"I'm okay though," I whispered. "I'm here-"
"You're not okay," He said. "I know you're not okay. Not after that fucker put his hands on you." I never could really lie to him.
"Touché."
"We'll get you some help, Baby," He promised his voice thick. I nodded, the silence stretched in the dark room.
"We still need to talk," I reminded him in my hoarse voice. His hand ran down my hair as he gently kissed my forehead.
"Not until you're better," Zeke whispered. "Not until you're healed and ready. It can wait until then."
"You sure?"
"Yeah," he whispered. "I want you okay again more than I want to figure it out." I stopped fighting it, I relaxed in his arms and fell asleep.
The Boys: Zeke
I watched as Lexie shifted her legs under the blanket. She did that whenever the icepack she was using stopped working, and I wasn't the only one to notice. Asher got to his feet.
"I'll get her another icepack," Asher murmured.
"Ask about her meds, she should be due soon," I told him. He nodded that he heard before heading out the door. I looked at her again. Her face was mostly black and purple, her left eye was completely black and bruises in the shape of hands covered her throat. Fury burned in my stomach as I looked at what that fucker had done to her. I checked the clock on the wall, three hours. It had been three hours since I walked into this room and opened my big mouth.
After making her cry, I had to fix it, and I didn't know how. The others were holding her and I didn't know what to do except get Hades, she'd worry about him otherwise. But first, I walked through the hospital looking for Ordin’s room. It wasn't hard to find, it was the only one with a cop guarding it. Rory was there talking to the guard. He spotted me coming down the hall, he broke off to meet me before I reached the door.
"What are you thinking, Zeke?" Rory asked casually. I looked over Rory's head to the door.
"I want to see him," I said calmly. Rory frowned at me.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" He asked.
"I need to see the fucker who hurt her," My voice grew deeper. Rory sighed.
"Okay," Rory agreed. He shot the other cop a look then walked into the room ahead of me. The fucker was huge compared to her. My height, and half my size. He still outweighed her by at least eighty pounds. His face was beaten to hell, completely black and blue. He had scratches down one side of his face. One of his eyes were swollen shut, the other went to me and grew wide. He had one arm in a cast. He was shirtless so I could see his ribs were wrapped, bruising was everywhere. His left leg was in a brace where Isaac broke the fucker's knee. That was it. And she looked... It still wasn't enough. I went after him, Rory shouted and pushed me back. I don't remember what I was yelling at that piece of shit but his face turned white under the bruises as Rory, and the other cop, pulled me from the room. Rory grabbed my jacket and made me walk away with him. He kept saying that Lexie needed me here and not in jail, that Clay was going to jail on several charges. That it was a slam dunk case, but it didn't matter to me. I just kept seeing my Lexie's face beaten to hell, I kept seeing her crying and I kept thinking about the fact she had to have... I pushed it away. I couldn't think about it and stay sane. Rory kept walking with me around the building for I don't know how long. Long enough for me to cool down and finally hear what he was saying. She needed me here. Not in jail, that would only upset her more. He was right. I couldn't let her down, not again.
She whimpered in her sleep bringing my attention back to the present. I reached out and carefully held her hand. She relaxed again, a small smile on her lips. My heart skipped a beat like it had every time I saw that smile. Every time I saw those sparkling eyes. Ever since that first corny ass joke, I never stood a chance.
Riley even knew it, she said so. I had tried with Riley. Hell, I even held her fucking hand in front of other people. I never tried for someone before, but it didn't matter in the end. When she asked me if I loved her, I knew it was over. I wouldn't lie to her and Riley knew it.
"You're in love with Lexie," Riley had said, her voice pained. She stated it as a fact, and it was over.
Her hand squeezed mine, letting me know she was awake. She was trying to sleep, but it wasn't happening. My mind went back to today in the weight room. The way her lips tasted, that little noise she made. Everything had disappeared but her for those few seconds. She took the torn places inside me and eased them. And I let her drive home alone. What the fuck had I been thinking? I needed to do better than this. Especially, since he touched her. I fought down the urge to tear the room apart, that wouldn't help her. I already texted Miles about getting her to a shrink. Miles didn't ask why, he probably already knew or had at least guessed. He just said he'd find the best.
Hades' head lifted off Lexie's leg. He gave a soft bark before he jumped to the floor and went to the door where he took up the guard position that I had taught him. Hades might still be a puppy, but he had good instincts when it came to Lexie. I walked over to stand in the doorway, then cursed. Dylan was coming down the hall. When he saw me, he didn't even miss a step. This fucker was beyond my last nerve, he figured Lexie would protect him from me. I wanted nothing more than to pound his face into the floor. I reminded myself that she needs me here and out of jail while the others searched in town for her ice cream. It barely helped. Dylan stopped across from the doorway just out of my reach. I refused to move from the door.
"I heard about it at the police station when I was being released. Is she okay?" Dylan asked. I debated whether to answer or not. But it was a neutral question.
"She's alive," I said.
"The cops only said assault... What did he do to her?" He asked. My temper boiled over. I debated the best way to get him out of here without bloodshed. I was about to say fuck the no bloodshed when Asher came around the corner carrying an ice pack. He frowned when he saw Dylan.
"What are you doing here?" Asher demanded. So, I wasn't the only one wanting to beat the shit out Dylan. It was good to know I wasn't over reacting.
"He heard about Lexie at the police station," I said through clenched teeth.
"Did he hurt her?" Dylan asked, his voice growing hard. A little late to start caring now, gutless.
"He beat the shit of out of her," Asher told him, his voice calm. "He also gave her a skull fracture along with a few other injuries." Dylan cursed then clenched his jaw. I waited for him to leave.
"I want to see her," Dylan announced. I was amazed by the balls this guy had.
"No," I stated. Dylan's eyes flashed at me.
"Why don't you ask her? Instead of making all of her decisions for her," Dylan snapped. Was this fucker for real? When did Lexie let anyone, ever, make a decision for her? Judging from the look on Asher's face, I wasn't the only one confused.
"Fine. I'll ask her," I said calmly. I knew what she was going to say, but Lexie was the final word when it came to Dylan. Asher handed me the ice pack before I walked back into the room. I moved around the bed and knelt to her level. "Baby," I said in my softest voice. She opened her eyes. Yeah, she hadn't been sleeping. I handed her the icepack, she gave me a small smile as she took it. I waited while she put it where it needed to be. When she stopped shifting, I told her. "Dylan's here."
"I know." Her voice was small and not like her, I missed her normal voice.
"He wants to see that you're okay." I kept my voice as soft as I could. She didn't need my opinion of the prick to deal with right now. Tears filled her eyes, making my chest burn.
"You were right," She muttered in her scratchy, hoarse voice. "I'm not okay, Zeke. I'm so not okay." Heart aching, I reached out carefully and brushed the hair from her face.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked carefully. She looked so small in that bed, she looked... broken. I couldn't stand this.
"I don't care what he wants," She whispered through her damaged throat. "Get rid of him. Threaten him, hit him, I don't care." Tears ran down her face and my knotted stomach filled with anger at
the sight. "Just get rid of him. I've tried, he's not listening and I can't...." Her voice choked off. She closed her eyes trying to find control again, it felt like a kick to the gut. I pulled my handkerchief out of my back pocket and slipped it into her hand. She opened her eyes again.
"I'll take care of it," I promised. She gave me a small, grateful smile. I straightened to my full height and went back to the door. "Hades, to Lexie," I ordered. Hades gave me a look as if he wanted to argue, before turning and going back into the room. He jumped onto the bed and Lexie started talking to him. I turned to Dylan. "She said no. She doesn't want to see you, not now and not ever again," I growled as I stepped out into the hall. "She was kidnapped and almost beaten to death. She doesn't give a fuck about what you want."
Dylan's face turned red. "You can't stop me from seeing her, Zeke," Dylan shot back. I took another step towards him.
"If you ever come near her again, I'm going to beat you until you're the one in the hospital," I warned him, my voice hard and sharp.
"It's not your decision," Dylan reminded me.
"No shit, it's hers. She said to get rid of you, and she doesn't care how," I growled, stepping closer. "What do you think will happen if you're not gone in the next couple minutes?" I asked. Come on fucker, swing at me. You hurt my Lexie... our Lexie, and I hurt you. Dylan clenched his fists.
"Lexie!" Dylan shouted. Asher jerked him back away from me before I could reach him. He immediately stepped between us.
"She said no, and that's that," Asher declared. He grabbed Dylan by the shoulder and started him moving him away. "I'll walk you out," Asher said, his voice stiff as they walked down the corridor. I waited until the elevator doors closed before I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I walked back into her hospital room and sat in my chair next to her bed, I held her small hand in mine. She gave my hand a squeeze before closing her eyes. She really needed to rest. Where the hell were the twins with that lullaby when we needed them?
The Boys: Asher
I kept my grip light until the door to the elevators closed then I let go of Dylan. If I didn't, there was going to be trouble. I couldn't believe Dylan. An old friend or not, he was beyond crossing the line now. I just needed to get him outside before I said anything to him. Dylan, however, didn't seem to understand the situation he was in.
"That fucker is pushing her around," Dylan bit out. I took a deep breath, just wait until we're outside. "He's jealous of how Lexie feels about me," Dylan groused. I watched to floor numbers change while bouncing on the balls of my feet. Come on, it's a three-story building! How could it take this long? Dylan continued to bitch about Zeke and how he'll talk to Lexie and work everything out when she's feeling up to dealing with Zeke. I almost lost it right there, he still wasn't listening. I debated texting Zeke to have him meet us in the parking lot just to make it clear to Dylan. But that would leave Ally alone, and that was never going to happen again. The doors opened, and we walked out into the foyer. The outside air was crisp and welcoming right now. "Zeke's been trying to get into her pants since day one," Dylan announced as we reached his Dad's car. That's it, I was done.
"Shut the fuck up, Dylan!" I shouted. Anger burned through me like I'd never felt before, not at a friend. Dylan turned to me, his face stunned. "What the hell is wrong with you? Ally's been through hell tonight, and you show up and demand to see her? Then she says no, and you yell for her?"
"I was worried about-"
"No!" I snapped "This wasn't about her. This was about you. You wanted to see her, and you don't give a damn about what she wants or needs right now!" Dylan shook his head.
"I'm in love with her." Dylan admitted quietly. I was stunned, for five seconds.
"Bullshit," I growled. "You made her feel like a burden. You knew exactly what that would do to her, and you did it anyway. You don't do that to someone you love." I shook my head, I still couldn't believe this was the same guy I'd played football with all my life. "I just did you the last favor I'll ever do for you." Dylan eyed me as I explained. "I just saved your ass from Zeke, next time I won't," I warned him. A car pulled into the almost empty parking lot.
Dylan shook his head. "Lexie wouldn't let him-"
"You don't seem to get it," I stated clearly so he couldn't misunderstand. "Lexie has taken the chains off. He now has permission to beat the shit out of you on sight."
"That's just until she feels better and can stand up to him again," Dylan stated as if it were obvious. I couldn't believe him. Ethan and Isaac walked up to us.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Isaac snapped.
"Tell me he wasn't stupid enough to go upstairs?" Ethan asked me.
"I can't," I said.
"What the fuck is the matter with you?" Ethan snapped. "Was there some miscommunication when she looked at you and said, 'fuck off?'"
Dylan went to get in to his Dad's car but I slammed his door shut and took the keys from his hand. We were getting this dealt with now. We had already come too close to losing Ally tonight, I wasn't going to risk her getting hurt anymore.
"Give me my keys back, Asher," Dylan snapped. I shook my head.
"Not until you understand what will happen if you come near her again," I said calmly. Dylan rolled his eyes.
"I'm not worried about it," Dylan reminded me.
"Well, you better get worried about it." I countered.
"Wait, what did we miss?" Isaac asked.
"Ally said she didn't want to see him, then she asked Zeke to intervene with Dylan," I announced. The twins' faces were shocked. Yeah, Ally asking for help told us exactly how much she was hurting right now. And if Dylan really knew her, he'd understand that too.
"Did the labs come back positive while we were gone?" Ethan asked, his voice boiling.
"No. They came back negative," I told him instantly. Ethan and Isaac let out relieved breaths.
"What labs?" Dylan asked.
"From her rape kit," I told him bluntly. His face grew pale. "That's right, Dylan. On top of getting the shit kicked out of her, and a skull fracture, she was also scared she might have been raped while she was unconscious. Then you show up and again, don't listen to her." Another car pulled into the parking lot.
"Stay the hell away from her," Isaac spoke up. "If you came near her again, I'll come after you."
"Same here," Ethan added, his storming eyes on Dylan. Dylan rolled his eyes, my old friend still didn't seem to understand that we weren't messing around. A car door closed, Miles was walking towards us with a few plastic bags in his hands. Then he spotted Dylan. Miles’ face turned cold as he joined us.
"I managed to get Lexie's ice cream," Miles announced before looking at Dylan. "Why are you here?"
"He wanted to see Lexie," Isaac supplied.
"She said no," Ethan joined in.
"Lexie asked Zeke to intervene," I told him. Miles' icy gaze snapped to me. "We're trying to explain what that means to him, but he's not getting it," I added. Miles' gaze went to Dylan. His face was empty as he handed Isaac the grocery bags, then Miles grabbed Dylan by the arm. In an instant, Miles had Dylan face down on the hood of the car with his arm in a lock behind his back. The echo of Dylan's head bouncing off the hood filled the parking lot. Dylan grunted as he tried to move, Miles waited until Dylan realized he couldn't move an inch. Then Miles leaned over him, his forearm pressing against his neck, and spoke into his ear.
"Lexie has gone through enough. With you and with her stalker." Miles said each word very deliberately. "Now she's asked for help, and we're not going to let her down."
"That’s right," Isaac added.
"She has asked you nicely, she has told you bluntly, and now we are telling you," Miles' voice was colder than I'd ever heard it before. "Stay away from her, no contact. That means no calls, no emails, no texts. And no showing up at her house. Do you understand me?"
"What are you going to do? Hire someone to kill me?" Dylan scoffed. I shook my head to myself.
"I don't need to hire anyone
. Just an ironclad alibi," Miles whispered to him. Dylan went still, he finally seemed to understand the situation he was in.
"Do you get it now, Dylan?" I asked.
"Yeah," Dylan said clearly. Miles let go of him and stepped back. Dylan got off the car and turned to us. I tossed him his keys. We all stepped back and watched Dylan drive out of the parking lot as Isaac handed Miles back the bags.
"So, how did you find a store open this late?" Isaac asked cheerfully. Miles pushed his glasses up his nose.
"I called the owner and bribed him to open the store," Miles admitted. All of us started laughing. We were still laughing when Ethan pulled out his phone.
"Zeke says Lexie can't sleep. He's telling us to get back and sing Sophie's lullaby for her," Ethan announced.
"Let's go take care of our girl," Isaac suggested. We all agreed and headed back into the hospital.
The Boys: Ethan
Lexie was finally asleep. I took a deep breath and let it out. There was no way in hell I was moving, she'd probably wake up, and no one wanted that. After coming inside, we tried to get her to sleep. After an hour, I ended up climbing into bed with her for a cuddle. She was out cold, curled up against my side, her head on my shoulder, and her hand on my chest. I kept my arms lightly around her, the last thing I wanted was to hit a bruise and hurt her. I watched her sleep in my arms, committing the moment to memory. The red crescents of her lashes on her battered cheeks, the curve of her split lip. My poor Beautiful. What the hell were we going to do to make it better? My phone vibrated in my pocket. Careful of Lexie, I pulled it out. It was a group message with the others. I looked up and saw they were all on their phones. I opened the message.
Miles: Meeting.
Isaac: Without Red? I don't like it.
Miles: It's about her.
Zeke: If this wakes her up, I will kill all of you.
I had the urge to grin, I had no doubt Zeke would chase us all down if we woke her up. Kill? Nah, we might have a few bruises, a black eye but that would be it.
When To Fear The Living Page 39
