Page 89 of The Quiet Witness

She stopped in the middle of the parking lot, blinking back the tears.

From a distance she felt his gaze sweep over her, saw him halt at the bruises littering every part of her. She had refused a jacket, welcomed the chills over her sweat-slick skin. With nothing but butchered leggings and a short sleeved t shirt. Her body was a painting of the fight she’d delivered.

He was in front of her now, his green eyes a swirl of emotion. Without missing a beat, he spread his arms wide and drew her in. “Come here.”

No longer in control of her emotions, she sobbed. His hands came up around her, pulling her tightly against him, breathing tickling her ears, he whispered. “You’re safe now, sweetheart, it’s okay.” She nodded feverishly, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

“You should have been here.” It kept pouring out of her like a broken record on repeat while holding onto him, fingers digging into his sweater.

“I know, I know. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

She felt silent, leaning against him for support.

Kate heard him voice. “Are you okay?” Georgia’s reply came in a high pitch, higher than the warm and confident tone she’d gotten used to. “I’m fine, we’re all fine. Due to Kate.”

Not entirely truthful.

Lucien must have sensed how she struggled to stay upright because he pulled her even closer to him, one hand resting on the small of her back to keep her flush with him. Heartbeat thudding firmly, rhythmically in her ear. So at odds with her own, still struggling pulse.

He bent down to murmur in her ear, “adrenaline wearing off, hmm?”

Not trusting her strength yet she merely nodded.

An unknown male voice spoke up over the gathered murmuring of the crowd. “I’m sorry but I’ll need to speak to miss…” Plainly fishing for her name, authority heavy in the young man’s tone. Law enforcement.

Before she could even lift her head, Lucien answered for her. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”

The same authoritative voice asked. “Who might you be to decide that?”

Even in her altered state, she felt a mental “ouch” cross her mind. This man clearly didn’t know who he was speaking to.

Lucien’s deep voice went even lower, reverberating against her ears. A warning as clear as a lake of ice. “Can’t you see? She’s trembling like a leaf.” He spread something, his jacket judging by the calming scent of sandalwood, over her, partly shielding her from view. “The last thing she needs is to be questioned for information.”

An older man cut in, he was familiar. The croaking in his tone, the slight accent.

He was the cop she’d gone to for help at the supermarket. Richard.

His hushed answer betrayed his hope of sussing his younger colleague. “Let’s leave it at this, I know Lucien. If I need info, I’ll catch up with him.”

Scary, the sway Lucien held over the paramedics, the cops. Over everyone she’d encountered thus far.

Georgia’s high pitch joined the discussion. “I can give you a detailed statement, sir. Let’s let Lucien take the poor girl home.”

Still the police man droned on. Kate didn’t need to look at him to know he was getting frustrated. “She’s a witness Richard. Since when did we stop questioning witnesses?”

“A witness?” Kate pulled herself away from Lucien, who steadied her with his hand still resting on her back. “A witness you dare say?”

The young cop with brown stubble framing his chin, stared at her with his eyes wide.

“Maybe if you! The cops.” She spat. “Would have taken Isabel’s grievances seriously, had done more than issue a goddamned restraining order, I wouldn’t have needed to hold her stomach’s contents in my hands!”

She’d have thought Lucien would stop her but no. He merely tightened his grip around her in support.

“If you would have taken any, any of these women seriously, snapped back against these.” She clenched her teeth, words pouring out like a broken dam. “criminals, all of us would have had a better life, a better fucking childhood!” She screamed.

The world around her tilted, dizzy she bent over, hands on her knees. Breathing erratic.

Lucien brushed circles over her back, keeping her from throwing up. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’ll get you home.” He left no room for further argument. “Now.”