Behind The Book (Sexy Series 2)

by Heather Dahlgren

  That finally does it. He comes at me with the knife and London screams. I grab his arm. I’m surprised by his strength, but it’s nothing compared to the rage running through me. I punch him in the stomach, and when he tries to punch me with the other hand, I knee him in the junk.

  He drops the knife and I throw him up against the wall. I start hitting him over and over in the face and in the stomach. I’m no longer in control of my body. Seeing what he did to London, I’m going to kill him, and I couldn’t stop even if I wanted.

  “You fucking piece of shit. I’m going to kill you. I’m going to kill you with my bare fucking hands for what you did to her.” I just keep going, even when he starts sliding down the wall. I grab him and wrap my hands around his throat. “My face is the last face you’ll ever see, so get a good look.” He tries to pull my hands away, but I’m no match. I can see his eyes starting to close, and I don’t even give a fuck I’m taking his life.

  Suddenly I’m ripped off him with my arms pinned at my side. “What the fuck are you doing?” Jax yells. I don’t know what to do at this point. I just start to cry. I haven’t cried since I was a kid, but it comes crashing over me. “Go to your girl. We’ve got him.” I turn around, see London lying on the floor, and I run to her.

  “Oh God, baby, please look at me.” I pick her up and hold her against me. I’m crying harder than I’ve ever cried in my life when she stares up at me. “Holy shit, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. I’m so sorry.” She swallows a few times, and I can’t handle the pain she is in. “Jax, call 9-1-1, fuck.” He yells that he already did.

  “I’m sorry. I should have told you everything. I was scared to lose you.” We’re both crying, and I can see the physical pain she’s in.

  “Never. I told you, you’d never lose me. I don’t care what your name is, what happened in your past, I love you.” She tries to wrap her arms around me and cries out in pain. “What hurts, baby?”

  She swallows again a few times and tries to get her tears under control. “Everything. I have a few broken ribs for sure.” I break down and let out a sound that I didn’t know was possible. She’s in so much fucking pain because of this, and I don’t know how to handle it.

  “Blake, the cops are here. I’m going to let them in. Brody has that piece of shit pinned on the floor.”

  I don’t even care. I can’t turn away from her. “Help is here. They’re going to help you.” We continue to cry, and when one of the cops comes over and sees us, I hear him curse when he takes London in. “He did this to her, please help her.” Within minutes, the paramedics are there wheeling in a stretcher.

  “Sir, I’m going to lay this board down, and I want you to help us put her on here, all right?” I nod my head, staring down at her. They lay it down in front of me, and one paramedic goes by her head and another by her legs. “I’m going to wrap this around her neck first.” He puts the brace around her neck, and she cries, with pleading eyes at me. “All right, on my count, we’re going to lay her down.” He begins counting, and I kiss her swollen lips.

  “I’ll never let anything bad happen to you again.” We lay her on the board and she screams in agony, causing me to buckle over and cry into her chest. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

  “Sir, please let us examine her.” I sit up and it’s a crazy amount of stuff all happening at once. The paramedics are checking her, the cops are trying to talk to me, and Brody and Jax are standing off in the distance talking to more cops. “We need to get her to the hospital now.” I jump up to follow and the cop stops me.

  I stare down at him, and he shakes his head. “I need your statement before you go anywhere.”

  Is this guy for real? No fucking way am I not going with her. “Sir, I appreciate that you are doing your job, but the woman I love was just beat nearly to death, so forgive me if you think I’m going to sit here and talk to you when she’s on her way to the hospital. You want my statement, you’ll find me at the hospital.” I don’t even give a fuck, arrest me. “Jax, Brody, let’s go. They’ll interview us there.”

  They don’t give a fuck right now and we rush outside. I’m pissed when I see the ambulance going down the street. “Fuck!” Both Jax and Brody squeeze my shoulder and I shake my head. “Please, get me there.” We rush to the car and Jax takes off. Once we’re on our way, I start sobbing again. “Never in my life have I seen anything like that. He nearly beat her to death.” Jax reaches over and squeezes my shoulder, and Brody tries to hug me from the backseat.

  “I’m not going to lie, that was some fucked-up shit back there. Blake, if we didn’t come in when we did, you’d have killed him,” Jax says. I don’t even care that I have tears dripping off my face when I turn to face him.

  “Jax, I was trying to kill him,” I admit. They’re both quiet for a minute before Jax glances over at me.

  “I would have too if it was Kallie.” Brody agrees, and for some reason, it makes me feel a little bit more sane.

  “Brody, can you call Shannon, tell her what happened, and see if she knows how to get in touch with London’s, ummm, Laken’s parents.”

  “Laken?”

  I nod my head and wipe my face with the bottom of my shirt. “From what he made her tell me, her real name is Laken and they were engaged. I don’t know what the fuck to think right now. I just want to make sure she’s all right.” They both agree with me and we don’t speak of it again. After I know she’s okay, we’ll talk about everything, but right now, that’s the least of my worries.

  We finally pull up to the hospital, and Jax lets me out at the emergency room entrance, while they go park. I run inside and stop at the desk. “My girlfriend was just brought in by ambulance.” She stares up at me and smiles. Seriously? She’s going to flirt with me right now?

  “Hey, I know you. You’re Blake Foster. Oh my God, I’m a huge fan.”

  Oh fuck. Is she kidding? “That’s awesome, thanks, but I really need to get to my girlfriend. London Tweed.” I’m crossing my fingers that’s the name she gave because I don’t even remember at this point if she told me a last name.

  “Yes, she’s in ER room 106. Just go through the double doors and turn right. It’s the second room on your left.” I thank her and rush through the doors. I find her room and there’s a nurse in there with her. I walk in and the nurse smiles at me.

  “You must be Blake.” I glance down at London and back to the nurse. “She’s been calling for you.” I move to her side and reach down to hold her hand.

  “What’s wrong with her?” I rub my thumb over her knuckles and she squeezes my hand.

  “Well, she just got back here, so I’m not sure yet. I know she needs to get x-rays and probably a few small stitches on that cut.” She smiles down at London. “I’m going to get some ice for that eye and lip. I’ll be right back.” She leaves and I move London’s hair away from her face. She stares at me and starts to cry.

  “Baby, don’t cry. I’m here, I’m not going anywhere.” I lean down and kiss her lips as gently as I can. “Did they give you anything for your pain yet?”

  She clears her throat and focuses on the IV. “Not yet. She just put the IV in. Blake, I didn’t want you to find out like this. I was going to tell you over dinner tonight. I swear I was.” I now know exactly where all her fear comes from. She’s afraid I’m going to be like him. I feel gutted at the thought.

  “Listen, I don’t care about any of that. Especially right now, but I want you to know that you never ever have to fear me. I would never hurt you like this, ever. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.” Just then, two officers come into her room, and I understand they have a job to do, but shit, can’t they let her get helped first?

  “Ma’am, we have some questions for you, and it’s best we get them while it’s still fresh.”

  I cross my arms with disgust. “Yeah, because this looks like something she’ll easily forget.” She squeezes my hand and I glance down at her.

  “It’s all right.” It’s not all right. Nothin
g about this is all right. However, they start asking questions. What can I do? I just stand there and hold her hand.

  “So, he was in your house when you got home last night?” I physically feel ill, listening to their questions and her answers.

  “Yes.” The female officer looks at her, then at me, then back to her.

  “Maybe your boyfriend should leave for a few minutes.” Not a shot in hell.

  “No. We have no secrets,” she says. I don’t care who is around…I kiss her.

  “I know this is hard, but did he rape you?” I stare at them with wide eyes, never having that thought cross my mind. If I thought I felt sick before, it’s nothing compared to this. I don’t know how the fuck she was able to endure all of this and still be here talking like this.

  “No, he didn’t. He was too busy beating the shit out of me, breaking my computer, and torturing me with how he found me and that he was going to take me back to Florida with him.” I breathe out a sigh of relief, but still I’m sick about what happened.

  “All right. So you told the paramedics that you left when he nearly beat you to death five years ago. You changed your name and tried to stay under the radar, so how was he able to find you?”

  She swallows a few times and begins to cry. “He told my parents that I was in trouble and had reached out to him. He told them I was in a bad relationship, that I feared for my life, but I wasn’t able to get my address to him. They gave it to him. He found me on Facebook because my friend posted my picture.” Holy fuck. I can’t believe the lengths he went through, but right now, I feel as much anger toward her parents as I do him.

  “Sir, you are the one that found them, correct?”

  “Yes.” I tell them everything that happened, right down to me almost choking the life out of him.

  “That’s all we need right now. Thank you both. We’ll be in touch.”

  Oh, I don’t fucking think so. “Whoa, hold on a minute. What about him? He’s never getting out of jail, right?”

  “He’s not able to post bail, so he will remain there until his court date.”

  Is this for real? “Until his court date? Are you kidding me? Look at her. He nearly killed her.” They give me the whole speech that everyone gets a court date and bullshit like that. I just nod and they leave. I’ll never let her out of my sight again, so why am I worried? Next time, I will kill him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  London

  I am finally in a room. I’ve been in the hospital for hours now. I have four broken ribs, five stitches, and a lot of swelling and bruising. I’m so lucky to be alive. I really thought he was going to kill me, and honestly, I think he would have, but he wanted to make sure Blake was there first. I tried fighting so hard this time, but he was just so much stronger than me. If it weren’t for the thought of Blake, I probably would have just given up.

  He found out everything about me before coming to find me. He knew I was an author, what my books were about, that I was dating Blake, and that I tried my hardest to stay under the radar. If Shannon hadn’t posted that picture and Blake hadn’t commented, it probably wouldn’t have happened so soon, but it would have happened. He told me he’d been looking for me since I left, and that my parents were all too willing to give him my address. I cried so hard when he said Blake better come find me. I have no idea what he thought he was going to do to Blake, considering Blake nearly killed him, but still.

  The nurse interrupts my thoughts when she gives me more pain medicine. “Sweetie, you have a large crowd out here that are about to have security on them if I don’t let them in.” I smile at her, and she gives me fresh ice for my eye. “They all can’t stay too long, but considering they’ve all been here for hours, I’m going to break the rules for a while.”

  “Thank you.” I feel overwhelmed with love for everyone and embarrassment. Nothing prepared me for everyone that comes in the door. Blake, of course, is the first one in. Then Jax, Kallie, Brody, Braden, Brinley, Max, Shannon, and to my complete surprise, my parents come in. Everyone has balloons, flowers, and even a few stuffed animals. Blake gently kisses my lips and moves his mouth to my ear.

  “I’m staying the night. I don’t give a fuck what your parents say. I’ll let everyone visit with you before I take up all of your time, though.” I stare at him and try to give him a look of confusion, but I’m not sure it comes across with the swelling. “I’ll explain it all later, baby.” He moves aside, and as soon as I see Shannon, I start to cry.

  “Oh, London, I knew something was wrong. It was my fault. I should never have posted that picture.” We both hold onto each other and cry for a while.

  “Shan, it wasn’t your fault. You know he would have found me with or without that picture.” It’s true, he would have.

  “I’d like to see my daughter now.” I glance up at my mother and she appears pissed off. “Laken, I am so sorry I gave him your address, but why didn’t you tell us how awful he was?”

  I can’t stop the tears. “Mom, I told you so many times and you didn’t believe me. You told me I was running away, and you were right, just not about what I was running from. You’ve wanted nothing to do with me the last few years, so don’t come here now seeking forgiveness, because it’s not going to happen overnight.” She wipes her tears and glances at my dad.

  “Laken, your mother and I are sorry, but you have to admit it was hard to believe.” This is the last thing I need right now. I can feel myself getting ready to blow. How is it hard to believe your daughter? “I mean, look at the friends you keep now.” That’s it. That did it.

  “Get out.” My mother gasps and my father shakes his head. “I’m not kidding. Get the fuck out of my room, this hospital, this fucking state. I’ve done great for five years without you. I have my family here, and you are not a part of them.”

  “Laken—”

  “My name is London.”

  My father rolls his eyes and turns to my mother. “I told you California would change her.” He glances back down at me. “These friends you keep, they are nothing but trouble.”

  I can’t stop the tears. “These friends I keep are the only ones who have been there for me. These friends I keep are all living their dreams, just like me. These friends I keep make me laugh, make me happy, and love me, not because they’re obligated to, because they want to.” Blake moves next to my mom and smiles down at me. “And this man right here is the love of my life. Now get the fuck out of here before I call security and have you removed.” They don’t even think twice about it and walk out the door. They never once asked how I was feeling. I start crying pretty hard, and Blake gently wraps his arms around me.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think they would be so cold once they saw you. I’m proud of you, though.” I laugh and then moan in pain. “Easy, baby. Now are you ready to talk with the rest of your family?” He pulls back and gives me a smile.

  “Hell yes, I am.” Every single one of them either kisses me or hugs me and asks how I’m feeling. More than my parents did.

  “London, you scared the shit out of us.” I frown at Jax and look between him and Brody.

  “Thank you both for coming when you did. Both Blake and I needed you there.” Jax gives Blake a nod, and I’m certain they’ve already talked about it all.

  “That’s what family does. Blake is our brother, so that makes you our sister. I’m just thankful it turned out the way it did.” I feel the tears again, and as much as I want to be embarrassed, I’m not. These people that have become such an important part of my life the last few months make me feel like I can do no wrong. I wish I had realized it sooner.

  “All right, enough. She’s been through enough. Let’s not keep talking about it.” Kallie smiles at me and gives me a wink. “So thanks to you two, Jax had to shock the hell out of the pool.” It was just the tension breaker we needed. Everyone laughs, including me, which I immediately regret.

  “All right, no jokes. She’s hurting enough.” Blake, my tattooed knight in shining armor
, comes to my rescue yet again.

  “Blake, it’s all right. I need it.” He blows out a breath, pulls up a chair next to me, and holds my hand.

  “Did they say how long you’d have to stay?”

  I turn my attention to Braden and shake my head. “No, but considering I used to take care of this myself at home, I hope tomorrow.” Blake squeezes my hand, and I don’t look at him because I don’t want to see his expression.

  “I’m sorry, I know we’re supposed to move on, but how the fuck did you care for yourself when you were like this?”

  I do glance at Blake this time, and he’s shooting Brinley daggers with his eyes. “It’s fine, Blake.” He stares at me and I give him the best smile I can. “Honest.” I turn back to Brinley and almost laugh when I see everyone waiting on me for an answer. “When you have no other choice, you’d be amazed what you can do.” I feel the tears coming, but I just keep talking. “You do anything you can to protect yourself, and sometimes that meant nursing myself back to health. I will tell you something, though. Another man will never lay his hands on me.” Blake stands up and wraps his arms around me. I can feel his tears on my shoulder and it breaks my heart. “I’m sorry.” He picks up his head, and I watch a tear run down his cheek.

  “Don’t ever apologize for what you went through. You are the strongest person I have ever known to deal with what you did. You have literally walked through hell and came out on the other side. You may have gotten burnt a bit along the way, but damn, baby, look at you. You still manage to laugh, to live your dream, to love me.” I reach up and wipe his tears, and he kisses the palm of my hand. “I swear to you, you will never walk through hell again, not without me.”