I prefer when he calls me sweet angel. That nickname does things to me. With a huff, I spill the story to him.
“The last time I went to the hospital, my ex-friends dropped me off. Literally, pulled up to the ER doors and pushed me out of the car without a care. These so-called friends drove off.” I’m spitting the words out, not realizing the anger still boils at the surface. I know I’m getting revenge, but it still hurts. Good thing I found a way to turn it around and get justice.
“Why …” I cut Drew off before he can ask.
“I was assaulted by the entire group. Even the girls.”
Drew’s hands stop massaging the cream into my body. “What fucking assault?”
I sigh with shame and embarrassment running through me. He rubs my lower back.
“A year and a half ago, before school started, I went to an end of summer party. We were playing truth or dare. Everyone was pretty wasted. In a moment of liquid courage induced bravery, I asked for a dare. The group of friends ...” I laugh, with no merriment. The pain jolts me as his hand swipes over a rough wound.
“Keep going, sweet angel.”
“The group of friends I thought had my back dared me to sleep with Jake Bayard. I told them no. This started a riot, and the guys ganged up on me.”
The overwhelming sensations of that night swarm through me, causing me to choke out a tiny cry of despair. Hell, I’m going to cry, and I refuse to shed any more tears about that night. Drew stops massaging me. He sits down beside me.
“Hey, it’s alright. Deep breaths, sweet angel.” He wipes his hands on a towel before he pushes an errant strand of hair out of my face. “Tell me everything. Get it out of your system.”
I gulp, but as I stare into his gorgeous gray eyes; I tell him the rest. “The ... the guys raped me.” I hesitate to tell him more. The bile won’t go down, and I gulp continuously, trying to get stable enough to get the whole story out. “They tore off my clothing, and the girls who were supposed to be my friends videotaped it, streaming it live to social media.” My hands shake, and I close my eyes. The confession just tore me in half.
“The hospital couldn’t get in touch with my father.” I take a deep breath before I continue. “The nurse, the one that was dating my brother at the time, called Donnie.” I bite my lip because I’m pretty sure Drew was dating the same nurse.
“Was this Crystal Franks?”
I nod and continue. “Anyway, I was in the middle of the rape kit when they both showed up. My father took one look at me and told the nursing staff to leave.”
The sound of his harsh intake of breath helps me to power on. “That’s not the worst part of it. Even though my father and Donnie had the video, they didn’t believe me. It came down to the fact that the video showed the Mayor’s sons raping me. They didn’t press charges for me even though I wanted to. I wanted justice, but they said it was a lost cause.”
I stop. I can’t continue because a lump has grown in my throat. The betrayal from my family is painful.
“Sweet angel,” Drew whispers and gently pulls my head up. “Please go on. Let it all out. I got you.”
Looking down, I try not to feel the repulsion and rejection from my father and brother. “He told me I would not say another word. Donnie would gather all the evidence and make it disappear.”
Drew swears with such a fierce tone, I flinch and look at him, terrified he will tell me I shouldn't tell him anything else, scared he will side with my family. Instead, I see him looking down at me with something I haven’t seen since my mother was alive. Sympathy and genuine concern.
“Even my family doesn’t believe I’m worth saving. They took the evidence and burned it. That night when I got home, my father told me I’m not allowed out past nightfall except when I tutor someone. The beatings came more often after that. He said it was my punishment for the cluster fuck I caused. He ranted and raved that he had to ‘clean up my mess.’”
I’m emotionally exhausted from having come clean about all this. I still can’t believe someone is really listening and not passing judgment. I can’t help but wonder though, does Drew really believe me? I can’t help but wishfully hope he is on my side. The darkness inside of me tells me to be careful. But my heart wants me to believe he cares.
“Everything is going to be alright, angel. I swear to you, we will work this out.”
His gentleness is going to become an addiction. I need him to stay this way. But what if he changes his mind when daylight comes?
Drew pulls back the covers and tucks me into the bed, kissing my right cheek, then my left. He plucks a tissue from the Kleenex box on the bedside table, then wipes my tears away.
“You will always be more than worthy to save, sweet angel.”
What the ever-loving fuck?I want to smash my fists into those two mother fuckers. To say I’m livid is an understatement. I’m fucking murderous. I try to pause my thoughts and gather my goddamn anger, but all I can see is my best friend of twenty-five years as a damn child abuser. A no-good, dirty cop with a goddamn badge. A badge I vow to pry from his cold, dead hands.
A darker thought occurs to me about Maddie’s dad. He’s not any better. Hell, he’s worse. He’s covered up a major crime against his daughter. This man has been my idol since second grade. How the hell do I come to terms with this?
There's only one thing I have to do right in this moment, and that's protect Maddie. Even if it means blowing up my career and life, I will find a way to bring justice to her. She falls asleep as I continue to rub her back and watch the redness go down a little. I can't focus on the fact she's naked and I'm touching her. No, my mind is on how I am going to get my hands on that video.
I know Donnie, and he would never throw away evidence. Even when we were supposed to take the drugs to the incinerator, he would always stash some away. I thought nothing of it, and now I realize that's on me too.Fuck.
