Leaving her a wreck, Felicity collapsed to the floor in sobs. The cool tile pressed against her side, as she laid in the mess Jasper had left behind.
“I told you to clean this shit up.” Jasper grabbed her from the floor, pulling her body across the tile.
“Please… stop.” Felicity sobbed, praying he would let her go, she glanced up to look at the monster he had become, barley recognizing the man she’d thought she’d once loved.
“I told you, Felicity. I ain’t leaving.”
It was the last thing she heard before his boot smashed into her face.
Chapter 6
Liam sat with his back against the locker room wall. His shift was about to start, and he had finished putting on his uniform.
“Hey sarge, why you look like someone ran over your dog?” Arden slapped him on the back.
“Hey, LT.”
“Seriously, Liam, what’s eating you?”
“Nothing, just lost in thought.”
“A girl then.” It was a statement, not a question.
“What makes you think that?”
“When a man looks like you do, it’s always because of a girl.”
“It isn’t what you think, though. I ran into an old friend yesterday and the day before. It was obvious she’d been beat up, but she avoided the question both times and ran out on me.”
“You know how it works with battered women. Shame keeps these women from speaking out.”
“Yeah – but that’s not the woman she used to be. I can’t believe she’d be taking crap from a man.”
“Well, if you’re worried, go check in on her. You know how to find her?”
“Yes.”
“Then do yourself a favor and do a welfare check. Otherwise your head is going to be out of the game – and you know how dangerous that is.”
“Fine… you’re right. I’ll ride over to her job later this morning.”
“That a boy. You let me know if we need to help. Ok? And Liam…” he smiled, “it’s apparent she’s more than a friend.”
Liam watched his SWAT commander leave the locker room. He was right. She was more than a friend, but his muddled feelings had him confused and conflicted. She’d left him. Broken his heart – so he didn’t understand why it beat ten times faster when he thought about her. Maybe it was just unresolved anger and now concern for her wellbeing.
Getting some answers would settle his worry and perhaps clear up these crazy feelings.
♦ ♦ ♦
Liam pulled his patrol car into the parking lot of Dr. Borne’s office. He rarely had to see a doctor, but this was where he’d come when he needed something. It shocked him that Felicity had been back for six months and he hadn’t run into her sooner. He glanced around the parking lot, trying to see if her car was there, giving up he went inside.
“Liam!” Lila called out as he approached the front desk. She was standing behind the receptionist waving. “How are you? We haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Good. I’ve been feeling pretty great actually.”
“Then what brings you in to the office?”
“I was hoping to speak with a co-worker of yours, Felicity Jones. She available?”
“You and Felicity know each other?”
“Yeah – old high school friends.” Liam didn’t elaborate, he could tell Lila suspected something more, but she didn’t question him further.
“I see. Well, unfortunately she’s not here. Her boyfriend called in and said she had the stomach flu.”
“Stomach flu?”
“Well… that’s his story anyway.”
Liam could detect disgust in her voice as she spoke about Felicity’s boyfriend, “I take it you don’t like him?”
“Never met him, actually. But I don’t think he’s that nice to her. She is never allowed to go out, and the other day – you know what, never mind.”
“Wait, what were you about to say?”
Lila glanced around the waiting room, “Um, let’s talk back here. Follow me.” She pointed towards the door, motioning him into the break room.
“Look, I don’t know for sure, but I think he may actually be beating her.” Lila spoke without a filter. “She came to work yesterday, and she had some bruises on her face, under her eye.”
“Yeah – I saw those too.” Liam ran his hand down his face, “We ran into each other at the coffee shop.”
“Interesting.” Lila smiled.
“That’s why I’m here. It bothered me all night, so I wanted to come check-in with her.”
“Well, like I said. Dipshit called in for her this morning. It’s weird though.”
“What do you mean?”
“She never misses work. And the one time she was late, she called herself. It’s just bizarre to me that she wouldn’t call in for herself.”
“You got an address? I’ll ride by and check on her.”
“Yeah – let me go get it. I hope she’s ok.”
“Do you honestly think her boyfriend would hurt her that bad?”
Lila handed him a slip of paper, unfolding it, he smiled when he realized she’d been under his nose the whole time. It was like fate had been toying with them the whole time, waiting for them to find each other again.
“I don’t know. Will you let me know what you find? Tell her to call me, please.” Lila hugged Liam before he walked out.
“I’ll call you. Thanks, Lila.”
Liam had a bad feeling in his gut, making the hairs on his neck stand up. Closing his eyes, he prayed she really was at home sick with the stomach bug – otherwise, he didn’t know what he’d do.
Chapter 7
Felicity opened her eyes; her head was swirling with confusion. Blinking the haze from her vision, she realized she was laying in her bed. Trying to roll over, her arm snapped against her body. Glancing towards her wrists, she noticed she was cuffed to the bedframe.
What the fuck? Jerking her arm, the metal bit into her flesh. “JASPER!” she screamed out, confused as to her current state.
“Oh,” he pushed open the door, “I see you’re awake.”
“Jasper… what the hell is the meaning of this?”
“You had a nasty fall; I didn’t want you tumbling out of bed.”
She furrowed her brow, “Fall?”
“Yeah – don’t you remember?”
Like a rushing wave, the memory of the night before came barrelling back. She’d asked him to leave, then he’d forced himself on her. The last thing she remember was him kicking her head.
“I didn’t fall. You know that, you bastard. Let me go.”
“No… I don’t think so.”
“Jasper, work is going to be wondering where I am. You need to let me up. I won’t say anything. Please… undo the cuffs.”
Just as he moved to grab her hand, the doorbell rang. Felicity glanced at him; her fear hardly contained. “Wonder who that could be. Here,” he jammed a pair of panties in her mouth, “don’t want you making any sounds. I’ll get rid of whoever is at the door.”