Her Lost Soul 2

Chapter 6

I keep pumping my legs as I run to the staff room. My heart is beating frantically, I hope she's okay. I burst through the door and I see Tyler and Riley on the floor. Tyler is sat up leaning over Riley with his hand on her thigh as she lays on the floor struggling to breathe. "What the fuck happened?" I make my way to her and I kneel in front of her.
I push her hair from her face, her eyes are red as shit. I'm worried about how much she's struggling to breathe right now. "Ruby came to find me to say that Riley was with her boyfriend. I came in here and he had her restrained kissing her. I went to take him down but he started strangling her. What did you say to him to get him to stop Lee?" He strangled her again?
"I. . ." she croaks. "Said, I. . ." I screw my face up. She can't talk, I fucking hate this guy. "love. . . him." I sigh, I know she does but it's the weakest part of herself that loves him. I try sit her up but she pushes me away. Her breathing seems slightly better but not back to normal.
"Why the hell would you say that?" Tyler asks.
"Because. . .it's true. . .and he. . .needs to. . .hear it. . . when he's. . .scared." I need her to tell me all the time. Was he scared? He should be because I'm coming for him. If I was here there is no way he'd still be alive.
"You love him?" Tyler says in disbelief. "But you love Flynn." At least Tyler knows she loves me.
"Yes. . . It's complicated. James can. . .make me do. . .anything because. . .he plays on my. . . love for him. I love Flynn. . . so much more. . . If we were together," she swallows and it looks painful. "I wouldn't let him in."
She reaches for my hand and I assist her into sitting position. I guess she was still recovering when I tried to sit her up before. "So you're saying this is my fault?" Tyler growls. I roll my eyes, it's not about you really, it's about my anger.
"No!" she protests and clutches her throat. "This is. . .all on me. If I couldn't push him. . .out I wouldn't be here."
"If you were to choose James or Flynn, who would you choose?" The hell is he playing at? I have no doubt in my mind she'd choose me.
  "Flynn. . .but doesn't mean. . . I'd get the. . . choice. I'd probably. . .still end up. . .with James. . . It's what he. . .does." No, I don't accept that. Maybe before but over my dead body would she end up with him.
"What about Nath?" I glare at him. Is he trying to piss me off?
"It will only. . . ever be Flynn, Ty. Or James. . .  I guess." See, it will only ever be me after everything. She grabs my top and she pulls me towards her and she buries her face on my neck again. She's scared but she won't admit it. I stroke the back of her head comforting her. I'm just the biggest fuck up.
"We need to get her to the hospital," Tyler says. I nod and I bring her into my arms and I stand up. She calls out, she's in shit loads of pain. "I'll let her friend know."
"Tell Jax I'll. . .make it up. . .to him," she croaks. Tyler nods and leaves the room. I start walking to the exit. I carry my girl in my arms and I keep looking at her. I failed her, again! She continues to look up at me, watching me. When the cold air hits our skin she shivers. "He's. . .always. . .watching," I look down at her and she's anxiously searching the streets.
"I'm actually going to kill the fucker," she buries her head in my neck again seeking comfort from me. I adjust her in my arms and pull the keys out of my pocket. I unlock the car with the fob and I slide into the back with her. I don't want to set her down in fear of hurting her. I toss the keys on the front seat. "I told you not to go anywhere alone."
"I wasn't. . . Ruby. . . I sent a. . . secret message to. . .Tyler," she blinks sleepily as she smiles. I love her so much. I shake my head, it's not enough. Tyler or myself only. I was too distracted by Regan to remember that Tyler dragged Britney out. Tyler jumps into the car and retrieves the keys. "Ruby," she protests.
"It's okay, Lee. She understands, I called her a cab." I stroke her hair and she sighs. Her eyes close and I watch her as if she may disappear. Tyler pulls away.
"I'm actually going to kill him," I growl.
"I wanted to but he knew he had the upper hand," Tyler focuses on driving. "He held her as if she was his prey. I went towards him and he started to strangle her. The closer I got the harder he clasped her throat. When he released her he shoved her into me. I couldn't chase after him."
Arsehole, "He didn't seem worried at all. He was pissed when I confronted him out the bruises. He said she betrayed him again. He really did look homeless."
I look at Riley's face, I think she's fallen asleep. "I hate that I shouted at her this morning. There's a hole in her bedroom door. I was so angry with her lies and pushing me away. I actually made her cry. I knew something was seriously wrong but I didn't know how to get in.
"She finally told me and everything made sense. The food, the edgy behaviour, she's terrified. I don't know how she knew but Miley knew about the bruises. Riley tried hiding it from her but she knew."
"Your sister is weird that's why."
"Bro," I protest and he laughs.
"Do you think she would have told us if it wasn't for you?"
"No, I don't think so. I'd just about given up with her lies and secrets. I think she sensed me withdrawing and she broke down."
He sighs, "So without you, he'd still be in the dark, hurting her." I admire her beautiful face, she's so peaceful right now. I love how she can sleep anywhere with me. He pulls up and I open the door. I slide out the car with her in my arms and I kick the door shut. I follow Tyler to the emergency department.
We walk to the desk and the woman stands, "What do we have?" she asks. Riley flinches in my arms. I think she woke her but she doesn't open her eyes.
"My sister was assaulted tonight, well not just tonight. Riley Blake."
She seems to be getting a regular in here, "Okay, I need a gurney!" She shouts. "Any medical history?"
"She has heart disease, her heart rate is usually elevated. She's on medication," Tyler informs.
"Okay, she's probably going to need tests and scans, I need to ask if she's pregnant," she asks. Riley groans and nuzzles her nose in my neck.
"No," she protests. "I can't," shh, it's okay baby. I kiss her forehead trying to calm her down.
"Shall I do a test to confirm? I'm not sure what she means." Riley groans again. She really believes she's never getting pregnant.
"She can't get pregnant, well, very rare. She didn't long ago have a test done at the hospital and well, she hasn't had sex for a while, has she, bro?" Tyler growls. I shouldn't need to disclose my sex life. He knows I can't control myself around her.
"Well, she had protected sex with James last night but no not really," what else can I say? Yes I've fucked her a few times since the hospital.
"She did what!" Did I not tell him that bit? A nurse wheels a bed towards us.
"Can you take this outside? Put her on the gurney," I'm not leaving her, is she crazy? He's already got to her once in hospital. I lower her onto the bed gently, her face screws up in pain but she doesn't call out.
They start wheeling her away, "Ty," she whimpers. "Flynn."
"We're here Lee, we won't be far away." Tyler says and we follow. They don't stop us and well, she needed me last time. They push her down the hall and into an examination room.
The nurses started working around her, "No!" Riley protest. The nurse is about to cut her top with scissors. "I like. . .this top. . .it covers my. . .bruises." It's just a top it's replaceable. She cringes as she sits up and I'm instantly by her side trying to help her. She grabs the bottom of her top and I push her hands away. She doesn't stop me and I slowly and gently lift her top up.
It gets a bit stuck over her head but I gently shimmy it over her head. Tyler gasps and I glare at him. I stroke her cheek and then I pass her top to a nurse and I walk back to Tyler. "When you said covered in bruises, I didn't expect that!" Tyler growls. I did warn him. Riley's eyes scan the room and then they settle on us at the back of the room.
"Do you want to take your jeans off or can I cut them?" the nurse asks. Jeez, don't ask her that, she will take the difficult option.
"I'll take them off," she insists and I roll my eyes.
"Do you want me to help you?" Over my dead body. It may be their job but she's mine. I start walking towards her and she shakes her head. She puts her hand on the button of her jeans and she strains to see. There is no way she's going to do it on her own. I place my hands over her cold ones, she sighs and moves her hands away. I love taking care of her, don't sweat this baby.
I undo her button and I look at Tyler and he's glaring at me. I grin at him and he scowls further. I slowly pull down her jeans and she doesn't assist me but that's okay. Once her jeans are by her ankles I pull off her shoes and then her jeans. The nurse takes her belongings and I stand next to Tyler again. "Look at them," Tyler whispers.
"I know, bro," I try not to look because it fucking kills me. They attach her to machines and her heart is high again but not dangerously high.
"Riley, my name is Dr Ford. Who did this to you?" he asks. A nurse covers her body with a blanket when they are done examining.
"My boyfriend," stop saying that. He doesn't deserve that title. Dr Ford nods his understanding.
"We have to call the police in these cases." She starts to panic, it has to be done, baby. "Did he sexually assault you, without your permission?"
"No, not really," she whispers. Yes, he did!
"Why aren't you sure exactly?"
"I didn't say no," she croaks. And? I have to have clear consent when I fuck a girl. Accept these days with Riley I know she wants me to and we both trust each other to stop if need be. If she said stop I'd do as she said instantly without hesitation.
"But did you say you wanted to?" she looks at us for direction, it's okay, baby.
"No but. . . I wasn't sure what. . . I wanted. . . I guess. . . it wouldn't have mattered. . . if I agreed. . . or not. . . he would have taken. . .what he wanted anyway," yes, he would have and I don't know which I'd prefer. She shuts her eyes shutting out the pain.
"Did he hurt you during intercourse? How do you know he would have anyway?" she rubs her temples with her fingers. I just want to hold her right now.
"No, not really. . . He restrained me. . . like he always does. . . I know because. . . he raped me. . . the first time." She brings her knees to her chest and hugs her legs.
"He's raped you before? How long has this been going on?"
"Not long. . . Ty," she whimpers. I reckon it's painful talking so much.
"They got together last Christmas. I didn't know about any of this they looked happy. From what I remember it could have started April-May time. Riley was in a car accident and he was declared brain dead in May. He was dead as far as we knew. He started stalking her a few days ago, she didn't tell me as she thought he was in her head."
"So, he is a threat? Will he come looking for her?" Of course, he's a threat! Oh, I'm hoping he does, I'm waiting for him.
"Who knows what that Pyscho would do." Tyler snaps, "Of course he's a threat, he knows he is. He knew he had control tonight," Riley looks at Tyler and looks sad.
"Okay, I'll call the police and have an officer at the door. I'm going to need to take you for scans and x-ray for your ribs." X-ray? Could she have broken ribs? "Your heart rate is elevated but it says on your notes it's normal for you," Riley rolls her eyes. The Doctor looks at us, "you'll need to wait in the waiting room whilst we do the scan." We nod and they start to push Riley out the door. She holds her hand out to us and I take it.
Tyler holds her leg and we walk with her out of the door. She looks scared, "Now, don't cause trouble because we don't need the police called for you," Tyler says playfully and she laughs but quickly stops when it hurts. I kiss her forehead and the nurse stops us. I hold her hand until our arms stretch to the furthest point.
My hand tingles from her wake, "This way," the nurse says and she escorts us into a waiting room.
"I need to call my parents," Tyler says when we enter the waiting area.
"Loudspeaker," I insist because I'm a nosy bugger and he nods. We are the only one in the waiting room anyway. We sit down and he presses call.
"Tyler? Everything okay?" Abigail says.
"No Mom, don't panic though okay?"
"Well, I'm going to panic now, Tyler. Hayden!" she calls. "What is going on?"
"Riley is in hospital, but she's okay."
Abigail gasps, "What? Why? Hayden! Lee is in hospital."
"Mom the bruises on her body, James has made her black and blue. I saw him today Mom, he's a psycho. He was restraining her and forcing her to kiss him. When I tried to help her he started strangling her. Anyway, she's in hospital after that and Britney pushed her over on the ice rink."
"You actually saw him?"
"Yeah, he looks homeless, it was almost as if he was waiting for me. He called me Bro, he saw nothing wrong with restraining her like that."
"We are in the car honey, we are on our way. We will be there in over two hours. Where is she now?"
"She's gone for a scan and X-ray, they think she may have broken a rib or something."
"How's Flynn?"
Tyler looks at me, "I'm absolutely livid, Abigail. I knew something was wrong with Riley but she wouldn't tell me anything. I've done a bad job at protecting what's mine."
"Honey, this isn't your fault. No one knew he was alive. Does she know about what you did yet?"
"No, and please don't tell her. She needs me right now, I know I need to stay away but she's terrified."
"Honey, if you aren't there when we get there I'll drag your backside there. You belong by her side."
"Mom," Tyler groans.
"Don't Mom me, Honey. I've warned you about this before. Now, see you both soon."
"Bye Mom," I say and Tyler frowns at me.
"Bye Mom," Tyler says and hangs up. "The hell?"
I grin, "Your Mom and I are like this," I cross my fingers and he laughs. "Once she threatened to slap my backside. She was so angry but I couldn't help but laugh at her."
"Hey, she's scary when she's angry," he puts his phone away. My phone beeps and I pull it out and it's a text from Regan.
REGAN- We need to talk.
ME- What do we need to talk about? We're over.
REGAN- We didn't finish talking.
ME- What more is there to say? We're done.
REGAN- But, I love you.
ME- I love Riley, you need to get over it.
I roll my eyes, "What bro?" Tyler asks.
"I ended it with Regan tonight but she's confessing her love for me. I was brutal yet, she's trying to get it to work."
"Bro, come on. Why?"
"Because she's a pain in the arse and she started getting in the way of me and Riley."
"That's the point."
"No, I will always be here for Riley and she didn't understand. She slapped me when she found out I was engaged to Riley. I told her then, it was the last time she freaked out about Riley. Yet, she's done nothing but bring her up. She is the reason why I left Riley unattended. I was so stupid."
"Fake engaged," I roll my eyes. Whatever, he has to rub it in my face. "Bro, you aren't her bodyguard. I left her too, Britney is causing a lot of trouble."
"How did Ruby react to her?"
"She understands, I mean she's been pretty amazing so far. It's a wonder she hasn't run for the hills yet. It's only been our first date. She's texted me saying she hopes Riley is okay. She feels really bad for what happened."
"Sounds like a keeper, bro," he grins and starts texting. We wait for over an hour until a nurse comes in.
I stand up, "Riley Blake?" she asks and I nod. "Doctor will be round later to update you. She's back from her scans if you'd like to follow me," Tyler gets up and we follow her down the hallway. She walks to the elevator and presses a button. When the doors open she escorts us to the trauma ward. She stops outside a room, "Bed 4," she says and holds her hand out for us to go in.
I walk in and I scowl when Riley is on her feet in a hospital gown walking towards us. Her eyes are panicked. She freezes when she sees us, "What the hell are you doing, Ri!"
"I. . ." I don't give her a chance to answer before I lift her into my arms. I lower her onto the bed in the far corner, bed 4. I cover her with the blanket, "People. . . in my room," she shivers. She's feeling vulnerable.
I frown, "I thought you got over that, Tyler can you see if they can put her in a private room." Tyler nods and leaves us closing the curtain as he goes. "You look shattered, Ri." She looks exhausted but her eyes stay on me.
"People. . . in my room." She's never going to sleep.
I sigh, "I know, Ri. Just try, okay?" I hold her hand and she shuts her eyes. The curtains open and her eyes fly open. Fucking hell, this is going to be a long night. A nurse frowns at Riley and hooks her back up the machines. I need her to rest, "Ri," I warn and she shuts her eyes. I stroke her hair and the nurse places an ice pack on her throat and she shivers.
"Are you cold Riley?" the nurse asks.
"I'm always cold," no, that's not true. I can heat her up but mostly during sex so that's out right now.
"I'll go and get you more blankets, are you hungry?" she asks.
"No," Riley mumbles sleepily.
"You didn't even eat tonight like you said. You had a manky sandwich at lunch, that's it." The curtains open and Riley's eyes open again. I grumble as Tyler walks in, he better have a private room sorted.
"No room at the inn, they will move her when they have a private room but she has to stay here until then." Fucking brilliant.
"Great, she's not sleeping then," I moan.
"Are you sure you don't want me to prescribe sleeping tablets?" The nurse asks. Riley shakes her head and I glare at her. What is this? She could do with them.
"Sleeping tablets?" I ask the nurse. "Ri, why are you turning them down?" She looks at me petrified. I'm here baby, I won't let anyone hurt you.
"I'm scared. . . If I sleep. . . he could take me. These people. . . could hurt me." She shakes her head, I don't remember her ever looking this vulnerable. He makes her weak, I kick my shoes off and I climb in next to her.
"Excuse me, you can't do that," the nurse protests. I roll my eyes and I help Riley curl up on me and she rests her face in my neck.
"Trust me, I hate it too but if she can't be moved into a private room then this is the only way," Tyler says.
"You could hurt her, it's against the rules. Police might want to collect evidence and you're contaminating it." Please, my DNA will be all over her by now.
"I've already bloody contaminated it, my scent lingers on her skin. She needs me to feel safe, she's cold because she's losing my scent on her skin. She's feeling dirty just let me help her, as you are."
"Fine, if she complains once about being in pain that's it." Riley doesn't complain about pain and I'm sure Riley will do everything she can to keep me here. The nurse adjusts her ice pack.
"Thank you, she will take the sleeping tablets," I insist. She needs them and I'm not taking no for an answer. The nurse leaves and I feel her eyes open again, she's predictable, "Ri," I warn.
"My parents are on their way. My Dad is still confused about his death. There was a death certificate. My Dad is in the process of talking to the hospital about what happened." Tyler informs. Yeah, I know all of this, is he saying this for Riley's benefit or what?
I stroke Riley's hair and she mumbles. "Can you at least try to keep your hands to yourself?" Tyler growls.
"Hey, I've touched every inch of her already what is this going to do?"
He glares at me, "I can still kick your arse, bro."
"Pfft, you could try," I grin. He sits on the bed and touches her leg and she grumbles.
"I promise," she whimpers. "I won't tell anyone, JJ. Not even Flynn," The hell! He told her not to tell me?! "Just don't leave me. Everyone leaves me," she whispers.
"This is my fault, if I hadn't left her at the hospital she would never have let him in."
"We did what we thought was right, I warned you away."
"JJ, I'm sorry," she whimpers. Hell! I stroke her cheek and she nuzzles her nose into my neck. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
"You in pain or what Bro," he asks.
"Something like that," I open my eyes and he is staring at me.
"What does that mean?"
"It's been a while bro, I'm trying to control myself. Her nuzzling my neck is not helping me right now."
He laughs loudly and Riley stirs, "Sucks to be you, bro. Her doing that turns you on?"
"Yes," I growl. "Simplest things she does turns me on. But that's one of the common ones." He laughs and Riley groans. "Shh," I glare at Tyler and he rolls his eyes.
The nurse walks in and Riley flinches. I roll my eyes, she's opened her bloody eyes again. "Pain killers and sleeping tablets," the nurse says and holds the pot out but Riley doesn't move only groans. She nuzzles her nose in my neck again and I suck in a breath and Tyler smirks at me. Bastard. "Riley?"
"Pass them here, she won't take them from anyone else," she nods and I hold my hand out and I take them from her. I put a tablet between my finger and thumb and hold it to her mouth. I slide it into her mouth and the nurse passes me the water. I pass it to Riley and she takes a sip. She starts coughing holding her mouth.
"It's going to be hard to swallow Riley after the damage to your neck." She takes another mouthful of water and she swallows hard. Her eyes water and it looks so painful. I hold the next tablet out to her and she shakes her head. I sigh, always difficult.
"Come on, Ri. Last ones, please," I beg. I need her to take them but she shakes her head. "Please, Ri, for me," I plead and she sighs. I take my cue and slide them in her mouth. She takes a mouthful of water and she swallows but ends up gagging. I tense, I hate to see her like this. Once she's swallowed them I relax. "Good girl, thank you," I stroke her hair soothing her. "Now please, try sleep." she nods into my neck.
"Man, I'm bored," Tyler moans.
"Go then, she won't know you're gone," I mutter. He's pissing me off.
"And leave you alone with her? No way, besides my parents, will be here soon and they will skin me alive if I'm not here." I roll my eyes, like anything will happen here. He spends most of the time on his phone texting anyway.
The curtains fly open about an hour later and Riley jumps. Hell, stop opening the curtains! Abigail and Hayden walk in, "Oh Honey!" Abigail cries, "Look at you," she walks towards us and she strokes Riley's hair.
"Mom," she croaks.
"Ri, sleep. No talking," I warn. She groans but closes her eyes. The curtain opens and she tenses again. "Christ sake! Is this private room ever going to be free?"
"You need to calm down, we are horrendously busy tonight. Once it's available you'll be first to know," the nurse says. She puts a new ice pack on Riley's neck and Abigail gasps. "There shouldn't be this many people in here and it's out of hours." This nurse is pissing me off.
"We're family," Hayden asserts his authority. I'm not going anywhere, she will be awful without me. "She needs us, we won't be any bother. We appreciate all you're doing to help our daughter," the nurse blushes and nods. Abigail slides on the bed next to Riley and strokes her hair.
"I'm here Lee Lee, I'm so sorry," she whimpers. "What the hell happened?"
"I'm sorry Mom. It all started a few days ago when Nathan rang me to say Riley was in shock. She really was in shock, she wasn't making any sense. I called Flynn because she was so pale and she was shaking. She said she saw James, I didn't think much of it because he was dead. Odd things were happening. Lee was in hospital a couple of days ago and then she started acting strange but not really bad." It was really bad, I told him something was really wrong.
"She waited in the rain all afternoon and Nath found her. He took her home, he was trying to get her in the bath when I arrived she was so cold. I called Flynn to get her in the bath, I didn't want him to do it. Once she was out the bath she was better, I ordered pizza. I made her eat. Then she kicked us out, Flynn tried to stay but she wouldn't let him." I hate that she made me leave. I should have been able to overpower him.
"The next day she had a sore throat, she did that stupid no carbs diet at the cafe and ate a small amount. We met up at lunch and Britney came in acting psycho and Lee got between us protecting me. Britney had a broken beer bottle threatening her but she took her down. Britney clawed her face. Lee returned from outside after and announced she had a boyfriend. I'd never heard of him and I know a lot of people." I should have known something was going in then. She always said she wouldn't get another boyfriend. When I asked her if she had sex with him and if she loved him she said it was complicated. It sure was.
"We saw her at work and--"
"Hold up, work?" Hayden growls.
"Yeah, she has a job. Did she not tell you?" Tyler says.
"No, I wondered why her bills weren't coming out of the bank. She must be paying for them herself," he sounds pissed off. Such a Riley thing to do, she always tries to be independent.
"Anyway, we were at the ice rink where she works. I asked if she wanted us to wait to walk her home and she said her boyfriend was coming by. Flynn got ratty about it and Lee made it worse saying he would probably stay over like he had the night before. I had to calm Flynn down, we hit the pub. Flynn got into another fight. I knocked on the door when I was back but she didn't answer so I assumed she was asleep." Well, we tried to get in but the chain was across.
"Then Flynn rings me asking if he really is dead because she's covered in bruises. That's when I rang Dad. She went to work tonight, Britney pushed Lee over on the ice. She hurt her ribs when she fell. I had to get Britney out of Flynn's way. I took her outside and told her she needs to stop or I'd call the police on her. Twice she'd assaulted my sister--"
"You broke up with Britney? I thought you liked her?" Abigail asks.
"Eh, she was good when I was bored. I met Ruby and well, I really like her Mom. She's opened my eyes. I think I love her already," and I'm so fucking glad about that.
"I've got to meet this girl then. Does Riley like her? I know she wasn't keen on Britney," what did she call her? Barbie?
"I was surprised when she said she approved and she was nice to her. She just didn't like that Ruby is prettier than her. Of course, I think they are both the same." Tyler defends himself. Pfft hardly, Riley is by far more beautiful.
"Good save, son," Hayden approves. Riley isn't vain like that so it wouldn't matter but she does need to hear how beautiful she is because she doesn't see clearly.