“I promise I didn’t know. I really didn’t know,” She keeps repeating. Tears streaming down her devastated face. Then I realise why; she thinks I’m angry at her.
“Maya, baby. I’m not angry with you. I’m angry with that creature of a man that manipulated you!” I take a seat on the bed and open my arms, making enough room for her. She crawls onto my lap, holding onto me like her life depends on it. “Did he do anything else?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“N-no. He didn’t make it that far but he, he started to. You opened the door before it got anywhere,” She whimpers, the memory tormenting her.
I hold her close as she cries. Thoughts of not finding her aren’t even worth imagining, but my brain is a masochist. Scenarios of him and her flashing like a movie reel through my mind. He tried to rape her!
A fresh wave fury rushes through my veins. I stroke her hair and breathe her in as I attempt to dampen it. I take deep breathes and remind myself; she’s here and she’s safe. I repeat it to myself over and over, the phrase a mantra in my mind. Life without Maya wouldn’t be worth living, she is my everything.
“Where are the others?” I ask, more interested as to why none of them were with her when this happened.
“Someone attacked Gracie. Blair and Jen arewith her now.” Fallon replies in a small voice. Heartbreak and remorse shining through her eyes. Maya straightens at that, she must have forgotten that they were in the room too. “That’s how we lost you. We were almost at the bathroom when someone whacked Gracie from behind. She dropped to the floor unconscious and when I looked up you were gone.” Silent tears trickle down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry Maya, I didn’t mean to leave you.”
“Don’t,” Maya replies softly. “Gracie is just as important Fal. Do we know how she’s doing? I need to go and see her.” She attempts to get out of bed but I press a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder.
“Baby, you need to stay here,” I tell her as she tries to move again.
“No!” she says more forcefully. “I need to make sure she’s okay. It was him, wasn’t it?”
“We’re assuming so. You stay here and I will go and check how she’s doing. You need get yourself better before you start running around the hospital,” Max says, trying to joke but the humour doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Thanks bro,” I nod to him and understanding crosses between us. She can’t leave this room until we know she’s safe. Max and Fallon leave the room in search of our friends, Fallon is so pale that she looks ill and it makes me realise that this must bring back so many horrible memories of Harry’s death.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I check it to see that I have a text;
Jenson– You won’t believe this. He disabled all the cameras in the building one hour prior to you finding her. The little shit is smarter than we think.
Well shit.
I’ve never felt a hatred this strong in my entire life. It felt so good to lay into him, I just wish I had finished the job when I had him. He is one slimy little fucker, I don’t know how he managed to get away from me. One minute we were fighting, the next he had fucked off in the opposite direction.
Now I learn we can’t even capture the moment he entered the bar or where he was hiding. What the fuck is his problem? To a degree I understand his obsession, Maya is something else but even I wouldn’t go to the lengths he is.
I look down at my girl, her arms wrapped around me so tight it’s like I’m her life jacket, gripping onto me in hopes to survive the storm. Worry lines crease between her brows, looking just how she used to when she was younger. I promised myself back then that I’d do anything to not let her feel this way again, it kills me to see her look so broken.
I will find him, if it’s the last thing I do.
