Page 149 of Torrid Love
They all knew Rod would lose it.
“You ending up in a cell isn’t going to help Dom,” Roark says. “Your girlfriend needs you to keep your head on your shoulders.Notturn into a murderer like Rachel.”
“Don’t you fucking compare me to her,” Rod warns.
“Keep at it and you’ll become her,” Roark retorts.
Rod shoots his brother a slicing glare. His body is tense and in defensive mode for a while before he concedes. He crosses his arms over his chest and sinks into his seat.
He looks like he’s about to burst an artery.
“Go on, Dom,” Isobel says.
“When I came to, he was hovering over me. In a panic, I realized that my skirt was up around my waist and my underwear had been pulled down to my knees. He’d covered my mouth with his hand to prevent me from screaming. The next thing I know…” I stop, unwilling—and unable—to provide all the sordid details of my attack.
Rod drags his hand down his face, his remorse as tangible as his pain. “I’m so fucking sorry, Dom.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Rory says. “I felt as powerless—and remorseful—when I found out. I wasn’t even in town when it happened and I hate myself for it.”
“You knew?” Rod asks incredulously.
“Down boy. I didn’t. Isobel told me everything on the way to Dom’s studio after you called. Trust me, I wanted to kill him with my bare hands. Gideon is a piece of shit, but you can’t stop an evil force, Rod. And, as I’ve told you a million times, you can’t protect Dom twenty-four seven.”
My eyes move to Isobel’s stare, who seems as shocked, confused and hurt as she did when she found me sitting in front of the stadium crying, with blood running down my legs, with a split lip and a bruised chin where Gideon had punched me.
I offer her a shy nod.
She nods her understanding.
“Dom called me when she was finally able to get to a pay phone,” she says, “I drove so fast, I was sure I was going to get arrested. Rory was in San Francisco at a conference, so I took Dom to my aunt Celeste’s house—”
“She’s the doctor?” Rod asks.
“Yes. She worked at a Beverly Hills clinic—still does—and suggested we head there. It was the middle of the night, but she insisted on carefully documenting everything and grabbing as much evidence as possible. I never left Dom’s side. My aunt had packed a change of clothes for Dom since she kept everything she was wearing that night. I wanted to call the police. Dom panicked and begged me not to say anything. She explained why. And I had to respect her wish even though I didn’t agree with her decision not to expose the asshole. She was protecting you, Rod.”
“What did Gideon threaten to do?” Loki asks.
“To end Rod’s career,” I say. “Rod came from nothing and he finally got a big break. I didn’t want Gideon to take that away from him. I really believed he had the power to make it all disappear, so I kept my mouth shut.”
“The guy deserved to be beaten to a pulp for what he did to you, Dom,” Roark says. “Glad my brother got a swing at him. He might not have killed the asshole, but he hurt him real good.”
I nod in agreement.
“Why didn’t you tell me when I told you he was back in town?” Rod asks. I meet his sad gaze. “Don’t say you’re sorry again, Dom. I want an explanation.”
He knows me well.
“The longer time passed, the harder it was to confess what had happened to me,” I say. “And as time passed, I knew Gideon no longer had a hold on your career, but I was ashamed and humiliated, and I felt so… soiled.” I pause, taking a breath. “Once he left LA, I figured I’d never see him again. I was wrong.” I pause. “I was going to tell you this weekend. I knew he was in town and I was freaked out about it, but I never thought Gideon would come after me again.”
“Dickless coward,” Roark grunts.
“Fucking predator,” Rod grumbles.
I no longer have to carry around the huge burden that’s been weighing me down for so many years.
“Gideon is repugnant,” Loki says, “but his reign of terror is about to end.”
“What do you mean?” Isobel asks.
