Love and War

Part 19: I Want to Stay With You

                 

                 

"No. Leo. Stop. No. Leo. St-" I sat straight up in the hospital bed, a cold sweat dripping down my face. Pain crept over my forehead as I felt blood drip from the open gash. Instinctively, I wiped the blood from my brow and looked into my hands, a soft cry of disappointment, shame, and fear escaping my cracked lips. I looked around the sterile room for any indication that I wasn't alone- something to tell me I was safe. I felt a rag wipe the cool sweat and warm blood from my forehead as I thrashed against the unfamiliar material. A calming hand fell onto my shoulder before a relieving voice whispered in to the night.

            "I thought I told you no boyfriends sneaking down here and messing up your job." He smirked. Axel. I looked away from him, humiliated. I begged him to stay, I have no one else here, but, still, I couldn't help but feel the embarrassment bubbling over me.

            "I'm so sorry, Axe, I don't know how he got out. Honestly, I- I don't understand how I have such shitty luck. How did he find me? I have no family. Nobody except you and James knew I was here. How did he find me?"

            "Don't you worry about that, right now. I have two of my best men from the office outside of your door and there are officers everywhere. He escaped from prison, yesterday, I guess. The officers said he paid off a few guards after making some drug money on the inside." I winced at the thought. I knew he had connections, but who honestly would help a woman beater in prison? I turned my head back towards him, his eyes raking over my face.

            "Your jaw," He cringed slightly before turning on the overhead light in the room. "It's really bad."  His soft hand fell behind my neck as he kissed my temple gently.

            "I can't feel it." I lied. Well, it was kind of a lie. I was used to it and, honestly, I was numb to the physical aspect of Leo. The anxiety riddling my chest and lungs, though, was crippling.

            "That's bullshit and we both know that." He sat back in the seat. "The doctors say you can go home tomorrow. I had my housekeeper clean up in your house and the door is getting fixed in the morning. You can stay in the back, if you want, or you can stay with me." His eyes poured out his concern.

            "I want to stay with you." I whispered, barely audible.

            "Say that one more time." He smiled, leaning dangerously close to my face, his lips pressing onto my nose.

            "I want to stay in your house. With you." His eyes lit up with pride and excitement.

            "Good, because James is already staying in the pool house. Sammi had a business trip and he came down right away." He smirked, gesturing for James to walk in.

            "Hey Jeanie." His voice was smooth and thick, raspy from exhaustion. "I think I figured out how he found you." James was holding a file folder in his hand, sliding it onto the bed side table.

            "He had you followed, Jeanie. He's been doing it for years." My heart sank.

No matter how fast or far I ran. He would always find me. The one promise he was actually going to keep.