“Why can’t you ever keep your mouth shut?” he shouted in her face. “You made me do this!”
As the wind picked up, she felt her hair brush across her face and stick to the blood that continued to flow from her nose. “Leave, Drew.”
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do. I came over here to give you good news and you ruined it, just like our relationship. You were supposed to be mine.”
There was no way to respond to his statements. Whatever she said would inflame him, and that’s the last thing she wanted to do. Somehow the facts had gotten twisted in his mind, and he believed their college romance meant more than it did. He was never a possessive boyfriend, and she wondered what had tripped the switch for him. How had that kid turned into the monster before her? “It’s time for you to go,” she said with more calm that she felt. Maybe if she kept repeating it, it would work. “Don’t make this worse.”
His grip tightened and he shook her with all his might. “Don’t tell me what to do. I’m so tired of people telling me what to do.”
Her body banged against the door frame as Popcorn danced around her feet, barking and jumping. Maybe a neighbor would hear him and see what was happening. Breath was stolen from her body when a particularly hard shake had her head hitting the wall. Her vision clouded as blackness crept in at the corners.
***
Brock took the last turn fast enough that two of his tires lost contact with the road. Eight years on the front lines didn’t prepare him for hearing the call that came over his radio five minutes ago. A domestic disturbance was reported as Lilly’s address, and his worst fear had come true. He didn’t know if it was Ruth or some other sicko. Crushing his foot against the accelerator, he roared down her street and slid to a stop in front of her home.
A white-hot rage took over his body as he slammed the car into Park and flew out the door. Watching Drew shake Lilly so hard that her head flew against the wall made his last thread of control…snap.
Running across the lawn, he grabbed Drew, which caused him to release his grip on Lilly. She slid against the wall, and he saw blood flowing down her face. An emotion he couldn’t name took over as he flipped the man over. He let him crumple against the ground as he cuffed him. Moving to Lilly, he ran his hand over her face. “Honey, I’m here. Open your eyes.” One second, two, then three and her eyes finally flickered open. “Thank God.” He clicked his mic and asked for an ambulance and backup.
“I’m okay,” she mumbled.
Running his hands over her hair, he felt a large bump on the back of her head. Popcorn ran back into the yard, barking like mad, with a neighbor following. When he leaped up the steps, he parked himself next to Lilly and whined. He covered her body with his and pushed his head into her stomach. “Good boy,” Brock said.
When Drew started moving around, he turned. “Stay the fuck down.”
“She made me do it,” he managed to get out.
Snap. That was the last thread breaking. Brock was off the porch in a second and lifted Drew by the arms. “I’m going to kill you and do the world a favor. There’s nothing more inexcusable than a man raising a hand to a woman.” Lifting his hand, he cocked it and slammed it into Drew’s angry face. As he connected with tissue and bone, he knew there was no coming back. So when Drew crumpled and fell against the concrete, he kneeled with an eerie calm. The problem with knowing so many ways to kill a man was deciding which one he wanted to employ. Moving his hands to the place that would end the miserable son-of-a-bitch’s life, he let out a breath. Pressing his fingers, he saw a look of panic cross the sorry excuse for a human being’s face. “Feel that?” Drew nodded. “Good. That’s what Lilly felt when you put your hands on her. I don’t know how many women you’ve threatened, but it ends now.” Increasing the pressure, he knew it wouldn’t take much, and it didn’t bother him a bit.
“Stop,” Lilly yelled. “He’s not worth it.”
Looking over his shoulder, he saw the woman he loved more than life. Her eyes were pleading with him. For a second it was enough to pull him out of the dark place. Then he turned back and saw the angry, defiant look Drew was giving him and pushed his thumb down.
“You promised me,” Lilly added. “You’re supposed to be with me and not in jail.”
Lifting his hands off Drew, he sat back on his knees and let out a breath. He had almost killed a man, and it was Lilly who saved him. Before he could process that thought, sirens filled the air and the street was filled with vehicles.
“Brock, I don’t feel good,” Lilly moaned.
Moving to her side instantly, he kissed her head. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry I let him get within a hundred feet of you.” Before she could respond, several sheriff’s deputies jumped out of their cars, and that’s when hell broke loose.
Drew lay on the ground and managed to make enough noise that one of the men walked over. The moment “police brutality” came out of his mouth, Brock lost his temper. He bellowed like a lion on the nature shows they liked to watch. “You God damn son of a bitch! How fucking dare you say a word about brutality.” Lifting Lilly, he faced the gathered crowd. “You hit a woman.”
Pete roughly lifted Drew to his feet and shook his head. “Going to take him down to the station and book him.”
Brock nodded and was about to turn into the house when Pete stopped him. “Let them take pictures before the paramedics arrive. They should be here any minute.”
“Roger that,” Brock responded. Looking into her eyes, he felt his heart break. How had he let this happen?
“I’m alive, Brock. You got here in plenty of time.”
“Oh, honey, I surely didn’t.”
One of the deputies approached slowly. “Hey, Fred,” Brock said. “You got your camera?”
“Yes. Let me get pictures and then you can take her inside.”
“Thanks, man.”