The Ink That Haunts Us

Chapter Thirteen

Going to the police station wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. They asked a lot of questions, but they were very kind as they took my statement. I turned over my letter from Declan as evidence and after they collected everything they needed, they granted me an immediate protection order. It was the most they could do before my court date.

    When Freya and I left the police station, the sun was setting. We had been there for hours and even though they could only give me a protection order, I felt like I could breathe a little better. The officers seemed confident they would be able to track Declan down to serve him papers. Maybe he would see I was serious and leave town. Deep down, I knew I would never be so lucky.

    Freya took me straight to Mack's after we left the station. She insisted on waiting with me until Mack arrived, and I didn't argue. I wasn't sure I wanted to be alone after everything that had happened today. Paranoia crept up my spine. What if he was following me?

    To my surprise, Freya hadn't tried to pry any information out of me. The officers hadn't let her stay with me while they took my statement and she hadn't asked me any more questions about what had happened between me and Declan.

    When Mack arrived an hour later, Freya hugged me tight and promised to call me in the morning. As soon as the door closed behind her, Mack took a seat beside me. When I looked over at him, my lips trembled. The events of the day had taken their toll, and what little control I held over my emotions had shattered when my eyes met his.

    Mack reached over and pulled me onto his lap, cradling me like a child.

    "Hey," he murmured into my hair.

    "Mack," I choked, burying my face into the crook of his neck.

    He held me while sobs racked my body. Everything that I had been feeling the last few days seemed to bleed out of me. Mack was the only person I felt comfortable enough around to be this vulnerable. Mack saw all of me. He held me close, murmuring soothing nonsense to me. 

    When I calmed down enough to catch my breath, he pushed me back to look me over. He reached a hand up, wiping the tears that streaked down my cheeks.

    "Tell me what happened?" He asked, gently.

    I took several deep breaths before answering, telling him everything that had happened on the sidewalk. Mack was angry but relieved that it hadn't been worse. He was pissed that I had left without telling anyone and I was too upset to defend my reasoning.

    "Seeing him again, it feels like it's broken something inside me, Mack. It's like everything I've done to become the person I am today came crumbling down at the very sight of him. How can he have that much power over me?" No one should have that kind of power over another person. That kind of power was damaging.

    "He hurt you so bad, baby girl. The things you've told me; the scars I've seen. Those things run deep, and until you confront him and put him in a place where he can no longer hurt you, you may never start to heal. But this isn't a fight you have to do alone. You have a family now and we will be by your side no matter what."

    He was right and as much as I wish he wasn't, I knew I wouldn't heal until I brought everything Declan did to me to light. The process of getting him behind bars would be painful and long, but necessary. The road to recovery was always a bitch.

    "Thank you, Mack." I wrapped my arms around him tighter and he held onto me. He was the best father a girl could have and if he had really raised me, I knew I wouldn't have ever found myself in this situation in the first place.

    The sudden pounding on the door caused both of us to jump. The door slammed open before either of us could move to answer it. Derek burst into the room, looking around wildly. When his eyes landed on me and Mack wrapped in each other's arms, his expression turned to stone.