Page 63 of Fate Forever and Always

“I asked someone in the store to call when I ran back here.”

“Ma’am, are you okay? Do you need medical attention?” I shook my head. “My name is Officer Malcolm Pinder. I am part of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Can you tell me what happened?”

Nick spoke up before I could say anything. “I need to take her to the bathroom so she can get dressed. She has been humiliated enough, and she doesn’t need the entire police force staring at her while she’s exposed.” He was almost yelling.

“Sir, I need you to calm down.” He looked at me. “Ma’am, is it safe to leave you with him for a moment, or would you like to be alone?”

I didn’t say a word. I just pulled Nick closer to me. The officer got the hint.

“I’ll be right outside. Come out whenever you are ready to give your statement.”

I nodded my head, and Nick said thank you and apologized to them for yelling.

As we were walking over to the bathroom, we saw two other officers dragging the sleazy worker out by his arms. His face was so cut up, I assumed from the mirror, you could barely see his skin tone through all the blood.

Nick opened the door for me and ushered me in.

“I will wait right outside the door. I promise I won't—”

Before he could finish his sentence, I pulled him into the bathroom and kissed him.

“Callie,” he murmured.

I begged against his lips, “Don’t leave me, please?”

“Never, baby. I will never leave you again.”

He kissed me on my forehead as we stood there in silence. The only sound was the bathroom fan kicking on. After a few moments, I finally got dressed and walked out to the front of the store. The officer saw me and walked up to us. Nick instinctively grabbed my hand and moved me almost behind him.

“Sir, we need to speak with her alone.”

“She will not be going anywhere without me. It's non-negotiable,” Nick said sternly.

I’m not sure what changed the officer's mind, but it must have been a look Nick gave him because he agreed without argument. After giving my statement, they made me go to the hospital so they could check me out, but mainly to gather any evidence that might have existed. They needed to swab under my fingernails and take pictures of the bruises that had formed on my leg and neck.

Luckily, it didn’t take too long. Nick got us a ride back to the resort. Before we could fully walk into the room, my legs collapsed, and I fell into Nick's arms and cried well into the night.

I woke up a few times throughout the night, but I was never fully able to get comfortable. One time, when I woke, I heard Nick sniffle. I was too afraid to find out if it was just a coincidence or if he was crying. Every time I moved, I felt him hold me closer and whisper in my ear.

"Forever and always, baby."

Nick

Callie cried for three hours before falling into a restless sleep. She had fallen into my arms right before I shut the door. I carried her to the bed, settled against the headboard, and held her. Silent tears ran down my face as I recalled every detail she had shared with those officers. I can’t imagine how scared she was. I was thanking God he didn’t get further than holdingher down and grabbing her ass. I wish I could have broken his fucking hands, but his face was good enough.

I didn’t know much about assaults, but I googled them on my phone while she slept. Now I felt even more scared than I had been before. The internet said this kind of incident could affect her in many different ways, ranging from nothing to giving her major PTSD. This kind of trauma could cause her to have all kinds of issues to deal with, and the effects could last years. I was scared for her.

I was so damn mad at myself for letting someone hurt my perfect girl. His nasty fucking hands were all over her body. She had bruises that formed around the back of her neck where he held her against the wall. I pushed her beautiful brunette hair off her neck and traced the finger marks with mine.

My thoughts began to wander. I started wondering how this was going to change things for us. Would this make her timid? Would she wake up and be worried that a man was touching her? Then the worst thought of all…would she realize this was my fault because I left her alone, and would she hate me so much that she would leave me because of it?

“Fuck.” I realized I’d said it out loud when she moved a little.

She groaned a little, then opened her eyes. “What time is it?” She asked groggily.

“Seven-thirty.”

I kept my hands at my sides, letting her determine how much she wanted to be touched. She grabbed my hand and kissed it.

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