Page 38 of The Afterthought

"Ashley was trying to get photo evidence of her husband doing drugs. She wanted full custody of their kids. He was abusive and a real piece of shit. She didn't want her kids around that. When I met with her, she said she wanted to give them a real chance to grow up with a good childhood. I felt for her because I wished my mother cared enough about me to want to give me that opportunity. I took on the job because it meant getting a few kids away from growing up with an addict for a parent. They would have a shot at escaping the childhood trauma that causes."

I reach out for the glass in front of me, with the arm that Grey isn't touching, and bring it up to my lips. My hands have started to shake. I've never told anyone about what happened that day. Nobody except for the officer who took the report that ended with absolutely nothing happening. Turns out David has a friend who made it all disappear.

"All I had to do was catch him in the act. I don't know why I decided to go to his house to do it. I should have tried to catch him in a more public area, but I thought I had his routine down. I felt ready. There was a really big window that looked into the living room. I had a small collapsible stool that propped me up to the perfect height to look into the corner of the window without being seen. At least, I thought I couldn't be seen." My voice cracks a bit at that last sentence.

"Take your time," he reassures me.

"It looked like he was already high by the time I got all set up to get the photos I needed. He had a few lines on his coffee table that were portioned out and some residue next to those. I don't know how many he had done at that point or how many more he was planning to do. Blow wasn't my mom's drug of choice, so I don't know how much a person will do in one sitting. When he bent down to do another line, I took the opportunity to snap the pictures I needed. I should have left after I got them, but it was the anniversary of my dad's death. I wasn't thinking straight. I wanted to make sure this guy never got to go near his kids again. I didn't want them growing up around an addict like I had to, so I waited for him to do more."

Tears well up in my eyes, and Grey gently pushes my chin up to make me look at him. He has a fierce but kind look as my gaze bounces back and forth between each one of his eyes. "What did he do to you, baby?"

"He locked eyes with me in the window, and I froze. The look on his face was pure rage. I was frozen in fear, Grey. I couldn't move. I knew he was pissed. I knew he was coming outside, but it was like my body needed a minute to catch up with what my mind was telling it to do. It was the first time I think I've ever been genuinely terrified of someone or what they could do. He was high and saw me taking pictures of him. By the time I had enough sense to get the hell out of there, it was too late. He was outside and running at me."

The first tear falls down my cheek. This is so much more difficult to talk about than I thought it would be. I take another drink to try and calm my nerves. Greyson's finger has started tracing small circles on my arm to try to soothe me.

"I tried to run, but he caught up. He grabbed me by the throat and kicked my feet out from under me in a matter of seconds. He ended up on top of me in a straddling position with his fingers gripped so tightly around my throat that I could barely breathe."

"He signed his death warrant," I hear him whisper, but I ignore him. If I don't keep telling this story now, I don’t know if I’ll ever find the courage to tell it. I don't want to talk about this again.

"I tried my best to claw at him, but I couldn't breathe. He was so drugged out, and the look on his face was completely feral. He screamed at me, asking if his wife hired me. I'm sure he said other things, but I couldn’t focus. I tried so hard to get him off of me and get air into my lungs. He pulled out a knife, and I lost all the will to fight. My body went limp in acceptance. I truly thought he was going to kill me."

"Son of a bitch!" Greyson yells, pushing the chair back and standing up. He starts pacing around the room, but I continue on. I stand from the chair and pull off my shirt to reveal my scars. He stops and stares at me.

"The first cut was this one." I trail my finger along the raised flesh between my breasts. “This one wasn’t nearly as deep as the others.”

Grey steps toward me, but I put my hand up to stop him. He wanted the details. He's going to get all of them.

"He told me I couldn't report back to his wife if I was dead. That's when he started these." I trail my fingers along the cuts on my stomach and chest. "He had a grip on my throat, so I could barely breathe. He just kept going. I had to watch every time he pulled his hand back and sliced into me."

I begin to sob, but I have to finish telling the story.

"I was in shock. I felt completely numb to everything that was happening. I was completely consumed with fear. After what felt like forever, he finally released his grip on my throat. All I wanted to do at that moment was take a huge gasp of air, but I couldn't. I was paralyzed with the fear that if I moved, he would know I was still alive and keep going. He stood up and wobbled a bit before leaning in and spitting on me. He kicked my leg and told me to stay out of his business.”

"I promise you. I will do everything in my power to find this piece of shit and give him the death he deserves. He will feel every ounce of fear you felt and then some," Greyson states with a harsh expression.

"I laid there for a while before I got the courage to try and move. I don't know how I didn't bleed out, but I managed to get hold of my phone and call 911 before I blacked out. When they arrived, they asked me what happened, but I couldn't talk about it. My brain wouldn't let me. After I got set up in the hospital and they stitched everything up, the cops came in to take a report. I told them about David and the drugs and the camera. They did some follow-up research but said they didn't find any of that at the scene. David must have taken the camera with him when he walked off. I don't know." I shake my head. "The cops questioned him, and he lied. He said he had never seen me before. He said that he wasn't home and had one of his friends give him a fake alibi. I tried to insist, but the cops didn't believe me. I didn't talk about it again. Not until now." I look at him. "You're the first person I've told since then."

"Ava.." he trails off.

"I found out later that David had a connection to one of the officers at the station. He lied for David and told the other officer David was with him the entire time. I’m pretty sure that officer made sure David stayed out of prison because he was on the cop’s payroll somehow. I don't know. I stopped looking into it. It was too much for me. Every time I think about that day, I'm triggered into the memories."

Chapter 18

Greyson

The way she looks at me with so much vulnerability crushes me. I wasn't there for her to make sure she was okay. I hate that. I hate that she had to go through this alone and then live with it for so many years. No wonder she's so intent on keeping everyone at a distance now. I'll make sure she gets justice for that.

I take in the scars along her chest and abdomen again. Each one of them is a punch to my gut. I should have never pushed her away. I should have gone to find her.

"What was the officer's name?" I ask.

"I don't remember." She looks down at the floor, and I know she's lying. She doesn't want this to end up worse. If she thinks I'm going to let this go, she's wrong. Anyone who hurts what's mine will pay for it.

"His name, Avalynn. Give me his name. Now." I'm trying to be gentle with her after everything tonight. She's out of her mind if she thinks I'm leaving without an answer. I think she realizes it because she sighs.

"It was Officer Grant."

I knew my girl knew his name. I step closer to her and pull her into my embrace. She relaxes in my arms and eventually puts her arms around my waist as she sobs against my chest. I bring a hand up to rub the back of her head to reassure her.

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