by Tia Lewis
"Because for some reason I like being your friend," he supplied with a shrug. "And I think you need help."
That was an understatement. I needed a lot of help. "How pissed is she?"
Benji's face changed, and I felt my heart drop into my stomach. "She pretty much told you that she never wanted to see you again and then left the bar. I would say it doesn't look good for you."
I swore, my heart dropping to my fucking feet. I had really screwed up this time. There was no way in hell Hannah was going to take me back with me acting like a jealous maniac all the time. "Dude I'm sorry. You know, I'm a dumbass."
"That's putting it lightly," Benji chuckled, shaking his head. "But I know it's the alcohol. I hope this is it, Tony. You can't backslide. You got too much going for you right now, including Hannah."
I looked at the bottles on the nightstand, wanting to hurl them out of the room. I hated myself for sliding backward, falling into the trap that seemed to always linger just below the surface. I had beat it once, and I could do so again, a hell of a lot easier this time. "I'm done."
"Good," Benji said, standing. "I would suggest you get over this hangover and schedule a press conference ASAP to help this blow over before the sponsors start to back out. I'll go on record and say that I instigated it."
"Benji," I said as he started toward the door, appreciation for him flooding my veins. Benji had really come through for me more than once, this being one time I knew would be hard to repay. "Thanks, man."
He gave me a wink as he opened the door. "Don't let me down this time okay?"
I waited until the door shut before I attempted to stand, the room spinning wildly as a result. I had really fucked up this time. I needed to try and see Hannah, apologize and grovel if I had to. I clearly hadn't helped the other situation by showing my ass last night.
An Hour Later…
I walked into the bakery, my stomach churning at the sweet smells of the baked goods, the alcohol not quite out of my system yet. I had showered and changed clothes, called Larry and made a statement over the phone to one of the numerous reporters that had left their number, hoping by the end of the day that it would blow over. The match was only two weeks away, and I couldn't afford to have a setback now. I might not get another chance at fighting.
"Can I help, oh it's you."
I looked up to see Lillian glaring at me. "Hey, Lillian."
"Don't hey me," she said, stepping from behind the display counter. "God you are an idiot if you thought that was a way to get Hannah back."
I cleared my throat. "Yeah well I wasn't in my right mind, and I've come to beg her forgiveness." Right mind didn't even start to explain it, but I wasn't going there ever again. I was done with the alcohol, done with attempting to ruin my life over and over again. I had a future, and she was somewhere in this place, no doubt cursing my name. I couldn't live without her.
She put her hands on her hips, glaring at me. "Well she's not here right now, and if she were, I wouldn't even tell her you were out here."
"Come on Lillian," I tried, hoping my expression showed her my remorse. I knew she was one of Hannah's closest friends, but I didn't really care to tell her how I was feeling inside at the moment. Hell, I didn't know how I was feeling at the moment. My emotions were raging, the hangover compounding on the heartache that I had caused Hannah and the physical pain I had caused Benji. I wasn't very proud of myself right now. "I really need to talk to her, to explain."
Lilian gave me a look, crossing her arms over her chest. She still didn't believe me. Great. This was getting better by the moment. "Can I give you an ounce of advice? Hannah's last asshole cheated on her with her best friend. When she saw you and your ex that day, you were put in the same boat as he was. Plus he's been bothering the hell out of her lately, and I'm scared he's going to be violent one day. I'm not telling this to you for you to go all boyfriend and kick his ass, I want you to see how you are no different than what she's dealing with."
I felt a white hot heat shoot through my body at the thought of someone threatening Hannah, knowing Lillian was right and wrong. Sure I hadn't been the greatest the last few days, but I was not her ex. I was far from that asshole. I just had to have the chance to prove it to her all over again. Then I would deal with that asshole to ensure that he never bothered her again. "Thanks, Lillian. If he comes around again, you come get me."
She gave me a slight nod to my relief. "What are you going to do to get Hannah back?"
I rubbed a hand over my face. "I don't know." That was the million dollar question, and if I knew a million dollars was going to work, I would sign over the check today. But it was going to take a hell of a lot more than just money to win Hannah back over.
Lillian rolled her eyes, exasperated by my answer. "Dude, just tell her you love her and that you will spend the rest of your life making it up to her. Girls love that kind of stuff, trust me."
I stared at her, another whirlwind of emotions assaulting my heart. I loved Hannah. I fucking loved Hannah. She was my world, the very air I breathed. How had this all fallen apart so quickly? "Don't tell her I was here," I said quickly, a plan forming in my mind. I had to get some help on this one.
"Okay," Lillian said, clearly confused at what I was wanting. "But don't wait too long asshole."
"Thanks, Lillian," I said, pushing the door open and walking back into the cold. I had to prove my love to her, to show her I wasn't like her ex.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hannah
"Come on with me, Hannah. You shouldn't be here by yourself."
I shook my head as I put the rest of the cookies away, giving Lillian a tender smile. "I'll be fine here Lil. I won't stay too late, I promise."
Lillian shook her own head as she donned her coat, concern etched on her face. "Do you have your cell on you?"
I reached into my pocket and showed her my cell that I kept in the apron. "See? Right here. I will see you tomorrow."
"Call me when you get home," she said on her way out. I watched her leave and then turned back to the display case, a heavy weight settling on my shoulders as I went through the motions. Lillian was worried about me, and while I appreciated the gesture, I had to decide on what I was going to do about me. It had been days since I had seen Anthony, though all I had to do was turn on the TV and see his face in some interview. From afar, he looked like the cocky fighter I had gotten to know over the last month, but upon a closer look, I could see the shadows under his eyes, the way his knee shook incessantly during the interviews. If he was anything like me, he probably wasn't sleeping very well either.
Shaking off any thoughts of Anthony, I finished with the case and pulled out the glass cleaner, walking over to the front of the case, spraying it liberally all over the case. The door opened, and I turned, frozen in my spot as James strolled through. "Get out," I said immediately, reaching for the cell in my apron pocket.
He was on me in an instant, grabbing my arms and pinning them to my sides. I could smell the alcohol on his breath and was scared, never seeing James like this before. "Oh Hannah," he slurred, his hands tightening on my arms. "I told you I wasn't going to let you go."
"James," I said, wincing against the pressure on my arms. "Please, let me go. You're hurting me."
"You hurt me," he fired back, his eyes flashing with anger. "You left me."
"I'm sorry," I tried as he backed me up against the wall, slamming my head against the brick façade. I saw stars briefly as James leaned in, his lips touching mine. "I loved you Hannah, and you left me for who? An asshole who can't keep his shit together? I gave you everything!"
My head cleared, and I brought my knee up, catching him hard between the legs. James howled but released me, giving me a chance to attempt to escape before he caught up with me, knocking me hard to the floor. I felt the pain radiate up my arm as he twisted it unnaturally behind my back, the crack causing me to cry out in pain. "I am going to show you what you are missing," he said close to my ear as I struggled
to get him off of me. He pressed a knee into my back, and I sobbed against the floor, the cold tile against my cheek. "Please," I cried as I heard him fumble with his belt buckle. "Don't do this James."
"What the fuck? Get off of her!"
James was gone in an instant, and I flipped over, cradling my arm to my chest as I saw an angry Lillian hitting James with our broom, forcing him out the door before she threw the lock, hurrying over to me. "Oh god, Hannah! I knew something was wrong tonight. Are you okay? Did he break your arm?"
I winced as she touched it, looking down to see the wrist turning an ugly blue already. "I don't know."
"Hang on," Lillian said, finding the cell that had fallen to the floor. I laid down on the tile, my head spinning from being thrown up against the wall, wondering how I could have ever loved anyone like James. If Lillian hadn't gotten her, he would have, dear god he was going to rape me.
"The police are on their way," she said, leaning over me, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Hannah."
"It's not your fault," I said, biting against the pain that was now starting to spread throughout my body. I hurt everywhere. The ceiling blacked out above me, and I fell into the sucking black hole.
Anthony
I threw off my gloves and walked to the counter, pissed because I had split my second pair in a week. Wherever we were getting them, they sucked. A flash of lights caught my eye, and I walked to the door to see what it was. Probably another speeder. They were constantly on this road. Someone was going to get killed one day.
When I saw the police and a fire truck parked in front of the bakery, my heart froze in my throat, pushing open the door and breaking out in a near run as I saw Lillian standing outside, her face in her hands. An ambulance stood nearby, the doors flung open, but no stretcher in sight and I nearly lost it. "What happened?"
She looked up at me, her cheeks stained with tears. "Oh god, Anthony. It was horrible."
"Where is Hannah?" I forced out, my throat closing in as a thousand thoughts raced through my head. Had she been injured? Had something exploded? The building wasn't on fire, and Lillian looked fine right now. "Fuck Lillian! Talk to me."
Lillian sniffed, her face full of devastation as she wiped her eyes. "James was here. H-he would have killed her if I hadn't come back. I told her he was going to do something and she wouldn't listen to me."
That was all I needed to hear. I pushed past the police at the door, going pale as I saw Hannah on the stretcher, her face white with the exception of the bruises that were starting to form on her face and upper arms. One arm was in a sling, and I clenched my fists as I approached, my nerves near a breaking point. She couldn't see me this angry. It would scare the hell out of her, but there was one person that would feel my wrath when I got my hands on him again. The asshole was as good as dead.
"Hannah," I said gently, reaching her side and shooting the EMT a look daring him to make me leave. He held up his hands and backed off, giving me the space I needed.
Hannah opened her eyes, and I felt my chest tighten as I saw the tears in her eyes. "Hey, beautiful."
"Oh, Anthony," she said brokenly, tears leaking out of her eyes and catching in her hair. "I tried to stop him."
My throat working, I laid a hand gently on her forehead, stroking it with my fingers. Her words nearly broke me in two. No longer. I wasn't going to ever leave her again whether she liked it or not. I would fucking sleep on her floor, but I wasn't going to be away from her again. "Hey, don't worry about it right now. I'll take care of that, don't you worry."
She gave me a faint smile, her eyes fluttering against my touch. I looked up, alarmed and the EMT gave me a sympathetic look. "She's got a concussion. She's been in and out since we got here. We're heading to the hospital now."
"I want to go with her," I said, daring them to say anything different. Neither of them did and I walked out with the stretcher, my eyes catching Lillian's on the way out. "Go next door and get Benji. Tell him to meet me at the hospital."
She nodded, and I waited until they loaded her in the ambulance, before I climbed in after her, taking a seat on the bench next to stretcher, white hot fury raging inside. I wanted to kill this asshole, punch something really hard, take this pain away from Hannah and help her forget this ever happened. She should have never been left alone, he should have never been allowed to touch her.
Her eyes fluttered open, and I gave her a tender smile despite my anger. "Hey, we are going to the hospital okay?"
She reached out with her good hand, and I took it, clasping it gently, afraid I was going to hurt her. "Please don't leave me."
I heard the desperation in her voice and felt tears clog my throat. God, I couldn't deal with this. "Never," I forced out, giving her hand a squeeze as I brushed my lips over her forehead lightly. "Never."
"Good," she whispered, closing her eyes once more. I blew out a breath, pent up rage simmering just below the surface. I wasn't going to leave her again.
The ride to the hospital was short, and they forced me to go to the waiting room, where I paced back and forth, no doubt looking like a madman to the rest of the crowd in the room. Benji found me a short time later, his face drawn and pale. "How is she?"
I walked him outside, unable to keep it together. "She's fucking injured. That asshole nearly killed her, Benji."
Benji reached for me, and I grabbed at him, the anger and madness that were my feelings for Hannah nearly boiling over. "She's going to be fine," he said, releasing me. "Hannah's a tough girl."
I looked at him, thrusting a hand through my hair. "I can't deal with this." I couldn't handle her being hurt, scaring the shit out of me at the sight of her lying on that stretcher. She was not supposed to be the one getting the shit kicked out of them. That was my job, not hers. "He's a dead man."
Benji put his hand on my chest, understanding in his eyes. "I know you want to do something. I do, too. Hell, all the guys would probably line up to take their shot, but Hannah needs you right now. You can't be running out, making up your own justice. What good would you be to her if you were in jail?"
"He hurt her," I said through clenched teeth, balling my fists up. "He broke her fucking wrist, Benji. You should see the bruises he left."
Benji's throat worked as he dropped his hand, anger filling his eyes as well. "Then we will make sure he never sees the light of day again, alright?"
I nodded, my eyes on the waiting room just inside. Benji was right. Hannah needed me right now, and I was going to be there for her. Whatever she wanted, whatever she needed, I was going to make it happen.
It wasn't hard to find the fucker. With the help of a friend that I had in the DMV, we located Hannah's ex's apartment in less than an hour. I climbed out of the car, cracking my knuckles and picturing Hannah's pale face in my mind, wanting to kill the bastard but knew I wouldn't. "Hey," Benji stopped me as I approached the building. "Listen, we are here to teach him a lesson, not kill the bastard even if it's what he deserves."
"I know," I said, drawing in a breath. "It's gonna be hard. He scared the shit out of Hannah, Benji. He deserves a hell of a lot more."
Benji nodded, his mouth set in a firm line. "I know man, I know."
I gave him a jerky nod as we climbed the steps to the apartment, locating the unit on the second floor. Benji knocked as I tried to maintain my composure, my heart in turmoil. Hannah hadn't deserved what he had done to her.
The door opened, and I rushed him, tackling him to the floor before he had a chance to fight back, landing one good punch at his nose and satisfied when his nose crunched under my fist.
"Shit!" the fucker cried out as Benji shut the door and I grabbed his arm, bending it an unnatural angle until he cried out. "I told you to leave her the hell alone," I seethed as I looked down into his wide-eyes stare. "Why didn't you listen?"
"You're breaking my arm!" he said instead, blood starting to pour out of his nose.
I leaned in. "That's what the plan is."
He tried to get awa
y, but I snapped his arm, throwing the useless limb on his body as I stood, raking my hair back on my head. He looked up at me, and I gave him the middle finger. "Stay the fuck away from my girl, you hear me? Try to press charges, and I will bring the entire gym with me next time, you got it?"
When he didn't answer I kicked his legs hard, satisfaction flowing through my bones as he let out a yell in return, holding up his good arm. "Yeah, okay, I got it."
Benji grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, my blood coursing through my body. "I suggest you leave town," I added as we walked away. "Forever."
I got a roar of pain in response, but that was enough. I doubted we would be seeing him again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hannah
"Thank you, Hannah. You have given us more than enough to put him behind bars when we find him. His apartment was a mess, and to us, I believe he's skipped town. Don't worry, we will find him"
I smiled at the kind detective as he snapped his book closed and handed me his card, promising to be in touch. I would be glad when they had caught James and that he wouldn't get away with what he did to me, not believing that he had the capacity to do this to anyone. I had a concussion and a cracked bone in my wrist, but the detective had said I was one of the lucky ones. Another night in the hospital and I would be turned loose, but I no longer feared James. Actually, I dared him to come after me again. This time he would find a different Hannah waiting on him.
The door opened, and I watched as Anthony walked in, carrying a large bouquet of flowers. "From the guys," he said, setting them on the table near the bed. "And they all want you to come to the gym once you're feeling better, so they can give you some pointers."
"I might just take them up on that offer," I joked as he sat in the chair just vacated by the detective. He looked horrible, a thick growth on his lower jaw, purple shadows under his eyes.
