Her Lost Soul 2

Chapter 7

"Anyway, when I was speaking with Britney, Ruby came to me to say Riley was fine and she was with her boyfriend. She was sending me a secret message I went to find her and he had her restrained pulling her head back so she couldn't move. He smiled at me when I entered, he didn't seem bothered. He seemed unhinged in a way he never used to. He looked homeless, rough. He was always well dressed and clean.
"I walked further towards him after threatening him and he got really close to her possessing her, threatening her and then he started strangling her. He knew he was in control, he bloody knew it. Her eyes were wide and they were going red as she struggled to breathe. I didn't know what to do but she did.
"She reached up and touched his cheek and he looked at her. His face changed as he grabbed her hand away from his cheek. I couldn't hear what she told him but she told me she said she loves him and he let her go. He pushed her into me so I couldn't chase him. He's crazy for doing that in front of me. He was always careful, he's being openly risky. It was almost like he was waiting for me."
"So what has he been doing to her?" Abigail asks.
"She explained it to me the best she could, When she was in the hospital she woke and he was there. He never claimed to be alive so she thought he was in her head. She always said that since loving me she never really loved him. It was all control with him, she thought she loved him at the time. I made her feel so much more and so much differently. I was fixing what he broke. When she saw him again a part of her still loved him. The part that could still control her.
"He kissed her and she deepened the kiss. I don't think she really knew what she was doing. She wanted it to be me. He said he came back because she needs him. She called me, she needed me but I have to keep my distance, I put her in the hospital but I'm the reason she didn't push him away. If I went to her she would have pushed him away--"
"How do you know that?" Abigail asks.
"She told me and I read her diary," who cares? Riley doesn't.
"You what? You know it's private right? It's invading her privacy," I'm sure I've told her this before.
"She gave me permission a while ago, it helps me read her. To help her, the words she will never say directly to me in fear of hurting my feelings." Maybe she is putting this act up for her daughter. I'm sure I told her before.
"She gave you permission? Did she not write about James?" Only recently.
"She drew him, she didn't write anything about him when I looked. She withdrew from me, I always thought it was because I wanted space. She kept flinching at me, she wouldn't open up to me, she would lie to me. It was frustrating as hell! She never kept things from me even at the beginning. When she admitted she had a boyfriend I thought she was pissing me off on purpose. I knew she still loved me, she still acted the same way when I was close.
"When I put her in the bath I knew she still wanted me but she pushed me away. Once she warmed up she pushed us out. I wanted to stay, she's never said no to me before. Apparently, he came over that night. He strangled her because she told him about losing the baby. He was pissed that she killed him and his baby. I'll spare you the gory details and then she fell asleep and he was gone when she woke--"
"What gory details," Abigail demands. I'm not sure Riley will want me to repeat it, it took me a lot of persuading for her to tell me.
"You don't want that shit in your head, trust me, Abigail." I don't want it in mine.
"Tell me," she insists.
"Ri?" I won't say anything unless she gives me permission. She nods slightly and I feel a pang of jealousy. I thought she'd only want to share this with me. I guess she's not the one actually sharing it so I guess I can live with that. "Well, he used to do it a lot before. She used to hate it but I guess she was thankful. He likes skin on skin, he normally lays naked on her but he stayed in his boxers but he let her stay in her PJ's just lifting her top laying on her. They were watching a movie and he was aroused and shagged the couch on top of her."
"The fuck?" Tyler growls.
"Oh christ," Abigail gasps. It's some fucked up shit, I couldn't keep my hands to myself if she was underneath me. There is no resisting her.
"She hates it she said she felt inadequate but she said it wasn't even the right word. She was glad he didn't touch her but she felt worthless he didn't even try to interact. She waited for him the next day in the courtyard. He showed this time, although he was pissed she summoned him like she was in control. Nathan arrived and he disappeared.
"He was at the pub at lunch, he was pissed that Barbie marked his face. Pfft, his?" I snort. She's mine, I'm even calling her Barbie now. Hell! "He met her at her work that evening. He was asking about his Mom and his friend. He got angry at how many people she slept with whilst he was dead. Still not claiming to be alive. He punched her in the ribs and forced her to leave work early.
"Do you really want to know the rest?"
"Yes," she whispers. I look at her face and she is silently crying trying to stay strong for her daughter and I admire that.
"They got home and he told her to shower. She didn't want him to shower with her but again she felt inadequate when he said no. He's apparently never showered with her before. I mean I don't know why some of our best sex has been in the--" I get lost in thought when I feel daggers sent my way. I expected Tyler but not Hayden too. I cough trying to clear my head of her in the shower.
"Anyway he got in the shower after, she washed his clothes as she said they really smelled. She got into her PJ's and he came into her bedroom. He told her to strip, exactly like that sickening sex tape." I hate to think she was like that with me not so far away. I feel so sick, she tenses in my arm. I'm here baby.
"He played her like a puppet. First pinned her from behind and fucked her that way. Then he made her ride him with her hands pinned behind her and her head pulled back so she couldn't move. She doesn't feel as though it was rape because she didn't say no." It was rape for christ sake. I explicitly demand permission so I can't be wronged. Where was his? "She was confused about what she wanted. He could always make her do anything anyway but I guess she's never actually said yes to anyone but me before. She blocked it out went to her safe haven that I made for her. When she woke he was gone."
I love that she goes there. She seeks comfort in me even when she doesn't want it. "When I arrived she was in the shower. She ran into her bedroom and locked the doors. She had never locked me out before. I was anxious so after her not opening the door I kicked it open. I gave her warning. She was fully dressed and applying makeup. She was more distant, more lies. I was at a loss. She grabbed my hand on the way out and instantly withdrew. She felt cold to me." I knew something was seriously wrong but I let my emotions control me.
"She has this thing where she's always cold. My touch makes her warm. I heat her from the outside in. When my scent lingers on her skin she can stay warm for hours. Little does she know I feel when she's cold," she tenses in my arms again. Have I not told her that before? I guess I haven't told her a lot of things. "She used to tell me I burned her in the early days. So when she said I scolded her I was worried. I held her hand regardless of where we were at. In the car she said she felt dirty, I knew instantly that she slept with her boyfriend. She used to scrub for ages in the shower with a scalding temperature and nothing would work.
"I was the only one that made her feel clean. My scent and well, I'll spare you the other details." Tyler glares at me and I roll my eyes, "I was pissed as hell with her. All these secrets and she slept with the fucker. She started sobbing her heart out and it broke me. I pulled the car over and pulled her onto my lap. I held her begging her to tell me what was wrong. Then she said his name.
"All sorts of things were running through my head. Then she took her top off and shit me, the bruises." How could I not see? Miley knew instantly.
"I want to see," Abigail says and climbs off the bed and Riley groans. "Can I?" she asks. I'm not sure why she's upsetting herself like this. She nods into my neck and she slowly rolls on her back. I sit up and look down at her. I'm not sure about this, I don't want to expose my girl to them. But they are family. I pull the covers off her body. I look into her eyes and she's watching me as if she trusts me implicitly.
I love her so much, I remove the ice pack from her neck and place it on the pillow. I slowly lift her gown to her chest and I swallow hard. I hear Abigail's sobs but my eyes remain on my girl. She's still fucking beautiful despite the bruises. Tyler shoves me and I glare at him. "Mommy," Riley croaks trying to comfort her Mom.
"Don't talk, Honey," her voice breaks. I slide the gown back down her body. That's enough of that. She sits up and groans holding her ribs. What the hell is she playing at? "Lee, take it easy." She holds her free arm out to her inviting Abigail in for a hug. Abigail closes the distance between them and they hug. Abigail holds her careful where to touch her. "You need to rest, Lee." My heart swells watching them both, there was a time when Riley would purposely avoid hugging her and now she's instigating the hug.
"She won't because she's not in a private room. She's anxious with the other patients in her room. They say they are busy so they will allocate her a private room when one opens up. Every time someone opens the curtain she wakes."
"We will see about that," Hayden growls and walks through the curtain. I have no doubt that Hayden will get her a room. Even if he has to use cash to do so he will. After a couple of minutes, the curtain opens again and Abigail releases Riley and climbs off the bed. I scowl when two police officers walk into the room.
I cover Riley's body with the blanket. I don't want them seeing too much. Riley lowers back onto the bed and I do the same. She buries her face in my neck again and I hold her. I place the ice pack back on her neck. She slides her cold hand under my top to my abs and I close my eyes and swallow hard, not now baby. She pulls me closer to her not that I can get any closer. I open my eyes once I regain control. "Riley Blake?" The male officer says. "We were called about an assault, we have some questions."
"No," she croaks and tenses in my arms.
"Can we answer for her? She's in a lot of pain. She can't talk very well," Abigail asks. Man, where is Hayden when you need him?
"It needs to come from her I'm afraid." Riley starts muttering into my neck. "Can you tell me your attacker's name?"
"James Webber," she croaks. She needs to sleep why did it have to be now?
"Thank you, I need you to describe that best you can what happened and when it happened." She's not supposed to talk so much.
"Tomorrow," she clutches her throat. She must be in a lot of pain if she's showing pain.
"We need to do this as soon as we can so we can arrest him."
"It hurts," she cries. Fuck, I want them to arrest the fucker but not at her expense. I'll protect her until then.
"You either let us explain or you wait until tomorrow. She can fill in the blanks if we don't know but the doctors said for her to not talk," I growl.
"Fine, okay. Who's closest to the story?" he asks. She relaxes in my arms but I can feel the moisture on my neck as she silently cries.
"Flynn," Tyler says. Me? Well, I guess I am but he saw him.
"Okay, what's your name?" he looks at me holds his notepad out ready to write. He has no compassion for my girl it's just another case for him.
"Flynn Archer."
"What's your relationship to the victim," she cringes.
"She's my ex. My best friend's sister, we are family." I want to be married to her but I've backtracked slightly since I hurt her. I'm not safe around her.
"Okay, so does Riley know the attacker personally or was it a random attack?" Unfortunately, she knows him. She'd have told me sooner and she wouldn't have been so rattled. In fact, she'd have been strong enough to stand up for herself. She doesn't take crap from anyone except him.
"She knows him personally. They were in a relationship, started last Christmas. He died in May? He was declared brain dead after a car accident. Somehow he faked his death. He started stalking her a few days ago."
"Okay are they still together? Tell me about the attack," the police officer asks. What does it matter?
"Well, they are together. She thought he was actually dead and he was in her head. He never confirmed he was alive. He was abusive before he supposedly died."
"Was there any proof?" if it wasn't for me no one would know about the abuse.
"None that was reported. He was clever, she isolated. She didn't tell anyone until recently."
"Okay, did he sexually abuse her before?"
"Yes, but in her eyes, it was just the once. In my eyes, it was every time. He raped her, took her virginity. The other times she didn't say no but she wasn't happy with it. He made a sex tape of her, you can tell it was against her will."
"Has anyone got a copy of this?" I'm sure that little frigid still has it. I wish I deleted it at the time but I guess I'm glad I didn't for this purpose. She flinches again.
"I'm sure I can get a copy."
"Okay, so tell me about this assault."
"There were lots of different assaults. Lots of hand gripping to start with, jaw, wrists, legs. Then he got angry and punched her bedroom door then strangled her two days ago. Yesterday night he punched her ribs. Took her home and then raped her. She says it wasn't because she didn't say no but she also knows he would have done it regardless. He pinned her down or restrained her so she couldn't move. I class that as rape."
"Did you want him to do it?" he asks her directly.
"I don't know. . . I was confused. . . he didn't give me. . .chance to protest. He plays on. . . my love for him."
"Okay, if he was here right now. Would you say yes to him?" She shakes her head and I'm glad she's admitted it. "Okay, anything else?"
"Tonight he bit her lip too hard causing her to bleed. Then he restrained her and kissed her and then Tyler walked in."
"What happened?" he asks Tyler directly.
"Well, he knew what he was doing he was smiling at me, taunting me. He didn't release her from the lock he had her in. I walked towards him to help my sister and he strangled her in front of me. Riley got him to stop eventually and then he launched her at me so I couldn't chase him."
"How did you stop him, Riley?" he asks her directly again.
"I told him I love him. He needs to. . .hear it when. . .he's scared."
"Do you love him?" A small part of her does I want to say. The smallest piece of herself, the insecure, weakest part. I hate that she loves him still.
"Yes, which is why. . . I stick around. . .for him to hurt me. But. . . I don't want to. . . I thought I didn't love. . . him anymore since. . . Flynn but I was wrong."
"Okay, was James annoyed about you and Flynn?"
"Yes but not. . . as much as I. . . thought. He was more pissed. . . I had sex with. . . his best friend. . .and the whole town." The officer raises his eyebrow in judgement and I want to realign his face.
"I see." The curtain opens and Hayden walks in. Where the hell has he been? "Mr Blake," he nods. Oh, so they know each other. It looks hostile between them.
"Detective Murphy," Hayden says calmly. "You're breaking the law, Murphy. You know it needs to be a private room. You're lucky we have nothing to hide." If I'd known that I would have put a stop to this so she could rest.
He ignores him and looks back at us, "The first strangulation took place where?"
"Her apartment," I confirm.
"The blow to the ribs?"
"Her place of work, Sullivan's Ice Rink."
"Any CCTV?" How should I know? I'm always too busy looking at my girl to notice.
"I think so, I'm not sure."
"Okay, the rape?"
"Her apartment."
"Second strangulation?"
"Her place of work."
"Can we take pictures of the bruises Riley?" I scowl. No fucking way is he seeing my girl in her underwear. Riley nods and I growl. Abigail shakes her head urging me to cooperate. She glares at me and I sigh. "Tate." I remove the covers and she slides on her back. I slowly lift the gown, I instantly want to cover her again but I can't. I hear Abigail sobbing again. I sit up and hover next to her. "That one?"
He points to a bruise on her leg, "In my apartment. . . just before the first strangulation." She takes a picture and moves to one on her hip.
"That one?"
"I don't know, he restrained me. . . a lot."
She takes a picture and moves to her ribs, "This one?"
"Blow to the ribs. . . work." She takes another snap and moves to her wrist.
"That one?"
"Many occasions, he likes to grab. . . me at any opportunity. I swear. . . he gripped harder. . .until he got a reaction." I scowl and Tyler glares at me to keep calm. How can I fucking keep calm?
She captures the next bruise and moves to her neck. I remove the ice pack, "That one?"
"First and second strangulation. . . I guess. Apartment and work."
"Are there any bruises on your back?" Are there? I never looked there.
"Don't think so. . . there's some on my face."
"Face? Did he hit you? Someone get a wipe or something." Tyler leaves the room to find something.
"No, he never liked to. . . mark my face. I think. . . he is less controlled. . . more of a risk. . .taker. And he said he. . . loves me with make up . . . he knows I can hide the. . . bruising with it. He said I look. . . so hot with makeup." I snort, is he looking at the same girl? "He grabs. . . my jaw to. . .restrain me." Tyler returns and he passes me a wet wipe.
I readjust my body and I gently cup her face and she flinches. I'm not sure I want to see how bad it is underneath. She looks me in the eye with total trust again. I carefully start removing her makeup from her forehead. She said he restrained her jaw so the top should be okay. I'll ease myself into it.
I wipe her eyes and she has black rings under her eyes. She's really tired. As I wipe her cheeks bruising starts showing and I hesitate. I look at Abigail and she nods reassuring me. I look back at Riley and I start removing the makeup from her jaw and I want to cry. Black and purple bruising is covering her jaw and chin. I feel so sick when I finish, I examine her beautiful face and I want to cry.
"Makeup really can conceal anything but he's wrong. You don't need makeup. You look better without it," Murphy says. Fuck off, I want to say but I'm lost in her eyes. I think she's lost in mine. Tyler shoves my back and I sigh and move out of the way so they can take a picture. "Okay, I think that's all I need for now. Thank you for your time. If you think of anything else Riley, let me know. I'll leave my card," he says. I watch as he places a card on the table and leaves us.
A few seconds later a Doctor arrives. Was he waiting outside? I slide her gown down, I don't need any more people seeing my girl. I pull the covers over her and it's eased my anxiety somewhat. "Riley, how are you feeling?"
"I hurt," she admits and she coughs.
"I'll administer stronger painkillers." She shakes her head and I sigh.
"No more. . . meds," she protests.
"She had trouble swallowing them," I explain when the Doctor seems confused.
"Okay, I'll give them intravenously. Okay, there seems to be a bit of damage to the throat but nothing I'm too concerned about. She will have difficulty swallowing for a while so I suggest liquids until that eases. Her red eyes will go back to normal in 10-14 days," two weeks? Hell! Her beautiful eyes! "She has two cracked ribs. I'm unsure whether it was the fall or the punch. I'd say it was a combination of them both. You'll need to rest for a week or so Riley. No heavy lifting or exerting yourself."
"My heart," she begs. "Run," hell. It's the only way she can sleep without me.
"No, no running, Riley. No exercise for at least a week. Maintain a healthy diet, low caffeine and no alcohol."
She groans, "Nightmares," she whispers.
"She suffers with PTSD from her car accident," Abigail informs. Hell, it was mostly James that she gets nightmares about.
"How much do you sleep, Riley?"
"With exercise. . . twice a day. . .sometimes gym. . .about 12 hours." Bullshit! Unless she's with me. Sometimes gym? She works out everyday. I should know, I keep track of where she is, mostly.
"That's plenty, I don't see the issue--"
"A week," she cuts him off. That's more like it. Is she trying to be funny?
"Two hours a day is nowhere near enough."
"Nightmares," she says as if it's obvious.
"Have you tried sleeping tablets?"
"I don't. . .want them." I roll my eyes, of course not because that way she'd have to be less stubborn. She always takes the hard route.
"Well, you need to find a way of dealing with your nightmares. It's not good for you, when was the last time you got 8 hours sleep?"
"When Flynn. . . stays with me. . . over two weeks ago."
"Then maybe he should stay with you." I'm more than fine with that and I raise my eyebrow. Tyler glares at me and I smirk at him. Doctors orders, did you hear that bro?
"No. . . did you know. . .he could. . .smother me. . .with a pillow. . .push me off. . . the bed. . .and kill m--" I roll my eyes.
"Ri, enough. Stop making this a joke. You know why we do this." I wish she'd stop using this against me. I wish I could deal with my anger for her, I'd like nothing more than to be by her side forever and know that I'd never hurt her. I lay back down and she curls up to me instantly. See she doesn't mean it really. She's just stubborn.
"She needs to keep ice packing her ribs to bring the swelling down." The Doctor walks towards us and brings the bed into an upright position. "She's not to lie flat either, the nurse should have done that." He replaces the ice pack on her neck, "I will make sure someone comes in with another ice pack for her ribs. Rest and no lifting, come back if it's not better in a few weeks. Look out for shortness of breath, coughing up mucus or blood. Or chest pain getting worse. Although she needs rest she shouldn't lie down all the time. She needs to walk around."
"I will discharge her tomorrow, I want to monitor her overnight. She will be transferred rooms shortly."
"Thank you Doctor," Abigail says and he nods and leaves the room. "My poor baby," she strokes Riley's hair and she recoils into me again. I guess she's asleep already thank god. "Thank you," she says to me.
I snort, "Don't thank me, it's because of me that he hurt her."
"Because of you we know about it. She'd still be suffering out there if it wasn't for you. She'd have never have told us. If you'd known you would have protected her, you know you would. Now stop this self-loathing crap."
"Yes, Mom," I mock.
"Ohh, she's angry bro," Tyler jokes. She walks around the bed and Tyler stops laughing. Is he really that scared of her when she's angry? "Mom, I'm sorry," he holds his hands out and she wraps her arms around him.
"I love you," she says to him. "I'm so proud of all of you. Just be careful, okay? He could have hurt you tonight." He returns the hug once her intentions are clear.
Pfft, I'm waiting for the day when we are in the same room. Abigail releases him and she walks to me. I hug her with one arm as Riley is wrapped around me. "I think you guys should go home and rest."
"Not a chance in hell," I growl. She releases me, "I'm not going anywhere." She sighs and sits on the bed and puts her hand on my leg.
"Calm down, Honey," she sighs again. "I'm glad she has you. What's wrong with her arm? They didn't question it?" I scowl.
"I hurt her the other day, she needed stitches."
"Oh," Abigail says.
"She's supposed to get them removed in a few days," Tyler says.
"I'll get the doctor to have a look before she leaves." The curtain opens and a couple of nurses arrive.
"We are moving her to a different room," one of them says. "You'll need to get down." I roll my eyes. I take Riley's hands and I gently roll her onto her back. I let her hands rest to her side and I climb off the bed after Abigail stands up.
"No," she mumbles.
"Does she not want to go?" a nurse asks.
I roll my eyes, "You made me leave her, although she's asleep, she's having a nightmare."
"She can't know you left when she's asleep." I raise my eyebrow at her and she shakes her head.
"Bro," Tyler warns. What? I'm not going to hit a girl, not on purpose. I walk to the seat and I sit down crossing my legs and arms.
"What?" I growl. "She can't know I left right?" I raise my eyebrow again and the nurse frowns. They start unhooking her machines.
"No," Riley mumbles. I don't want to leave her to make a point but the nurse has pissed me off. Her body starts shaking and the nurses frown harder. They are unsure what to do. "Flynn," she whimpers. The nurse who pissed me off looks up at me and frowns. Her body starts writhing around and the nurse starts to panic and tries to hold her body still. "No more, only Flynn."
I won't drag this out, I'm not cruel. "James, I'm sorry I love you. Don't hurt me," she begs as she thrashes around. "I do love you, I just love him more. Don't leave me," she begs. Abigail glares at me and I stand up.
"Don't touch her," I growl when I reach her. She removes her hands and holds them out in front of her. I stroke Riley's cheek, "Shh baby," I soothe her, "I'm here," her thrashing around stops. "You're safe, I'm here. I won't leave you." I stroke her cheek with one hand and I stroke her hair with the other. I reach over and kiss her forehead and her shaking stops. Her frown eases and she looks peaceful. I stand up straight but keep my hands on her. I look at the nurse and cock my head.
"How does she know?" she whispers.
"Does it matter? All that matters is she knows when I leave." She nods. I know my girl better than anyone. Who is she to question that?