Page 26 of Trusting Trey
I ran a hand under my nose and nodded. “They had to get the tomatoes off me somehow. Sam led me to the unfinished part of the basement and made me stand over the drain in the floor. Every time someone threw something at me, he washed it off with a burst of the cold water from the hose. By then I knew fighting back was a waste of time, and all I could do was stand there and take it. For more than an hour they did everything imaginable to me, Trey,” I cried.
He wrapped his arms tightly around me and I couldn’t breathe, but I didn’t care. I was safe with him and that’s what I needed to feel. “Did they do anything to you sexually, Allie?” he asked softly.
“Nothing a rape kit would prove, they made sure of that. They all took turns doing various things to me for their own enjoyment, but always made sure they didn’t cross the line to leave any DNA on me.”
“What animals,” he ground out, his voice shaking with anger. “I will make them pay for this, Allie. How did you get out of the basement?”
“From what I can remember, it was Jake’s job to put my clothes back on me and drive me around blindfolded to disorientate me. He was supposed to leave me somewhere far from home. I don’t know why they let me go. I told them I would scream bloody murder as soon as I got home, but they didn’t seem to think I could prove anything. I suppose maybe they were right, it’s all he said, she said.”
He kissed my temple again softly. “Before we worry about that, let’s figure out how you ended up hit on the side of the road. Do you remember that part?”
I nodded, my face feeling hot and my chest burning. Everything hurt and I felt like I was back there again, in the dark night, listening to the sound of Jake apologizing for what had happened as he drove me around in circles through the campus. I felt fingers on my chin as he roughly shook my face, yelling at me to breathe.
“Allie, you’re not breathing. Forget the pain and think about the life giving breath of air that’s waiting for you. Forget the pain. You’re safe here with me. I won’t let them hurt you ever again,” he coaxed.
I focused on his voice instead of the memories and his face came back into focus. I grabbed for him and he enveloped me again, rubbing my back hard. “Breathe in and out, in and out,” he kept repeating and I listened, forcing myself to breathe in a steady rhythm.
“I’m sorry. It was horrible and I could feel all the pain again as if it just happened,” I cried and he shook his head against mine.
“You don’t have to apologize. I don’t need to hear anymore to know this is a police matter,” he said. “Assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hazing, you name it.”
“Probably attempted murder then, too,” I said, my voice breathy.
“You think someone hit you with a car on purpose?” He leaned back and held my face gentler this time, counting on my eyes to tell him what he needed to know.
“I know he did, Trey,” I said, my voice horribly hoarse and soft. “Jake was distraught because of what happened. He had no idea they planned to do that to me when he agreed to bring me to the basement. In fact, he refused to participate in any of the events in the basement after he walked me up the aisle. He wanted to take me to a hospital when he put me in his car, but I refused. I wanted to go home and take a shower. I wanted to talk to Daphne and find out if what happened to me was a common thing on most campuses.”
He shook his head. “No, what happened to you was a crime perpetrated by boys twice your size and strength, Allie.”
I nodded. “I know, but I wasn’t thinking clearly. My senses were overwhelmed and I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to be comforted and kept warm.”
“What happened when Jake had you in the car?” he asked, caressing my cheek.
“I convinced him to let me out across the street from our two houses. I promised him I wouldn’t say anything to anyone and I wouldn’t let Sam see me go home. I was too sore and exhausted to walk and after being hit on the head I was dizzy and disoriented.”
“Did Jake hit you with the car then?” he asked and I shook my head, my lip trembling on its own accord as I tried to suck up a breath.
“No, Trey, Sam did it,” I whispered. “He must have been waiting at the corner with his lights off to see if Jake was going to follow his orders. I heard the engine race when I stepped off the curb, but my reflexes were slowed and I didn’t see the car coming until he threw his bright lights on me at the last second before impact. I saw his face, his white teeth gleaming in the night as I flew over the hood of his car and landed on the sidewalk behind the car. I wasn’t knocked out and I crawled into the tall grass, every part of my body on fire, to hide in case he came back to see if I was dead. I guess I passed out and when I came to I thought I was dead for a moment, until the pain overtook me again.” I was panting for breath by the time I finished. My head hurt and I grabbed it with both hands and rocked. “His face, Trey. It will haunt me forever. I wish I hadn’t remembered. I can’t do this. I can’t do this,” I cried, losing complete control of all my emotions and my body.
I felt his arms push me down to the bed and he put a pillow under my head. “Long, slow deep breaths,” he coached me as he ran into his bathroom. He came back with pills and a glass of water, helping me slow my breathing so I could take a drink. “Pain meds,” he explained, helping me to swallow them and then covering me completely with his comforter. He sat next to me and rubbed my arm until I fell asleep.
Christmas Morning
Present Day
“Allie.”
I heard his voice and looked up from my glass of milk, realizing too late that tears were running down my face and dripping slowly into the cup. He took it from my hands and tore off a paper towel, tenderly wiping my face. “I’m sorry. I never should have said you needed my permission. Please don’t cry, honey.”
I leaned against him, exhaustion sapping my strength. “You were probably right. I’m not crying because of what you said. Standing here, I remembered the first time I told you what happened and how painful it was. Maybe the way I’ve been feeling has everything to do with having dredged up Sam and that part of my life, rather than being pregnant.”
He took my hand and led me to a kitchen chair to sit. “Tell me why you dredged up Sam. He’s not your friend, Allie.”
I laughed and looked up at the ceiling. “You don’t say. I know he’s not my friend, but according to his lawyer he has changed and wants to right his wrongs.”
“Right his wrongs? He attempted to kill you and he did kill Jake. How do you right that?” he asked. I could tell he was trying not to be angry, but it was difficult for him, at best.
I sighed. “Would you get my briefcase? I can explain it better if you can see the idea.”
