Love Hurts

Thirteen

             Warning, major trigger warning this chapter has violence, rape, and death in it, please be advised of this before you read on. I do hope you have enjoyed this book so far. I know it is a dark book but my hope is it help just one victim of violence to see they are not alone, this book is very close to my heart. Most events are fiction but some are very real and was hard to write so please don't let it trigger you. Much love and keep rocking on 🤘!

     Camilla,

"Are you okay?" Kim asks as I glance at my phone for the umpteenth time in the past eight hours.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. I have this uneasy feeling. Hoss usually finds time to text me throughout the day, and he didn't call me for our usual nighttime talk last night. I know I might sound like a lovesick teenager right now, but we've had the same routine for the past month. It's not like him to just not call or text."
        I follow Kim's advice and call the police station to check on Hoss. Unfortunately, my worst fear is confirmed. Hoss and his partner went missing last night after visiting a bar that they usually frequent. Everyone else on the team went home early after their shift. As the Lieutenant explains the efforts being made to find them, I feel numb. After hanging up the phone, I completely lose control of my emotions.
      Kim hurriedly approaches me, enveloping me in a tight embrace.
     "Camille, what's happening? You need to talk to me. You're really scaring me."
     "I have to go to Georgia. They need my assistance to find him. I can't just stay here in Florida and do nothing."
     "Camilla, you're not making any sense. Please look at me and explain what's going on."
     Kim speaks with her nurturing tone, like a mother would.
     I spend the next ten minutes sitting there, crying, until I regain my composure. I then give my friend a summary of what the Lieutenant told me. I feel the need to be present when they find him, and I can't bear the uncertainty of staying here. "Okay, babe, if that's what you want to do," Kim tells me, "we'll get up first thing in the morning and head to Georgia." But I shake my head and say, "No, I should go tonight," as I wipe away my tears.
      "Cam," Kim says, "look at me. You're not doing anyone any good by going anywhere tonight. We can get up first thing in the morning, gather our stuff, and leave. Let's wake up around four o'clock in the morning."
     Kim is always right, but it's frustrating because I finally found someone I can envision spending the rest of my life with. I exhale deeply.   "You're right. I'll wait until morning, but we're getting up at three in the morning and leaving. If you're not up and out the door by three thirty, I'll leave without you."
     "Yes, ma'am," Kim says with a smirk.
      That night, as I lay in bed, my mind is consumed with thoughts of Hoss. I can't help but worry about his well-being. Is he injured? Is he even alive? Desperation fills me, and tears stream down my face.
      Suddenly, in the middle of the night, I am jolted awake by a noise outside my window. I try to convince myself that it's just the wind, but an uneasy feeling lingers. Determined to ease my anxiety, I slip on my robe and house shoes and grab a flashlight. With caution, I step outside and make my way towards the window.
      To my surprise, I spot a figure walking away. Confusion and frustration overwhelm me as I exclaim, "What the hell?!" Without hesitation, I turn on my heels and rush back towards the safety of my house. But before I can reach the front door, strong arms wrap around my torso, trapping me in their grip.
      As I hear his deep voice asking if I missed him, I desperately hope that it's just a nightmare. I can't believe he found me. I took every precaution to be careful, using only cash and using a different last name for everything. But now he's here, biting my ear and covering my mouth to silence my scream.
     He warns me to shut up and obey his commands, threatening to shoot my friend who is sleeping in the house. I nod my head in agreement, too terrified to do anything else.
     He tells me we're going to walk back to his car and go somewhere "really nice" for our reunion. My initial instinct is to kick him in the groin and run back to the house. But I know that if he manages to enter the house, he will follow through on his threat to harm Kim. So, I decide to bide my time and wait for the right moment. Once we reach our destination, I will fight back and try to escape.
      When we get into the car, Alan turns to me and pulls out a pair of handcuffs. He proceeds to cuff my hands together, saying, "Now that should keep you in place." I can't help but wonder how I ever believed I was in love with this asshole. Defiantly, I tell him, "You will never get away with this." In response, he gives me a sinister smile and says, "Oh, you don't think so, princess? Well, I think Kim will conveniently oversleep and assume her stubborn friend abandoned her for her new boyfriend. After all, he's apparently more important than her best friend of twenty years."
       I try to reason with him, saying, "She will never believe that, Alan. She will call the police and have them searching for me." Suddenly, the Alan I once ran away from emerges, striking me in the face and causing my nose to bleed. Through the pain, he sneers, "This new boy of yours seems to have made you forget your fucking manners with me, Camilla. I suggest you watch your fucking tone with me, or you'll experience something far worse than a bloody nose."
         I am feeling resentful tonight because he intends to harm me regardless. I am not under your control anymore, Alan. I retaliate with defiance.
       It was satisfying to express my anger, but what follows is not as pleasant.
       I didn't even notice he was holding a knife until it was too late. He forcefully stabs me in the leg.
      I make an effort to not give him the satisfaction of seeing my pain, but it becomes unbearable and I cry out.
     "Now behave," Alan shouts.
     I attempt to clear my mind. I contemplate what Hoss would advise me to do in this situation. He would advise me to be patient and wait for the opportune moment to take action. Therefore, that is the course of action I will take.
    Oh, how I long for Hoss. I sincerely hope that he is able to return home to me.
   "Well, princess, you truly believed you could escape from me? Your choice to feign your own demise was a clever move, reminiscent of Julia Roberts, and executed skillfully." Alan says.
     "He is absolutely correct, and it brings a smile to my face. I have seen the movie 'Sleeping with the Enemy' countless times, but I never watched it in front of that asshole. If I had, he would have beat me for watching something like that. How does he even know anything about Julia Roberts? It turns out, his sheriff friend informed him. We drive for what feels like an eternity until we finally arrive at this large abandoned warehouse. It's such a cliché. Alan walks over to my side of the car and forcefully opens the door, commanding me to get out. He then grabs me by the hair and forcefully drags me into the building."
      While we were there, he forcefully throws me onto a worn-out mattress. Alan leans over me and confesses, "I've been observing you for quite some time, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to capture you. When I learned that your boyfriend had gone missing and you and Kim were heading to Georgia, I knew tonight was the opportune time." His smile sends shivers down my spine, and I can anticipate what will happen next.
     Alan rips my shirt down the front, and without missing a beat, he rips my pajamas and panties down. Then he takes the knife, and cuts me from breast to breast, and all the way down my stomach. Just enough to make me bleed and hurt like hell.
    I cry out in pain, and Alan slaps me across the face. Shut the fuck up, slut, he says, forcing my legs open. I'm kicking and screaming, trying my best to get away from him, but he's bigger than me and stronger, but I'm fighting, anyway.
     That's when he hits me, he hits me so hard I see stars, my vision is going in and out and I can't make my limbs work, I'm dizzy. I almost lose consciousness when he shoves my legs apart and slams into me.
     I scream and almost throw up.
     He's pounding into me so hard and digging his nails into the flesh on my hips, causing me to bleed. He pinches my nipples so hard it's painful. I cry, silent tears roll down my cheeks. Then he comes. Blood mixed with come drips down my thighs. I just lay there, unable to move.
   I need to snap out of it and remove myself from this situation before Alan harms me. After Alan finishes, he stands up and forcefully kicks me in the ribs. "He completely destroyed my girl," Alan says angrily. Confused, I gasp and ask, "What are you talking about?" Alan responds, "Your pussy is hollowed out princess." Alan smirks.
    Angered by his words, I spit back, "Fuck you." That was a mistake.
   Alan violently throws me against a solid surface, which I can only assume is a wall. He then approaches me and delivers a forceful kick directly to my face. It is at this moment that I come to the grim realization that I may not survive this encounter unless I take action swiftly.
    I remind myself to recall all the self-defense moves I learned in my classes with Hoss. As Alan kicks me, I manage to catch his leg and he falls, hitting his head on the concrete. Quickly getting back on my feet, I deliver a powerful kick to his face. He groans in pain, and I can't help but smile. It's my turn to inflict some pain. With all my strength, I kick him in the groin. As he doubles over in agony, I lean in and spit in his face. In that moment, I notice a knife in his pocket and swiftly grab it before he can react.
    Part of me wants to wait for him to make a move so I can justify stabbing him in self-defense. However, I realize that I am not him, and I cannot bring myself to kill him and live with the consequences.
    Before he wakes back up, I manage to find the keys to the handcuffs and free myself. I quickly leave the place. Fortunately, he had left the keys to his car inside, so I jump in and drive back to my house.
    When I reach home, I rush inside and find Kim already awake.
    "What the fuck happened?" she asks.
    "Just grab your things and let's go," I reply.
   "Cam, we can't leave like this. You need to clean yourself up and change clothes before we go," she insists.
   "You're right," I say, hurrying to the bathroom. Since I have his car, it will take him hours to catch up with me. I quickly wash up and change into fresh clothes. Then, I grab my phone, purse, and keys to my truck from the living room.
   "Let's go," I tell Kim.
   As I step outside, a thought crosses my mind. I make my way towards Alan's car and proceed to slash all four tires. Then, I cut all the wires hanging from the driver's side. When I turn around, I see Kim smiling at me. "Are you ready?" she asks. "Yes, I am," I reply, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "I just stood up to the bully." Kim looks at me, noticing my bloody body, and asks, "How are you still standing?" I shrug and respond, "I guess it's the adrenaline."
    "Well, let me drive so that when the adrenaline wears off and you start feeling the pain, you don't end up causing an accident," Kim advises me. Recognizing the validity of her point, I toss her the car keys and take a seat in the passenger side.
    About an hour into the journey, Kim's words prove to be true. My leg, ribs, and chest are throbbing with intense pain, and I feel nauseous. It takes us approximately five hours to reach Georgia.
    Upon arrival, I march confidently into the police station and demand to speak with Lieutenant Andrews. The receptionist at the front desk appears flustered.
    "Um, I don't think he's here, ma'am," she stammers.
   "Well then, when can I expect him to return?" I snap impatiently.
"Kim whispers in my ear, urging me to calm down. She warns that if the woman wants to she could have me arrested, rendering me useless to Hoss. The mere mention of Hoss's name fills me with anxiety. Taking a deep breath, I attempt to explain to the receptionist my identity and the urgency of speaking to the Lieutenant. Suddenly, a thought strikes me. I inquire about the whereabouts of Mr. Spaghetti. The girl behind the desk smiles genuinely and informs me that he is in the back with the other K-9s, all of them resting for the night. Just then, the door behind us swings open, revealing two muscular men carrying another man. To my astonishment, the man being carried bears a striking resemblance to Hoss."

@Crystal Steadman 2023