I clumsily tried to get back on my feet to try to help him again. “LANDON… NOOO!” I screamed. I was getting up when I felt something under my hands. I looked down and saw what it was. I ran towards them and saw Landon was losing strength and was having trouble breathing. I kicked Dan as hard as I could and he fell off of Landon and rolled over to his stomach. When he tried to scramble back over to Landon a shot rang out and Dan dropped.
I looked over at Landon to see where he was bleeding. I dropped the smoking gun and ran to Landon. I took off my shirt and applied pressure to the wound. “HELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPP!” I screamed. “NICK, ANYBODY, HELPPPPPP, WE NEED AN AMBULANCE PLEASEE!” I began crying and screaming. “LANDONNNNNNNNN! HE NEEEDS HELP. SOMEBODYYY PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE”
The door banged open and officers rushed into the room. I spotted Detective Richards, and I sobbed to him, “We need an ambulance, please.”
Just then paramedics flooded the room behind him and scooped them both up. I tried to follow Landon but the detective held me back. Dean ran into the room, pale as I’ve ever seen anyone.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Dan fucking attacked me. He told me he was the one who raped me but he called it making love. He was going to shoot me when he found out about the baby. I closed my eyes because I was sure I was going to die. I told Landon, Mel, and Nick that I usually wait until everyone leaves before I shower and stuff. Knowing them they were probably waiting right outside. When I let the news about the baby slip, Dan started screaming Landon must’ve heard because the next thing I knew I heard them fighting. Landon kicked his ass and i thought that Dan was out cold. Everyone stopped and I went to get my stuff, the next thing I knew Dan was back up and pulled out a knife. Dan had the fucking knife to his throat ready to kill him. I found the gun on my way there and kicked him off. When he wouldn’t stop trying to get Landon with the knife I fucking shot him. I shot his ass and I’d do it again. He wanted to kill Landon all because I love him. That’s as fucking detailed as you could get.” I turned to Dean, “I need to be with him Dean.”
He nodded, and grabbed me into a hug and threw his jacket over me then ran me out of the room. Nick and Mel were already gone on their way to the hospital. When we reached the parking lot James was pulling in with Samantha. Dean gave him a look and only said the name of the hospital. James shot me a look and his expression turned both fierce and scared. Without a word they were hightailing it to the hospital and we were right behind. When we got there Landon was in surgery and I sat in a chair and began crying. Dean came over and sat next to me. He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into him and held me while I cried. When I was out of tears I looked up at him and saw the tears in his eyes begging for escape.
I swallowed hard, “Dean, I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry this happened to him. He shouldn’t have come in there. He’s hurt and it’s my fault that I didn’t listen when they told me there wasn’t something right with Dan. I kept thinking he was nice and harmless but they knew. Now he’s hurt and it’s because I’m so fucking stupid. I don’t blame you if you would like me to leave. Not just the hospital but your home.” I told him.
Dean shook his head, “if I asked you to leave, everyone here will probably kick my ass. Not to mention I think Landon would somehow know you left and jump off the operating table to go find you. It’s not your fault Lu. And he did what he did because he wants to protect you. I would’ve done the same for you. So would Nick, Erica, Mel, and probably even Max if he could. But I should be thanking you. You saved him. Dan wanted to kill the both of you. There’s no doubt in my mind that even if he would’ve succeeded with you that he would’ve went after Landon too. Then we would’ve lost you both. Lucy, we love you. You’re family and what you did was extremely brave. When you were alone with Dan, you could’ve screamed out for Nick and Landon. Why didn’t you? We both know that they would keep themselves as close to you as possible.”
I sighed, “I know they would’ve heard if I screamed for help. But then what? They come in to help and get shot too. I couldn’t let that happen Dean.” I confessed.
He nodded, “you see Lucy. You were protecting them too. Landon knew you were in trouble and came to help you. Just like when he was in trouble you did whatever you could to help him. Don’t feel guilty Lucy feel loved because that’s what you do when you love someone. Landon is strong and he will be fine. Do you really think that he would let Dan be the reason he couldn’t have you?” he asked and I shook my head with a small smile. He rubbed his head and looked me square in the eye, “I do need to ask you about something though. You said that Dan found out about the baby… are you, you know… pregnant?” he asked.
I shook my head again, “I was. We didn’t have any idea. We always used protection except one time. It wasn’t until after we were attacked and the doctor spoke to me, he said that I lost the baby in the beating.” I thought about it for a second, “but I’ll be honest with you. We had mixed feelings about it. We weren’t planning it, and both feel like we’re too young for that step. But Landon is crazy about the idea of a piece of him and me together. I can’t lie to you and say that there isn’t a chance. He went kind of crazy when we got back together has been hell bent on the fact that if we get pregnant again we’re keeping it. He tried to tell me that the plan B pill when he fucks up is out of the question.” I rolled my eyes. “In his mind, we use protection, but if we slip up and it happens again I’m keeping his baby. I’m starting to think that I need to start some birth control pills and hide them from his crazy ass. Sometimes I think he wants it to happen.”
“Good grief. I always knew the boy was stubborn, but he is out of his goddamn mind.” He said with a headshake. “You kids are going to age me 50 years you know that? I wouldn’t be surprised if he is trying to knock you up. Think he’ll have better odds of keeping you forever.”
I laughed, “Wouldn’t you know, he did make a joke about doing it so he could trap me. Now I’m kind of worried if it’s true.” I admitted.
Dean gave me a knowing look, “if you’re even questioning that right now, then you don’t know that child well. He was dead serious when he said that to you. You don’t get it. You’re it for him. He’s a fuck up because he’s stubborn, and wants everything done his way. He feels like a dictator and can make decisions for himself and other people. And the fact that he cares about you so much, he’ll do whatever to keep you. Which includes keeping you safe.”
The doctor came out a few minutes later to tell us he was out of surgery. The cut on his leg was superficial and wouldn’t need any stitches or anything. Dan had barely got him. The stab to his chest however was deep. They patched him up and gratefully Dan hadn’t hit anything important. Landon just needs to let the wound heal and he shouldn’t have any complications. I sighed in relief and then asked to see him. He looked at all of us in the waiting room and said only one at a time. Dean read the man his rights, and threatened him thirty different ways and the doctor relented. We made our way to Landon’s room.
I let everyone enter first, and I was the last one in. As I was clearing the door I heard him ask, “Where is Lucy?”
“I’m here.” I said peering around Nick to see him. He put up a finger and made a motion for me to come to him. I walked over to the bed and he grabbed my hand and tugged and I fell onto the bed. He patted the pillow indicating for me to lay down. When I refused he scowled. “I can’t sit up right now and I need to talk to you, so lay your ass down next to me Lucy.”
I sighed and lay on his right side away from his injury. He turned his head so he was looking at me. I lay on my side facing him. James cleared his throat, “do you need some privacy?” he asked.
Landon shook his head, “No. you as her dad might want to stay here to make sure that I don’t strangle her ass.” My eyebrows flew up.
“What did I do?” I asked him.
“Don’t fucking do that again Lucy. You should’ve left the fucking room the first chance you had. You don’t fuckin
g stay there and watch and then jump in. I fucking saw you and I saw him elbow you in the fucking face. He had weapons, only two that we actually saw. And then you had a gun. Do you know how to use one of those?” he asked and I shook my head. “That’s dangerous. What if you would’ve hurt yourself by mistake? That shit is not ok, do something that stupid again I swear I’m going to kill you myself. You hear me?” he asked.
I shook my head, “you can’t tell me that. You were only in that situation because he was coming after me and you tried to help me. You expect me to stand there and watch him try to fucking kill you and not do anything. No. you can’t ask me that, and this time I don’t care what you say I’m not bending. Not at all.” I argued.
“Lucy…” he growled.
I shrugged, “I don’t care if that pisses you off but I’m not budging on it.”
His hand came up and dropped down on my butt, hard and I yelped. “You didn’t just fucking spank me. And in front of our parents… for real Landon? Because this one time you won’t get your way?” I asked him.
He lifted his shoulder, “I wouldn’t do it if you’d stop being stubborn and listen to me.”
I rolled my eyes, “you got nerve to call someone stubborn.” I muttered.
His eyes narrowed, “what was that? You asked me to red your ass in front of your dad? You know what, that whole knocking you up thing sounds real fucking good right now. Maybe your ass while chill the fuck out then when you’re all big and swollen. I’ll make sure to put a few in there at a time.” My cheeks turned instantly red, and he turned to Dean and James who both looked wary. “How do you feel about being grandpa’s in the near future?” he asked.
“Why is this the third time grandkids has come up in the last few hours?” Dean said and turned to Lucy, “I told you. Take him seriously. You should try abstinence that is the only way he won’t get you.”
I laughed and Landon scoffed, “yea right. That’s not happening. Now what about you James and Samantha? You want some kids running around your house in nine months? Don’t worry I plan to keep her pregnant nonstop for the next like 20 years. Her ass should be tame by then.” Landon said.
I pushed his shoulder and his whole body moved from it. He cringed and my eyes watered. Shit I didn’t mean to hurt him, “I’m sorry” I said burying my face into his neck.
“It’s ok. It didn’t hurt that bad. Don’t start crying now. Come on, give me a kiss. That was the first thing you was supposed to do. You were supposed to run into the room before everyone and steal a kiss. Now you have to do it with an audience.” Landon said. I shook my head in his neck, and he sighed. “Lucy please, I’m hurting and I need some TLC. I have a booboo and everything. Since you can’t kiss my booboo to make it better, I’ll have to just settle for one on the lips. Come make me feel better.” He pouted.
I sighed and leaned up and gave him a quick peck and my cheeks heated up from the chuckling. I knew it was fucking Nick. Landon grabbed the back of my head and pulled me back down for a slow soft kiss. When he let me up the whole room was laughing. I heard Erica mutter, ‘sucker’ from somewhere in the room. When I laid back down the detective knocked on the door.
“Hello again, would you all mind if we talk now so we can clear up this whole situation once and for all?” He asked, but was looking only at Landon.
Landon nodded and I moved to get up so that the Detective could do his interview thing. Landon looked at me and frowned, “where the hell are you going?” he asked.
“Uh, he needs to do an interview. I’m getting out the way.” I said, I wanted to add Duh but I felt like being nice.
Landon gave me one of his infamous sighs of frustration. “Lucy…” he looked at me to make sure he had my undivided attention. “Lay your ass down and do not fucking move again until I tell you to get up. And that won’t be until they discharge me. And then when we go home, you’re going to climb your ass in bed with me and watch TV with me all day to keep me company while I’m recovering. I will be nice and let you choose whose room. Do you have any other question’s right now or can the Detective do what he came here for?” I huffed and lay back down. He turned his head to whisper in my ear so no one else could hear, “I need you here next to me. We’ll talk in a little while when everyone else leaves.” I nodded.
We turned our attention to the detective. “Delilah and Molly both woke up on Sunday. They didn’t see who the person was that attacked them. The reports also showed they were intoxicated, so it’s hard to tell. We don’t know if the attack was provoked in any way or not. We were looking to see if it may have been the same person that attacked you guys but they said it was impossible. That set off a red flag considering we had the DNA match but hadn’t told them that. It just further implicated them into what happened with you. When they were more alert I went back to question them and they denied having anything to with your attacks. I had enough evidence to get a warrant to search their homes. We found a bat with Mel’s DNA at Molly’s house. And the same drugs used on Nick and Landon as well as some other recreational ones. We pretty much had evidence to them having a hand in everything, but there was one piece missing. What happened to Lucy. Their hands weren’t big enough to match the size of the first marks found on her, nor are they capable of penetration without… well you get the point. In any event, I returned to visit them this morning with all of my findings. Delilah was hard to get to but when we got to Molly, she didn’t need any probing. I kind of wish that I’d spoken to her first. As soon as she saw me she told me everything without me asking her. When she was done, she told me that Dan had visited her before school and he seemed totally irrational. He was angry that he hadn’t gotten what he wanted out of the whole thing, and he was going to have her. He admitted that he had them keep all the evidence so that he couldn’t be implicated even if they told. From her description he was on the edge and was talking about getting Lucy to run away with him or kidnap her. He said he borrowed his dad’s gun in case Landon got in his way or if she refused. She knew they had done a lot of bad things already, but she hadn’t signed on for murder. When we got all of that information we placed out the calls. I called Landon and asked where you all were. He said that you were still at school and they were waiting for you. I informed him that Dan is very much looking for you, Lucy and he said he would find you and you would all get out of there. We came straight there and located his car in the lot so we knew he was still in the building. We saw your cars as well and rushed the place. We will not be pressing any charges against any of you.”
I stared and asked the one question that was plaguing me. “What about Dan?” I asked.
Landon sucked in a breath, “why Lucy? You care about that dirt bag?” he asked angrily.
I shook my head, “No, but I shot him because he was trying to kill you and I don’t regret it. But I didn’t want to be a murderer either. I just want to know.”
Landon held me closer and kissed my forehead. The detective spoke, “well you did not kill him. He will survive. However you shot him in his back, but it appears that Landon did some pretty bad damage himself. Landon hit his spine and he will be paralyzed for the rest of his life. I can’t imagine how he was even still moving after that beating. The doctors are chalking that up to the adrenaline that must’ve been going through him. He is going to jail probably for the same amount of time with the amount of charges we have on him. They will all be serving time.” He informed us. I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Ok he’s paralyzed but he’s not dead.
Later that night when visiting hours were over everyone went home. Landon fought with the nurses tooth and nail threatening to leave if they didn’t let me stay. After a while I figured they realized how stubborn he was and wasn’t going to let it go and caved. We lay together for a while in silence. I thought he was asleep until he murmured, “Lucy.”
I picked my head up and met his eyes. “I was so fucking scared. I walked into the room and saw you standing there stock still and he had a gun aimed on y
ou. It was the scariest thing in my life. I thought I was too late and he was going to take you from me. I almost fucking lost you.” He inhaled a shaky breath. “I wasn’t afraid he was going to kill me… I was afraid he was going to kill me and then there would be no stopping him from getting you next. I wanted you to run, but you didn’t fucking leave you stayed there. You saved my life baby and I want to be mad at you… so fucking mad that you didn’t save yourself when you had the chance, but I’m so fucking grateful that we still have time together.”
I started to cry again, “Oh Landon, I could never leave you behind I love you. That’s what all in means baby. That means that I’m by your side no matter what. We’re in this together. And I couldn’t loser you either. You say how you can’t think of living without me… well ditto.” I explained.
He sighed, “did you just call me baby?” he asked with a small smile.
I put my finger to my lip and pretended to be thinking it over. I smiled back and nodded, “well I think I did. Now go to sleep fighter, you need rest.”
He sighed again and made himself more comfortable. “I love you angel”
“Right back at cha Landon.” With that we went to sleep.
They kept Landon for two more days. The school gave us an option of returning to school to finish out the semester which was only a couple of weeks, or given the circumstances they could setup for us to come in and take all of our final exams on a Saturday and they will contact us with the test results. We took that. None of us wanted to go back to school and have to deal with the whispers and stares. Both of the ordeals were known around the school and the halls were buzzing with rumors. We could do without it. We took the exams on a Saturday and got the results midweek. We all did well, and were now officially on summer vacation.
Losing Her (The Lexington Series Book 1) Page 42
