Sucker Punched (Resilient Hearts Series Book One 1) (21 page)

TWENTY SIX

Caitlin

It’s been two days since the initial phone call from Beth’s sister, Libby. The messages were frantic, and she begged me to call her back. The last message accuses me of being a horrible friend and informs me that Stephen hurt Beth, but Libby didn’t say how. Once I call her back, the conversation isn’t a pleasant one.

“Hi, Libby. I’m sorry; I’ve been out. What the hell’s happened?” I rush out.

“I’ll tell you what’s happened, Caitlin. Your ex has been terrorizing my sister since she came back from America!”

I’m shocked by this news. “What? She never said anything to me about it.” Why didn’t she tell me?

“No, of course she wouldn’t. That’s because she’s a GOOD friend, one not wanting to worry you. Now she is lying in a hospital bed in agony.”

“What? Tell me what the hell happened!” I’m so panicked; Ethan kneels next to me rubbing my arm.

“Your ex threw sulfuric acid on my beautiful sister, and now she’ll be scarred for life.” Her voice cracks as I hear her sobs through the line. “I hope you’re happy.”

If I wasn’t already on the floor, my legs would’ve given way. “What? Stephen threw acid on Beth?” I choke out. Ethan’s shocked at my words but remains silently by my side. Happy? That’s the last thing I am. I’m frantic to get to her. “What hospital is she in?”

“Don’t you dare come here; you’ve done enough.”

I’m feeling guilty, believe me, but Libby is getting on my bloody nerves now. Where has she been all these years when it’s only been Beth and me? I won’t allow her to push me out now. “You better tell me now, Libby. I’m not joking.” My voice sounds harsh.

She finally relents and gives me the name of the hospital. We disconnect the call, and as I explain the gruesome details to Ethan, it becomes so overwhelming that I break down. He holds me close, rocking me in his arms as I weep.

It’s all been a blur since then, and Ethan is amazing organizing our travel arrangements and accommodations. He even explains to Len why I need to have time off because I’m not ready to face anyone.

Roman, Ethan, and I board a plane heading for the UK. The very thought of going back home makes me a nervous wreck. I never dreamed I’d set foot here again, much less for something Stephen had done. He’s supposed to be out of my life, yet his actions have dragged me back.

Ethan rents a car so we can drive straight over to the hospital. The journey has been a long one, and mostly we’ve been silent. I’m seated in the back, my leg steadily bobbing up and down. How am I going to face Beth after this? I don’t know how she’ll forgive me.

Libby tells me that after the assault, Beth was rushed to the nearest hospital. Shortly after her admission, she was moved to a hospital with a specialized burn unit.

Roman and Ethan are on either side of me as we enter the unit, and I grip both of their hands for support. Immediately, I see Beth’s mum and sister, Libby. Just great, I really don’t want to deal with them right now. My grip becomes tighter on Ethan’s hand. He looks down at me. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head. “No, that’s Beth’s sister and mum. I don’t want to talk to them. I just want to see Beth.”

Ethan looks toward them, and they, in turn, stop talking to each other. They look just as happy to see me as I am to see them. “Come on,” he says, motioning me towards the nurse’s station.

The nurse, in her pristine blue uniform, greets us cordially. Her face lights up when she tells me Beth has been asking for me. That’s all it takes for me to cry like a baby. Her sister made it seem as though Beth didn’t want to see me, but I’m relieved to hear this is not the case.

We’re led through the sterile halls, passing Beth’s family, but we don’t say a word. It’s nearly a week since the attack, and I’m terrified to discover the full extent of her injuries. I ask the guys to wait outside which they agree to do, although I know Roman is desperate to see her, also. As the nurse makes her way into the room, I pause in the doorway trying to get my anxious emotions under control. Ethan comes up behind me and rubs my shoulders. I lean into him for just a moment hoping to gain strength from him. It works. I wipe my face so it’s free of tears. I will be strong for Beth.

When the nurse announces my arrival, my knees weaken because of Beth’s gut wrenching sobs. Without a moment’s thought, I step into the room and spot Beth sitting up slightly in her bed. Bandages cover parts of her arm, neck, and jaw on her left side. I hurry to her side, and she holds out her uninjured arm to me. I grip on to her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

Beth winces as she tries to shake her head, the burned skin from her neck making it too painful. “I don’t want your apologies. You’re not Stephen.” Her voice is stronger than I expected.

Slumping into the chair next to her bed, I cling onto her hand but won’t look her in the eye. Guilt and regret consume me. How could I have involved her in this? She’s always been the stronger one of us, but I shouldn’t have mixed her up in my problems. “What’s happened to him?” It’s the question that’s been plaguing me since I heard the news.

“Absolutely nothing.” Her voice cracks with raw anger.

“What!?” My head shoots up. “What the hell do you mean nothing?” My anger is rising. How can he be walking free after disfiguring Beth?

“After he threw the acid, he ran, and the police have yet to find him.”

“He’s on the run?” My voice makes a high-pitched sound I never thought capable. He’s still roaming free as my beautiful friend lies here in agony.

“Caitlin. There’s more. So much more.” Her desperate eyes look at me, and she doesn’t need to say it. They are full of concern and regret. In that moment I know why he did this. It wasn’t revenge for Beth helping me to escape; it was to get me back to England.  Initially, the thought I may see him again nearly paralyzes me, but I’m not the same battered and beaten girl who fled all those months ago. I’m stronger now, and I refuse to hide away again. I will not run this time; I’m staying by Beth’s side.

                                                                 ***

After four days in the UK, Roman still hasn’t seen Beth. When I told her he was here, she refused to see him, and Roman is devastated. But I can’t push the matter with her. When I initially asked her, she became panicked, saying he couldn’t see her like this. So unless she changes her mind, which I very much doubt, he will have to respect her wishes.

Beth’s mum is now nowhere to be seen, not a big surprise, but Libby has stayed. She’s made it clear I’m not welcome, even with Beth talking to her. I understand her rage because I feel it myself.

The acid literally ate away at Beth’s skin, but it’s now beginning to heal, as well as it can anyway. It’s going to be a long road to recovery, and she’ll need skin grafts eventually. She’s still in immense pain, but at the moment, her will is still strong. I hope it lasts, but I fear it won’t.

The unit is for severe burns, which of course Beth’s are. She has healed enough so now she can be moved to another hospital. Luckily, the new place is nearer Beth’s home. Today she will be transferring there. She hasn’t got a lot of belongings here, but I pack what she has.

Beth is transported by ambulance while we follow behind. The hospital is nice enough, and she has a private room which is light and airy, but still reeks of antiseptic. We help her settle in.

“Caitlin, can I ask you a favor please? Can you go to my house for more clothes?”

The last place I want to go is to the scene of the crime, but it’s the least I can do for her. Libby is back at work so there’s no one else. Roman agrees to stay with Beth, even if it is only outside her room, while Ethan comes with me.

As Ethan drives, my view changes from the built up town the hospital is situated in, to the beautiful greens of Ashdown Forest where my small town is nestled near. The closer we get to my home town, the place I used to call home, the desire to tell Ethan to head in the other direction gets stronger. There’s no sense of happiness or excitement as we make our way through the familiar surroundings.

Passing by the local pubs I’d frequented many times with Beth, I don’t feel joy at the memories. I’m numb as we pass my old school and my first flat I moved into when I left home. I feel nothing for this town. It’s not home anymore, and any good memories have long since been overshadowed by the light of my new life.

Once we pull up to Beth’s house, my eyes wander down her drive, and visions of her writhing in agony while Stephen stands above her gloating send chills through my body.

Beth’s house is a newer build, and only a couple of years old. Her job being an interior designer means it’s incredibly classy inside, light and airy with neutral colors throughout. As we walk inside, it’s spotless, and nothing gives away the horror of what happened just a couple of weeks ago.

The sooner I get back to Beth, the better, so it’s straight to her bedroom to gather her things while Ethan searches the kitchen for a drink.

While packing some clothes in a bag, I hear Ethan shuffle into the room, and I turn to greet him with a smile. It soon fades; it’s not Ethan, but Stephen standing there. Uncertainty has me backing away even though there’s nowhere to go.

His appearance is nothing like the Stephen I remember. He was always impeccably dressed and clean shaven. Now his hair is grown out and is in desperate need of a brush. His complexion is sallow, and his beard unkempt and full. If it weren’t for our tumultuous history, the man before me would be unrecognizable. His clothes are tattered and dirty, a far cry from the designer suits he’d normally wear. It’s clear he hasn’t been looking after himself for quite a while.

As I look at him, part of me thinks I should feel something, but I don’t. I feel nothing. No sympathy, no remorse for leaving him, definitely no love. It hits me like a shockwave; there’s also no fear. With this realization, I finally find the voice he’d silenced long ago. “You need to hand yourself into the police, Stephen.”

A sinister sneer takes over his face. “Where. The fuck. Have you been?” he growls, ignoring my statement.

Calmly, I repeat, “Turn yourself in, Stephen.”

His fury shows as he marches towards me bringing his face mere inches from mine. His hot breath assaults me, and the look in his eye isn’t just angry, it’s psychotic. “Fuck the police. Where have you been?”

My bravery vanishes, and I can feel my body begin to tremble. I’m going back to a time and place I tried to forget. He hasn’t touched me yet, but my body grows tense anticipating that first blow. Ethan! I know I should call for him, but my voice doesn’t work anymore. Fear has seized me in its nasty vice, and I can’t seem to escape.

When I don’t answer again, he speaks through gritted teeth. “You should be with me. You’re mine, and don’t you ever fucking forget that. We’re leaving. NOW!”

His fingers squeeze my throat, and alarm bells go off inside my head. I push at him, scratching at his arms, but he only grips tighter. Before I lose consciousness, I hear a voice that comes out in a low growl. “No she’s not, mother fucker, and she’s not going anywhere with you,” says Ethan from behind Stephen. Stephen finally releases me, spinning around as Ethan steps into view. I crumple to the ground, grasping my tender throat as I pull in a shaky breath. Ethan is seething, but so is Stephen.

Stephen looks toward me, rage on his face. “So, this is where you have been? Fucking someone else, I see. You dirty whore,” he accuses, his face growing redder by the second. “Does he know you’re nothing more than a filthy murdering bitch? How do you feel knowing you’re banging a killer? Scary, right? That’s okay. I’ll take her sorry arse back. You can go ahead and leave us now.” The smug look on Stephen’s face shows he thinks he’s scored a victory.

“Shut your fucking mouth. No one talks to her like that!” Ethan bellows. Marching in with no hesitation towards Stephen, Ethan takes him by surprise, hitting him with such speed and force it knocks Stephen flat to the floor. Ethan climbs on top of him, landing blow after relentless blow. Stephen doesn’t get the chance to fight back because of Ethan’s speed, strength, and power.

My voice is a strangled cry. “Stop! Please, stop.”             

Ethan lands one more punch then stills, looking at the bloodied and battered Stephen for a moment, making sure he’s not going to move. He won’t; he’s out cold. Ethan’s by my side, and I fall into him. I can’t control my sobs as he holds me tightly, stroking my hair. “Shhhh. It’s okay. He won’t hurt you again. I’m here, babe. I’ll never let him hurt you.” He kisses the top of my head before pulling away. His eyes widen when he notices the redness on my neck, and he swallows hard. “How bad did he hurt you?”

I shake my head. “Not bad,” I croak out. Ethan phones the police, and as Stephen begins to come around, Ethan threatens him with further violence. At this point, Stephen appears too weak to put up much of a fight.

It’s not long before the police arrive and take Stephen away, and naturally, when they see his face, they ask about it. I’m questioned in the kitchen while Ethan is taken into the living room. I’ll be damned if I’ll let Ethan get into trouble for this, so I tell them everything about the years of control and abuse, every humiliating moment. Stephen hasn’t been questioned yet, so he’s not had a chance to use his power to manipulate the story or pull strings. One of the police officers pulls Ethan and me aside and mentions we’re free to go. He also advises Ethan that he should probably leave the country before Stephen regains his full facilities, as he’s familiar with his reputation and aware of the pending investigation regarding the issues with Beth. He then mutters something about loopholes in our justice system before walking away.