The Ties That Bind Us: (The Ties Duet Part One) by Danda K. (chromebook ebook reader TXT) 📕

I hear him slur some words, and they’re hard to make out until I hear, “Fuck you and your bitch.” He spits some blood onto the floor, then looks back at me and says, “Although, I bet she would’ve been a great lay.” A twisted smile spreads across his face as he continues to taunt me. “I bet she’d be tight, too.”

I’ve had about enough of him.

Bending down on one knee, I grab his collar again, lifting his head. His bloody face looks more like roadkill, one eye already sealed shut and bruised.

“You sick fuck.” I pull him closer to me and lower my voice. “If my girl wasn’t here right now, I’d snap your fucking neck.” I squeeze my hand around his throat, not releasing him until the visible parts of his face turn a shade of purple. He chokes out more obscenities, so I cock-back my fist. “Lights out, motherfucker.”

Giving a final blow to his face, he falls limp.

I turn to Cameron and see she’s no longer on the phone. She’s as still as a statue, staring at the floor with her arms crossed over her chest.

She’s in shock.

If he seriously hurt her, I may actually kill him. Her glasses are in pieces by her feet, and the contents of her bag are thrown everywhere. I call her name, but she doesn’t respond.

I slowly walk towards her and reach my arm out to touch her shoulder. She jumps back, looking up. There are tears in her eyes and a bruise across her cheek. I hear her whimper, so I reach out to hug her, petrified I’ll do the wrong thing. I don’t want to talk too much, but I need to know where her head’s at.

“Nyx, baby, please look at me. Let me know you’re alright.”

She looks up at me for a few seconds, her eyes distant. Suddenly, as if she’s brought back into focus, her body begins to shake. Her tears become uncontrollable sobs, and she begins to slide down the wall, hysterical. I grab her and maneuver myself behind her so we both slide down, tangled around each other.

“Shhhhh, baby. It’s okay. I’m here. I’m so fucking sorry.” I try to comfort her, running my hands down her back as she curls in on herself. This is all my fault, I brought her here. She trusted me. I said I wouldn’t hurt her, but I didn’t keep her safe.

I can feel her sobs drenching my shirt, and my own eyes begin to water. The pain and fear this girl is experiencing are so palpable, I could touch it with my hands. I should’ve gone inside with her, but I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.  Look where that got me.

“I tried to fight.” I hear her say between sobs.

“No, baby, you did fight. He just had an advantage. It’s not your fault. You’re so fucking brave. I saw his bruises when I first walked in. You got him good, baby.” I kiss her forehead and squeeze her tighter.

I need her to understand that this is circumstance and isn’t on her.

She didn’t bring this on herself. The sick bastard lying on the floor did this. A huge part of me wants to get up and finish the job, but she needs me more than I need to prove a point. I hear sirens in the distance and look down, realizing she’s still topless.

I know she’d want to be covered.

“Let’s get this shirt back on you baby, the cops are almost here.” I let her go so she can put on her shirt, but she stays limp against me.

I pick her up, cradling her in my arms. I carry her to a small counter across from the sink and sit her down. I grab the shirt and gently push it down over her head and ease her arms through the sleeves. I wrap her flannel around her shoulders and step between her legs. She leans her forehead against my shoulder, and I gently brush her hair with my fingers, resting my cheek on her head to soothe her.

“I don’t want to go to the hospital, Jaxon. Please don’t force the issue when they come in. I just need to leave here. I don’t need medical attention, I promise. I just need to go home.”

I don’t know what to say to that because I want her to see a doctor. But what I want doesn’t matter here. She deserves to make her own choices about her body, especially after she’s been violated. Again.

On the outside, she looks okay. Her pants are still on, and she doesn’t seem to be in any physical pain. Thank fuckfor that.

I want to honor her request, but I don’t even know where home is for her. I just know it’s a blue abandoned train car. “Where’s home Nyx? You never told me.”

She stays silent, and I feel her breathing settle down. A minute passes before she answers, “Wherever you are, Jaxon.”

She says the words as if they’re every answer to life’s lessons.

And at that moment, I hear the voices outside the bathroom door. The police are here.

Nineteen

Jaxon

The door opens, and an entourage of people come barging in- some officers, firefighters, and two EMTs. Cam is noticeably uncomfortable with the number of people surrounding her.

“Look at me, baby, it’s okay. They’re gonna get this all sorted out, and we’ll be outta here before you know it.” I notice a petite blonde paramedic make her way over to us.

“You think you can take her somewhere else while they deal with him?” I nod my head over to the asshole they’re trying to wake up.

Sympathetically, she replies, “Of course, let’s head out to the ambulance. This way, I can look her over to check for injuries.” She walks over to the police officers and whispers something in one of their ears. The officer nods and instructs the rest of them to hold