Page 65 of Safer Together
“I love you, Elliot. I love you so much, too.” She reaches up to me, taking a handful of my shirt in hand, pulling me closer to her so our faces are only inches apart. “Make me a promise, Elliot. Never let me go.” She asks, and I don’t even hesitate, as I know in my heart, that would never even be an option.
“Never, baby, I promise you. I’ll never let you go”.
I hold on to her until the authorities arrive. They take Dylan’s body away in an ambulance, and another comes over to look at Angela. When they advise they need to take her to the hospital for x-rays, she reaches out to me. “Elliot, you need to come with me. Please, I can’t be separated from you.” As if that was a chance. I wouldn’t be leaving her sight again. The male EMT looked into my eyes, no doubt seeing this wasn’t a matter for discussion, advising that it wouldn’t be a problem, that I could ride with them.
We ride together to the hospital. I hold her hand as they walk her into the long bright white corridor of the hospital until they take her through two doors that I can’t follow.
The next two hours, I pace madly, awaiting any update as to her condition. Price and Drake turn up some time during the course of waiting, with a cup of coffee which tasted like dirt. They both take a seat in the waiting area.
I keep replaying what has just happened before my eyes, and I feel sick to my stomach. Not only had Angela lived through this once before but now again, and only a short time after she took her body into her own hands and allowed me to worship it.
My beautiful lover put through that agony again. The blood flowing through my veins, feels as though the pressure has increased. As I look at my hands, they are once again clenched tightly in fists. I look down at my right, and although slightly red with a shadow foretelling the beginning of a bruise, that is all I have to show for my couple of punches landing on that sack of shit. In all honesty, I should have kept my fingers wrapped around his throat, and continued to squeeze until he turned purple, and then finally let go when he had taken his last breath.
But I wasn’t a killer and Price knew that I couldn’t do that to Angie; she needed me right now, and if I had continued to assault him, then I would have been taken away by the police too. And then she would have no one. Of course, I would have ordered Price to be here to protect her as there is no one I trust more with her safety, but that isn’t his role. It’s mine.
I’m her confidant, protector, lover, fiancé, and in the coming years, her husband and the father of her children.
When the young doctor finally came out, I almost pushed him against the wall to demand what he knew.
“Mr. Sands, is it?” he asks,
“Yes, that’s right. My fiancée Angela White, how is she?” I reply, impatient to know the result. I feel Price and Drake come up beside me.
“We performed a rape kit on her and found evidence of some recent major tearing and internal damage. She will need to see a gynecological specialist. I will write a referral for her.” My hands curl into fists beside me, “There were traces of semen, which we have collected as evidence for the police. Her nose was also broken, so we have reset it for her. It will take around three or four days for her to be in less pain, and around three weeks to be healed properly.”
Internal tearing, major damage and a broken nose, Jesus fucking Christ. “Then of course there is the unknown mental scarring that has been done. We won’t know the severity of that until she wakes and starts talking to us.”
“Okay, can I see her?” I need so desperately to be with her and be by her side.
“Yes, however she is recovering, so please let her rest”,
“Of course, Doc. Not a problem.” He lifts his hand, and I follow him.
He comes to a stop outside of a basic recovery room.
“Sir, I’ll wait here for you.” I turn towards Price, emotion climbing my throat.
“Lenny, I just want to say thank you for tonight. if you hadn’t stepped in, I think, well I think….” he cuts me off.
“I know sir, that’s what I am here for.” He reaches out and clasps his hands on my shoulder. “Now go be with Miss White. She needs you.”
“What about you and the police?” I ask. The fact that he is here with me in the hospital and not in lock up is a good thing, for sure.
“I let them know exactly what happened. Mr. Roberts had held Angela captive for three days abusing her when we found them. He lunged at me with a baseball bat, I took a shot, but it didn’t stop him. As we were wrestling, I feared for my life so I slashed his throat,” he finishes.
Drake steps forward “I told them the exact same thing brother. They saw Angela’s injuries and they know of his violent history with the previous history between them. Now don’t wait here with us a second longer. Go to your woman.”
I nod in response, and walk into the room, taking up vigil in the seat beside the bed. I take her hand in my own, leaning down to kiss her knuckles, before kissing my ring on her finger.
And I would wait there until she was well enough to come home.
