Tortured Beginning (9 page)

We walk past everyone, some glancing up as we walk past. Trevan stops to open the door to a room and waves me in. He touches the small of my back as I walk past him into the room. It looks like a break room and smells like coffee. There are two gentlemen sitting at the table talking, they look up. I notice the look the dark haired, good looking man gives Trevan. I don't think to much into it. The blonde, nerdy looking guy, sits there not looking at anyone.

"Hey, can I have the room for a minute, guys?" Trevan asks.

"Sure," the dark haired guy replies. He hits Trevan on the back as he walks out and glances over at me. Okay, I think to myself. They are obviously friends.

"Can I get you a cup of coffee?" Trevan asks me.

"Sure, cream and sugar. Please."

He makes my coffee, turns around and hands it to me. "It's not as good as yours, sorry," he smiles at me.

I smile back at him and we sit there silently for awhile. I take a sip of the coffee, and think it's not that bad. I like my coffee strong, and this is definately strong. I start feeling like myself, and glance over at Trevan. He is looking at me with concern written all over his face.

"I'm sorry about outside." He looks at me with a pained look on his face.

"You don't ever have to apologize to me, especially for that."

I look away, not able to look him in the eyes. I simply nod and continue to look around the room, anywhere but at him. I look out the window into the work area and see the nerdy guy looking at us. He notices me looking at him and turns quickly back to his computer.

"So, tell me what happened," Trevan says to break the silence.

I look down at my coffee, feeling like a total ass for being this way. I don't understand why I feel I can be vulnerable in front of Trevan. I feel safe when I am with him, it's probably because he is a cop. They are trained to make people open up to them.

I sigh, "Ben texted me this morning." I stop talking and feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. I still don't look up from my coffee, afraid to look him in the eyes. I decide to grab my phone and let him read the texts for himself. I pull up the texts and reach across the table to hand it to him. I finally look up, just as he takes the phone from me. "Here," is all I can get myself to say as our fingers touch.

I watch him read the texts and write some notes down. He looks up at me, "Okay, it's going to be alright. I know it doesn't seem like it, but it will. I am going to have to file a complaint with the court, that he is violating his restraining order. Also, I will visit with him and remind him of the restraining order."

I feel the fear build, with the thought of Trevan going to Ben's place. I know Trevan can take care of himself, but I am afraid of what Ben will do to me. As if reading my thoughts, Trevan reaches across the table and grabs my hand.

"It will be fine, I promise you."

I nod my head, as I pull my hand from his grasp.

I walk Jaylah to her car. I hate to see her so scared, and not being able to release her fear. I don't understand how any man can treat a woman like this. When I saw her sitting in the car, I knew something was really wrong. She melted right into my arms, when I opened her door. At that moment I wanted to run and find that asshole and beat the fucking shit out of him. I would love to see how he liked it.

"Thank you again Trevan," Jaylah says, shaking me from my thoughts.

"No problem, I am always here if you need me." She simply nods at me as she gets into her car. "Call me anytime, and I mean anytime."

"I will. Good bye."

"Don't forget to keep your alarm on too." She nods and waves.

I step out of the way and watch as she drives out of the parking lot.

I turn when I see her pull out onto Division Road, towards Main Street. My head is spinning as I walk back to my desk to fill out all the paperwork for the court. I am so intent on my work that I don't notice, Jason walking up to me.

He leans back on my desk and folds his arms across his chest. I lean back in my chair and sigh.

"What?"

"Oh nothing, what's up?" he replies.

"Don't hand me that shit, what do you want." I know he has something to say and I don't want to play this game with him right now.

"Whose the woman?"

"She a case of mine, the abusive ex. I need to go over there and have a talk to him."

"Want me to come along?"

I run my fingers through my hair, "Yeah, you better. I have a feeling I might lose it with this guy."

He nods to me, "Let me know when you want to leave."

I nod and start filling out the rest of my paperwork. I am thankful that Jason knows me so well that he didn't press me about Jaylah. I don't know what it is about this woman, but she has definitely gotten under my skin.

"So where does this asshole live?" Jason asks.

"In New Baltimore, Aspen Creek Apartment on twenty-three mile road." Jason nods as he starts the car. I look over my folder and notice he moved shortly after he put Jaylah in the hospital.

We sit there silently, it's only about a fifteen minute ride to the apartment. I am really hoping that he is home, if not we will have to try his work. When I talked to his boss, he told me it was Ben's day off. I notice Jason glancing at me, and I know what he is thinking.

"Don't."

"Don't what?" he replies, with that shit eating grin.

I want to punch him in the fucking face to wipe it off. It really sucks that he knows me so well. "You know damn well, what! It's not what you think."

"You can keep telling yourself that. Maybe you will actually believe it, but I know you to well."

I sigh, "Damn it." I am thankful that we are pulling into the apartment complex. "He is towards the back." We drive towards the back and I see his car parked in front of his building. "That's his car." I point to it and Jason nods.

We both get out of the car and walk up to the building. Luck was on our side and a woman opens the door to leave. I catch it and thank her. Ben lives on the top floor, the staircase is in front of us. Once we get up there, I look for apartment 203. I see the door and know that his is just down the hall.

I stop in front of his door and try to calm myself. I feel my palms itch, I want to punch this asshole as soon as I see him.

Jason puts his hand on my shoulder, "Calm down. Let me talk first, okay?"

I nod, knowing he is right. I can feel my blood boiling. He knocks on the door, we wait and no response. Jason pounds on the door louder, and we hear a muffled response inside.

The door is jerked open, and a tall man over six foot, disheveled hair, a white t-shirt and boxers on,  "What?" he yells. I can tell he is really irrated by the interruption, he was obviously asleep.

"Hello, are you Ben?" Jason asks.

He looks at Jason, then at me and nods, "Yeah."

"I'm Detective Turner and this is Detective Ryan." Jason points to me.

Ben's facial expression turns to a smirk. He leans against the jam of the door and crosses his arms over his chest. "So did my Jaylah send you over here?"

My Jaylah, did that asshole just say "My Jaylah." I can feel my blood boil and I take the two steps to reach him. I grab him by the t-shirt, I pull him towards me and get right in his face. "You leave her the fuck alone, asshole! The restraining order says you need to stay away. If I catch you anywhere near her, I will fucking kill you myself!" I spit into his face. I slam him into the door jam, just has Jason grabs me from behind.

"Hey man," Jason says. He pulls me away from the door and turns to Ben. "Look there is a new complaint sent to the courts, if you are smart you will leave her alone."

He laughs, "Yeah. Well I think I have something to say to the courts about Detective Ryan, there."

He looks to me and winks. "You fucking dick!" I start to go after him and Jason catches me.

Jason talks low, for only me to hear, "Knock it the fuck off, this asshole isn't worth losing your job over." He turns to Ben, "You go ahead, asshole. I don't know what you are talking about. We came here to remind you of the restraining order. You need to leave Jaylah alone."

Jason turns and nudges me down the hall towards the stairway. I can hear that fucker laughing, as he shuts his door.

"Come on, we are going for a drink."

I nod my head, that I can definitely use.

I walk in the front door, to hear my phone go off that I have a text. I fumble through my purse to grab it.

unknown    6:47pm

UR boyfriend payed me a visit

JayJay    6:48pm

What???

unknown    6:49pm

don't play fucking stupid with me love

My hands begin to shake, knowing he is talking about Trevan. I knew this wasn't going to go well. I don't know if I should respond or ignore him, when my phone beeps again.

unknown    6:52pm

don't worry he will get his, along with you. YOU WILL BE MINE AGAIN!!!!

I throw my phone on the couch and run up the stairs to my room. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I need a drink. I go into the bathroom and splash some water on my face. I look at myself in the mirror and hate what I see. I hate feeling weak and scared, but Ben always does that to me.

I go back down stairs and grab my phone. I dial the number to Trevan to let him know what just happened. I listen to it ring and go to voicemail and hang up. I know Anne has the girls tonight, so I call the next best person, Lynette.

"Hello. What's up, woman?" Lynette answers.

"Hey. Can you get out tonight?"

"Of course, I'll pick you up in a few."

"Thanks."

We both hang up, I run upstairs to change my clothes.