Page 24 of I Stop Somewhere Waiting For You

IV antibiotics administered

Levonorgestrel (EC) administered

Lab results:

Rapid DNA - 3 separate specimens present

Three separate specimens. I read the words over and over again, my monster surging to the surface.

She was fucking gang-raped.

A roar rips from my throat as I jump up, kicking my chair back in the process. Launching my glass of whiskey across the room, I watch it explode against the opposite wall before gripping the edge of my desk and launching it forward. The slab of wood flies up and over, scattering the file along with everything else resting atop across the floor. I spin, taking hold of the corner of the steel filing cabinet to my right and flipping it on its side before repeatedly driving my boot down into it.

I start pacing, storming through the wake of my destruction before turning, cocking back, and driving my fist into the wall. I just start pounding it, slamming my fist with such force repeatedly into the drywall and studs until my knuckles split and blood begins to coat the section I’m pulverizing.

I don’t hear him until his arms wrap around me from behind, dragging me backward as I thrash wildly about.

“MAV!” Bentley screams, tackling me to the ground. He throws himself on top of me, his large arm locking my neck in a chokehold, attempting to force me into submission. “Maverick!”

He jerks me to the side, the movement jolting me and throwing off my center as he rolls us. I collapse back into him, my chest heaving as he secures me in place.

“Mav,” he whispers as he slowly rocks our bodies side to side. “What is it?”

I look to the left where two of the pictures are discarded on the floor. Squeezing my eyes shut, I scoop them up and thrust them overhead toward his face. He takes them from me, and I feel the sharp intake of breath as his chest stutters against my back.

“Is this–?”

“They gang-raped her.” The words practically slice the entire length of my throat on the way out. “They tortured her, they took turns fucking her, and then they dumped her on the road and called it in.”

I sit up, twisting to face him before collapsing back against my bookshelf.

Bentley stares at the photos, his mouth slack with shock. “They called it in?” he asks, his brow twisting in confusion.

I nod. “Anonymous tip.”

“But that would mean…”

“Yeah,” I reply, my voice void of any emotion. “This was a message to Nicky.”

“You think she knows that?” Bent tosses the photos aside, unable to look at them any longer.

“I don’t know.” I shake my head, focusing on the grooves of my worn wooden floor. “Bentley, I want to know everything there is to know about who did this. I don’t care what it costs. I don’t care how long it takes. I want to know who was coming for Nicky and why.” My eyes snap up to meet his. “I want full guarantees that he put every last one of these motherfuckers in the ground. I need to know this was paid for in blood. I am asking you this as your brother, Bent, not your boss.”

Bentley glances over to the photos once more. When he turns back to me, his face is set with a newfound determination. “Consider it done.”

CHAPTER 14

JONSIE

The final bell of the day rings, and I practically leap out of my desk. I navigate the halls, not bothering to stop and talk to anyone, and exit through the main entrance, where I make my way to the lot.

I’ve spent the whole day worrying about the fucking Parley. Nicky’s gone radio silent and I have no way of getting in touch with Mav.

Maverick. What the fuck am I thinking with that one? The entire situation between me and him is one giant screaming red flag. Not to mention, it’s a huge slap in the face to Nicky. I fucking hate the thought of betraying him in any capacity.

But this morning when Mav told me he wanted me, when he asked permission before he had me coming undone with his fingers, something jump-started inside me. And the thought of going the rest of my life without ever experiencing that again is beyond terrifying.

I’m so engrossed in my own thoughts, I’m not paying attention, and bump into someone on the sidewalk. I offer up a rushed apology before carrying on my way. As I make the final approach to my car, my cell starts ringing, and I jump at the hope that it’s Nicky checking in.

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