A Fostered Love

Chapter Ten: Layla

I knew it was him the minute he started limping towards us at the wreck. I could smell the smoke coming off of him from a mile away.

My stomach clenched up into a ball and I felt like I was going to be sick. His limp gave me a slight satisfaction knowing that I had left my mark on him, but I wasn't ready for a confrontation. Not yet.

He didn't seem to recognize me, which I was glad for. Only down at the station did he finally realize who I was.

I was furious with Kyle. I tell him not to turn him in and look what he does; he reports the man who attacked me to the man who attacked me! I know he was trying to protect me, but he only made problems worse. I was trying to stay away from that man and now I'm being forced to try to find him even though I already know where he is.

The two guards deposit me in front of the interrogation room. Just as they are about to push me in through the door, Detective Warner steps out.

"You know what? He told me everything that happened, so I don't need an official statement from you. What I do want is some fresh air. Care to join me?"

I tense up, knowing this is his way of getting me alone.

"Um. No thanks, I guess I'll just head back over to him them." I stammer trying to seem causal around the guards.

"Oh no, I insist." His voice holds the secret warning that I'm pretty sure I only heard. I gulp and nod reluctantly. He grabs my arm not so gently and leads me outside of the station and around to the side building. My heart pounds out of my chest and his hand tightens around my arm as I try to squirm out of his grip.

"Listen here you little brat," is the first thing that comes out of his mouth when we are alone. His voice changed into the husky one I heard when he attacked me. Chills run down my spine at the sound of it. "Our little encounter stays between the two of us. Understand?"

"Why would I keep that a secret? Why in God's name do you think I'd ever protect you?" I ask, making sure my voice doesn't waver at all. Inside, my heart is still pounding out of my chest.

"I assume you value your life, correct?"

"Go ahead, kill me. Put me out of my misery."

"Oh no, it won't be that simple. You see I'll start with the one you care about the most."

"If you hurt him, you'll pay."

"No I won't. You don't have it in you."

"And what makes you think that? Obviously I had enough in me to get you away from me."

"Things will be different now."

"I don't think they will be."

He moves closer to me and puts his lips right next to my ear. I try to move away but his hand is still tightly clasped on my arm. "I will not argue with you. You either decide to follow instructions until this case is over, or watch your stupid boyfriend die. Got it?"

I don't say anything.

Clearly agitated, he shakes me violently and asks again, "Got it?"

I still don't answer.

He doesn't appreciate the lack of response and takes it as an opportunity to make me pay. Without warning he shoves me roughly against the side of the building, hard enough to send a sharp pain through my head. Everything around me starts to get fuzzy. I feel his hand wrap around my neck, squeezing tighter and tighter. I gasp for air, struggling to get out of his grip, but he doesn't let up. He snarls,

"Got it?"

I manage to nod my head slowly and he releases his grip on me. I fall to my knees, gasping for breath and trying to blink the spots away. My head is throbbing and I just want to curl up in a ball and cry, but I don't. I don't want to give him that satisfaction.