The Bully

Chapter Thirty Three

I woke with a scream and stared around the room my heart racing. My door opened and I gave another whimper of fear but then the light came on and Bret was there, looking very sleepy.

"You ok?" he asked. I shook my head and he sighed, crossing the room and sitting beside me on the bed, putting an arm round me. "Want to tell me about it?"

"I was in the basement again and I was trying to get away but he had tied me to the radiator. He was coming down the stairs, I could hear him and I was trying to get away but my hands were tied and I couldn't... I couldn't..." I broke off not wanting to carry on and he looked down at me, his gaze a little troubled.

"Did this happen Angel or was it just the dream?" I didn't respond and he squeezed me gently. "It's ok, you don't have to tell me but if you want to talk I'll listen."

Maybe it was the nightmare, maybe it was because I wasn't quite awake or maybe it was just the fact he was here beside me, his arm round my shoulder keeping me safe. But I began to talk, slowly at first but then it all came out.

"When you went back to the car I headed up to the mausoleum, like I said I would. He grabbed me from behind and held something over my face; I didn't even have time to scream. Whatever it was it knocked me out and when I woke up I was in a basement. My wrists were tied behind my back to a radiator so I couldn't even move. When he came down he took me for a shower and then made me breakfast. He was the nicest he's ever been to me,  but then he told me that I would have to do everything he said. He told me he had a gun and he would take out all the people I cared about right in front of me before he started shooting me, but he said he'd do it slow... I was so frightened Bret." I gulped back a sob and he pressed his lips to my forehead tenderly. "I... I told him I wouldn't stop him whatever he did."

"Oh Angel," he sighed, holding me tighter. I looked away, unable to look at him as I carried on.

"Don't feel sorry for me Bret. I... I didn't fight him at all. He told me to strip and I did. He... he was inside of me and I didn't stop him. I just lay there... like a... like a whore. I let him hit me, let him kiss me... and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I ch...cheated on you..."

"Angel no," he said, softly. "You didn't cheat on me. You did nothing wrong."

"I... I let him touch me. I didn't stop him..."

"You couldn't have stopped him if you'd tried and if you had tried he might have killed you. Please Angel, please don't blame yourself." I could hear the emotion in his voice but I didn't register it in that moment.

"I know you must hate me right now, Bret and I won't blame you if you walk away..."

"Stop it! Stop, Angel," he said firmly and I fell silent, tears trickling down my cheeks. Gently he turned me to face him. "What Tom did to you was awful Angel, just awful but it was not your fault, not any of it. I don't hate you; I couldn't hate you." He was silent for a moment, just holding me but then he lowered his lips to mine, kissing me softly. "I love you, Angel and I will help you through this I promise you."

"Will... will you stay with me?" I asked and he kissed me again.

"Always," he replied.

***
When I woke the following morning he was gone and for a moment I thought he'd left me, that me telling him everything had pushed him away but then I saw a note on his pillow.

I've gone to the gym. I didn't want to wake you. Love you always. Back soon.

A small smile played on my lips and I got up to have a shower and change into jeans and a pale green knitted sweater. Dotty looked up as I came into the kitchen and smiled at me.