She ran a shaky hand over her hair, tugging at her ponytail. “Not like that. He grabbed my wrist. Hard.”
“The bandage, that’s what it was covering?” He glanced down at her wrist. The bruises had finally healed. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
“I didn’t know you that well, and then once I did know you better and I realized how protective you are . . . he’s dangerous, Linc.”
“You didn’t think I could protect you?” He almost sounded hurt and she flinched.
“I don’t know what he’s capable of. And I didn’t want you to feel like you had to protect me.”
“Damn it, Marisol.”
“I’ve never had a friend before,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to scare you off.”
“What sort of friend would I be if I ran at the first sign of trouble?” he countered.
Ed cleared his throat. “Can you keep going, Marisol?”
“Yes. I’m not sure what would have happened if we weren’t interrupted by his dad banging on my bedroom door.” She took in a shuddering breath. “They had to go because there was some trouble with some of their guys. He threw my eReader that’s how it broke. Then he said he would be back.”
Linc started pacing up and down the office. She stared at him for a moment then over at Ed.
“You didn’t think to report this?” Ed asked.
“All he did was bruise my wrist and make some vague threats. It wasn’t anything his lawyer couldn’t argue against,” she told him dully. Her head was really thumping now. And she was worried about Linc’s reaction. “Besides, you know how I feel about cops.”
“So I take it they were at the party?”
“Yeah, they were. That was my mistake . . . I should have left before now.”
“Left?” Linc strode over and sat back in his chair. “What do you mean? That you should have left your aunt’s? You certainly should have. Christ, I can’t believe you stayed there when they could turn back up at any time.”
“I stayed because of you,” she cried.
“Me? What do you mean?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. It wasn’t just you. It’s this town. I like it here. It’s so peaceful. Most of the people are nice. Then there’s you. I’ve never had a friend or a boyfriend.” She blushed slightly. “Your texts and calls are the highlight of my day. I didn’t want to leave you.”
“So you were planning on leaving town?” Ed asked.
“What choice do I have? I can’t stick around with him here.” Especially not now.
“If you don’t mind my asking, why haven’t you left before now? Why stay with your aunt?” Ed asked.
She ran a hand over her face, feeling ashamed. “Money. I have diabetes. If I left, I wouldn’t have any insurance. I don’t have much in savings. I don’t have any other family. So I guess I was too scared. Worried I would end up homeless and alone. without anyone to help me. She might not be much, but she’s the only family I have.”
“Did you tell her about any of this?” Ed asked.
“Yeah.” She sniffled. “She told me to give him whatever he wanted.”
“That fucking bitch,” Linc snapped.
She flinched and Ed held up a hand. “Linc, easy.”
“I’ve known for a long time that she doesn’t feel much towards me. I’m a convenient maid. Someone she can use, I barely get paid anything. She takes it all for room and board. The only reason I have any money saved is from when I’ve been given a big tip and managed to hide some of it from her.”
“That fucking bitch. She told you to give him what he wanted. Your own aunt fucking said that.” Linc’s body was practically vibrating with rage.
She ran her hand over his shoulder and arm, trying to soothe him. “It’s okay. I’m all right.”
He gave her an incredulous look. “I can’t believe you’re trying to reassure me right now.” He shook his head. “That’s my job.”
“You seem to need it more than me.”
“And tonight? He was there?” Ed asked.
Linc scowled at him, but she nodded. “Like I said, I drove up and saw there was a party going on. I needed some things from my room. My money, my insulin.” She didn’t mention Princess Nana or her snuggly. Some things they didn’t need to know about.
“I got inside and there was a fight. I hid while it was going on. Then I was about to run upstairs when he grabbed me. I was trying to resist him and he pinned me to the wall. He put his hand around my neck, he was strangling me. Then he . . . he was undoing his pants, threatening to make me . . .” she let out a sob.
She could hear Linc swearing. A long string of words she’d never imagined she’d hear out of his mouth. Then he reached over and grabbed the tissue box that Ed held out. But instead of handing them to her, he shocked her by gently picking her up and lifting her into his lap.
She stiffened. She still wasn’t used to being held on someone’s lap. He drew her in close, and tilted up her chin, wiping her face gently.
“It’s okay, little one. You’re safe. He can’t hurt you. I have you. I’ll never let him touch you again.”
She slumped against Linc, unable to hold herself up. She was exhausted. He rubbed his hands soothingly up and down her back. A feeling of safety stole over her. She should probably move, no doubt she was squishing him.
But she just couldn’t move.
“Are you bruised?” Linc pushed aside the neck of her sweater, hissing in a breath.
“What?” she asked.
“You’re all red there,” Ed explained, his eyes narrowed, jaw clenched. “Likely gonna bruise.”
“Motherfucker,” Linc snarled. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“You won’t,” Ed warned. “You’ll leave this to the authorities.”
“He threatened her! He likely would have raped her!”
“And he’ll be taken care of. He won’t get away with this,” Ed reassured him.
“Yeah, cause he’s going to end up in a six-foot hole,” Linc replied.
“Jesus, Linc. You can’t threaten to murder someone in front of a cop.”
“Be one less criminal on the streets. You should—”
“I’m not pressing charges,” she interjected.
The silence in the room was ominous. She suddenly found it hard to take a decent breath. Both men were staring at her. She looked down at her hands, unable to take their intense gazes.
“You want to say that again, Mari-girl?” Linc asked.
Not really. She kind of wished she hadn’t said it in the first place. But she had. And it was the right decision. At least she hoped it was.
She squirmed on his lap, but he held her steady. Then he gently cupped her chin in his hand, raising her head so she couldn’t hide.
“Why wouldn’t you press charges?” Linc asked.
“If you’re scared that he’ll hurt you, I can protect you,” Ed added.
Linc’s gaze narrowed dangerously. “Mari doesn’t need your protection, because she knows that I will protect her. Don’t you, Mari-girl?”