Chapter 1
Beyond the Pale
Hillary Beck
Iran as fast as my legs allowed me. At that moment, I could only think of one thing. Mom, lying in the hospital bed somewhere in this building, fighting for her life. How could this have happened? I still remember how upset my dad had sounded. I had never heard him sound so worried before. His voice shook, and he sounded as if he was weeping. My heart had crushed at the pain in his voice.
“Excuse me,” I said, running to the reception desk. “Do you know where June Beck’s room is?”
The receptionist consulted a list and gave me the room number. I ran in the direction she pointed, and it wasn’t long before I spotted my dad.
“Hillary,” he said, the moment he saw me. He pulled me into a hug and held me tightly as tears fell from his eyes.
“Dad, what happened? Why did she suddenly have a heart attack?” I asked. My mother had no history of any kind of heart problems, which is why the whole situation was so shocking. “Where is she?”
“She is in the operating theatre right now,” my dad said.“They are doing an angiogram to check for any blocked arteries.”
“How could this happen?” I asked, sitting down next to him.
“It was Joe,” Dad said softly. “He showed up at our door while I was out. He asked your mom where you have moved to. She didn’t know, and he didn’t like that. He threatened to hurt you badly as a punishment. He scared your mother so much she went into cardiac arrest. I found her on the floor, barely breathing. She regained consciousness after she was taken to the hospital.”
Waves of anger and fear washed over me as I heard this. I knew Joe was dangerous and threatening, but to do something like this? This was getting severely out of hand. First, he was just threatening me, but now he was hurting my family! I had to do something, but what? I had never felt so helpless before. I had so many people to protect, and I had no idea how to do it. There were times I thought that I could rely on Gale, but now, I know he is the same as any man out there. My heart sank, and I saw Gale’s handsome face in my mind, remembered the way he had coldly called off the relationship, like I was unworthy of his time. I know I shouldn’t have expected anything, and it had been my fault. I never should have let my heart warm up to him. I never should have hoped that things could be different.
I couldn’t even blame him.
I was the one who had suggested a casual relationship with no expectation of it developing into anything more. I knew what I was getting myself into. It was my fault for letting my walls down and letting myself feel for him. Especially after I had loved and lost before. Everything that had happened, it was me to be blamed, not Gale.
So, why did I feel so angry at him? It was just supposed to be a fun fling, after all.
“Mr. Beck?” a doctor asked, walking over.
“Yes, Doctor,” Dad said, standing up. “How is my wife?”
“She’s doing better now. It seems that the attack was brought on by a stressful situation. She is in the recovery room now. The effects of the anesthesia will wear off soon. She will need to take care of her diet and come for regular check-ups. And of course, I can’t emphasize this enough – she must not be put in a stressful condition of any kind,” the doctor said.
“Can I see her?” I asked, desperate.
“No, not yet” the doctor said. “Once she is awake, we will let you know. There is nothing to worry about. With some care and a stress-free environment, she should be able to live a long, healthy life.”
The doctor walked off, and I sat down again, burying my face in my hands.
“It’s alright, Lassie,” Dad said. “It’s not your fault.”
“But it is,” I said, feeling tears fall down my cheeks. “I have done nothing but cause you trouble ever since I left home. I was the one who got involved with Joe, even though you all asked me not to. I was the one who didn’t see the red flags. I have caused you worry and anxiety for the past few years, and it doesn’t surprise me that it got to be too much for Mom. I am responsible for all this.”
“My dear child,” Dad said softly, “you have been nothing but a blessing to us. Joe was an error in your judgment. He was a grave mistake, but in the end, he was just a mistake. It’s not your fault. Your mother and I love you, a lot. You are precious to us, and we just want you to be happy. We will find a way to get rid of t Joe. Your mom and dad are right there with you.”
I burst into tears, hearing my father’s words. Even after all the pain and worry that I had caused them, they were still on my side. I had to stay strong, even if it was just for them. And it was time that I took steps to free myself, and my parents, from Joe once and for all.
To go against someone dangerous like Joe, would mean I’d need to ask Gale for help. he’s dealt with dangerous and dodgy situations before, so he’ll know what to do. But my ego was crushed by his rejection. I didn’t even want to see him again, let alone ask him for help. But he had contacts in the police – contacts that would prove useful. I detested the very idea of talking to Gale, but at the same time, I had to do it for my family.
Fuck it. I will ask him for help, but that is all there is to it.
There was never going to be anything more between us. Whatever I had felt for him, his rejection had destroyed any future for us as a couple.
Now he’s just a means to my final goal. A weapon in my fight against Joe. I will use his contacts in the police so Joe can be apprehended, but that is all there will ever be to it.
