Chapter Nineteen

Leah

I skip up the path that will lead me to Garrett’s frat house, guys sit on the porch laughing. I walk through the open door and look side to side for Garrett but can’t spot him anywhere.

“You looking for Garrett?” a boy calls from the living room.

“Yeah,” I answer.

“Upstairs, last door at the end of the hall,” he calls out.

“Thanks,” I mutter as I head up the stairs. I don’t like the idea of going to his bedroom but I need my phone. The quicker I get it, the quicker I can get the hell out of here, I tell myself. My head is pounding, no amount of painkillers or water is getting rid of this bad boy and I have no one to blame but myself for being an idiot and thinking I could handle Jack. I follow the guy’s directions and head toward the end of the hall. I stop outside the door, take a deep breath and square my shoulders as I reach up and knock.

“It’s open,” Garrett calls out. I turn the handle and open the door. Garrett sits at the desk in the corner of his room, shirtless. When he spots me in the doorway he lurches out of his seat clearly surprised to see me. “Leah.”

“Hey,” I say awkwardly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Uh, I forgot to get my phone off you last night.” The smile on his face falters slightly.

“Yeah, of course.” He sounds annoyed and I feel like an ass. He moves across his room to his dresser where my phone sits. He grabs it, instead of handing it over he holds it hostage in his hand. “Leah, can we talk?”

A resigned sigh escapes me as I nod. I like Garrett, he’s a nice guy. Even while I was away he would send me his calculus notes, which was sweet of him. Except, he had no idea I switched majors and no longer take that class, thank God! He waves his arm toward the bed to have a seat, I act like I didn’t see where he was pointing and sit on the chair he just vacated. His lips pinch in annoyance. I brush it off, not able to deal with his mood and my headache. He kicks the door closed before he drops on the edge of the bed with his arms resting on the tops of his thighs.

“I really don’t have long, I’m meeting my brother–” I clamp my mouth closed when his upper lip pulls back and his eyes darken. Fear begins to swirl in my belly.

“Where did you sleep last night?” He tries to mask the anger in his tone but fails.

“In my own bed,” I answer hesitantly. Garrett leans forward and I push back further into the chair wanting to put as much distance between us as I can.

“Huh, Chelsea said she saw you leave with Darius.” I frown.

“And if I did, why would that bother you?” His eyes narrow.

“How many times does he have to treat you like shit before you realize that he is no good for you?” Fear works its way up my throat. I dart my gaze toward the closed door wondering if I would be able to make a break for it before he catches me.

“Garrett,” I say softly, trying to ease his anger. “I’m not with Darius.”

“But you want to be!” I recoil at the sound of his booming voice.

“I think I should leave,” I say as I attempt to climb to my feet. He shoves me back into the chair. I snap my gaze to his in fright, this was a bad idea, I should have listened to my gut. Nathan’s warning from last night springs to mind. I’m such a fool! Garrett leans into me, his nose brushes mine, he drops my phone into my lap as he cups my face. Before I can shove him back he smashes his lips against mine. Immediately my mind screams at me to push him back, I try but his grip on my face tightens. I feel his tongue prod at my lips trying to gain entry, and a thought hits me. I open my mouth and fight not to gag when his tongue slips inside. He moans, then I bite down on his tongue as hard as I can. He tries to yank free but I won’t let go. When he slaps me across the face I release his tongue as I tumble off the chair and hit the floor. He stumbles away from me, covering his bleeding mouth. I spy my phone and grab it, I quickly unlock it and don’t even hesitate to dial his number.

“Hey, Goldie.”

“Darius!” I scream, Garrett darts his gaze to me and I panic.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

“Darius, I need you!” I shout as Garrett storms toward me. I shuffle back on my ass as fast as I can along the floor.

“Leah, where are you?” I hear Darius shout, Garrett cocks his arm back.

“Stop, no please—” I scream as he hits me again. My phone goes flying out of my hand, my ear ringing from the force of his hit. He stomps on my phone, smashing the screen before he turns back to me. He grips a handful of my hair and yanks me to my feet. I cry out in pain. He uses his grip on my hair to throw me across the room. I smack into his shelf before hitting the ground, the contents from his shelf lands on me, drawing a pained whimper from me.

“You like whoring around, do you?” he screams as he grips my hair and drags me along the floor. Tears cascade down my face as I try to free myself. He pulls me to my feet by my hair, I cry out when I feel strands of my hair ripped from my head. The look in his eyes is one I’ve never seen before, he’s unhinged and clearly lost the plot.

“Garrett,” I whimper. He bares his teeth at me before spitting right in my face.

“I tried to be nice, I gave you time and now I’m gonna take what I’m owed.” He shoves me backward and I flop onto the bed. Before I can move he’s on top of me pinning my arms above my head.

“Get the fuck off me!” I scream hysterically as fear chokes me, I can’t go through this again. He holds my wrists in one of his hands and uses his free hand to tear my shirt down, exposing my bra. “Darius is going to fucking kill you!” I scream right in his face. He doesn’t use words, he silences me by punching me. Pain explodes in jaw, black spots dance in the corner of my eyes, and I pray that I pass out. I would rather be unconscious while he rapes me.

“You fucking cunt. I’m gonna destroy you. When I’m done fucking you, he won’t take a second look.” A sob tears out of me as he reaches between our bodies and pops the button on my cut-offs. Uncontrollable sobs continue to fall from me as he forces my shorts down my legs. I close my eyes, not wanting to witness him defile my body. Bile rises up my throat and I’m powerless to stop the vomit that forces it way out of me. I manage to turn my head at the last second as the contents of my breakfast messily lands on his bed. “Fucking bitch!” he snarls, grips the thin strap of my thong and rips it. A switch inside me flicks, I begin to scream and claw and fight with everything I have.

“Fuck you! Darius!” I scream over and over again. He manages to land a few more hits to my face and body but I don’t feel a thing. I continue to try to maim him anyway I can even when I hear the door kicked open. Everything happens within a second. I’m clawing at his face while he’s punching me, then he’s gone and I’m yanked off the bed. I see nothing but Garrett’s face. I kick, scream and hit trying to break free. “Darius!” I scream so fucking loud my throat feels numb.

“Open your eyes, Goldie, I’m right here!” I trick myself into thinking I can hear his voice. “I’m here, baby, open your eyes. I’m right here!” I slowly blink my eyes open, the sight of his coffee-colored eyes is the first thing I see before I scream and throw myself at him. He arms band around me and hold me tightly against his chest. “I got you, Goldie.” I can barely hear him over my own screams.

“Get her the fuck out of here,” I hear my brother shout. I attempt to turn my head but Darius pushes my face into his chest.

“Beckett, give me your shirt,” Darius grits out. I feel him shift a moment later. He tries to push me back but I won’t let him. “Baby, I need to put this on you to… cover you.” When he gently pushes me back a step, I allow an inch of space between us but no more, and my body begins to shake uncontrollably. Darius has a murderous look in his eyes. He gently pulls the shirt over my head. I hiss when the material scrapes my cheek. He curses beneath his breath as I push my arms through the holes, Beckett’s shirt reaches past my knees. “I’m gonna carry–” Before he can finish, I launch myself at him, locking my arms and legs around him then bury my face in his neck. He pulls the shirt down over my ass and keeps one hand there while the other grips the back of my neck.

I can hear grunts and sounds of a struggle but I don’t dare look. Darius walks us out of the room. I tighten my hold on him when we descend the stairs, even when I feel the sun on me I don’t look up. I hear a car door open, but still I refuse to leave my hiding spot.

“You need to get in there. Crue and Beck are trying to pull him off that cunt,” Darius growls.

“On it,” I hear Saint say before the sound of his footfalls meet my ears.

“Goldie?” he says softly, when I don’t move he sighs. “You gonna sit on my lap the whole way home?” I nod, a small chuckle escapes him as he maneuvers us in the car. “Baby, can you unlock your legs, we can’t fit this way.” I do as he says and shift so I’m sitting across his lap. I rest my sore face against his pec and stay silent. Neither of us say a word when the others return. Beckett slips into the driver’s seat beside us, flicking his gaze to me and glowers.

“Let’s go!” Corvin shouts from the back. Beck pulls his gaze from me and slams the car into gear before he drives away. Everyone is silent the whole way back to the guys’ house. Beck kills the engine and no one makes a move to exit the car. I can’t stop the tears from falling, quiet sobs continue to work their way out of me as I cling to Darius.

“If we don’t get out, they’re coming in.” I flick my gaze up to see my friends standing at the bottom of the porch steps. Crue’s right, the looks on their faces tell me we have mere seconds to decide before this car becomes overcrowded. I sit forward on Darius’s lap and swivel around so I can see out the windscreen. A small hiss escapes me, my side is burning and it hurts to breathe. I think he may have fractured one of my ribs.

“Beckett, take Darius and Leah inside.” I spy Beck nodding his agreement to Corv’s order out of the corner of my eye. Darius shifts behind me and reaches over to open the door. I attempt to get out of the car but a whimper escapes me.

“Fuck!” Darius curses as he gently grips my arms and holds me in place. “Beck, get your ass over here and help her.” Beckett rushes around to our side and offers me a hand with a warm smile, I take it. He and Darius help me out of the car. The second I stand on my own two feet, I feel like I am able to take a breath easier.

“Want me to carry you?” Beck asks. I shake my head and cringe when pain erupts in the side of my face. “Let’s get you inside,” he says as he wraps an arm around my waist leading me toward the house. I peer over my shoulder to see Corvin and Darius standing by the car staring at me. At the look of fury and pain on their faces I turn away. Cody and Katie stand there with tears trailing down their cheeks at the sight of me. Nathan rushes up to me, forcing us to a stop.

His eyes search mine for a second then he rushes past me toward the others. “I’m coming with you,” he says. I don’t have the energy to digest what they are up to. I smile at the girls, both of them stand there holding each other with heartache clear as day on their faces.

“You should see the other guy,” I rasp out, trying to lighten the mood. It doesn’t work, they both sob. Beck ushers me forward and up the porch steps, helps me inside and pauses in the living room.

“What do you need, babe?” he asks gently.

“A shower,” I answer instantly. I need to scrub his touch from my skin. A shiver of disgust rolls through me.

“Okay, come on,” he says quietly as he leads me to the stairs, helping me the whole way to the bathroom I shared with Darius. He releases his hold on me as he reaches into the stall and turns the shower on. I try to pull the shirt off but the pain in my side flares to life every time I move to lift my left arm. Beck steps in front of me and the distraught look on his face kills me. I don’t even have the guts to look at the mirror. If I hurt this much I can only imagine what I must look like to them.

“Can you help me?” I ask, a whoosh of air escapes him as he nods. He grips the hem of his shirt and slowly pulls it over my head, when a growl escapes him I peer down at my body and flinch. My left side is bruised already, my thong is torn, hanging to one side exposing the top of my pussy. My shirt is hanging on by one thin piece, the strap on my bra is torn and scratch marks cover my body. Beck reaches out and tears my shirt. I shrug the material off and stand here before him in my ruined underwear.

“I’m so sorry, babe.” The pain in his voice has me feeling the need to comfort him, I don’t get the chance.

“I got it from here,” Darius says as he comes to stand beside Beck. He runs his gaze over me, making me feel like I need to shield myself. I try to cover myself with my arms, but he isn’t having that. He darts forward, and I flinch involuntarily when he reaches out to me. A horrified look crosses his face. “Goldie…” he breathes out my name brokenly.

“I’m sorry,” I choke out, shaking my head. He slowly lifts his hands again to gently cup my face, careful not to apply too much pressure and cause me any more pain. He leans down resting his forehead against mine, I breathe him in trying to draw on what little strength I have inside me.

“Do you want me to help you get her in the shower?” Darius takes a shuddering breath as he slowly draws back but keeps his eyes on me.

“It’s up to her.” Darius answers quietly.