Her Savior, page 3
part #2 of Rescue Series Novella Series
I screamed again and tried to tug myself away from the asshole dragging me around like a ragdoll. I heard someone shouting, then I was released. I tried to curl into a ball when footsteps pounded in my direction. The tears I had been holding back started to fall and a sob ripped itself from me. What in the hell had just happened and why? Why would someone want to steal from me? Why was I too stubborn, or stupid to not let them have it. Everything rushed into me at once.
“Son of a bitch!”
“Is she alright?”
“Get those motherfuckers!”
Voices surrounded me, but it wasn’t until a hand rested on my shoulder that I screamed. I didn’t want to be hurt again. I was throwing in the towel. My shoulders, right hip, right arm and leg already hurt. My left ass cheek was throbbing and my face felt like I’d been hit with a brick. Just leave me be.
“Mother fucker! Move.” I heard a familiar voice. Then I felt his hands on me. “Avery. Fuck, baby, it’s me, come on, can you let me see you?”
“Trigger, wait on Ansen. She needs a medic to look her over. Don’t move her,” another voice said. I let out a painful groan as I tried to straighten myself out. I laid there, all but starfished on the ground, my eyes closed, my chest heaving with each breath.
“Avery, baby, open your eyes. Can you do that for me?” I could hear the pain in Brent’s voice, and that is what pulled me from my own pain. I slowly opened my eyes and blinked a few times at the bright sunlight in my eyes. Brent’s face was quickly in mine, blocking the sun. All I could see were his eyes. Those eyes looked into mine and stole a part of my soul.
“Can you tell me what hurts?” he asked. His hand moved to brush the hair from my face. I sighed and nodded, which only made me wince. The movement caused a pounding to start in my head. I closed my eyes. “Avery Jaymes, open your eyes. Stay with me, baby.”
“It hurts,” I whispered. I could see there were other men standing around us, but I kept my focus on Brent when I once again opened my eyes.
“What hurts, baby?” he’d gotten closer to me. I could feel his warmth surrounding me. My eyes closed on their own. I heard him calling my name, but it was no use. The pain radiating through me was just too much. I wasn’t a fan of pain. I let it roll through me. I’d say sorry later. I just needed to make the pain stop for a little bit.
4
Brenton
“Why would someone to do this?” Muttered curses rang out around us. I was reeling as I watched what happened over and over in my head. It happened so damn fast. I’d brought the guys out to the beach with me to play a little volleyball. I admit, I had ulterior motives. The game was so I could keep an eye on Avery while she worked, but I felt it was a good idea. Especially after this, I knew my instincts to protect her were right on the money.
“She put up a helluva fight. Which was stupid, but impressive, too,” Connor commented as he came back to where the others stood.
“We need an ambulance! Now!” Ansen called out. He had his fingers on her pulse point and his eyes on his watch. “Her pulse is thready.”
“I’ve called for a bus, eta five minutes.” Connor’s voice faded as I looked down at the still form before me.
“Avery, come on, baby. Open those pretty eyes for me.” I wasn’t above begging, damn it. I ran a hand through my hair. A curse fell from my lips. This was not happening! This was not fucking happening! I promised her no one would hurt her again, fuck!
“How does this happen just a few fucking yards from us? How? What the fuck?!”
“None of us would have thought such a thing could or would happen. It’s not your fault, man.” I heard him. I did, but his words fell on deaf ears. I’d failed to be there to protect her!
I was on my feet pacing as Ansen moved around and looked at her arm. It didn’t take long for a patrol car and the ambulance to arrive. I gave my statement of what I’d seen happening and climbed in the back of the ambulance with her. I got a few looks, but the guy didn’t say anything to me. There was no way I was letting her out of my sight. Period! I’d gut the first motherfucker that got too close to my girl. I rubbed her calf, lightly, just above where the scrapes and cuts were on her skin.
“I’m here, baby. You’re going to be okay.” She had to be. She had only just come back into my life, and at this point I was definitely interested in making this much more than just a friendship, but only if she stayed with me.
The ride to the hospital felt like it took a million years, even though I’m sure it was much faster. I was in a daze the whole time as she was unloaded and wheeled into the hospital. I was right on their heels, my mind still reeling from the images of her attack that were now permanently burned into my brain.
“What happened here?” the doctor asked as the EMT’s wheeled Avery in the door. She had extensive cuts and bruising on her arms, legs and side. I was afraid she may have some internal injuries as well, or even a concussion. Either of which could be serious.
“Mugging,” the EMT called out. He started reading off her vitals, and giving a run down of her injuries. I swear my blood boiled even more with each word that he spouted out.
“Sir, you’ll have to wait out in the waiting room.” A nurse said, pushing me back and out of her way. I was not leaving this spot. “Sir, come on, we need the room cleared so we can work.”
“Come on, Trigger. She’s in good hands,” Tucker said, his hand pushing against my chest. I shook my head. “Move!”
I was not moving from this spot. I couldn’t. She’d need me to be here when she woke up.
“Man, don’t make us have to move you. She’ll be okay. Trust me. We won’t let anything else happen to her.” I met his gaze and nodded. However, it still took me a few more minutes before I could get my feet to move. I moved back a few steps and then turned to head down towards the waiting room.
Being in this room, waiting to find out about my girl, had my mind rolling over everything, making me angrier and more deadly by the second, so I paced. I was like a caged tiger, ready to explode from my own skin at any moment. The men that had attacked Avery had gotten away from Kruger and Masters. The bastards had a car waiting for them on the next block.
Something told me this was not just some random act of violence. Most muggings, like this one, were a mere snatch and grab. The fuckers would usually just run off and never be seen or heard from, again. The interaction between Avery and her ex, Melvin, at the shop had me thinking hard. I knew that fucking asshole was out there, and that only made my need to protect her, and my desire to slaughter anyone that got close to her, stronger and more intense.
My hands balled into fists at my side as I took in a deep breath.
“BRENTON!” My head snapped up at Randilyn’s panicked voice. “What happened? Is she okay? Who did it? I will cut them into tiny pieces!” I shook my head as I hugged her to me.
“We don’t know yet. She was stable, but unconscious when we got her here.”
“Who could have done this?” Connor asked. His eyes were locked onto Randilyn. She gave him a hard look.
“Cowboy, if I knew that, I’d be out there beating the shit out of someone with my tire iron instead of in here looking at your face.”
“Randilyn,” I pulled her attention back to me. I let out a breath before I continued, “would Melvin have-”
“I will rip that stinking rat into pieces!” I grabbed her when she turned to storm off. For fuck’s sake.
“Randilyn! Stop!” I turned her to face me. My cousin was one stubborn, violent woman when she was pissed. Avery being hurt turned her into the Terminator. I had to tread very carefully here, but there was something I needed to know.
“I need to see her,” she said, pleading with me, her eyes as close to tears as I’d ever seen them.
“Wait. I need to know. Would he-”
I was cut off by a blood curdling scream from down the hall. I knew that scream. I’d heard it earlier today. Thankfully, someone else was going through the locked doors just ahead of us, so I was able to get past the nursing station without having to wait on anyone to let me in. I took off down the hall and into the bay where they had Avery. When I pulled the curtain back, she was thrashing and trying her best to get off the bed.
“Miss Leonard. Hold still. We are trying to help you,” a nurse said as she tried to keep Avery from pulling her IV line free.
“Ss-stop!” she cried out. Shit! I moved to her side and did my best to wrap my arm around her, trying to get her attention.
“Hey, hey, I’ve got ya, baby. It’s me. Avery. Come on, gorgeous, look at me. It’s me. It’s just me,” I pleaded with her. I cupped her cheek, careful of the nasty looking scrapes and focused on her. The damn C-collar was preventing me from getting any closer to her. I couldn’t turn her head to make her look in my eyes. She was shaking so hard her teeth chattered. “It’s just me, baby. Breathe. I need you to calm down, okay?”
“M-make it s-s-stop,” she said, tears starting to fall along her reddened cheeks.
When I heard Randilyn’s gasp, I looked up to see Connor had put an arm around her. She was crying for her friend, which only served to fuel my rage at whoever had done this. I would find them, and when I did... they’d pay.
“It’s over, baby.” I pulled back to ask the nurse what had happened, but Avery’s voice pulled me back down to her.
“Brent…” her voice was so soft now. I looked back down at her. I tried to give her a reassuring smile.
“It’s me, baby. I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
“You need to leave, sir, we have this under control.” I looked up and met the other nurse’s gaze with a look that I hope conveyed to her how stupid her statement was. If they had it under control, Avery wouldn’t have looked like someone possessed when I walked in here, thrashing and twisting, trying desperately to get away from the hands holding her down.
“Not happening,” I gritted out.
“Are you family?” another asked. I nodded. My mouth moved before my brain thought better of it.
“Fiancé.” The nurse didn’t look convinced, but no one else disputed my comment, not even Avery. Though, I’m not sure she fully grasped what was happening right now.
“I need him…” Avery panted out. The nurses face went from scowling at me to concerned for Avery. She nodded as the Doctor came in. He looked like he was ten.
Really? We needed Mark Sloan and we get Doogie Howser?
“Miss Leonard. I’m Doctor Travers. Can you tell me what happened to you today?” He asked her as I laid her back on the table. I kept my face where she could see it. My hand gripped hers tightly as she took in another ragged breath. The doctor moved to check her pupil reactions and then made notes on his clipboard.
“I- I don’t know,” she said. Her brow creased into a frown. “I was just walking, and then, everything was hurting.”
“She was attacked just off the boardwalk. Someone tried to jack her bag,” I said.
“Looks like you put up a fight,” he replied while he looked her over. My jaw locked with my anger. She had. She should have just given it to them. It wasn’t worth the pain she was suffering now. I leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose.
“We are going to need a head CT and x-rays of her arm, side and hip, just to make sure the bruising is not from broken bones.”
I nodded. After a few more minutes they were administering meds to her to help her relax, and to help with the pain. She was almost asleep by the time they took her for x-rays and a CT Scan. I paced the hall as I sorted out a plan in my head. I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed before I gave up on pacing and leaned up against the wall, waiting to hear what was happening with my girl, my angel.
“Where is she?! I want to see my daughter now!” A booming voice came from the front of the ER bay. Randilyn moved towards the desk and I saw him. Mr. Leonard. Randilyn had called his job and left word for him to call her. She must have talked to him after I went in with Avery. They made their way to where I stood in the hallway.
“Is she okay? I w-want to know now w-what happened to my d-daughter!” The smell of alcohol hit me like a brick wall. I shook my head. Great. This was just what we needed.
“We are waiting for her to finish with a CT scan and x-rays. She seems well, other then some scratches and bruising. Someone tried to snatch her bag while she walked to the boardwalk. She fought against the men and was hurt in the process.” I kept my words low and on point. I wasn’t going to sugar coat it, but, I wasn’t sure he could handle just how banged up she was.
Randilyn gave me a worried look that I knew well. If I recalled my conversation with Avery from last week, she’d said her dad had been sober and working again. I think he was either lying to her, or she just didn’t want to see it. This man was far from sober... and by the smell of him, he’d not been sober in a while.
“Why don’t you go have a seat in the waiting area and Randilyn will get you some coffee.” He needed it extra black and extra strong. If he was going to see Avery, he needed to be half way to sober at least. I gave Randilyn a hard look. She nodded and I continued. “As soon as Avery is out, I will make sure they let you know so you can come back and see her.”
“Fine.” He stomped off, weaving slightly as he made his way to the waiting area. I let my head fall back against the wall behind me. I don’t know how I was going to fix this, but I was. There was no way I was leaving here without her, and there was no way I was letting her out of my sight, again. Period!
I scrubbed my hands down along my face and tried to relax my nerves. I was aching for a fight. This was a feeling I knew well. It happened anytime my stress level went into overdrive. My years in the service had trained me to survive and take care of what was mine. That was exactly what I was about to do. I just had to find the threat, and eliminate it.
5
Avery
“You know this isn’t going to work, right?”
“Just leave me alone, Melvin. We’re done. There is no more you and me!” I hung up on his sorry butt and went back to doing the crossword I had been working on. I wasn’t going to let him rattle me today. I sighed. Who was I kidding, he already had me rattled. One phone call from him is all it takes most days.
My phone rang again and I answered it. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?!”
My heart skyrocketed into overdrive at his next words.
“There is no leaving me, Avery. You’ll be back by my side, and in my bed, before you even know it. Nobody, not even that muscled goon you had with you yesterday, will stop me from getting back what’s mine.” The phone clicked off and I stood there staring at the phone, stunned and panicked. He was never going to give up. Melvin was more determined to get me back than ever. That wasn’t happening, but his determination and the fact that he thinks it’s possible is what scares me.
I had to find a way to keep Brent safe all while keeping my sanity. If Melvin hurt him… I’d never forgive myself. I also knew after our talk at the beach, where I’d bared most of my soul to him, he’s not going to just walk away. Rock, meet hard place.
The pain that shot through my side made me groan when I tried to open my eyes. The sudden bright light made me wince, causing more pain to rock through me, this time in my head. I tried to move, but something was weighing me down. Panic set in as something started to beep really loudly.
Did Melvin get me? What happened? Oh God!
I heard footsteps and hushed voices glided across my ears. I tried to move, but the pain running through me had a sob escaping me. No! I wasn’t going to let this happen. I tried to fight against what was holding me down.
“Miss Leonard, it’s-”
“Avery, baby, it’s okay. I’m here.”
“Miss Leonard, I need you to take a deep breath and try to calm yourself. You’re in the hospital. You’re safe.” The feminine voice rolled through the room but what caught my attention was the smell of Brent’s cologne.
It was then that I felt someone shift against the bedside and grip my hand. I tried pulling away, but another hand moved to cup my cheek. My eyes opened and I sighed in relief, seeing that it was Brent sitting on the bed beside me. Was that all a bad dream? Or was I going crazy? It didn’t matter now. Brent was here. However, the tide of worry once again pulled me under. The conversation came back to me, like a record stuck on repeat. I remember all the threats Melvin had made... Oh god, he’d done this. He’d actually gone through with it. Right? It was him, wasn’t it?
“What-what happened?” I asked my voice sounding off, even to me. I had to pull it together. Now was not the time for Brent to realize that I knew more than I pretended to, more than I was willing to admit.
“You were attacked two days ago. By the beach. Do you remember?” His thumb caressed my cheek. I tried to nod, but that caused pain to shoot through my head. What. The. Fuck?
“I- I remember,” I said. My eyes taking in the room around me. “Most of it, anyway. Some... someone grabbed me… I think. It’s a bit blurry. My face hit the road, or something. It hurt a lot. About as much as it does now.”
“Let me in there! She-she’s my d-daughter!” I heard him before I saw him.
Daddy came barreling into the room, with Randilyn and two others right behind him. Randilyn looked ready to throttle him.
A shiver ran through me, my unease causing my heart to race. I knew, just by the way he spoke, let alone the sight of him, that he’d been drinking. He told me he’d stopped this time, and of course, I was stupid enough to believe him too. He was addicted to that crap, and had been since my Mama died.
I should have realized that his avoidance of me lately meant something was wrong. It was a sure fire sign… Maybe it was just me being in the hospital, though... that could be a logical answer, right? Yeah, dream on cupcake. Goddammit!
