Rising Up: Finding Me book 1

by J J Harper

  Lucas is next to me holding me tightly. "It's okay Imogen, you're okay now."

  "That's not Jake." I can hear how shaky my voice is. "But I know him." The sobs build up in my chest and erupt from my body like a deluge.

  "Ginny, don't worry the cops are on their way."

  "Mason? I need Mason. Oh God! He's in court, I need him so much." My knees start to buckle and I feel faint.

  Maddie turns up and stares down at the guy on the ground. "What the fuck is Peter Jenkins doing on the ground? Shit Imogen, what did he do?" Her face suddenly registers what she's seeing. "He was after you Ginny, wasn't he? Shit, he was one of the guys. He's here with Jake." I watch her scanning the streets looking for any more faces she recognizes. "He's there! Lucas he's there on the corner!" We both turn to see where Maddie is pointing and just capture a glimpse of Jake before he disappears down another street with an angry grimace on his face.

  Lucas takes charge when the police reach us and Peter is handcuffed and shoved in the back of the car. They needed to talk to me too, but Lucas arranged for them to meet me back at the apartment.

  He tucks me under his arm and leads me back to his office. "I need to call Mason, so Ginny can you just sit tight here. Maddie, grab her a drink of juice she's about to go into shock."

  My body started to shake again as the realization of what had just happened hit me. "Oh God, Maddie he was here, he's got the whole gang here to take care of me. He knows he can't touch me but the others can! Shit! Do you think my mother is here too? God! I really need Mason." I knew I was rambling on and it wasn't making much sense. "Why I am I such a threat to him? What is he going to do to me when he gets hold of me, I mean, look how easy it was today. When it happens again it could be quiet or dark and there will be no-one around to help."

  Lucas appears again and kneels down in front of me clasping my hands tight in his. "Imogen, look at me." My eyes rise up to look at his face. "Mason is about finished and he wants me to take you home."

  "I don't want to be on my own!" My voice rises in panic.

  "You won't be alone, I will be with you until he gets there, so grab your bag and let's get going. Maddie, I've spoken to Lake and he says you're to go home too and get Ginny's clothes and stuff together so she can stay at Mason's. He'll meet you there to help. I don't think you should be left alone either, Jake saw you today too, and you could easily become a target or a way of getting to Imogen."

  Maddie's face blanches as she realizes the danger. "Shit, what shall I do? Where can I go?"

  "Oh Maddie, I'm so sorry you've been dragged into this." My tears start again and drip down my face.

  "It's not your fault Ginny, he's a complete psycho." But I know she’s scared now too.

  Mason

  Lucas has just called and I can't get out of court fast enough, thank God the judge decided to stop for the day. What the fuck is going on? Luc said he had it under control and suddenly Ginny is nearly abducted in the middle of the street. How the hell did he get close to her without Lucas knowing?

  My poor girl must be going out of her mind. All of a sudden the traffic comes to a halt, what the hell is going on. Drumming my hands against the steering wheel trying to stay calm my cell rings again, it's an unknown number but I press the answer button on my steering wheel "Hello." The line is quiet. "Hello, who is this?" I'm getting pissed now.

  "We'll get her next time. You can't hide her from us. See you soon." The line goes dead. Shit! This is just getting worse and worse.

  I punch Lucas's number.

  "I've just had a fucking call from some unknown bastard telling me that they'll get Ginny next time. I thought you had this under control?" Trying but failing to control my temper I'm shouting at Lucas.

  "I know, I've just had one too, we need to get the police involved more. Imogen has got to make a statement anyway. It wasn't Jake that grabbed her it was a guy called Peter Jenkins and he was one of the guys on the video but Maddie saw Jake across the street.

  "Have you got her home yet? I'm stuck in some heavy traffic right now and don't seem to be moving any time soon."

  "We're back in the apartment, would you like to speak to Ginny? She's right here."

  "Babe, are you okay? I'll be back with you soon. Don't worry sweetheart, I won't be long. I love you sweetheart." My voice breaks at the end I just want her in my arms.

  "I'm okay, still a bit shaken but Lucas has been great, and Maddie and Lake are getting all my stuff to bring up here. I hope they don't kill each other though." She gives a small chuckle making my heart hurt just a bit more than it already is.

  "Look the cars have just started moving again I'll be home in twenty minutes tops. Bye darling." I press the button again to hang up and start weaving in and out of the traffic trying to get through the backlog. I manage to make it back to the parking lot in fifteen minutes and I race to the elevator, luckily it was at ground level.

  As I walk in the front door I can see Ginny huddled up under a fleece blanket holding onto a cup of hot tea as if her life depends on it. I rush up to her and taking the mug away I pull her into my arms and hold on tight to her, I can feel her trembling as she gives in to tears and clings on to me.

  "Mason, I'm so scared."

  "I know darling, but I'm here now and I'm not letting you out of my sight again. I've got you babe, I've got you. Let me go and talk with Lucas I won't be long." I kiss her swollen lips and hug her one more time.

  "What the fuck are we going to do now Luc? He's not bothered about being seen is he?" I'm pacing the kitchen floor.

  "I'm waiting for the cops to get back to me, I want to hear what the guy who grabbed Ginny says. Maddie recognized him and it was her who spotted Jake. I want Ginny to call her father and find out if he knows where her mother is, since she was the one that called this morning. But you, Mason, you need to calm down and look after your girlfriend, maybe you could take her to your parents for a couple of days?"

  "That won't work unless I'm there, and I'm completely snowed under this week with work. I'm back in court again tomorrow and it still might not be over then the judge is fussing around like nobody's business. The jury seems pretty switched on so hopefully it will be quick. The best thing for her to do is carry on at work, not change her routine, but she just can't be left alone or leave the building without one of us with her."

  "I can hear you, you know. Don't talk about me like I'm an idiot or a child. I can be included in these discussions you know!" Imogen shouts at me from the sofa.

  "Shit babe, I'm sorry. We'll come in and talk to you as well. I just didn't want to worry or scare you." Walking back to her I pick her up and sit pack down on the sofa with her on my knee still wrapped in her fleece cocoon. Lucas follows me in and sits opposite us.

  "Imogen, you need to realize how important you are to us, we are a close knit family, you have only met a few of us so far, but we close ranks when any one of us is in danger, and you sweet girl are most definitely in danger. You need to listen to me and to the cops when they get here. Mason is going to make sure you are surrounded by people who love you and he’s big enough to carry this burden for you. Let him look after you."

  I watch as Imogen takes in what Luc has just said and can feel the shivers and trembles race through her body as she understands the severity of our situation. "But why? What could I have possibly done to send him on this crazy mission? He sent one of his friends to capture me! I just don't understand why."

  "Neither do we yet. Have you spoken to your father?" I kiss her head again, I can't keep my hands off her, the idea that someone tried to take her away from me, I don't know what to do or think so I just keep my hands on her reaffirming that she is still here with me.

  "He may have more of an insight to what your mother has to do with this. Jake has already been dropped from the show here because of our restraining order so it could be a simple...” he laughs dryly at this, "vendetta for his lost job or something far more sinister. Does he know you have a copy of the rape? Perso
nally I think he is so unstable that he doesn't even know what his plans for you are if he catches you, which he won't Imogen." Lucas reaches over and pats Ginny's knees.

  There's a knock at the door making Ginny jump and clutch my arms. Luc gets up and looks through the spyhole. "It's the cops Imogen, are you ready to talk to them?"

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  Mason

  She looks at me, her eyes wide with fear but nods her head and Luc lets them in. I stand us both up and take Ginny's hand and lead her to my office where the doctor’s notes and the photographs and disc of the rape were locked away. Ginny pulls on my hand. "I don't want to be with them when they watch it Mason, I can't bear the looks in their eyes."

  "Okay sweetheart, after you give them your statement I'll ask if you can leave while they view it. I don't really want them to take it away. They can have a copy, things can get lost. C'mon let's get this over with, and I can get you into bed, don’t look at me like that babe, you look wiped out." I can see the desire in her eyes but I'm sure she'll be asleep the minute her head hits the pillows.

  Standing at the back of my office with Lucas next to me leaning against the wall, I know I won't be able to say anything, but I want Ginny to feel my support.

  "Ms. Banks, are you comfortable with Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Davenport being here with you?"

  "Its fine, they have both already seen and read the reports I'm going to show you and to be honest with you I'm new in this country and I'm not sure what is going to happen here."

  "We understand Ms. Banks, thank you for your time today, I understand how shaken you must be. I'm Detective Garcia and this is Detective Mathews. Shall we get started?"

  I managed to tune out the horrors that sick bastard inflicted on her, but some of it is new to me and Lucas looked livid as her heard it.

  Turning to me he whispers "This bastard is going down and I don't care who does it but he won't be breathing for much longer"

  I look back up and Imogen is looking at me questioningly. "Sorry babe, what did you say?"

  "The police want to watch the recording."

  "Okay sweetheart, let's get you out of here."

  Imogen

  I can't believe how many questions they are asking me. 'Had he always been violent? How else did he control me, what was my mother's role in this? Have I any idea who else Jake could have brought over?'

  It seems that Peter Jenkins has talked and although he wasn't sure who else was involved he was under the impression from Jake that there were more. Jake was blackmailing him with some photographs he has of him, there's something else but he's not saying yet.

  We had talked for well over an hour and had discussed the medical records, I had to give them Nessa's number so they could have her confirm the extent of the injuries. I'd better speak to her first thing tomorrow and warn her, but I know she'll be happy to help put him away.

  "We would like you to stay please Ms. Banks, you will need to put names to faces. We are aware of Mr. Williams and now Mr. Jenkins, but we need to be able to recognize the others and check whether they are also here."

  "I don't need to watch it to tell you their names it was always the same four men with Jake, they were his closest friends."

  Mason's head jerks up. "What do you mean 'always' how many times did this happen? Shit Ginny, please tell me?" He has tears in his eyes as he rushes up and pulls me in to his arms. "I think gentlemen that we need I few minutes to ourselves."

  The leading officer looks at the distress on my face and nods. "Okay, but just a few minutes we really need to get the others names so that we can check on them. Maybe Mr. Davenport has information he can share with us if that is okay with you Ms. Banks."

  I manage to nod my head while my eyes are fixed on Mason.

  "Ginny babe, talk to me. How many times did he do this to you? I can't bear this, the thought of all the hurt and pain he inflicted on you is killing me." His forehead touches mine as he leans in and softly kisses my trembling lips.

  "It only happened that one time but he always hung out with the same four friends, they all went to the same university and were inseparable. He would let them watch him fuck me and they would take photographs." Swallowing hard and with my hands in front of my eyes, my voice is stuttering as I start to speak again.

  "He would sometimes tie me to the bed and blindfold me, which is fine and normal in happy, healthy and consensual relationships, and I'm all for those sort of games, we would do it when we first got together and I liked it, but I'm sure it was so that he could get me used to not seeing what was happening.

  Later he would let his friends touch me thinking I wouldn't notice but how stupid did he think I was, people do things differently and smell different. He would remove the blindfold once they had left."

  "Who are these men Ginny, what are their names?" His voice sounds so strained, I think he about to snap.

  "Okay, let's get the police back in here and then I can tell them too." I hold his face with my hands and kiss him deeply pouring as much love as I can in to it.

  Lucas leads them back in and has one of his laptops with him. "Ginny, if it's alright with you I will bring up the profiles of each man so that the cops can have a visual of each of them."

  "Of course Lucas, that is a much better idea, I really don't want to look at that video ever again." I rest my hands flat on the table and look back up at the cops. "You already know Peter Jenkins and, thankfully, have him in custody. All of these men have high profile jobs and I think two of them are married and I know one of them has a young child.

  The dark-haired man is Damien Halloran and he is Jake's personal lawyer. The tall blond man is Marcus Cavanagh and he is a high profile banker working in the City, he is married to a socialite and they attend all the parties of the rich and famous even royalty. The forth is Leo McBride a successful actor in a popular soap opera, he is married to a model and has a child of about 2 years old."

  By the time I've finished I realize that I have tears pouring down my face, Masons hand is rubbing soothing circles on my back and Lucas has the printer at the back of the office spewing reams of paper with photographs and profiles of each man as he finds them, and also their wives background too.

  "Thank you Ms. Banks for that information I believe that after we have viewed the evidence we will be finished for now unless there are any questions you have for us?"

  "I think my brain is about to explode, so I'm sorry I can't think of anything at the moment."

  "That's understandable but please don't hesitate to call me if you think of anything else."

  "Oh Lucas have you mentioned Mark and Lauren?" I turn to look at him.

  "Mr. Davenport has given us the information he has gathered on them, and we will be paying them a visit shortly."

  Mason

  As we walk out of my office I pull Imogen towards my bedroom, I want to talk to her away from Lucas and the cops, I'm sure Maddie and Lake will turn up soon so I haven't got much time.

  "Jesus!" I'm rubbing my hands down my face trying to clear my head of the images and reports of my beautiful, funny, sexy, intelligent girlfriend being raped by a group of sadistic animals.

  Just a few months ago I was moping around my apartment feeling sorry for myself without any knowledge of this amazing woman about to enter my life and turn it upside down, I never thought I would love someone so completely, but now with all of this trouble crashing around us I'm beginning to wonder if it's all too much?

  But the thought of not being with her makes my heart ache, so I know I'm going to have to man up and take control of my fears, because if Ginny can claim her life back and move on then I can surely accept what happened and move on with her but the dreaded question is roaring its way out of my body 'why did she stay with him?'

  "I know what you are thinking Mason and it's a question I continually ask myself now. But he is a very persuasive and charming man, he wouldn't be as successful as he is if he wasn't, he would promise it was a one-time only thing, an
d it was a mistake and that he was sorry and then would turn it all back on to me, if I hadn't worn a certain dress or talked to another man or even just for seeing Maddie then none of it would have happened. He is a consummate liar and he never believes he has done anything wrong.

  "He is a sociopath Imogen and he really needs to be stopped, did you know that Lucas has found other women he had abused and they are also too afraid to speak up. He has to be stopped before he hurts anybody else especially you. You are too important to lose."

  "Why did it look like you were doubting if you could cope with all of this? If you really are beginning to wonder if it's too much for you then you have to tell me now. It would hurt me so much to lose you but spending every day thinking you were with me out of duty or pity would kill me. So Mason, do I need to walk away from you now?" Her face is a picture of pain and longing.

  I can't believe she could tell I had doubts. "How did you know that Ginny?"

  "Because Mason, I know you and I think that we are supposed to be together which is why I so quickly understand every nuance of you? So what's your answer?"

  I see her withdraw into herself as her arms wrap yet again around her body as if holding herself together, and I can’t believe I even let those stray errant thoughts in my head. "I can never give you up, you are part of me and I think it is probably the better part of me. I cannot and will not live without you."

  My smile is small but my kiss is long and hard and full of every emotion I can muster. "Let's get back to the cops and get this over with and then we can concentrate on each other." I take her hand and bring it up to my mouth and kiss her knuckles softly.

  "So you're staying then?" Her smirk earns her a swat on her delightful ass.

  "Too right, you're stuck with me."

  The police have finally finished after having just a few more questions but they start to pack up and get ready to leave.