Page 154 of Changing Rules

CHAPTER 42

PRIORITY VS OPTION

BELLA

October

I blankly stareout the window. Dizziness has plagued me since I first woke up, and my hands and arms are sore and limp.

Andrew, the lawyer Ryan found, didn’t exactly reassure us that this would be an open-and-shut case. Sure, the medical staff and police officers documented all my wounds, and then there’s Kaden and Mr. Jensen, who are witnesses. But with Jake’s stint in rehab, which his PR guys claim was because of a nervous breakdown caused by our breakup and my relationship with Xander, his attorneys will likely try to argue that treatment is a better option than jail time.

They could try to paint him as a poor guy who lost control of his sanity because he loved his ex-girlfriend so much. They could say her relationship with his teammate led him to an obsession, that he just needs medical help. More time in rehab. Some anger management…

Andrew asked if he’d been violent before. If we knew anyone he’d hurt who would be willing to come forward as a character witness.

A name instantly came to mind, and based on the look on Xander’s face, he was thinking it too.

Stacey.

Andrew told us to get in touch and see if she’d be willing. Xander called her the second Andrew left…and she asked to see me.

When Stacey steps into my hospital room, her eyes meet mine, and she smiles timidly. I smile at her in return, even though it hurts.

Meg and Jess couldn’t stop crying when they saw me. They refused to let me go and promised to be here for anything I need. Marco, Josh, and Drew stayed in the waiting room, along with Drew’s wife, thinking I’d be uncomfortable with so many visitors in my current state. Instead, they sent their best wishes and lots of flowers and balloons from the gift shop downstairs. It’s precious, and I’m incredibly grateful to all of them.

Kaden came in after the girls, but he stayed the longest. He hugged me gently and held me close, rocking from side to side as he told me about his aunt. He explained that he’d seen her husband in Jake, and that’s why it was so hard for him to stop. I didn’t see what he did to Jake’s face, and that’s okay. If I ever had to lay eyes on him again, it’d be too soon.

“Hey.” Stacey stops near the foot of my bed, wringing her hands.

“Hi.” I study her makeup-free face. She looks pale, her hair disheveled. Has she been crying?

“You’re probably wondering why I asked to see you.” Lips trembling, she closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. I acted like a snake and didn’t care about how my behavior made you feel or how it affected your relationship with Alex.”

“Thank you for saying that.” I nod, licking my parched lips. “I know this is asking a lot, but would you be willing to testify against Jake if he’s charged?”

The skin under my bandage itches at the sound of his name. The word he carved on my skin echoes in my head.Whore. That’s what I was to him, and he never wanted me to forget that.

“I’ll do it. I want the entire world to know what a monster he’s always been.” She slowly takes a step forward, holding my gaze. “I’ll tell them my story. How he drugged me and made me believe I was with Alex. How he raped me in my disoriented state, then laughed in my face when I woke up the next morning and found myself in my boyfriend’s bed with his roommate.” She straightens her spine, her expression full of determination. “Then they’ll see Jake’s mental instability didn’t happen overnight. He needs to be locked up, and I want to help you bring him to justice. I’ve been silent way too long.”

“Are you really ready to make it public?” One lone tear tracks down my face, then another, and before long, I’m crying in earnest.

“If I’d done it years ago, this wouldn’t have happened. He wouldn’t have hurt you. My silence is what gave him the opportunity to do this to you.” Voice trembling, she hides her face in her hands. “When I saw pictures of Miller in handcuffs and found out what happened, I lost it. I was hysterical. Only an emergency call with my therapist could calm me down. And when Alex called me, I knew I’d do anything you needed me to do. I need to speak up.”

I dab at my face with a tissue and hold my free hand out to her.

Hesitantly, she steps forward and takes it.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “It takes a lot of courage to come forward, and also to ask for forgiveness. I’d be happy to have you by my side.”

I smile at her, my chest heaving with emotion. All the anger I’ve harbored for her has dissipated. She and I have one major thing in common: Stacey is a victim of Jake’s crimes, just like I am. And if we can’t stand side by side, if we choose to be at odds, then we’ve already lost. I can’t let him get away with what he did.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” a familiar voice yells out from the hallway.

I blink, frowning, and Stacey tenses as we both stare at the closed door.

“Why the fuck didn’t you call me? She’s my fucking family!”

“Ben, listen,” Xander says. “I didn’t call?—”

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