Fractured Fear (The Devils of New York #1)

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

SPENCER

“ Y ou’re engaged?” Asher asks in indignation.

Asher is just trying to protect his friends, but his tone still stings. It reminds me I can’t let the guys get too close. They’re already breaking down my walls without even trying. And now there’s Asher. It’s too much.

In shame, I pull my hands away from Zane’s comforting touch, but he won’t let go.

“Technically, no, but it’s likely that Anthony didn’t take our break up well.”

“You need to fill us in, Mama. You’re not making any sense.” Rio takes a seat next to me. Right next to me. There’s zero space between his hip and mine.

“Please don’t make me talk about it. I can’t.”

“It’s time for that interview, Angel.”

My heart leaps. “Please, Zane. Please don’t make me.”

“We should wait until the FBI gets here,” Asher interjects.

“You called them?” Zane bites at him.

“I told you I thought it was the same guy,” Asher says without remorse as if inviting more people into my safe space was okay.

It was your safe space. Was.

For once I agree with my inner annoying self. I need to go. As much as it’ll kill me, I have to go.

I have letters already written for Hayes, Iris, Alma, and Paul. I can leave them on the Abstract Creations front desk for Iris to find. It’s best if it’s her. She’ll be able to break the news to everyone for me.

This dose of guilt is nothing to the mass amount that would suffocate me if anything were to happen to them because of me.

“She’s not going to be interviewed by a ton of strangers. Not happening. We’ll do this now,” Zane argues.

“We need—” Asher begins to protest.

“Get her some water, asshole.” Zane demands Asher.

When Asher returns with a glass of water, I take a generous sip and set it on my coffee table. I didn’t realize how parched I was until now.

“You can do this another time, Spencer. No need to push yourself,” Rio whispers in my ear.

“This is going to be difficult, but I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary,” Asher interjects.

“I know. I can do it,” I insist.

“Tell us what happened.”

I take a deep breath and prepare to disconnect. Rio senses my mood shift because he wraps an arm around me and gives me a light squeeze.

“Let’s try this,” Asher says. “Close your eyes and walk us through it. Imagine yourself back there.”

“I guess I can do that,” I agree shakily.

My eyes close and my head leans against Rio’s shoulder.

“From what I gathered from Rio and Z, you were just getting home from the bar,” Asher says but his voice is softer. A tone he has never used with me.

I try to focus on that night and not the sexy voice speaking to me.

“Yes. I was dropped off by a cab. He sped away quickly. I was tired and had a lot on my mind, so I wasn’t paying attention to anything around me.”

“What time was it?”

“A little after eleven p.m. I think?”

“What did you do after you exited the cab?”

“I was digging through my purse for my keys and walking to the door.”

The scene plays out in my mind. I wish I could be a bird in the sky and watch it unfold from above, completely detached from the moment. I wish I was able to warn my past self that he was going to sneak up behind me, but that’s not how this goes. The horror movie in my head continues, and I give Asher as much detail as I can.

“I like to have my keys in hand before I get to my front door, but my brain was all fuddled.”

“That’s very smart, Spencer,” Zane says proudly.

“The streetlamps are on, but the one closest to me is out. I’m about to grab the door handle, that's when he grabs me.”

His arms constrict around my upper body, and I hyperventilate.

Not again. Please not again.

Rio gives my arm another squeeze. “You’re okay. You’re here with us. You’re safe, Mama.”

My breaths slow, but are still too fast to be considered calm.

“He pulls me to the street. I was shocked at first but he didn’t cover my mouth, so I scream. But no one is coming.” My voice cracks on the last few words and I can feel tears stream down my face.

“I try to catch him off balance, but he’s too big. I try throwing my weight around, and scratch at his hands, he’s not wearing gloves, but that only makes him angry. He swings my body to the side and hits my head against a parked car. My vision blurs, but I fight to stay awake. Then he whispers something in my ear. I don’t remember exactly what, but he called me ‘flower.’ He…Anthony is the only one who has ever called me that...”

“What does he do next?” Asher asks.

“He carries me backwards again. I don’t stop trying to get away and he gets angry. He stands me on my feet and slaps me so hard I fall to the ground,” I allow a deep breath and continue forward. “I pretend to pass out, and when he tries to pick me up I kick him between the legs and knee his face.”

“Then what?”

“He calls me a bitch and I run. I look back to see if he’s following me, but he’s not. His hands are covering his face.”

“Do you see anything else in the street?”

The vision in my mind turns hazy. I don’t want to be there anymore. I have to get away. My breathing picks up again and my heart kicks into high gear. “I need to leave. I can’t stay here. He’ll get me again.”

“You’re safe. You’re always safe with us. Please tell us what you see.” I’m not sure who gives the reassurance.

“I see…I see a silver sedan. New Jersey license plate...D5.”

“That’s enough,” Zane snaps. His voice is angrier than before. “We got more than needed. She’s done.”

“One more question,” Rio edges in. “Is that who texted you the day we met?”

I gulp, but it does nothing to abate my shame. “Yes.”

“How long have the texts been going on?”

“Years.” I can’t give more than one word answers.

“Did you ever tell anyone?”

“Yes.”

“Mama. I need more. You’re not in trouble here.”

Another deep breath. “I told the police. I’ve filed multiple reports, but I was always told there was nothing they could do because the texts never contained ‘real’ threats.”

“What do you mean?” Rio sneers.

“The police I talked to said Anthony never threatened to kill me so they couldn’t do more than file a report.”

“ Pendejos! ” Rio turns to Zane. “I’ll pull the case files and check it out.”

“Who were the officers you talked to?” Zane asks.

“Officers Dustin Cox and Troy Dick.”

Zane tilts his head. “You don’t need to double check that?”

“No. I’ll never forget them. They told me to let it go and not to worry about Anthony,” a shiver runs down my spine. “They said the texts weren’t a priority.”

“They said that?” The veins in Zane’s neck strain. “I’ll talk to them. I know them. Annoying fucks.”

The way he says “talk” sounds like there may not be much talking. This version of Zane is kind of terrifying, but that doesn’t stop me from leaning towards him and cupping his face.

“It’s okay, Zane. I’ll be okay.” I flip a switch and project a calm demeanor. They can’t suspect anything is amiss. I can’t let them know my plans. If they know then they’ll stop me.

“It’s not okay, Spencer, but it will be,” he reaches for my glass and hands it to me. “Here. Drink your water.”

But, of course, I don’t grab the cup right. My hands are still shaking, and it slips from my grasp.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” I jump up to grab napkins or anything to stop the water, but all three men are frozen and staring at me.

What the hell? It’s just some water.

That’s when I notice their eyes aren’t on my face. They’re a little lower.

Oh for fuck’s sake.

I look down and yep. My white T-shirt is now see through, and you can clearly see my hunter green lacy bra. Fuck laundry day for making me pair a dark bra and a white top in the first place.

I hurry to cover up by crossing my arms and can feel the heat in my face as I burn with embarrassment.

Covering up gets them all to spring into action. Rio rips off his jacket and throws it over my shoulders while Zane jumps up from the ground and rushes to the kitchen grabbing some napkins, but Asher still stares gobsmacked.

Rio guides me back onto the couch with his arm around me and I refuse to make eye contact. I can answer any other questions they have staring at my lap. It’ll be awkward, but there’s no way in hell I’ll ever be able to look these men in the face ever again. They’re all about to get well acquainted with the top of my head.

“Spencer,” Rio says, trying to get my attention.

“Mama,” Rio tries again. This time he uses his other hand to lift my chin forcing me to look at him. The action makes my insides melt and my panties dampen.

There’s humor in his eyes. I can tell he’s trying not to laugh, but there’s also something else. Desire?

He smiles at me and I do my best not to smile back, but it’s difficult. His smile is contagious just like his laugh. When I’m finally smiling back, he says to the room, “Now can we finish this without anyone trying to look at my client’s bra?”

“Client?” My voice is high-pitched with surprise.

“You’re officially mine, Mama.”

“Your client, you mean.”

“Sure,” he says with a wink.