Chapter 00
Whitney’s POV
I slipped the letter from my pops in my back pocket. I felt my hands shaking as I took in what I just read. I found a box of letters in the closet that he had been sending over the years that Jake had been hiding from me. I'm assuming to keep me from leaving. I felt tears threaten to spill over but I know if he found me crying the fate that awaited me would be far worse than anything I found in these letters.
My Pops had been working for an Irish crime family all these years as a private physician. The last letter that he had sent me, which was now weighing heavy in my back pocket, told me he know I must be in trouble due to not responding. Pops gave me an address and told me if I needed protection I could make a deal with the devil himself, my services as a trauma surgeon for his family's protection. However if I made that deal I would never get out it would be my life or my inevitable death.
“What the fuck is this!” Jake’s booming voice cut me from my thoughts.
I felt the panic rise in me, what had he found, what did he know. If he knew I was even thinking about leaving him the beating I would endure would be far beyond my imagination.
“Jakey what’s wrong.” I tried to hide the fear in my voice because that only provokes him more.
I could hear the clicking of the keys from the computer in the office. I felt my ice rise in my veins when it dawned on me that I never cleared my search history.
As I rounded the corner from the bedroom I saw Jake’s large figure coming from the office. His fist flying through the drywall as he made his way to me. We could kiss our deposit goodbye.
His dark eyes held unbridle rage and it was all focused on me. I saw his arm fly out and felt his fingers wrap around my wild red hair. He ripped me down to the floor by my hair now standing dominantly above me.
“Why were you looking at apartments?” His voice was low and deadly, his sandy blond hair messy from running his hands through it.
“I-I W-was just looking at maybe a change for you and I.” My voice was a whisper as I tired to his murderous gaze.
“You lying bitch.” His fist collide with the left side of my face sending me sprawling across the living room.
“I’m sorry!” I screamed out just trying to make it stop.
The beating I had endured through the last year were nothing compared to what I felt coming.
“Shut the fuck up!” He screamed at me, sending a boot into my ribs. I felt so pain rip though my chest as the cracking sound echoed through the apartment.
The second kick collided with my face, blood pouring from my mouth and noise. I used my arms to try and claw away from the fury of his feet. His cold hands wrapped around my ankle and he threw my petite body through the glass coffee table causing it shatter into a million pieces.
“I’ve told you so many times Whitney if your ass even thinks about leaving you are as good as dead.” He was oddly calm as he continued to land kicks and punches to my body.
“Is there another guy! Are you cheating you worthless whore!” He screamed into my face
“No Jake I-i-“
“You you you. Shut up!” He screamed at me trying to stutter out an explanation
I watched as he took the knife from his pocket and flip open the sharp silver blade. My breath caught in my throat. The end I had worked so hard to make it so hard through medical school so hard to save people. One bad choice to go on a date with the cute guy down the hall and this is where I was going to die.
I felt him flip me onto my stomach and rip my pants down. Tears spilling over is I begged him not to. He lifted my head slamming my face into the ground. He pushed my panties aside as I felt him shove his way in as I tried to claw away from his grasp. His blade came down to my back as he started slicing me. The deeper he cut the faster he thrusted into me moaning louder with each slice of my skin blood pooling around us. As he pulled out and finished on me he stood up buttoning his pants.
“If you ever try and leave again Whitney you won’t make it out alive.” He spat kicking me over so I was facing him. The smell of blood filling the room tears pouring from my eyes. He should have just killed me this time.
“I have some things to take care of tonight I’ll be home tomorrow evening. If this mess isn’t cleaned up by the. You won’t like the outcome.” With that he grabbed his jacket and slammed the door on his way out.
***
When my eyes fluttered back, an open pain seared through my body. Every breath hurt every moment burning through me like I had been set on fire. At this point I wished for death.
My mind raced back to the letter in my back pocket. All the letters explaining what he had been up to and how I could save myself if I needed it. Jake never let me go to his funeral for fear I’d never come back.
If I didn’t leave now I could kiss my life goodbye. Anything had to be better than this even working for the Irish mob.
I pulled myself from the floor hissing in pain as I took in sight of all the blood and glass and chunks of hair. I made my way into the bathroom coving a sob as I took in my appearance.
My left eye was a deep purple almost black, my eyebrow was split wide open and I had blood around my broken nose, cuts and bruises littering my body. I turned around and lifted my shirt to look at the mess on my back. My knees buckled under my weight as the word “whore” was carved into my lower back like a cow who had been branded. The life in my dark green eyes had been drained out and I was more pale than normal no doubt from blood loss.
Pulling out my phone I found a direct flight from California to New York leaving in two hours. I didn’t know what I was going to say or what I was going to do or if they would even help but I had to try if I didn’t there is no doubt in my mind I will die by Jake’s hand.
Cleaning myself up the best I could and banding my cuts and scapes. I took only what I needed some clothing the secret cash I had been saving and my identification. I left my cellphone and key on the counter and sprinted from the apartment to the car park.
I know he said he would be back until tomorrow but I also knew if he even thought something was up if he tracked my phone or saw charges at the airport he would find me and bring me home.
I was running on pure, adrenaline fear as I made my way into the airport. I was able to board the plane quickly. The looks from strangers at my tattered and broken appearance I tried to push aside.
As the plan lurched forward I felt a calming sense of relief wash over me. I was free at least for now.
***
The flight was uneventful and peaceful. The sense of freedom only grew as I approached my destination closer.
I made my way out into the crisp New York air. The sky was dark but the streets were still bustling. I flagged down a cab and chuckled to myself as it felt like a lifetime movie.
“Where to miss.” The male cab driver asked me as I pulled the letter from my back pocket.
“21467 East Elderwood Ln” I watched as the color drained from his brown skin and fear flashed in his eyes.
“Are you sure Miss?” His voice was soft and scared
“Yes, yes I am.” I took a breath trying to calm my nerves as I watched the street lights flash by.
As we pulled into a gated community I washed as the houses we passed just kept getting larger and larger. We pulled the drive to the very large home. It was dark and menacing under the New York moonlight. I tipped my driver and made my way to the door, my breath catching in my throat with every step.
I took a deep breath and pressed a shaky finger to the bell. I waited a few minutes as I noticed lights flipping on. Large foot septs approached the other side of the door.
“Do you know what fucking time it is!” He yell flinging the door open two armed guards standing at the other side.
He was tall 6’4 at least tattoos covering every inch of his skin from his neck to his fingers. He looked like he just woke up with no shirt covering his chiseled body, his ice blue eyes healed a murderous look and not a jet black hair out of place. For some unknown reason looking into the eyes of the man before me I felt a sense of safety I had not felt in a year.
“Please help.” My voice broke out as I collapsed into his arms finally coming down from my adrenaline high I had been riding from the moment I left until now.
I felt his large arms lift me up and he pulled me into his chest. Darkness consumed me before I even had a chance to tell him anything more.
