by T Gephart
“Hey Ma’am. I’m going to have to ask you to step back.” DarNell stepped in to establish a slightly larger circumference of personal space for me. He’d seen it all before and he knew I wasn’t interested in Blondie, tonight or any other night.
“Sure, it was such a pleasure meeting you Alex.” Blondie’s eyes rolled down to the front of my crotch, she lingered over the word “pleasure” like it was a promise rather an adjective and handed me a cocktail napkin.
Predictable. Name and phone number. Clearly the ring on my finger not an issue for “Kat.” I waited until she was gone before I bunched up the napkin and tossed it. That call would not be happening, not in this lifetime.
“Thanks D.” I lifted my beer to him.
“I’m always earning my pay check with you, Alex.” DarNell laughed.
“Ha! Just doing my bit to keep you sharp! Any word from Lexi?” I hated that I had left my phone on the coffee table.
“Nothing. You wanna give her a call?” DarNell took out his Samsung Galaxy and handed it to me.
As big as the temptation was to call her, I hoped she was in bed getting some much needed Z’s. “Nah, I don’t want to wake her if she’s sleeping. She was pretty wiped out.”
I drained the last of my beer and placed the empty on the table in front of me.
Jackson’s band SALT was tight. It had been a pleasure playing with them on the last tour, despite it having to be cut short by Jacks’ injury in the accident. They had obviously used the time to write some new material and gel as a band and it came across in their playing. I would love for them to come with us on the stadium tour Chris was planning. Take these boys on the road. Fuck knows they were good enough.
The crowd was jumping in unison as SALT played their final song of the set. It was like a trip back in time. We had played bars like this for years before we finally got a deal. Those shows were amazing! As much I fucking loved playing stadiums, the connection with the audience in these small places was unparalleled. Seeing their faces as they sang back the lyrics to you, that shit never got old!
D’s phone buzzed as he pulled it from his pocket. I couldn’t help but smile knowing it was probably Lexi. As whipped as I sounded, I just needed to hear her voice.
DarNell answered and after a few seconds, his voice turned serious.
“D, what is it Man?” His look was unnerving me.
DarNell waved me off as he continued to grunt into the phone, my impatience was getting the better of me. God Damn it! Why did I have to forget my fucking phone!
“We’re on our way.” D snapped as he ended the call. “Alex, we need to go.”
DarNell moved and I followed behind. Whatever it was, I didn’t like the look on his face. I didn’t get a chance to ask him as we pushed through the throng of people. D had the phone pressed to his ear so as we reached the door, the car was already waiting for us.
“D, what the fuck man?!” I asked as DarNell practically threw me into the backseat.
DarNell ignored me and handed the driver an address “Get there - now!” his voice reverberated through the cabin of the SUV.
DarNell jumped into the seat beside me and shut the door as we took off down the road. “Alex. I need you to stay calm and listen to what I’m telling you.” I didn’t like the way D was looking at me. I could sense it in my gut that whatever he was going to say it was about Lexi and it wasn’t good. “Lexi’s in the hospital, we’re heading there now.”
“WHAT?!” My brain was churning at a hundred miles a minute. She didn’t look well when I left but if she had gotten worse why the fuck didn’t she call me? “What happened? What’s her status?” I pushed myself out of my seat and yelled in the driver’s ear, “Drive faster!”
D shifted uncomfortably I knew the worst was yet to come. “Just tell me, whatever it is, tell me!” I eyeballed D as my hands tightened into a fist. I felt like I was going to explode.
“She’s banged up... some guy got into her apartment... She’s seriously injured and unconscious. He...” DarNell paused as I felt my anger spike. “...He sexually assaulted her, Alex.”
I punched the interior of the car door, the thud making the driver jump as my fist made contact. My stomach rolled as I thought about some animal with his hands on her. “We need to get there NOW!” It was like we were moving in slow motion.
DarNell wisely didn’t bother making chit-chat as the driver weaved in and out of traffic. My fists were balled so tightly they were white and I needed to see her, be close to her.
We pulled up to the emergency entrance of the Royal Melbourne Hospital and I opened the door before the car even stopped.
“Alex, I know you are rattled but you got to reign it in ok... for Lexi’s sake.” D grabbed my arm, before I had a chance to leap out the door.
I wrenched my arm back. Fuck him. He had no idea what I was going through. I should never have left her. If I lost her... no I couldn’t think about that. That shit was NOT happening. There was no way I was letting her go or allowing some fucking cock-sucker to take her from me. I wanted to choke the life out of him with my bare fucking hands.
“D... you might be bigger than me but seriously if you fucking try to stop me again, I’m going to level you. I need to see her. Now.”
DarNell shook his head as I bolted from the SUV, his heavy footsteps not far behind me as I burst through the doors of the ER.
There was commotion everywhere. Kids were crying and people were in varying degrees of pain and illness. My head swivelled as I tried to find someone to help me find her.
“Mr Stone?” I whipped around, hoping like hell this wasn’t someone asking for an autograph cause I was seriously going to lose my shit.
“Yes!” I barked back, surprised at the voice that come out of my mouth.
The young brunette in the lab coat took a step back, anticipating another outburst as she stuttered, “Mr. Stone. My name is Mia, I’m one of the interns here. Please follow me. Your wife is this way.”
I followed her through the double doors and into the corridor, D keeping a safe distance behind me. He knew me well enough to give me room.
Mia stopped in front of a curtained off area and, as if sensing my volatility, hesitated before pulling the curtain back.
FUCK! My heart just shattered into a million pieces as I watched her limp body laid out on the gurney. Her arms by her sides were bruised purple/grey and her face was a mess. An oxygen mask covered her mouth but I saw her lips were swollen, the rest of her face was battered and blackened.
“Lexi?” I moved over to side of the bed and ran my fingers over her cheek, a cut just under her eye had been closed with little strips. This fucking animal punched her? “Lexi?” she didn’t move.
I pushed my head into my hands as I fell into the chair beside the bed. My brain couldn’t reconcile what I was seeing. It was like some fucked up nightmare. How could this have happened?
A large uniformed cop walked into the room and introduced himself. “Mr. Stone, my name is Constable Walsh. I’d like to talk to you if you have a few moments. Would you like to follow me outside?”
“I’m not leaving her. Talk here” My eyes didn’t move from her battered body.
“I think it would be more appropriate if we spoke outside Sir...”
“I said. Talk. Here.” Whatever he needed to tell me, he was going to have to do it here.
“Ok.” Constable Walsh eased into the seat beside me, DarNell stood by the curtain.
“So there are no signs of forced entry and the perpetrator maintains it was consensual. Though clearly from the state of her injuries and the content of the triple zero call, we can conclude that it was not the case. Also given the position he was found in at the time of apprehension, I don’t believe there is a lawyer out there that can get him off. He was known to your wife, he apparently had a relationship with her in the past.”
The details swished around in my head, someone had called the cops? Why hadn’t they helped her?
“Wh
o made the call? Who called the police?” The words strained against my tense jaw.
“She did. Smart girl that one. She dialled triple zero and left the phone off the hook. The operator was able to hear what was going on and by using the GPS chip in her phone we were able to trace the call and dispatch assistance.” Constable Walsh was clearly impressed.
I was tormented, guilt ridden - she had had to save herself. Yet even in the most horrendous of circumstance she had used her head. I closed my eyes as I listened to more details. I fought not to lose the contents of my stomach on the floor as I heard what she went through. No one would ever hurt her again. Never. I made my silent vow to her as I held her hand. “Don’t worry Baby. I’ve got you.” I wasn’t sure if I said it aloud or in my head.
“...He is remanded into custody until the trial... no bail set at this time... She won’t have to testify due to the overwhelming evidence...” I wanted him to leave, I’d heard enough.
“Thank you Constable.” I shook his hand and felt him leave the room.
“Ughhhhhhh.” Lexi moaned through the mask, her hand moving to her mouth.
“Come back to me Baby, You are ok.” I brushed her hair off her face. Open your eyes Lexi...open your eyes and let me know you are ok.
“No... No…” she winced as I moved my fingers across her face. She thought I was him... She thought he was touching her. “No... No…” she whimpered.
Something inside me snapped. Knowing what he did to her, the pain she was going through. My touch reminding her of that, the act of trying to comfort her brought her more pain. There was no way I was going to sit still while this Asshole probably walked on a technicality. I didn’t trust anyone, least of all the law.
As I stood and turned, D grabbed me, “Easy big guy... easy”
“I’m going to find this sick motherfucker D. I’m going to fucking kill him.” My anger flared as Lexi settled back into unconsciousness, her body angled as far away from me in protest from being touched any further.
“Sit down Alex!” DarNell ordered, pushing me back and blocking my exit.
“No, You saw her! She is still living this fucking nightmare. I’m ending it.” I swung and D grabbed my fist before it made contact.
“You wanna go a few rounds? We can do that. But you aren’t leaving this room.” DarNell stood his ground.
“You fucking want to try me D? You think just cause I’ve been playing guitar hero the last few years, I can’t fuck you up or anyone else for that matter?” I went toe to toe with him. D might have had a good 3 inches over me and was easy two hundred and sixty pounds but I was willing to take him on or anyone else that stood in my way.
I couldn’t stand to watch Lexi laying there and knowing the motherfucker who did that to her was still breathing.
“Brother, I know you are hurting. I’m not even going to pretend I know what you are going through right now but unless you are packing something other than a big pair of stones there is no way you are walking out of here right now. You feel me?” His hand went to the 45 I knew he had concealed under his jacket. D was the only one of our security team that carried and it pissed me off that he was refusing to get on the same page.
“You look at what he did and you are willing to protect him??” I couldn’t believe he wasn’t down with this after all the shit we’d been through in the past.
“You are going to let the law handle this! You hear me. You are going to accomplish nothing by getting yourself thrown in jail! And I sure as shit am not telling Lexi when she wakes up that I let your ass get arrested.” DarNell folded his arms across his chest.
“If he walks...” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
“If he walks, I promise you that we will hunt him down together and I won’t stop what needs to be done. You have my word.” D put out his hand.
FUCK!!! My brain was screaming No, but I knew D wasn’t calling my bluff and short of leaving the room in a stretcher, I wasn’t going anywhere.
Lexi moaned again in her sleep and DarNell shifted his gaze onto her, his jaw tensed as he watched her. They were friends. D, like the rest of the boys loved Lexi. He’d always have my back. I trusted him, I could see in his eyes he meant it. He would do that for me, for her. I shook his hand and grabbed his arm, meeting his eye.
“Thanks Man.” The unspoken meaning of the thank you did not need to be elaborated on.
“Don’t mention it. Just earning my pay check.” D nodded as I relaxed back into the chair.
“This kind of goes beyond that.” I pushed my hands through my hair.
“Yeah, well don’t get all Oprah and Gayle on me. You solid?” D smiled.
“Solid.” I turned my attention back to Lexi.
I didn’t know what I had to do to make this right but while there was still a breath in me I would make sure she was never hurt again.
Chapter 23 – Fading to Black
There was a constant and annoying beeping in my ear. As I tried to move, unimaginable pain raged through my body. I wasn’t sure if I was awake or dreaming. My brain felt so disconnected from the rest of me. It felt like I was in a deep, dark hole – alone. Where the hell was I?
“Lexi, come back to me.” Alex’s pained voice begged me. He sounded so far away. “I need you, don’t leave me baby.”
“Alex, I’m here! I’m not leaving you” I tried to scream but my mouth refused to move. I need to tell him, I need to let him know, I’m here! Something in his voice made me shudder. He sounded wounded, desperate. Was he hurt? I needed to find him.
There was a quiet knocking in the distance and some hushed voices. I had to strain to hear them, “Go... no change... we’ll call... unresponsive.” What the fuck where they talking about? I couldn’t make out anymore, the beeping was getting louder. Alex... where are you? Don’t go! Don’t go, I’m here.
I struggled with my body as I summoned every ounce of strength I had, my eyes flung open and were blinded by light. Ughhhhhhh the light hurt my eyes and they slammed shut. I moaned as I tried to open them again.
“Lexi?” Alex’s voice was closer but no less desperate.
“Alex... I’m here.” I mumbled as I forced a lid slowly open, “Don’t go.”
“Lexi! I’m not leaving! Baby, I’m here! Get a Doctor!” Alex roared, his voice now directly above me.
“Alex...” Slowly the world came into focus. Alex’s face was inches away from mine, his hand tightly clasped around my fingers. “...where am I?”
“You are in the hospital.” Alex swallowed. He looked like hell. “Do you remember anything?”
I searched my mind for a memory, the last thing I could think of. I was in my apartment. Waiting for Marcy. A knock at the door - him. No! No! No! I said no.
“No!!!” I screamed as the horror came back to me, “I said NO!”
My chest expanded as I struggled to breathe, each painful moment came flooding back. His hands on me. The beeping accelerated and an alarm went off.
Alex squeezed my hand, his eyes measuring my reaction. He knew. “Shhhhh. You’re safe baby. You’re safe.”
A warm feeling flushed through my body as I started to relax, there was a nurse next to me injecting something into my IV. “Relax Sweetheart, this will calm you down.”
“I don’t want drugs, I want out of here.” I couldn’t make my mouth say it aloud. The panic grew. Where was he? Was he coming back? I needed to be awake, I wouldn’t go back to sleep.
“Lexi, baby, you need to relax. No one can hurt you. Look at me, I am NOT letting anyone hurt you, ever.” Alex soothed me but there was a resolute determination in his eyes. It was a look I’d never seen him wear before.
“I want to go home Alex, take me home. Take me back to New York.” I begged, desperate to make my point made before whatever was injected into me took over. The sleepy fog had returned but I was desperately fighting it.
“Shhhhh. I will take you home baby. Just sleep now.” Alex gently stroked my hair.
“No... Please... I don’
t want to sleep.” I slurred.
~~~~~~
BLACK
~~~~~~
Back down the hole I tumbled. I hated it down here. So far away from everything. I heard the muffled voices.
“Has she said anything? I can stay with her if you want to go get some rest.” While I had to struggle to hear the words, there was no mistaking the voice. It was Emma. Her beautiful, melodic tone was concerned as she spoke.
“She remembers. How much I don’t know, but she knows what that animal did to her. Thanks for the offer but there is no way I’m leaving her. You are welcome to stay if you want though.” Alex’s voice floated above me. I hated being in this hole. So far away from him.
“Alex, she is a fighter. He tried to destroy her once before and failed. He won’t win. He is behind bars now and he will never hurt her or anyone again. She will come back to us, you’ll see.” Emma had been there through the first time. While she’d never interfered, I remembered her concern. She had never liked him.
“Jail is too good for that fucking son of a bitch. If he ever gets out, I will track him down and kill him. I should never have left her. I can’t lose her... I just can’t lose her.” Alex’s voice broke.
No... Alex... you won’t lose me. “No” I managed to mumble. My mouth wouldn’t cooperate to tell him the rest.
“Lexi? I’m here,” Alex murmured. “Baby, you’re safe.”
“Home,” I begged. “Want...Home.” I wanted to go away from this place that kept tossing me down this deep, dark hole. I wanted to be far away from all this hurt and pain.
“Shhhh Baby. I will take you home. I promise.” Alex pressed some kind of buzzer, I didn’t hear any noise but felt the vibrations.
“Mr. Stone, does your wife need more pain relief?” A male voice asked.
“No, I want to transport her to a hospital in New York. Get me whatever paperwork I need and organize the transfer now.” Alex demanded.
