Page 26 of Prospect
Her mom pulls a large pan of hot rolls from the oven. "You go on, sweetie. Take that man of yours who's been sitting outside all day something to eat." She grabs a couple of take-home trays and fills them with coleslaw, fried fish, a roll, and a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. "These will be waiting on you."
"Thanks, Carol." I head toward the breakroom. After clocking out for lunch, I stop by the restroom. While in the stall I hear someone walk in. Finished, I step out, and find the bathroom empty.Weird. I go about my business and wash my hands. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and a feeling of unease comes over me. I get the unwelcome feeling of being watched. Suddenly, the lights go out, and my heart jumps into my throat. I go to move in the direction of the bathroom door when the low creak of one of the stalls halts my movement. Flight mode kicks in but before I'm able to reach the door a large hand roughly covers my mouth and nose. I want to scream, but the grip the stranger has over my face is so tight I'm finding it hard to draw air. His other hand yanks hard on my ponytail causing my scalp to burn and my eyes to water from the pain. The man reeks of cigarettes and booze. The smell so strong; it makes me think of Antonio.
"You tell that bitch Luna I'm comin' for her. And you tell your biker friends if they know what's good for them, they'll stay out of my way when I do." His hot putrid breath touches my skin as he whispers his menacing threat into my ear. He runs his tongue along the flesh of my neck and tears pool in my eyes.
No. Not again.I try to scream once more, but my sounds come out muffled, and he tightens his hold completely blocking my airways to where I have no way of drawing in another breath. I panic. My lungs begin to burn as I struggle against his hold.
"I'll kill you and anyone else who gets in my way," he hisses.
My vision begins to fade. I can feel myself about to pass out. Just as I feel my senses teetering on the edge of blacking out and my body becomes weightless, the man tosses me like I'm nothing more than a piece of trash. I hit the wall, my head smacking hard against the tiles. I'm too busy gasping for air and seeing stars I don't hear him leave. I lose it. Right there on the bathroom floor I breakdown and cry. My head begins to throb from where it smacked against the wall. Suddenly, the bathroom door bursts open allowing the light from the hallway to shine in, and the overhead lighting is turned on. Hearing a loud gasp, I look up.
"Oh my god! Honey are you okay?" An older lady rushes toward me. I don't know who she is. She looks down at me. "I'll go get the manager. Stay still." She turns and leaves. Within seconds Carol, rushes in.
"Sofia," she kneels in front of me. I notice the lady who came in before standing toward the entrance on her phone. Carol turns toward Amy who slides to a halt after bursting through the bathroom door. "Go get Sam—now," she orders. Looking back at me she brushes my hair from my face. "Who did this to you?" Anger fills her eyes as her motherly touch access my injuries. My head hurts, so I bring my hand to the back of my head which is sore to the touch. My hair feels wet. Pulling my hand away, I look down finding my fingertips coated with blood.
"Sweet Jesus, baby girl." Carol snatches a paper towel from the dispenser above my head and applies pressure. Taking a better look, she tells me, "you have a small laceration and a damn good knot forming. Who did this?" she asks again.
"I don't know." Just as the words leave my mouth, Sam rushes in. His face falls the moment his eyes land on mine. I feel my lips tremble. Silent tears roll down my cheeks again. He drops to his knees beside Carol, his hands touching me everywhere looking for injuries.
"Baby," he cups my face, making me focus on him. He wipes the tears away with the pad of his thumb. I blink fresh ones from my lashes. "Does anything hurt?"
I nod. "My head."
"She has a gash along with a bump on the back of her head. The bleeding has stopped, but I'm worried. She should be checked to rule out a concussion," Carol tells Sam. I trust her judgment. She was a nurse for many years before opening the restaurant.
"An ambulance is on the way," Amy mentions.
"I need to shut the place down for the day." Carol places my hand over the paper towel she has pressed against my cut. "Keep the pressure on it until the paramedics get here." She then faces Sam. "Sit with her. Keep her talking. If she has a concussion, we don't want her falling asleep."
"Yes ma'am," Sam replies.
Carol ushers a few lingering customers out leaving only me and Sam in the bathroom. I'm in disbelief that this has happened to me. At work of all places. How in the world could someone get in and out without anyone noticing?
"Babe, before EMS gets here, I need you to talk to me. Tell me what happened."
Taking a deep breath, I tell him everything. Right down to the rough, grating sound of his voice to the way he smelled. Before I realize it, I'm shivering. "Women are supposed to feel safe at New Hope House. This man knows Luna is living there. He made it clear he will stop at nothing to get her. She's in danger." I hear faint sirens and look toward the door knowing the ambulance will be here soon. "I'm so sorry I can't tell you what he looked like."
"I won't let anything happen to you again, Sofia. I'm so fuckin' sorry I let it happen this time."
"It's not your fault."
"Yes. It is. I failed you. I'm supposed to watch out for you, and this guy slipped by me somehow."
We hear footsteps just before EMT's enter the bathroom. After a quick assessment, they ask me if I want to go to the hospital. The cut on my head is no longer bleeding, but they strongly recommend I get checked out. I feel okay. A little sore from hitting the wall and a minor headache But I'll live. Knowing I have Bennett, Mila, or Emerson to call and Sam to watch over me I decline further treatment. Sam helps me stand. "Please take me home," I tell him.
"Let's get you out of here."
I watch the ambulance drive away as Sam places the seat belt across my chest. Amy and her mom stand beside the car. Giving me a brief kiss Sam turns facing Carol. I overhear him explaining to her Jake and the guys will be showing up soon to talk with her. I don't worry about her reaction. She likes The Kings. I watch her nod. Amy bends down wrapping her arms around my shoulders. "I hope they catch the bastard who did this and nail his ass to the wall," she proclaims. I smile at the fierceness of her words. Standing, Amy closes the door. I sit in the car alone for a few minutes as Sam paces back and forth in front of the car with his phone to his ear, most likely reporting everything back to Jake—as he should. Eventually, he rounds the hood, opens the door and lowers himself into the driver's seat.
"Jake and Logan will meet us at the house." He turns the key, starting the engine. I look out the passenger side window to see Amy and her mom wave goodbye as we back out of the parking space. I wave back feeling awful for all the trouble being dumped at their feet. It's not just me or the women in the house I need to worry about, but them as well. At that thought, I start thinking about Luna. Jake is going to question her. There is no way around it. He's going to want answers. Answers she may not be willing to give him. Hopefully she will trust me enough to tell me something that could help them find this guy.
It doesn't take long to get home. We find Jake and Logan leaning against the porch railing waiting for us as we pull into the driveway. They quickly stride across the yard meeting us before we climb out of the car.
"Let me look at you." Jake tips my chin and notices the bruises forming on my face around my mouth and nose from the harsh grip the guy had on me. His eyes darken with anger. My eyes water. "Shit. Don't cry, sweetheart." He pulls me in for a hug. When he releases me, I catch the same angry look on Logan's face, and his fists clenching at his sides. I give him a weak smile. Stepping forward he embraces me.
"We'll find the motherfucker," he promises.
"We need to speak with Luna," I hear Jake insist and I break from Logan's hold to face him.
