Elisa (16 page)

Ethan returned a moment later with two police officers behind him.

Elisa immediately grabbed my hand. I sat beside her on the bed then wrapped my arm around her shoulder, holding her close to me. My fingers glided gently over her skin.

“Elisa Wyatt?” the first office asked. He was short and broad. He didn’t look like he could run fast, but it seemed like he could throw a punch with massive force. He had brown hair that matched his eyes.

She cleared her throat. “Yes.”

“Can you describe the attacker?”

The other police officer opened a pad of paper and placed the tip of the pencil to the paper.

“Uh
, yeah,” she said.

I rubbed her back. “Come on,
Ellie.”

“He had brown hair.”

“Short or long?” the officer asked.

“Medium,” she answered.
“It’s the same length as my brother’s.”

The artist glanced at Ethan and started to scribble.

She continued. “He’s taller than me—the same height as Jared. His eyes reached my forehead.”

“I’
m six foot,” I said.

The artist nodded.

The police officer looked at Elisa. “Weight?”

“Uh
, I don’t know. He was big.”

“Fat, chubby, muscular?”

“No. Skinny but big.”

“And what does that mean?” the office asked with a roll of his eyes.

I glared at him. “I suggest you show some respect. I have no problem calling your supervisor and giving a full report on your obvious disrespect and inability to do your job right. Knock it off.” Elisa flinched beside me. “My girlfriend just experienced a major trauma. If you don’t give a shit, then you shouldn’t be here. You got it?”

The office
r stared at me for a moment before he looked at Elisa. “Please describe him in more detail.”

“That’s better,” I snapped.

“Uh, he was thin and toned. Like a soccer player.”

“You’re doing great, baby,” I whispered.

The artist continued to scribble.

“Any distinguishable features?” he asked.

“He had a beard and a freckle on one eyelid.”

“Which one?
” the officer asked.

“The left one,” she answered.

“Race?”

“White.”

He nodded. “Anything else you think we should know?”

“He had
a knife,” she answered.

“Thank you,” he said. “Can you tell us what happened?”

She started to shake.

“It’s okay,” I whispered in her ear. “It’s okay.”

She took a deep breath. “Before I reached the building, he came from nowhere. It was dark. I don’t really know.” She paused and held me tighter. “He pushed me against the wall and held a knife to my throat. Then he demanded that I hand over everything I had. I was so scared that I didn’t move. That’s when he started to hit me.” I closed my eyes, unable to take it anymore. It was too painful. “He hit me until I fell to the ground then he kicked me. When I covered my face, he pulled everything from my pocket and took my purse. He kicked me in the head and that’s the last thing I remember.”

I brought her close to me and rested my head on top of hers. I d
idn’t want her to see me cry. Her story was too painful to imagine. Knowing she was beaten like that broke my heart into thousands of pieces. She was shaking and I held her close.

“I think we have everything,” the officer said.

The artist stepped toward us and showed us the drawing. “Is this him?”

We stared at it for a moment then she nodded.

“Thank you,” he said.

Both of the officers le
ft.

“You did great,
Ellie,” I whispered.

She didn’t say anything.

Hours later, the nurse came into the room and started to unhook her IV. “You’re free to go.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Of course, honey,” she said. “And here are your clothes.” She placed the plastic bag on the end of the bed. Then she left.

Elisa tried to stand up but I pushed her back.

“Let me help you.”

“I can do it,” she said.

Ethan looked uncomfortable. “I’ll be outside.” He got up and left.

I grabbed the clothes and cringed when I saw the dry blood. I tried to ignore it and help
ed her get dressed. It was either that or she would have to wear my clothes. As I stripped off her gown, I saw the discoloration along her ribs. She was bruised badly.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she said quickly.

I knew she was lying. I helped her get dressed then gathered her in my arms.

“I can walk. My legs don’t hurt.”

“I got you.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck and didn’t argue.

We joined Ethan in the hall then left the hospital, getting in a cab off the street. While we drove back to the townhouse, I placed my arm around her shoulder and held her close. No one said anything on the ride home.

When we arrived at the house, Ethan looked at his sister. “How do we explain this to the kids?”

“Uh, I don’t know.”

She had bruises on her face. It was hard to hide. They would be there for several weeks.

“I’ll just say I fell down or something,” she whispered.

I couldn’t think of a better idea. Judging by Ethan’s blank expression, he didn’t have a better idea either.

We climbed out of the cab then came to the front door. Ethan unlocked it and we all walked inside. As soon as we entered the living room, the kids ran toward us. They stopped when they saw Elisa.

“Mommy?”
Tommy asked. “Are you hurt?”

She kneeled down and hugged him tightly. “No. I just had an accident.”

Becky came over and pointed at her face. “But you have ouchies everywhere.”

“It’s nothing,” she said quickly. She grabbed Becky and held them both for a long time. She started to cry but the kids didn’t move. I kneeled down behind her then wrapped my arms around all three of them, rocking the
m gently. We just listened to Elisa cry.

“Mommy, why are you crying?” Becky asked.

“Your mother is tired and needs a nap,” I said quickly.

“Oh,” she said. “I hate naps.”

“Now you know why she’s crying,” I said with a smile.

Becky patted her hair. “
It’s okay, Mommy. They aren’t that bad.”

Elisa sniffed. “I know, honey.”

“Come on. I need to put Mommy to bed,” I said.

“Uncle Jared, you’re back?” Tommy asked.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“Why are you here sometimes
but not all the time?” Becky asked.

I didn’t know what to say. I
picked up Elisa and carried her in my arms. I walked down the hall and entered the bedroom. I laid her on the bed then started to remove her clothes. They were filthy, and I tossed them on the floor. I wasn’t attracted to her naked body like I normally was. I was too disturbed and upset to feel anything but pain.

I walked into the bathroom and got the shower running then returned to her. She was sitting up with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Come on. Let’s get you in the shower.”

She was mute.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her to stand. “Come on. It’ll feel good.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

I walked her into the bathroom. Before she opened the door to the shower, she looked at me. “Get in with me. I don’t want to be alone.”

“Okay.”

She seemed surprised by my immediate agreement.

I stripped off my clothes then I followed her inside the shower. I guided her under the water and started to shampoo her hair, massaging her scalp at the same time. She rested her hands on my chest and closed her eyes. Then I scrubbed her body with soap, rubbing her muscles with my fingertips. When I was finished
, she did the same to me. I kept my hands on her waist while she touched me, making sure she didn’t fall. When she was done, she wrapped her arms around my neck and just held me. I wrapped my arms around her and let the water fall on us. We didn’t say anything but nothing needed to be said. She was still frightened of everything that just happened. She couldn’t stand the silence and she couldn’t stand to be alone.

When our skin became pruned, I turned off the water then grabbed a towel, drying her skin and tasseling her hair. She closed her eyes and moaned. When she was dry, I wiped myself off. She stared at me but her usual hunger was absent. I wondered if she lost her attraction to me or she was just too
confused.

We went back into the bedroom and she crawled under the sheet.

“Please sleep with me,” she begged.

“Of course.”
I moved beside her then wrapped my arms around her.

“I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything, Ellie.”

“I want you to get me a gun.”

The request made me flinch. “You don’t need one.”

“Please.”

“Nothing is going to happen to you, okay? I’m here. I will never let anything happen to you. I promise.”

“But you aren’t here anymore,” she whispered.

I sighed. “I am now.”

“But you’ll leave tomorrow or the next day. Please do this for me. The man has my address and my keys.”

“Ethan changed the locks.”

“That still doesn’t make me feel better.”

“He would have to get through me and Ethan, who already has a gun, to get to you. Those are slim odds.”

“My babies.”

I grabbed her face. “Ellie, you are safe with me. I will give my life to protect all of you. Please go to sleep. I won’t sleep if you want. I’ll stay awake and listen to the house.”

“No, you don’t need to do that.”

“Then go to sleep.”

She sighed. “Please get me something, Jared.”

“I’ll get you a tazer and pepper spray.”

“I need something stronger than that.”

“You have me.”

“Do I?”

I climbed on top of her. “I want you for the rest of my life, Ellie.”

Her eyes softened as she stared at me. “What about everything I did to you?”

“Forget about it. I was being stupid. I forgive you. Now please be mine.”

She started to cry. “You want to be with me?”

“More than anything. I can’t be away from you anymore. I have to be with you for always. I have to know you’re safe. What’s the point in trying to move on when I only want one person? That will never change, baby.”

“I’m so happy—as happy as I can
be at the moment.”

I kissed her forehead. “Just don’t hurt me again.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“I believe you.”

She sighed deeply.

“And I’ll get a gun and put it in the nightstand, but I don’t want you to touch it.”

“Thank you.”

“Okay. I’ll get one tomorrow.”

“Will you move in with us?”

I rubbed my nose against hers. “Are you asking me?”

“No. I’m begging.”

“Yes. I would love to live with you.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m not doing you a favor. I love you.”

“I love you too, Jared.”

“Now go to sleep. I’ll protect you.”

“I don’t want to sleep,” she said as she ran her hands up my chest.

“No. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Please? You won’t hurt me. It will have the opposite effect.”

“I can’t. I will when you’re feeling better.”

“I won’t feel better until you make love to me,” she said as she gripped my back. “Please. I feel safe, happy, and whole when I’m with you. I know you won’t sleep with me unless you want to stay with me forever. Please.”

“I do want to stay with you forever.”

“Then make love to me.” She wrapped her legs around my waist. “Don’t make me beg.”

“I like it when you beg,” I said with
a smile.

“Please, babe. Please.”

“It has to be gentle.”

“That fine,” she said happily.

“And let me know if it hurts.”

“Come on.”

I leaned over her then pressed my forehead against hers. I wrapped my arm around her upper thigh then held it back while I moved in front of her. She ran her hands through my hair then down my back. With my other hand, I rubbed her clitoris gently. I knew she wanted to make love, but I also understood that her mind was thinking of other things.

She gripped my back as she felt me.

I pressed my lips against hers and kissed her gently. My heart throbbed as I felt her embrace. I had never loved anyone in the way that I loved her. It was special and unique. She was the only woman who had my heart—the only one who ever would. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.