“I had flashbacks of being taken. I opened a door, someone blocked it with their boot, it’s fuzzy but I was kicked and taken, maybe through a tunnel, they took me to the beach, to rape and dump me.”
“That doesn’t make sense. I thought the rape kit came back negative?” Rocky asks.
“It did. Someone interrupted, and I was dropped. One of them said ‘they won’t suspect it’s you, she loves you’.” I look up at Rory, but he can’t meet my eyes. For the first time, I wish I could remember more. A part of me wants to believe he would never hurt me, but then why won’t he look at me?
No. I can’t think like that. I won’t even entertain the idea he was involved in this.
***
The guys take me back to Beth’s. It’s early morning when we get in yet she greets us as we walk in, holding a cup of coffee.
“I have been trying to call you,” she says to no one in particular.
“I’m sorry, I had a panic attack and the guys had to come and get me.” The look on her face tells me something serious has happened.
“The police called, they have a lead and we have to go in and see them”
Before we can even gather ourselves, someone knocks at the door. We all turn to watch Beth walk from one side of the room to the other. I get a sinking feeling in my gut; something’s not right.
Lissa and Deacon stand at the door in uniform. “Hi, Beth, sorry to intrude. Is Rory here?” She nods and lets them inside. Two other officers follow.
Deacon steps forward towards Rory. “Rory Vincent, you are under arrest for the kidnapping of Bristol Montgomery.”
Everything seems like it’s in slow motion. I step in front of Rory, yelling, “No!”
The guys pull me back as Lissa handcuffs Rory, reading him his rights. She turns to me with apologetic eyes, and my legs give out.
“I love you too!” I scream, and he turns against the officer’s grip.
Deacon lets him go. We meet in the middle of the room. He leans down, and I grab his face, pressing my lips to his. “Don’t tell them anything, I love you.”
“Call my solicitor,” he says before being led outside.
My eyes glisten with tears as Lissa walks over to me. “We need you to come down to the station.”
I shake my head. I’m not sure if I said yes or no. So much is running through my head, and nothing makes sense.
Lissa says she has to take me with her, but Beth can meet me there and to call Marlene from child safety. Beth nods as if she knows what is going on.
“We’re coming too,” Levi demands.
I stop him before he has a chance. “No, I need you to get Rory a lawyer. Whatever they’re saying he’s done, he didn’t. Please, just believe that, no matter what.” I should have listened to my gut. I knew something wasn’t right.
“What do you remember, JD?” Levi asks.
I struggle to look up at him as guilt washes over me. He knew something like this would happen, it’s why he took so long to warm up to me.
“Nothing, just trust me.” He knows I’m lying, I can see it written on his face, but he nods. “I love you all, never forget that.”
The look on their faces is somber. Everyone has no idea what to think. Mercer looks like a range of emotions pass over his face: sadness, anger, fear.
“Don’t talk like you will never see us again,” he demands.
I look down, avoiding their eyes, and Lissa leads me from the room. Maximus runs down to the car and pulls me into a hug and whispers in my ear. “You’re ours, never forget that.”
My heart skips a beat at the sound of Maximus’s voice. It soothes me, giving me a false sense of security. It whispers to my soul that everything will be okay.
He moves aside so I can get in the police car. I take a last look at four of my guys. I had a feeling that my past would catch up with me, and when it did, it wasn’t going to end well for me.