James (Resisting Love #3)(32)

James


Nancy is seriously f*cking around with me. After that call she hasn’t contacted me again. I’ve called her a million times. What's her end game? I need to find it out and sort this mess out fast. I leave Sasha and Jye fast asleep and head into The Safe House. My time is almost up, and I'm definitely going to miss this place.

“We got a call from the police in Dawesville, they have a domestic abuse case over there. The neighbours have called the police several times. And the woman’s mother called us,” Talon informs me.

He's my replacement, and a really good guy. He stands at my height, and is muscular to the point of intimidation. I check the case file on the woman and frown. I’ve met her a few times. She was in the hospital, bruised and beaten, but wouldn’t speak a word against her husband. I know it was him hurting her because Tatiana let me read his record.

A bad feeling in my gut, I head to her house to check out the area. After two hours of surveillance I watch as her husband pulls away. Taking my chance, I go around the back door and enter. The door is left unlocked. Unease spreads through me. I look around the house, which is empty, leaving the bedroom for last. When I enter, I see her hiding in the corner of the room, her head down. Dark locks of hair cover her face, but I can still see her body shivering from here.

“Helen, it’s me, James. We met at the hospital. Remember what we spoke about?” I ask in a soft voice, not wanting to scare her. I know how skittish these women can get. She lifts her head up and I flinch when I see the bruising around her left eye.

“James?” she rasps. I can see fingerprints around her throat. My hands clench into fists. I slowly walk towards her and help her up, I hate that she whimpers when my arm touches her.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” I ask her.

“No, he just hit… hit me, and…” she gestures to her throat. He tried to strangle her. Fucking piece of shit. I’m about to exit from the front door when I hear the rumble of a car engine. Helen’s panic fills me with dread. What's he doing here? He's supposed to be at work. I quickly call Tatiana, and tell her to send some officers over here pronto. I glance out the window, and notice that Helen’s husband isn’t alone. He's with two other men. I have a feeling this is about to get ugly, and fast. I gently tilt her face up to look into my eyes.

“I need you to be strong for me right now, can you do that?” I ask her. She doesn’t answer.

“Helen, I just need this one thing from you, then you won’t have to worry anymore, okay?” I plead with her.

“Okay,” she says, almost too quiet to hear. I take my car keys and put them in her hand. “My car is parked behind, next to your back neighbours’ house. Get in it, and drive to the police station. I'll make sure he doesn’t follow you, okay?”

She nods, and I quickly walk her to the back door, just as I hear the front door open.

“Don’t come back, no matter what,” I tell her before closing the back door. I could have gone with her, I know, but I didn’t want to risk it. If those three men caught up with us, who knows how badly they would have beaten her, or even worse. I hide for a few moments, before I hear the yelling. He must be looking for her. One of the men opens the back door, but before he can turn the door knob, I pull him back. I dodge his fist, pulling back and hitting him right in his face. I hear a crunching sound, the man screams, and soon the other two men are surrounding me.

“Where the f*ck is she?” one demands.

“Safe,” I say with a smug smile. Another fist comes flying at me, which I only just dodge. Extremely close call. Two men hold me down, allowing the third to punch me right in the stomach. Another punch hits me on the side of my head, just as I hear police sirens. When the third hit comes, I allow oblivion to take me, knowing that Helen was safe.

***

Sasha

I run into the hospital, Jye clutched in my arms. I look around the reception and my eyes find Chase standing there, staring down at the floor. His face looks drawn and for the first time ever, he doesn’t look put together.

“Chase?” I say as I make it closer to him.

“Come,” he demands, taking my wrist in his hand and pulling me gently towards the hospital rooms. We walk to a room marked A28. Chase opens the door for me and offers to take Jye. I hand him over, slightly reluctant, before walking into the room.

There lays James. Bruised and bloodied, he is lying down watching me in silence. I rush towards him, taking his hand in mine carefully so I don’t hurt him further.

“What happened?” I ask, tears pouring down my face.

“You should see the other guy. Or guys, as it were,” he says softly, attempting to joke.

“James,” I admonish without conviction.

“Don’t worry, pretty girl. This was my last job. And I’m fine, just a little banged up, okay?” he tries to reassure me.

“When can you come home?” I ask him.

“A day or two,” he says with a sigh, like he’s heavily put out that he's being fussed over. I hear Jye crying from the waiting room, and stand up to go and get him.

“Bring him in, please,” James says softly and I nod. I walk out of the room to see Jye sitting on Chase’s lap, struggling slightly.

“Hey Jye, I’m here, baby. Come on, let’s go and see your dad,” I tell him, taking him into my arms.