My next call was to Hans. I knew she was working for him at Centre Ice, so he’d know where to find her.
_________
Four hours later, I stood on the front porch of her apartment across the street from the rink. Their door was the only one not illuminated. On closer inspection, the porch light was broken, same with the doorknob. It looked like I could easily jiggle it open without a key, which filled me with even more frustration. Living here wasn’t safe.
My muscles trembled with pent up energy as I continued knocking on her door.
She wasn’t answering, but I wasn’t leaving until I saw that she was okay with my own eyes.
A full five minutes later, she hesitantly cracked it open, and my stomach bottomed out.
“Ali,” I rasped. I stepped forward to hug her and she went rigid, making me stop in my tracks.
My eyes darted around, taking in her tear-streaked face, her swollen eye, her bruised neck. I’d never forget it as long as I lived. And in the wake of my devastation came anger so potent I could taste it. My jaw clamped shut. My hands clenched into fists, trying to reign it all in.
“Where is he?” I asked calmly, looking over her head for him.
“He’s not here,” she said, drawing my eyes back to her. Her face crumpled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know who else to call.” Her body shook with tears, and I wanted so badly to pull her into my arms, but I wasn’t sure that’s whatshewanted.
“You never have to apologize for calling me, Ali,” I said, and I meant it. “I’m so fucking glad you called.”
Her golden eyes filled with tears, and she walked into me then, burying her head in my chest. Her fists wrapped in my hoodie, clinging to me as her shoulders shook. I slowly reciprocated the hug, cradling the back of her head. My eyesburned, but I grit my teeth and looked up to the ceiling, trying to stop them from leaking. I had to be the strong one here.
Dropping a kiss on her hair, I murmured, “It’s okay. No one’s gonna hurt you, baby. Not anymore. Not ever again,” I swore as I moved us into the apartment and locked the door behind us.
I wanted to keep holding her, but I knew we needed to get moving. Taking stock of the room, my anger multiplied. Things were thrown everywhere, like someone ripped apart the place in anger.
“All right, we have to go,” I rasped, trying hard to keep the waver out of my voice.
Her shoulders heaved with a breath. She kept her forehead against my chest, her hands curled into my hoodie, like she was afraid to let go. “Where?”
I gently lifted her chin and had to force myself to take a quick breath to control my anger. I hated seeing the marks on her body. I hated seeing her in pain, once again. “The police.” I ran my tongue over my teeth. Mark Rossi needed to rot in jail. “You need to report him, Ali.”
She was shaking her head before I could finish. “This is all…it’s all out of control. I can’t, JP.” A sob wracked her too-small body. She pushed out of my arms, her hands shaking with nerves as she brushed her hair back. “I c-can’t do this. Maybe this was all a m-mistake. I can’t report him,” she rambled. Her eyes went wild with fear, and her voice wobbled, edging on hysteria. “If I report him, it’ll just get worse. He’ll find me, and he’ll be so, so angry, JP. I c-can’t. I d-don’t want to—”
“Okay, okay,” I said as calmly as I could, lifting my hands. I knew I needed to move carefully here. “I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do, Ali. Breathe,” I said, motioning for her to calm down. After a beat, I said, “I think it’d be a mistake to let this go, but I’ll take your lead here.” This was it. This was my last hope. “I have a plan, Ali. And I really fucking hope you take it.” My throat burned. “You can’t stay here. You can’t stay with him. You just can’t.” I choked up.
Her golden eyes went glassy as she stared at me. When she finally nodded, I breathed normally for the first time in what felt like a year.
_________
“JP?”
The urgency in her voice stirred me from my sleep. “Huh? Wh—?” I rubbed my eyes, trying to see her in my dark room. “Good?” I coughed to clear my throat. “You good?”
“Yeah, yeah, sorry.” She breathed deeply and moved closer to mein bed, cuddling into my side and laying her hand in the middle of my chest. “Sorry,” she repeated. “Bad dream.”
I maneuvered so I could wrap my good arm around her. “Everything’s okay. I’m right here.” I dropped a kiss on her hair. “No one’s gonna hurt you, baby,” I said as we drifted back to sleep.
.
39. ALI - EVEN ME
“No one’s gonna hurt you, baby,” he said, and I believed him. I believed him with my whole heart. Because no one had in years; not since the first time he said that to me…
__________
I knew I didn’t deserve to call him. This wasn’t his mess to fix. But JP was wading into the mess I was drowning in and dragging me to the surface anyway.
