medicine knocked her out in less than ten minutes. Chase who stayed awake long after she fell asleep, stared up at the ceiling as he listened to her breathe.
He knew he wasn’t going back to sleep anytime soon, and his mind refused to shut off. He looked back over his shoulder at his phone that he’d left on the night table and his gut twisted. He couldn’t put it off any longer, there was no use.
With a heavy sigh he reached over to the nightstand with his free hand to grab the phone. His heart felt sick when he opened up the App to watch what he’d downloaded earlier. He turned down the volume and turned on CC so as not to disturb her.
His eyes filled in the first five minutes and it was all he could do to stay in bed and not go out into the night to hunt down the ones who’d done this. He watched as she did everything to protect their child and he’d never loved her as much as he did in that moment.
But he didn’t think he’d ever felt as helpless as he did now either. In walking on eggshells around her to keep her childhood fears at bay, he’d left her open to this. Now with the weight of her body on his chest, he made a silent vow to always protect her in the future.
This trying to be someone else to make her feel comfortable had
n’t worked, in fact it had backfired as far as he could tell. Now she’ll just have to deal with the real Chase Worthington. He’d spent almost two damn years imagining her being his. He knew from beginning to end how he planned to take care of her, and had learned from years of watching his dad, how your woman is supposed to be treated.
Now it broke his heart that he’d done a half ass job because he was too afraid of upsetting her and sending her running back to that hellhole. So yeah, this is on me, he thought.
There was no doubt that he was going to make Lisa pay. No matter what the law decides, it can’t possibly be enough. He had no idea what was going on with that, he hadn’t left her long enough to ask and wasn’t about to now either. So he put his phone away and got settled into bed with her in his arms.
In the morning well before Annabelle woke up, Chase was downstairs with his dad getting all the details about his trip to the police station. They pretty much had all they needed from the uploaded video, which dad was told should be down before the day was out.
It took revealing the fact that she was pregnant to get them to agree to remove the footage which was a shame, but Chase hoped that that was the end of it, that no one else would ever see it again.
He didn’t feel any less angry in the light of day, and not even the fact that tomorrow was Christmas could make him feel better. His family was trying their hardest but they too knew it was no use.
He was a little bit worried though that she might want to put the wedding off since it was just a few days away, but he’d already decided that this was going to be the first instance where he puts his foot down, so she’ll just have to deal.
After he got through getting all the information from his dad and learning what needed to be done, he turned his attention to his mom and the wedding plans.
“I’ll take care of everything you don’t need to worry. Just take care of her son. Lisa’s parents came by earlier, they want to talk to you….”