49. Chapter 49

49

Hope

I rush inside the police station.

By the time I stop, my head is dizzy, and I'm seconds away from fainting.

I hide behind a car to not let Dad and the others catch me.

Taking out my phone, I text Marie to send me Sebastian's number. She does it in a minute. Dialing his number, I call him, and he picks it up right away.

His warm voice pours out of the speaker. "Hey, Hope. Is everything okay? I can get Heath—"

"Come to the police station please."

"What! What's going on?"

In the background, I hear him moving around and making noise.

"Heath… they arrested him." I choke on a sob.

Sebastian curses and then speaks, "I'm coming. Don't worry. I'll get him out."

"He's in there because of me ."

Silence stretches on the line. His breathing gets heavier over the engine of the car, and I realize he's already in the car.

"It's not your fault, Hope," he says softly.

It hits me then. Sebastian knows . He knows about the abuse. He knows everything because Heath told him.

"You-you k-know." I'm shaken to my core.

Sebastian curses. "Not the way you think, Hope. He told me so I could help him find the person who's hurting you."

I should be mad at Heath. I should be mad at Sebastian. I'm not.

All I feel is a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"Please come."

"I'm five minutes away."

Before he cuts the call I can hear the screech of the tires. He's surely breaking signals to get here.

I walk inside and see police officers everywhere.

There's a cell in the back where Heath is. He's removed his jacket and is hunched over his knees, his hands locked in place.

I run toward him. "Heath!"

An officer gets in my way. "Hey! What are you doing?" His big, muscular body intimidates me as he looks down at me.

I stand my ground. "Please. Let me see him."

His eyes roam my face and then drop to my chest where my hands are clutched together.

"Fine. You have five minutes," he says.

I thank him, then rush to Heath who stares at me with wide eyes.

"What are you doing here?" He reaches for me through the bars.

"I'm here for you."

"You shouldn't be here."

"You're wrong."

He cups my cheek and sighs. "You need medical treatment."

"I'm fine, I swear."

"How did you get here so fast?"

"I ran."

His face tightens. "The fuck! You ran here. Seven fucking blocks?"

I nod and reach for his hands and lace our fingers together. "I ran for you."

He curses. "I'm rubbing off on you in all the fucking wrong ways."

"No," I whisper. "No, you're not."

Heath holds my gaze, and I see all that I want to. He's angry, worried and scared. For me.

I wish I could get him out of here.

"I'm sorry—"

He glares at me. "You have nothing to be sorry about."

"But—"

"Where is he?" I hear Sebastian behind me.

In a minute he joins me. His green eyes assess the damage on my face and then move to Heath who's glaring at him.

"I told you," Sebastian says harshly.

"I don't want to hear this now," Heath grumbles and looks at me. "Stay with him tonight."

I shake my head. Dad will wreak havoc if I don't return.

Just as I think about him, his voice reaches my ears. "Hope, sweetheart. There you are."

Coming closer, he brings me to him by pulling my arm. I try to wrestle out of his hold but he's too strong. Leaning down he murmurs, "Go along or your boyfriend will spend more than a night in the cell."

I look at him in horror. "Please don't do it."

He smiles. "Then leave with me right now."

I give Heath a last glance, but he's busy shooting daggers at my father.

Sebastian nudges him and he looks at me.

Through thick tears I watch him. I open my mouth to say something, but he beats me to it.

"I'll come for you." Glaring at my father he adds, "No matter who gets in my fucking way."

Dad drags me out of the police station when all I want to do is be with Heath. The only person who makes me feel safe.

"I swear you've gotten fucking disobedient like your mother." He squeezes my arm.

My heart crawls into the pits of my stomach like a little kid sneaking under the covers for comfort and safety.

I can see it coming. The storm promises a thousand nightmares and wounds. All I can do is wait for it to pass and wish that by the end I'll survive it.