Page 98 of Bleeding Hearts

“No, he’s lying,” Demi cries, tears streaming down her face. “He was the one who attacked me, not Asher. He was protecting me.” Demi looks over to her mom, who walks into the room, her eyes wide as she looks at the state of us all. “Mom, please tell them. You have to tell them.” She begs, but her mom doesn’t say a word. She just stands there, frozen, as she watches everything happening around her.

“You saw him punch me,” Alexander calls out. “I want to press charges.”

“Okay, sir, are you hurt?” The male officer looks at me.

“No,” I respond, shaking my head.

“Okay, since we did see the assault occur, and he wants to press charges, we do have to take you down to the station,” he says to me.

I hear sirens ring out as ambulances and more cop cars pull up to the house.

“The two of you will be checked out by the ambulance while my fellow officers question all of you.” He looks at everyone else. “If there are any other formal statements or charges you’d like to make, be sure to tell them.” He looks at Demi, who nods through her tears. “Alright, let’s go.” He grabs my arm that’s cuffed behind me, guiding me toward the door.

“I’ll meet you at the station,” Kade says to me.

“No, don’t worry about me. Just make sure she’s okay.” I nod to Demi, and Kade nods.

“Ash,” she calls out, her voice helpless and full of apologies, none of which she owes me.

“It’ll be okay, Dem. I promise. I love you,” I call back to her just as the cop pulls me out the door.

The next thing I know, I’m in the back of a cop car being brought to the station, where I’m processed and brought to a phone to make a single call.

I knew I was in deep shit the second I felt the cuffs snap around my wrists.

Alexander Rhodes has friends in high places and the police saw me hit him. I know Alexander will try to spin this in a way that makes Demi helpless and me the villain. They have no proof that I was defending Demi or that there’s a history of abuse there.

The only person who could help me at this point is Demi’s mother if she came forward.

I don’t know how I could ever ask that of her, even if it would be what’s best for her too. I don’t have the right to force that on her. So, I’m stuck with no fucking clue what to do next. Luckily, my one phone call just might.

I pick up the phone, dial the number, and she answers on the second ring.

“Mom.” I sigh into the phone. “I need you.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

Demi

“I need to go see him,” I yell at Kaden. “We need to go to the police station.” My voice is still weak and raspy from being strangled, combined with all the crying.

“I know, Dem. We will,” Kaden says, looking defeated. “I promise we will. But you need to go to the hospital first. We need to make sure you’re okay. Asher would want that.”

What he’s saying makes sense. I know that I’m hurt. I’ve been injured at the hands of my father enough times to know that at least something is probably broken.

But I don’t care about me right now. I care about the fact that the man I love was just hauled off in cuffs, and it’s all my fault.

“Logan, you’re a doctor.” I turn to her. “Do you think any of my injuries are life-threatening?”

“I can’t say that for sure, Dem. Yes, you seem okay enough to talk and walk right now, but I didn’t see where your father hit you. There could be something internal that we don’t see. You need to go to the hospital before we take you to see Asher,” she says softly, holding my hand in hers.

“Then you go.” I look at Kaden. “Someone needs to be there with him. He can’t be alone.” I insist.

“He asked me to stay with you, Dem.” He sighs. “Asher’s a big boy. He can take care of himself. He’ll be okay.”

“Please, Kaden,” I beg him, feeling hot, wet tears roll down my face as I do.

“Hold on,” he says, looking like he has an idea. He picks up his phone, walking away before I can ask what it is.

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