We walk together down the hallway as Colin nods a few times, listening to Natalie’s response.
“Yeah, okay. Got it,” he says. “Thanks. Talk to you later.”
When we reach the kitchen, he hands the phone back to me, so I put it to my ear and sit at the table.
“Hi. It’s me again.”
She jumps right in, going a hundred miles an hour. “Okay, so here’s the deal. I need you to make sure Colin takes pictures of all that damage. I doubt there are any prints on the car, but I’m going to have someone come out and dust for them all the same. Can’t hurt. Also, I don’t want you going anywhere alone. Don’t even stay home alone unless you have a dog and an alarm system that’s hooked into the police department. Do you have a gun?”
My blood runs cold at her last sentence. “What? No, I don’t have a gun. Do you really think I need one?”
“Probably not, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Charlie got served on Friday at his parents’ house. The server stuck around long enough to hear some choice words flying around. His parents are aware of the claims we’ve made. Apparently his father read them aloud in their living room with the windows wide open.”
“Oh no … I forgot Charlie was staying at home for the summer.” My heart fills with dread. I know how much Charlie’s parents rule his entire world. Life, as he knows it, is over. I don’t feel one bit sorry for him, though. This was his doing, not mine.
“His parents know everything.”
“They know everything? That means … what, exactly?” I’m too nervous to sit but too tired to stand. My toes are tapping like I’m practicing for Broadway or something.
“That you were drugged, raped, and impregnated. We said it with more flowery words but you get the idea. Cat’s out of the bag. The district attorney is looking at the evidence we have and wants to speak with you as well. They’re probably going to file criminal charges.”
“Oh, God help me.”
Colin hears my tone and comes over, stands behind me, and puts his hands on my shoulders. He kneads them softly as I listen to the rest of my nightmare unfolding.
“I suspect we’re going to hear from his lawyers early this week. Just keep your phone nearby, go about your business, but be smart. If he did this to your boyfriend’s car, I won’t put anything past him.”
I nod, then realize she can’t see that. “Okay. Thanks.” I’m not sure I’m really all that grateful at this point, but it’s the polite thing to say.
She hangs up with a curt goodbye.
I look up at Colin. “She said I shouldn’t be alone without a dog, an alarm and maybe a gun.”
“Well, she’s not an alarmist or anything, is she?” Colin sits down across from me. “What do you want to do?”
I try to smile. “Get a dog, an alarm, and a gun?” Just saying it seems silly. Charlie isn’t dangerous. Is he? I guess that’s a stupid question considering he is technically a rapist. Is being a murderer really that far removed?
Colin laughs gently. “How about you just come to work with me? I’ll be your dog, your gun, and your alarm.”
“And my guardian angel.” I reach over and hug him as relief fills me to my toes.
He pats me on the back. “Pack up some stuff to keep you busy. I have about eight hours of work still ahead of me.”
I leave him to go upstairs so I can grab my purse. After coming back down and stuffing it with snacks and my e-reader, I walk out the door with him ahead of me. “Sorry about all this,” I say, getting into the car. “I’m trying really hard not to feel like a burden, but it’s pretty much impossible at this point.”
“Hey, don’t talk like that. I get to work all day with my girl at my side. If I had known this was the way to do it, I might have smashed my own car up.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I say, staring out the side window so I won’t go all soppy on him. He’s just too good to me sometimes. “All you ever have to do is ask and ye shall receive. From me, at least.”
His answer and the low, dangerous tone to his voice makes me shiver with happiness. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
CHAPTER FIFTY
I’M SITTING IN TEAGAN’S OFFICE, reading a book while she taps away at her computer keyboard when the outside door opens. This has already happened five times in the last two hours with customers coming and going, so I don’t even look up.
“What in the holy hell do you want?” Teagan says, her voice almost vicious in tone.
I look up, completely confused. What kind of customer gets that kind of welcome? My face blanches when I realize it’s not a customer standing just a few short feet away from me.
Charlie.
“Alissa. Thought I’d find you here. Can I talk to you for a minute? Outside?”
My mouth opens to answer, but Teagan beats me to it, yelling at the top of her lungs. “Colin! Rebel! Mick! Better get out here!” Before I can blink, she’s on her feet, pulling a baseball bat out from under her desk.
She puts the Louisville Slugger up on her shoulder and stands with her feet slightly spread. “Dude, you have about two seconds to get the fuck outta here before I morph into Babe Ruth and send your ass into far left field.”
“Shut up, cunt, I’m not talking to you.” He looks at me, making attempts to smooth his features out and look friendly, which is impossible of course, now that he’s dropped the c-bomb in my presence. “Alissa, I just want to talk.”
Colin is the first to appear from the car bay area. “What’s up …” His voice trails off when he sees who our visitor is. As soon as he makes eye contact with Charlie, his shoulders go back, his muscles bulge out, and his nostrils flare. He shakes his head slowly and his voice drops in volume and tenor. “Man, big mistake. Big fucking mistake, coming here.” He moves into the room as smooth as a jungle cat, pushing his fists together and cracking his knuckles.
Mick is behind Colin and then Rebel appears, wiping his hands off casually on a blue rag.
“Aw, man, talk about stupid,” Mick says, smiling and shaking his head. He points at my ex. “That’s that Charlie guy, right?”
Teagan nods. “Yep, that’s him, all right. Fucking loser is what I call him, though.”
Charlie’s not nearly as smart as I gave him credit for all those months I was with him. He talks when he should just shut up and leave. “I came here to talk to Alissa, not any of you. And I’d appreciate it if you would allow us to discuss our private business alone.”
I stand up, tired of everyone else talking for me. “Charlie, if you have anything to say to me, you can say it through my lawyer. I have nothing left for you.”
“Back off, Colin,” Rebel says in a tired voice. “Give the guy a chance to leave on his own.”
“Nah.” Colin is hyped up. He’s bouncing a little on his toes and his smile has a manic quality to it. “Dude’s gotta pay. He came here looking for trouble and he’s found it.”
Charlie looks at him and sneers. “This isn’t about you, grease monkey.”
My jaw drops open at his rudeness and sheer stupidity. Anyone can see that Colin is about to blow and that he’s built like a brick doo-doo house.
“Please, Alissa?” Charlie’s back to talking to me. “We don’t need lawyers. We can work this out.” He holds out a hand towards me. “I’ve missed talking to you. Come on outside for just a minute and hear me out.”
I can’t help the expression on my face. It’s like a terrible smell has moved through the office and I can barely breathe because of it. “God, Charlie, do you honestly think I’m that stupid? That I can’t see right through you?”
“Don’t be like that Alissa…,” he almost whines, “ … I care about you.”
I laugh bitterly, all his empty promises coming back to remind me how lucky I am to be rid of him. “Well, at least you didn’t say you love me.”
He takes a step towards me, and that’s apparently all the excuse Colin needs to totally lose it. He grabs Charlie by the arm and drags him backwards through the office and out towards the
parking lot. A table falls over in the ruckus that ensues, papers go flying, and the door nearly gets torn from its hinges as they stumble outside.
Teagan drops her baseball bat and we both scream, a split second before all of us move in a mad rush to follow them. I try to get out the door, but Teagan turns around at the last moment to go the opposite direction and blocks my exit.
“Watch out!” I say, trying to push her away from me.
“No, you watch out! I forgot my bat!”
We finally separate and I make it out into the parking lot in time to see Colin land a horrifically powerful punch to Charlie’s jaw.
Charlie goes flying backwards and stumbles, but he doesn’t fall. He recovers and lowers his head, coming at Colin’s midsection while roaring like a bull.
Colin grabs him in a headlock when he’s close enough and punches him in the ribs four times in quick succession.
Charlie grunts as his body pops up with the repeated impacts. He falls away and recovers enough to punch Colin in the thigh muscle, causing Colin to loosen his hold on Charlie’s neck.
Charlie escapes and stands up, catching Colin who’s bent over holding his leg with an uppercut.
I can see the change come over Colin as he backs up, rebalances himself, stands up straight, and then tilts his head down ever so slightly. His shoulders look almost twice their normal size as his muscles have gotten pumped up from the adrenaline or whatever other crazy chemicals his body is producing. He’s gone from rational human being to killing machine in that instant, I know he has; I’ve seen enough fight scenes in the movies to recognize it.
Even without my cinema education, though, I’d know something was off about Colin right now. I don’t know this man in front of me. I’ve slept with Colin, exchanged secrets, and let him feel my baby move inside me. This person standing here in front of Charlie ready to pound him into the pavement is someone else entirely.
“Colin. Easy,” warns Rebel. I guess he sees it too.
“He ain’t worth it,” says Mick, holding up his hands, trying to calm Colin down.
Teagan has her bat up on her shoulder. “Just one hit. That’s all I need.”
I feel like I should say something to stop this madness. “Colin, wait!” I yell.
He doesn’t even look at me.
“Just let him go,” I beg. “He’s not worth it.”
Charlie sneers, oblivious to the danger in front of him, staring Colin down. “What’s he defending your honor for? You figure out a way to blackmail him too? Too late, man. There’s nothing to defend. She’s all used up. I’ve got a sweet video I can show you if you want.”
I open my mouth to tell him where to stick it, but it’s too late. Nothing I say is going to stop the freight train that is Colin.
He flies across the space separating him from Charlie and tackles him.
Charlie is on his back with nothing but a grunt, before Colin starts punching him in the face, over and over.
Something in Charlies’ face crunches and then blood is spraying everywhere.
Rebel and Mick run over to pull Colin off him. Charlie’s barely conscious when they finally succeed.
Colin is breathing so hard he sounds like a bull. He’s covered in Charlie’s blood.
“Oh, God. Oh, God.” My hand is stuck over my mouth as I stare at the carnage. Charlie’s face looks like it was smashed into a truck going fifty miles an hour. I’m hoping I can keep myself from throwing up through sheer willpower. “Colin … what did you do?”
“He taught that asswipe a lesson, that’s what he did. Don’t fuck with us, that’s the lesson.” Teagan walks over and kicks Charlie in the leg a couple times before Mick is able to pull her away.
“Easy, tiger,” he says, resting his arm over her shoulder. She tries to move away to go after Charlie again, but his grip is strong enough to keep her there.
“Let me go, Micky Mouse!”
“Nope. Guy’s been punished enough. Can’t have two people going to jail today.”
My heart freezes in my chest. “Jail?” I whisper.
“Better disappear,” Rebel says to Colin. “Don’t need you here when the cops show up.”
“Cops? Fuck that.” Teagan throws her bat towards the door. “Put this douche bucket in my car. I’ll drive him home and dump him on his front lawn.” She struggles out of Mick’s grasp and walks over to Charlie who’s lying on the ground, gingerly feeling the area around his broken nose and puffed up eye sockets. “And if he says anything to anyone about what happened here, we’ll just inform them of the rape charge that’s about to be laid on his stupid ass and the fact that he was here harassing the girl he raped.” She kicks his ribs. “Get up, you piece of shit. We’re going for a ride.”
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” I say. But I look around at all the faces nearby and no one seems to agree with me.
“He has his car here,” I say, pointing to the Porsche out on the street.
“You drive it,” Teagan says, bending down and patting Charlie’s pockets. She fishes out his keys. “Here.” She tosses them in my direction and by some miracle, I catch them.
I look down at my hand. There’s a keychain there with a locket on it. I can’t help but open it. Inside is a picture of a girl with her big, naked boobs showing. Her eyes are closed. God, what a pig. I wonder if she has the same regrets that I do.
“Fine,” I say. “I’ll drive the Porsche.” The poor, stupid girl in the locket. Maybe she was drugged when he took this picture. I feel like walking over and kicking him in the ribs too.
“Don’t you fugging tudge my Borsch,” Charlie yells, pointing at me. Blood is coagulated around his nose but it’s still coming out and dripping down his chin to his shirt. I have to look away, his face is so nauseating.
Rebel and Mick bend down, hoisting Charlie to his feet as Colin backs away, wiping his jaw with the back of his hand. His eyes never leave Charlie. I get the feeling that Charlie is prey and Colin would like nothing better than to turn him into a pile of juicy pulp.
Mick laughs. “Yo, Alissa … dude doesn’t want you touching his borchst.”
I can’t help but smile along with him. This whole situation is too ridiculous for words. “Ew. Like I’d touch his borchst. Not if it was the last one on earth.” I can’t believe it, but I’m actually finding humor in this horrible scene. Even Colin has a ghost of a smile on his face for me. The only one not finding the whole thing amusing is the guy with the speech impediment.
“You guys are gudda be really zorry when my lawyers are done wid you.”
“So says the rapist,” quips Teagan. “Why don’t you do yourself a favor and shut your piehole until we get back to your place, huh? That way none of us will be tempted to kick it in again.” She bends over and picks something up, throwing it at his back. “Oh, here’s your tooth by the way. Better not forget that.”
Rebel comes out of the office with a rag in his hand as Mick is pushing Charlie into the back of Teagan’s car. He gives it to Mick who throws it at Charlie. “Don’t get any blood on her car or you’re going to pay for it,” he warns.
Charlie sneers at him but takes the rag and wipes the blood from his face. Some of it stays because it’s already dried. He looks like an actor in a horror movie. I can’t even recognize his face anymore.
I walk over to Colin and stop in front of him, staring up into his eyes. “You probably shouldn’t have done that.” I reach up and wipe away some blood coming from a cut on his lip with my finger. He’s still as handsome as ever.
“Are you mad at me?” he asks.
I think about it for a few seconds. “I probably should be, but I’m not. He deserved that. Maybe not for what he said today, but for … the past.”
Colin tries to smile, but winces when his cut opens more. “Good. I was hoping you’d see it that way.”
“But I really don’t want you fighting anymore, okay?” I tap his chest with my fingertip, wanting to touch him in some way but also not wanting to em
barrass him in front of all these people by being too affectionate. “It’s not good for the baby.”
He frowns. “I would never hurt your baby. Ever.”
“I don’t mean it like that. I mean that if you’re in jail, who’s going to bring me to my doctor appointments?” I smile to show him I’m kidding about using him for a taxi.
He puts his hands on my waist, and it warms me to my toes to know that he doesn’t care about anyone seeing him do it. “What about the birth?” he asks.
“What?” I’m confused.
“Can I be there for that too? Or am I just the doctor appointment guy?”
My ears are on fire all of a sudden. “Uh …”
“Come on!” Teagan yells. “Gotta deliver this package! Get in his car and lead the way!”
I look over at her, realizing the big hole in our plan. “I don’t know where he lives!” I look at Colin, feeling pitiful as I explain. “He never wanted me to meet his family.”
“Don’t worry,” Mick says, jumping into Teagan’s passenger seat. “He’ll tell us or I’ll pound it out of him.”
“I should go with you,” Colin says as I start walking to Charlie’s car.
“No. Stay here. I don’t want you getting in any more trouble than you’re probably already in. His parents … aren’t nice from what I gather.”
“You’ll be okay?” he asks, stopping me with a hand on my shoulder.
I smile. “Yeah. I’m going to be just fine.”
He kisses me long enough to leave me dizzy before going back to work.
“Colin!” I say as he’s walking through the door.
“Yeah?” He turns around to look at me.
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, you can go. To the …” I look around. Everyone is staring at me. “…Birth,” I finish lamely.
“Sweet.” He grins big and it immediately starts his lips bleeding again. Grimacing, he waves and he’s gone into the office.
Charlie’s glaring at me through the back seat window as I walk to his car, but I don’t care. I’m going to drive his stupid Porsche and deliver his idiotic backside to his front door and let his parents see what a piece of junk he is. And then I’m going to live my life without fear, because I have friends who have baseball bats and they aren’t afraid to use them.