“Are you telling me that piece of shit fuckingraped youon top of everything else?” I seethe, only able to keep it togetherbecause Eloise has already placed the phone call to our attorney.
That’s what the doctor had been about to say before I cut him off.They ran an STD panel and a fuckingrape kit.
Zeke swallows, and his bottom lip quivers as he chews the inside of his cheek.
“Guaranteed consent and easy access were part of the deal, so I don’t really know if it counts,” he says sadly.
“Zeke, if you?—”
Knuckles on the door cut my sentence short, and two uniformed officers step inside, nodding at us both in greeting.
“Gentlemen, I’m Officer Michaels. This is Officer Newsome.”
I nod in return, my left hand finding Zeke’s again as I extend my right toward Office Michaels.
“Talon Devereaux.”
“Mr. Devereaux, we’ll have a couple of questions for you as well, but would you mind if we speak to Mr. Hastings alone for a minute?”
My eyes flash to Zeke, who nods.
“I’ll be right outside,” I inform everyone.
Ten minutes later, the officers step into the hallway and find me pacing, impatiently waiting to be allowed back into Zeke’s room.
“Mr. Hastings was adamant that he doesn’t want to press charges, but he didn’t demand that the pictures in his medical record be deleted, so that’s something. And since rape carries no statute of limitations, perhaps he’ll change his mind once he’s feeling better.”
“What about a restraining order? Zeke is coming to live with me. I don’t want Derek allowed anywhere near him…nearus.”
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t convince him to file the order, either,” Officer Newsomesays. “We see it a lot in cases like this. The abused party fears invoking the wrath of the abuser by trying to protect themselves.”
“Dammit,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair.
“Maybe you can convince him?” Officer Newsome asks. Meanwhile, I feel Officer Michaels clocking my responses.
“Zeke is the most stubborn person I’ve ever met. Not to mention, he thinks this is his fault. I doubt he’ll listen. Is there any way I can file it for him? No matter the cost, tell me how to protect him,” I practically beg.
“Officer Newsome, could you grab us a couple coffees? I’ll be right there,” Officer Michaels says to the other man in uniform. Officer Newsome nods and heads down the hallway without question. Officer Michaels looks back at me, a stern expression on his face. “You’re lucky it’s Jeremy with me today. Rookie’s got a heart of gold. But me? I’ve been around the block a few times, and I lost my rose-colored glasses a long time ago. I’ve seen firsthand what can happen if a guy like Derek Palmer gets his hands on that kid again.” He pulls a folded piece of paper from his chest pocket. “Take this into that room and make sure it comes out signed. I’ll wait here.”
His underlying meaning is clear:sign it your-damn-self if you have to.
Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I enter Zeke’s room, grab a pen, and walk to his bedside.
“What’s that?” he asks.
“Zeke, I can’t imagine how hard the last few years have been for you, let alone the past twenty-four hours, but you’re not alone anymore. I ambegging you, please sign this form. Please help me protect you. If Derek tries to retaliate, I swear I’ll make sure I bury him before he can lay another finger on you, but Ineedyou to sign this form.”
“It’ll just piss him off even more, Talon. And I’m alreadyputting you at risk, and I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you because of me.”
“Zeke, he’salreadypissed. And without this form, there’s nothing the law can do to protect you. Even if they choose to prosecute Derek without your testimony, that will takemonths.And nothing is going to happen to me.”
“You’re not invincible,” Zeke says, growing agitated.
“Pretty damn close.”
A thousand emotions pass over Zeke’s facial features as he finally reaches for the form.
“I don’t want to testify because I don’t want to give up more of my life to him. I don’t want to face him and relive even a second of the time I spent with him. I don’t want to be raked over the coals and questioned because I already know I’m partly to blame. I hope you don’t think that makes me weak.”
