Down and Dirty, page 9
“I’ll examine her.”
Jess looked like she planned to argue that point as well, but Tony wasn’t budging on this.
“Rhys or the hospital. Those are your only two options. Pick.”
Jess narrowed her eyes. She probably would have thought him touched in the head if she realized how much that look relieved him. He loved the way she didn’t back down, the way she challenged him. Her fighting spirit was one of her best attributes, and he was thrilled to know the asshole on the floor hadn’t beaten it out of her.
“Rhys,” she said shortly.
“Good,” Tony said.
At the same time, Rhys reached out to her, saying, “Come with me.”
Rhys led her to the bathroom in the motel room and Tony followed, standing in the doorway, disgusted by the filth. The asshole had obviously been holed up here a few days, given the number of empty liquor bottles and cigarette butts littering the sink and floor. There was a used needle in the basin. Every towel was in a wet, soppy pile in the corner, and there was urine all over the toilet and the floor surrounding it.
Jess had to clean up shit like this every weekend?
Yeah. That was over as of right now.
“Tony,” Rhys said, drawing his attention. “Do you mind grabbing us a couple of clean towels from Jess’s cart outside?”
Tony did as asked, while Kayden and Seth read the asshole his rights and cuffed him. Seth took the guy out, and Kayden hung back and stepped next to Tony. “I need to get a statement from Jess.”
“Okay. Let Rhys check her out real quick and then we’ll see if she’s up for it.”
“I need one from you too. You did a fucking number on that guy. We’re going to have to take him to the hospital before processing. Broken nose, maybe a few cracked ribs, possible concussion.”
“He hit her, Kayden. Had her down on the floor, strangling her.”
Kayden held his hands in the air. “I’m not saying you were wrong, Tony. Guys like that should be fucking castrated, then locked up for life.”
Appeased, he nodded, aware his emotions were riding way too close to the surface. He needed to get a grip. “Let me get these to Rhys, then we can talk.” Tony returned to the bathroom, handing Rhys the towels. He wet the corner of one and used it to gently wipe away the blood on her lip.
“Don’t think you’re going to need stitches,” Rhys mused.
“How bad do I look?” Jess asked. “I don’t want Jasper to…” She paused for a moment, blinking back tears, taking a few steadying breaths. “I don’t want him to see this and get upset. Is he okay? I mean…I think this…” she started, needing more assurances about her son’s safety. “I keep hurting him.”
Tony hated hearing her beat herself up. “You didn’t hurt him, Jess.”
“I put us here, in a situation that wasn’t safe,” she fired back.
“You’re working to provide for him,” Rhys reassured her. “Put all the bad thoughts away for now, okay?”
“He’ll be fine.” Tony was going to make damn sure of that. It was going to take some time for Jess and Jasper to get over today. Fuck, the two of them needed time to get over the past few months, but he and Rhys were going to do whatever it took to make sure they got it.
Jesus, they weren’t the only ones who needed time. He couldn’t stop replaying the image of that guy on top of Jess, his hands around her throat, the sheer terror on her pale face.
“Your lip is cut and a little puffy, and I’m afraid you’re probably going to have a black eye, a bruise on this cheek, and on your neck,” Rhys barely grazed the red mark on her face before tilting her head back to look more closely at her throat.
“Makeup,” she whispered. “I can hide it all.”
Rhys nodded. “I think we should do the rest of this exam back at my office, Jess. This place is…” Rhys looked just as repulsed as Tony at the state of the bathroom.
“I want to get out of here,” she said.
“Kayden needs to talk to you. Are you up for it now, or should I push him off until tomorrow?” Tony asked.
“I want to do it now,” she replied. “And then I’m never talking about this again.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Tony said, intent on doing or saying or giving her whatever she needed.
Jess stepped out of the bathroom. “I’m ready,” she announced to Kayden.
Kayden took out his notebook and a pen.
“You want to do this in here or step outside? In the fresh air?” Kayden Gallo was a good cop, and once again, Tony was glad that he’d been the one to show up.
“Here is fine,” she said. “It’s cold outside and I…don’t want Jasper to see us talking. He might try to come up.”
“Okay. Do you want to step me through what happened?”
Jess began to relate her story, and Tony felt his blood go cold as she described the man dragging her inside, her fear for Jasper’s safety. He’d hit her, pulled her hair, kicked her, choked her. She mentioned he was angry at his wife for something, and that it felt like he was punishing Jess for it.
Rhys listened intently to every word, and Tony could imagine the doctor cataloging every single blow she described in preparation for her exam.
Kayden asked a couple follow-up questions, but overall, he simply let Jess tell it in her own way, in her own time.
“Okay.” Kayden closed his notebook and tucked it in his back pocket. “That’s good for now. If I have any more questions, I’ll call. Is there a number where I can reach you?”
Jess hesitated, and Tony wondered if she even had a phone. He’d never seen her with one.
“You can call my cell,” Tony interjected. “Jess is staying with me and Rhys.”
Through his peripheral vision, he saw Jess turn toward him at his proclamation, but for once—or maybe just for now—she wasn’t arguing.
“Let’s get out of here, Jess.” Tony put a steadying hand on her back as he guided her out of the room.
They’d all just reached the bottom of the stairs when Jasper came bounding out of the office, Rocco right behind him.
“Mommy!” Jasper raced toward her. Jess bent down somewhat gingerly, wincing when he leapt into her arms.
He and Rhys exchanged a glance, then Rhys stepped toward them, reaching for the small boy. “Hey, kiddo.” He extracted Jasper from Jess’s arms gently and took his hand. “It’s time for us to go home.”
Jasper’s face fell. “Oh. Okay.” He looked at Jess. “We’re going to the other shelter now?”
Jess shook her head. “No. Not tonight. We’re going to spend one more night with Tony and Rhys.”
“We are?” Jasper’s eyes lit up, but Tony noticed the little boy’s fear wasn’t completely forgotten.
“Yep,” Tony said, reaching down to lift the boy, putting him on his shoulders, grinning when Jasper giggled with surprise and delight. Tony held out his hand, palm up. “Why don’t you give me your car keys, Jess? Jasper and I will drive your car back to our place and you can ride with Rhys.” Until Rhys had a chance to properly check her out, Tony thought it best she remain with a doctor.
Rocco held out Jess’s huge tote bag and her coat. “Here you go, darlin’. I got these out of your locker.”
She took them from him with a quiet word of thanks.
“I’m sorry, Jess,” Rocco said, the deep lines in his face proof of his guilt, his misery.
“Not your fault,” she said, reaching out to place her hand on Rocco’s forearm.
“I should have been watching, keeping a better eye out.”
“I’m okay, Rocco. Honest.” She attempted to reassure the old guy with a smile but winced at the pull on her cut lip.
“Come on, Jess.” Rhys helped her put on her coat. She rifled around in her huge bag for her car keys and handed them to Tony.
“See you at home,” Tony said, giving her a wink, desperate to find anything to take the darkness out of her pretty blue eyes.
She nodded numbly, then walked with Rhys to the car.
“Come on, little man,” he said, turning toward Jess’s vehicle, Jasper still riding on his shoulders.
The trip from the motel to their apartment didn’t take long, but it gave Tony too much time to think.
He sighed as they pulled up in front of their building, glad to be home, and relieved that Jess and Jasper were with them, out of the elements, in their protection. If he had his way, there wouldn’t be any more talk of shelters.
Jasper had been uncharacteristically quiet during the drive, and Tony worried about the long-lasting effects today’s attack might have not only on Jess but on Jasper as well.
He’d texted Aunt Berta before leaving the motel. Told her there’d been an incident and that Jess had been hurt, so he wasn’t surprised to see her standing in the open front door as they approached the steps.
Jasper dropped Tony’s hand when he saw her, running straight into her arms. She hugged him fiercely, her eyes filled with worry when she looked at Tony.
Rhys arrived a few minutes after, he and Jess joining them on the sidewalk. Aunt Berta took in Jess’s battered face and offered her a comforting smile.
“Jasper. I was just about to make some chocolate chip cookies and I need a taste-tester. Think you’re up to the task?” Aunt Berta asked. “There’s a cup of hot cocoa in it for you.”
Jasper nodded, excitement finally edging out the fear and confusion that had been too prevalent on the boy’s face in the last hour. “Can I, Mommy?”
“Of course you can. I’m jealous Berta chose you and not me for the job.” Jess’s ability to speak so lightheartedly after what she’d just endured had Tony wondering if she’d had too much practice pretending things were okay for Jasper when they weren’t.
“You can help us,” Jasper said. “Can’t she, Aunt Berta?”
Aunt Berta started to nod, until Rhys said, “I need your mom’s help with something in my office first, Jasper. She’ll be up in a few minutes.”
Jasper’s gaze lingered on Jess, and she turned her head slightly, trying to conceal the mark that was starting to bruise, her hand shielding her neck.
“Come on, Jasper.” Aunt Berta took his hand. “We’ll make a big platter of them and then we can all have cookies and cocoa later.”
Jasper and Aunt Berta disappeared up the stairs as he, Rhys, and Jess followed, then paused outside the door to one of the examination rooms.
“I feel fine,” Jess said. “This isn’t necessary.”
Tony had been waiting for those words, had expected her to dig her heels in. It was why he’d remained with them rather than going up with Aunt Berta and Jasper.
“I’m glad to hear you’re okay,” Rhys said, opening the door to the exam room. “But I’d like that confirmed with an examination. I know I said I’d do it, but, Jess…I have a female colleague I can call if you’d be more comfortable with her. She could be here within the hour.”
“I don’t need anyone to—”
“Do you want him or his colleague to check you out? Pick one, or I’m driving you to the hospital,” Tony interjected when she continued doubling down on her refusal.
She whirled on him, her eyes flashing with anger. “You are not in charge of me, Tony Moretti, and I’m getting sick of you constantly steamrolling over everything I say.” As she spoke, she drove her finger into his chest. “I make my own decisions. Me. Just me.”
“Well, you’re in for a world of disappointment, Jess Monroe,” he replied, leaning down but keeping his voice steady, even. After what she’d just gone through, he wasn’t about to do anything that might scare her. “Because as of right now, I’m taking charge of you. And I’m telling you to get yourself in that office so Rhys can examine you, or let him call his friend. I’m trying very hard not to touch you, because I don’t want to upset or scare you, but goddammit, if you keep fighting us on this, I promise I will pick you up, toss you over my shoulder, and drag you kicking and screaming all the way to the hospital.”
Her mouth slammed shut, but he wasn’t sure if he’d shocked her into silence or if his threat truly frightened her.
He tried to soften his tone, hating to think he may have gone too far. “We’d never hurt you, Jess. You know that, right? You’re safe with us.”
“I know that.” His words had obviously taken the wind out of her sails. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me. It’s just…I’ve been on my own for so long, and you two keep…”
She paused just long enough that Tony decided to fill in the blanks for her. “Helping you. We’re helping you.”
Tony realized that his pronoun with Jess was different than with most other people. He rarely spoke in terms of what he wanted to do for her. Instead, he spoke as a we—Rhys as much a part of this…God…what was it? A bond? A connection?
Attraction?
Tony shoved that thought away. Now wasn’t the time or place.
“So what’s it going to be? Rhys or his colleague?” he asked.
“Rhys,” she whispered. “I don’t want…a stranger.”
“Very well,” Rhys said.
“And you can touch me,” she said, her gaze traveling from Tony to Rhys and back, her words so low, he wasn’t sure he’d heard them correctly. “I want… I need…”
Tony had never seen anyone look more lost, more alone. He lifted his arms, making sure she knew the choice was hers, and Jess stepped into them, clinging to him, as if she was adrift at sea and he was the life preserver.
“I was so scared,” she said, the words muffled against his chest. “I thought he was going to kill me.”
Tony knew her well enough to know how hard it was for her to admit that.
“I know. But you were brave. You fought back.”
She shook her head. “It wasn’t going to be enough. He was stronger.”
Her words destroyed him, gutted him. “You’re so brave, Jess. So strong. Everything is going to be okay. We’re going to make it all okay.”
She breathed out an airy laugh. “Stubborn pain in the ass.”
He chuckled. “And don’t you forget it.”
Rhys moved closer, and Tony could see the pain in his friend’s gaze. Knew he needed the chance to comfort her as well. Tony released her, turning her so that Rhys could offer his own embrace.
Like with him, Jess wrapped her arms around Rhys, soaking up his warmth, his strength.
“Let Rhys examine you,” Tony said at last. “I’ll be right out here, waiting. Okay?”
“I don’t want you to wait out here.”
Tony’s heart fell, hating the feeling that she was pushing him away. He wanted—fuck, he needed—to stay close to her right now. Walking away after what had happened…he wasn’t sure it was something he could do.
His hurt was short-lived when she said, “I want you to come in too.”
Chapter Eight
Jess stepped into the exam room and looked around. It was typical of pretty much every doctor’s office she’d ever been in, the room painted a bright, crisp white, the examination table covered with a paper sheet, a rolling chair pushed next to a small desk attached to the wall. The blood pressure cuff was hanging on a wall by the bed, and there were various charts and posters, talking about all sorts of medical ailments, including one listing the signs of a heart attack and another encouraging people to give blood.
However, along with all the usual doctor fare, Rhys had added colorful artwork by a local artist depicting the Philadelphia skyscape from different perspectives, which broke up all the white and gave the room a cheerful atmosphere.
Rhys pointed to the exam table. “Why don’t you hop up and take a seat and we’ll get started. Don’t want to take too long because Aunt Berta’s chocolate chips cookies are the greatest thing you’ve ever tasted when they’re warm.”
Jess climbed up on the table as Rhys washed his hands, then placed a stethoscope around his neck. Tony had moved with her, coming to stand next to the table, more behind than next to her.
“Are you sure—” Tony murmured.
“Please don’t leave.”
She didn’t have a clue what it was about these men, but as long as she was with them, she could breathe.
With them, she was safe. Tony had said it. And she felt it.
After a lifetime alone, having them close made her feel things she’d never experienced. The deep-seated loneliness that never left her vanished in their presence.
Rhys stepped in front of her, placing his soft fingertips under her chin, tipping her face up so he could look at it. “There’s bruising on the right side of your face.” He probed that area completely. “But I don’t think there are any broken bones. And your nose looks fine.”
“His punch missed,” she said. “I’ve never…no one’s ever hit me like that before.”
A quiet rumble sounded from behind her. She’d only caught a quick glimpse of Tony’s face when he came charging into the motel room, looking for all the world like a Viking warrior. His unleashed fury had been the answer to a prayer—and the moment she saw him, all she could think was everything was going to be okay. She wasn’t going to die. Wasn’t going to leave Jasper an orphan.
That thought prompted a sob that she fought to choke down. Neither man missed the strangled cry.
“Jess,” Tony said.
She shook her head. “I’m okay,” she lied, the words too thin, thanks to the lump in her throat.
“I’m sorry he hit you,” Rhys said. “And I agree, taking a punch to the face hurts like hell.”
“You’ve been hit?” she asked, glad for the distraction from her own thoughts.
Rhys gave her a crooked grin. “I let that one,” he lifted his chin in Tony’s direction, “talk me into sparring with him in a boxing ring once.”
Tony chuckled. “I told you to keep your hands up.”
Rhys rolled his eyes. “Spent the next week trying to explain to my patients why their mild-mannered doctor had a shiner.”
“I suggested he make up a story about getting into a bar fight, but I’m pretty sure he bored everyone with the truth.”
