- No, no, man, I won't be able to get out of town until near the end of the month, I have three shoots in a row almost right after the New Year, so I'll be busy, - Liam says as he climbs out of the car.
We stop at a petrol station near my house. Liam wants to go to the shop for some snacks, and I decide to follow him.
- Do you have January off? You want to get out of town? How's your CruelSoph going to survive that? - My friend chuckles.
- Look, after the whole Kaitlin story, I'm ready to kiss the ground Sophie walks on. She did something incredible. As soon as the tide went down, Soph put the news out that it was a hoax, that it was a set-up, like we did it on purpose for PR. And then she paid somewhere and there were comments from people saying that it was the second time Kaitlin had tried to get more popular at my expense, that I was in trouble because of her, and so on and so forth -, I start my story.
- And then your loyal groupies got involved? - Liam finishes for me.
- That's right, - I confirm. - It's a pity Alex won't get that back. I don't know how to explain it to her, I've sent her a million texts, called her so many times, but she stubbornly won't talk to me. Janine talked to her, she said Alex is suffering and is frantic, can't figure out if I'm an asshole or not.
- Look, man, no sex - it doesn't count, - Liam says, handing the purchases over to the cashier. - She'll get over it, go and see her as a last resort. Talk to her.
- Yeah, I thought about it. But I'm afraid I'll make it worse, - I confess honestly.
- So, what else we got going on tonight? Christmas dinner! - Liam does a goofy grin. - My dad called me today, my mum's freaking out. Can't wait for the event. It's like they haven't had these dinners since we were kids.
- Well, it's important to them. We'll go for an hour and then we'll go to the pub. Maybe I'll stop by Alex's before dinner? It was supposed to be our first Christmas together. Shit, I'm stuck thinking about her again.
We get in the car, Liam pulls a red hubcap from the back seat and turns on the radio. Christmas carols are playing. It's snowing lightly outside the window. At that very moment, I remember how cosy it was with her. I want to hold her close to me. It would be the perfect Christmas.
- Are we going tonight? - Liam asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
- Yeah, yeah, - I say confused, - We'll stop at my place now and I'll change, and then we'll drive back to your place and then to my mother's for dinner.
I connect my phone to the car, dial Tyler's number, and drive off. We discuss plans for tonight after dinner. Guys aren't going to be there much longer either.
- I like that attitude better, - I say as the call ends.
- Do you think Stella could come with us? - Liam mumbles quietly. I raise an eyebrow and turn toward my friend, barely holding back a smile.
- Really? Really? - I grin, not holding back, - again? Decided to test her again? - Liam's blushing, hell he's blushing like a shy teenager! Liam! AHAHAHAHAH!
- Fuck you, Dany, - he snorts, - I was just asking.
- Yeah, yeah, he was just asking, - I mock. - But seriously, I think it's too late to call her. Mum's got it all worked out. Tell her we'll meet her at the club after dinner. I made us a reservation in the VIP area. Don't thank me, - I smile. Liam grins back, sending a text message.
- Are you two serious? Are you two back together? - I ask gently. Liam shrugs.
- I don't know, Dany, we're not in a rush this time, just talking, dating, occasionally fucking, but no promises of anything. So far I'm enjoying my time with her. She's become different. I don't know how to say it. It turns out she's not as superficial as I used to think.
- Oh, - I just reply. The radio music is interrupted by an incoming call. Alex's name pops up on the display. Alex? Decided to listen to me after all? I accept the call immediately. And the blood pours from my face.
"...It's your own fault! You constantly provoke me! You're always teasing me, - a familiar voice comes over the speaker. What on earth is going on in there? And then I hear her roar and ask him to leave. How he asks about the pain and the blood. And then... only muffled screams, HER screams!
I turn the steering wheel sharply and press the accelerator into the floor. Liam looks at me with dumbfounded eyes, continuing to silently grab every sound.
- He's not..? - Liam begins.
- Don't even think about saying it out loud! - I bark, running a red light. I have to get to her as soon as possible.
She calls out to me. She tells him I'll kill him, and I swear to God, that's exactly what I'll do if he even touches her. No, I'll just kill him! I take a shortcut to Alex, bypassing the traffic and speeding up. I have to save my girl.
He says I can't handle him, ha! I squeeze the steering wheel with force, my knuckles turning white with tension. Liam clenches his jaw, continuing to listen. She sobs, you can hear how she struggles with him and can't cope. Shit, shit, shit! My mouth is dry. All I can see in front of my eyes is Alex's face.
We reach her house and I run out of the car, pulling the key to her flat out of my pocket. It's a good thing I didn't give it back to her. Liam keeps up. We go up to the floor.
I open the lock and fly into the flat. He's sitting on the sofa with his head down. Alex's legs stick out from behind him. I run around the couch. Alex is lying in tears, blood on her shirt, blood on her face, the asshole on top of her, holding her by the throat. And then I see where his other hand is. Alex squeezed her eyes shut and doesn't see me, just like him, very carried away.
I jerk him off the couch and slam my fist into his face. While he's recovering, I strike again. And again. Now his nose is bleeding. He tries to hit back, but I'm too angry. Just a red veil in front of my eyes and a wild desire to destroy. I knock him down and sit on top of him, striking the ugly face over and over again, turning it into a bloody mess.
- Chill, man, you're gonna kill him! - Yells Liam and pulls me aside. - I'll look into it.
Still breathing heavily, I turn back to Alex. She's looking at me with a blank stare, full of fear and anguish. I sit down beside her and just pull her close to me. As tightly as I can. Her body is tense, taut as a string, and only a few moments later she relaxes a little. She clings to me with her hands and nestles into my chest. I can feel my clothes getting wet from her tears.
- It's okay, honey, I'm here. I heard you. I heard you calling for help. I'm here. No one will hurt you now, everything will be okay, - I stroke her back, letting her cry out. I look at her: what did that asshole manage to do to her?
- Did he make it? - I ask gently. My question makes her all tense, then she shakes her head negatively. How good. But wait, wasn't his hand in her trousers?
- Did he touch you with his fingers? - I ask, clenching my jaw. She nods slowly, continuing to sob. And I hold on with all my strength not to jump up again and finish him off. - I'm not going to leave it like that. I'm going to kill the bastard!
Liam throws his half-dead body over his shoulder.
- So what am I supposed to do with him? Police? Or do everything quietly? - I throw myself in his direction, but Alex grabs me by my clothes.
- No police, - she whispers. - Please.
- Okay, we'll sort it out ourselves, - Liam gently pulls out his phone, - Daniel, you're not involved. - He leads Anton out of the flat. I'm sure the guys will explain to him how to behave.
We sit with Alex for about another hour. I don't let her out of my arms, she doesn't say a word. I just hug her, kiss her on the top of her head and whisper that everything is going to be okay. Finally, I take her by the chin and turn her towards me.
- Let me see, - I ask. I need to know what he's done to her. She lowers her eyes, but doesn't turn away. There's a red mark on her face, but that's not it.
- Why is there blood on your clothes? What did he do? - She silently bends back the edge of her lower lip. There's a deep tear. My poor girl.
- I love you, Alex, - I tell her.
- I'm sorry, - she says faintly. She's not serious, is she? She shouldn't apologise for that asshole touching her against her will, by the way. - I was such a fool. I should have believed you. Even if the whole world said otherwise. I'm sorry.
- I love you, - I say again. - Just remember that.
She lifts her teary blue eyes:
- Anton was the one who dragged Kaitlin to Switzerland. He paid her for all that was between you two.
To say I'm stunned is nothing.
- What? No way! - I gather all thoughts and events together. Of course, then it's clear how she got there. Why I didn't see any of her "girlfriends" around, even though she didn't seem to fly in alone. Bitch!
- Anton, he... He was suddenly so different. He was so different! - She starts to tell before the tears catch up with her again.
- I know, darling. He and I had slightly different conversations, so I could see he wasn't a good one. I'm sorry you found out this way. What can I do for you? Want to go to the bathroom, maybe?
She nods. I get up from the couch, with the words 'don't leave me' Alex comes up after me. We go into the bathroom and she flinches. The sink is covered in blood. Her blood. I turn on the water and flush those reminders away. Then I open the water in the bathroom. Alex silently watches my actions. I gently grab the edge of her shirt and pull it up. She wrinkles at the movement. As the t-shirt flies away, I see abrasions on her back and sides.
I run my hands down the fly of her trousers, she flinches and looks at me like a hunted animal.
- It's me, don't worry, - I say, looking into her eyes. I squat down and slowly pull off her jeans and panties. She steps over them, still keeping her eyes on me. I look over every inch of her beautiful body. I find a few bruises and tense hard. She runs her hand through my hair, soothing me.
- Kiss me, Dany, - she asks. I stand up, surprised by her request, and gently press my lips to hers. She wraps her arms around me and snuggles into me, sighing in relief as if she recognises me again.
When Alex finally climbs into the hot water, I sit down next to her on the floor. She lies down and covers her eyes. We're silent again for a long time.
- I didn't want you to see me like this, - she finally says. - I feel so dirty.
- Don't say that, I'm glad I made it. And I love you just as much as I did a few hours ago, - I answer.
- I'm so sorry, - Alex's eyes turn red again, - I'm so sorry... I want to wash it all away, wash away his scent.
She covers her eyes again and goes silent. I take the flannel and gently soap her hands, her back. She lets me. No one says a word. But it's like I can still hear her.
- I'll always be there for you, Alex. Always. Just don't send me away again, - I say.
- Never, - she answers. - I love you.