“Ali?”
Ali was sitting on the ground, leaning sideways against her car. I quickly got out of the SUV, raced around the back, and knelt in front of her. Her car door was ajar, and the cabin light was on, casting a tiny bit of light on her.
“Ali,” I said as I looked her over. Fuck, there was blood running down her forehead. Had she hit her head?
“Ali,” I repeated, because she wasn’t saying anything, and she wasn’t looking at me.
Her legs were pulled up, and her hands clutched the side of her jeans. Her hands were smeared with blood. I frowned when I noticed that she was clutching the waistband of her jeans … but they were around her knees.
Motherfuck.
“Alison,” I said more firmly and reach my hand out to brush the hair away from her face.
“D-don’t, Josh,” she stuttered. Her hands visibly shook even though she held on to her jeans.
“No, I’m not going to hurt you. What happened? I’m going to help—”
“Don’t youeverc-call me Alison.” She finally looked me in the eyes. As tears fell down her cheeks, she gritted out, “You are my friend.Youcall me Ali.”
I moved closer to her and carefully pulled her into my arms. She completely broke down in my arms and buried her head against my neck.
“Dammit, Josh,” she cried. Her body shook and convulsed in my arms as I tried to soothe her.
“Ali, I need to call an ambulance.”
“No!” She started to push and squirm to get out of my arms. “Let go of me, Josh.”
“Okay, okay. No ambulance. Please let me hold you,” I said calmly.
“No ambulance or police,” she murmured against my neck again.
“Hey, Joshua, is everything alright?” Mistress Tabitha and Monica stopped when they saw us and slowly started to walk toward us.
“It’s Mistress Tabitha and Monica, Ali,” I whispered.
“No, Josh. Please don’t let them see me like this,” Ali begged as she wiggled around to try to make herself small in my arms.
I was at a loss. We needed help. When the two women appeared at the back of my SUV and Ali’s car, all I could do was look at them.
“Joshua, do you guys need help?” Mistress Tabitha asked again.
Snap the fuck out of it, Josh! Speak up!
“Yes. Can you find Sam, please? He’s a doctor and can help,” I blurted. Duh.Of course she knew he was a doctor.
Mistress Tabitha crouched down and looked at Ali. She was piecing this together.
“I left the club, and in my vehicle on the side view camera I saw Ali sitting on the ground,” I explained to Mistress Tabitha. “She doesn’t want an ambulance or police,” I added.
Mistress Tabitha nodded and stood.
“I’ll go find Sam,” she confirmed. “Monica, stay with them,” Mistress Tabitha said to the other woman before she headed back into the club. I knew that she would tell Sam about the situation so he didn’t arrive out here blind to it.
I kissed the top of Ali’s head and gently squeezed her upper arms to remind her that I was still here.
11
Sam
