Page 23 of Alpha & Omega (Alpha's Rejects #4)

I gripped the steering wheel tight enough to crush the thing as I sped along the highway toward DC. There wasn’t much traffic, being so late, but I had to be careful of speed traps, which were when cops loved to nail you the most.

When Tony called me sobbing, my instinct knew exactly what had happened, recalling why his face was bruised from a while ago. The lying and dismissing made things clearer. I should’ve known, dammit! I should’ve pushed him to admit the truth. His situation could’ve been prevented had I been more insistent and protected him. Instead, I failed him.

At the center of my worry was rage. I wanted to fucking hurt his boyfriend, making him feel the very pain he inflicted on Tony. He better not be a boyfriend any longer, but I had doubts after the way Tony lied to me the first time, protecting that fucking bastard.

I understood all too well the need to be loved and accepted after foster care, so much so that you easily looked past the red flags. It wasn’t uncommon for foster kids to grow up and suffer from domestic violence. Still, Tony knew better, right? Though he was also by himself and no doubt lonely. With his alcoholism, finding someone to like you made it that much harder.

I finally reached Tony’s apartment, parked, and rushed inside to take the elevator. The thing moved fucking too slowly, inching upward at a snail’s pace. All the while, my brain kept flashing to horrors, imagining what Tony looked like before I flashed to fantasies about what I wanted to do to his fucking boyfriend.

When I got to his door, I knocked instead of pounded, not wanting to wake up the neighbors since it was close to midnight.

It took a grueling minute, but Tony finally answered and let me in. As soon as the door closed behind me, I saw red. His face was battered, his eyes nearly closed from the swelling, and his lip was busted and crusted with dried blood.

“Jesus, Tony. Where else are you hurt?”

I reached for his face, but he backed away from me.

“I’m fine,” he said, brushing me off as he gripped his ribs and walked toward his living room.

“You’re not fucking fine. Far from it. We’re taking you to the hospital.”

“No! Ugh…” He winced in pain. “I don’t want to have to file a report and…”

“File a fucking report!”

“He was only having a bad day, and besides, it was my fault.”

And there it was, the self-blaming for someone else’s shitty behavior. “How long has he been doing this to you?”

“I’m fine! Just leave this alone, King.”

“If you wanted me to leave you alone, you wouldn’t have called me.”

“I called you because you would’ve found out, anyway. ”

“Bullshit. You needed me here. And please tell me you know that this isn’t your fault. There is never a good excuse to beat someone like this.” Except what I wanted to do to his boyfriend. Hurting Tony was a good enough excuse.

I stopped in my tracks to see a bottle of amber liquor sitting on the coffee table.

“What the hell is that, Tony?”

He sighed and sagged onto his couch. “I haven’t had any. You can tell it’s unopened. I’ve just been fucking staring at it for the past several hours. I want it so much, King. That right there tells me how bad my drinking was.” He looked at me with his swollen eyes, begging me. For what? I had no clue. Forgiveness, maybe? Understanding? “But I don’t want to. I do, but I don’t. Does that make any sense? The craving is there, but I fucking hate it, too. I hate how it lures me when I’m at my weakest.”

“Yes, it makes perfect sense.”

I sat next to him and gently lifted his T-shirt. There were large bruises along his ribcage.

“You need to go to the hospital,” I said again, desperately trying to calm my inner rage. “They need to check for internal injuries.”

“No, I can’t… you’ve done enough. You pay for everyone, and you’re struggling. I can’t let you pay for it again. I can’t afford it, and I’m afraid he’ll find out. If he learns I told anyone…”

“You can and you will. If I need to do it again and again, I will. And if he dares come at you, I’ll… I won’t stand idly by and let it happen. Now get up and get your things. I’m going to pack a bag for you in case they make you stay overnight. Please, Tony. Put my mind at ease.”

He sighed and nodded again. When he stood, he winced from the pain and went to grab his keys and shoes.

I headed to his bedroom to grab a fresh T-shirt, shorts, and socks—anything that would be easy to put on and take off. Then I tossed in his deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste.

I headed toward the nurse’s station after Tony got wheeled back to get some scans of his injuries.

“Hi,” I said.

She looked up with a smile. “What can I do for you?”

“I know we’re waiting on results for my brother, but his boyfriend injured him. This is a case of domestic abuse. I would like to request that no one enter his room unless it’s me or the staff.”

“Oh, yes. We can do that. I’ll send a social worker over, too.”

“Thank you.”

“Once the doctor confirms how the injuries were sustained, we can also call the authorities if you wish.”

“I wish.”

“Can you describe this man?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t since I haven’t met him, but my brother can. I’ll have him describe the incident and what his boyfriend looks like to the authorities.”

“I’ll call the social worker now,” she said, picking up the phone receiver.

“Thank you.”

I stepped back into Tony’s room and scrolled through social media as I waited for him while they took scans of his abdomen, ribs, and head.

I received a text from Harley earlier, checking on Tony and me. I told him everything was fine and that I would call or text him later to give him a status update.

Shortly after, Tony was wheeled back into his room and helped into bed, where they plugged him into monitors and reconnected his IV.

“The doctor will have results shortly,” said the nurse.

“Thank you.”

I pulled up my chair next to his bed and held his hand. “How are you?”

He just shrugged. “In pain, but they gave me some meds, which should kick in soon.”

“Tony?”

He looked at me with swollen eyes that made me want to fucking punch something again. He was such a pure and delicate soul who never deserved this shit. Tony wasn’t the toughest person I knew, but he was kind and thoughtful .

“Tony, they’re calling social services. I would like you to talk to them and have your boyfriend arrested.”

His lip trembled as he fidgeted with his blanket with his free hand. “I’m afraid.”

“I’ll protect you. That’s a fucking promise. Okay? We can’t let him get away with this or risk him hurting you again. It could be worse next time.”

A tear spilled, and I wiped it away with a tissue. “Have I told you how proud I am of you?” I asked, changing tactics.

He looked up and nodded his head, looking so young and so old at the same time. “You’ve told me before.”

“Well, I’m telling you again. You didn’t touch that bottle. That was so strong. And now you’re fighting back against your abuser… so strong and brave.”

He let out a sob and then groaned from the pain. “I… just wanted to be loved, King. I don’t ask for a whole fucking lot, but I thought I deserved that much.”

“Of course you deserve it. He preyed upon you. Tell me about him. What’s his name again? Justin, right? What does he do? You’ve kept him kind of a secret from me. His hitting you… Is that why I haven’t met him yet?”

“Our relationship happened pretty fast, and at first, I was afraid because he told me all the things I needed to hear, and I wasn’t in a good place mentally, as you know. No one had ever been passionate about me before. While I was nervous, I loved it, too. I didn’t want you to stop my relationship, but things had only gotten worse. I’d met Justin at AA. We hit off really well, and our relationship escalated quickly. I… fell head over heels for him. While I tried to justify and lie to myself about the abuse, you and I had both seen it enough in foster care. We know signs. I just couldn’t do it anymore… not after today. That’s why I really called you, but I’m so scared. And my stupid brain keeps telling me he didn’t mean it.”

“You don’t need to be hurt to have love, Tony. In fact, those two words shouldn’t go together at all. Someone who truly loves you would never do this.”

He nodded. “I know. ”

Soon, the doctor came in with the social worker and went over Tony’s injuries with his permission. Then he told the social worker his story and that he wanted charges pressed against his boyfriend.

The police were soon called in, and he gave them his statement before they headed out to arrest Justin for domestic abuse.

By the time we wrapped it all up, it was nearly four in the morning. Tony had to stay overnight for monitoring due to a concussion. He also had two cracked ribs, which they bound. Other than that, he sustained bruises and some lacerations. All in all, he would recover just fine… at least physically. He’d probably need help with therapy again.

When everyone left the room, I yawned and stretched. “I’m going to pack your things and bring you home with me.”

“Okay,” he said, nodding sleepily. “But only temporary. I still have a lease and… I need my space, King.”

“Fine, as long as that asshole doesn’t know where you are. We’ll find you a new job, too.” I leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “I’m going to get some sleep, and I’ll be back late morning.”

By the time I gathered my things and left his room, Tony had already fallen asleep. I felt more at ease with him coming home with me. He could save money and get his life back on track. Eventually, he could get his own apartment if he wanted, but I needed him closer to me in Baltimore.

When I stepped outside, I texted Harley that all was fine, which initiated an instant call back.

“Hey,” I said when I answered. “You didn’t have to stay up on my account.”

“I was worried about you and Tony. How is he?”

“He’s in a lot of pain with a concussion and two cracked ribs, but hopefully, he’ll be home later today.”

“Is he going to…”

I sighed. “Yeah, he’s having his boyfriend arrested as we speak. He’s going to press charges, thank fuck.”

“Thank god. Is there anything you need from me? Anything at all?”

“No, thanks, though. I’ll be home in a couple of days, and Tony’s coming with me. Fuck, this shit is going to sting financially, but it is what it is. It’s all out of my control now. ”

“We’ll figure something out, baby. I’ll try to come up with some ideas to bring more business to Alpha’s. You’re going to be okay.”

“Thanks. Listen, I’m at my car. I’m going to crash at Tony’s place for a bit before I get him packed up.”

“Okay. Call me if you need anything.”

“I will.”

“Love you.”

I smiled at that. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.” My words felt so inadequate, but I just struggled to let those words tumble freely out of my mouth, even though I was sure I felt the same. Something kept holding me back, which was stupid because Harley was an amazing man. It just felt like everything was just currently weighing me down. I was waiting for that last weight to be added and watching my world just crumble around me. If I told him how I felt, the fear that it would all end was too much for me right then.

I got on the highway and drove to Tony’s place toward Arlington, fighting back the sleep and yawns. My eyes fucking stung from a lack of sleep.

I flipped on the radio to keep myself awake when something suddenly clipped my car hard enough to force the wheel out of my hands. My hands scrambled to get control of my car as it careened and spun across the highway until the airbags exploded, blinding me to where I was or what was happening. I suddenly crashed into something, and my car rolled and rolled until I hit something again and came to a stop. I hung upside down, completely dazed and in sudden pain, when something else struck me, spinning my car again before settling down.

I was even more disoriented and dizzy. Blood burned my eyes, dripping from my mouth, and I tried to wipe it away. I hung there, unmoving and processing, struggling to focus. My heart tried to punch through my chest, and I struggled to catch my breath.

Car accident. Someone hit me. More than one car hit me.

Then, the pain exploded everywhere, but mostly in my left leg. The fire. It felt like someone put my leg in a vise of burning fire. I tried to move, but there was blinding pain…

Darkness consumed me.

My eyes blinked open to pain again, and my body shivered from the cold. I must have passed out. The noise, sirens, flashing lights, and people trying to talk to me overwhelmed my senses… unable to get my bearings. Crunching metal sounded as someone tried to get me out of my car. I kept blinking as the red and blue lights stabbed my fucking brain.

Why was I upside down?

Right… I’d been in a car accident.

“Sir, can you move?”

I shook my head, or I thought I did.

“We’re going to get you out of there. You’re stuck, so it’s going to take a while to pry you out.”

I nodded before blackness consumed me again.