I thought my mind had conjured up the worst, but I was wrong. Nothing compares to what I see in front of me now.
Aspen.
She is completely naked, lying on her stomach with her limbs awkwardly around her. Her beautiful face is turned toward me, her cheek pressed to the disgusting floor. One of her eyes is swollen, blood caked on her forehead and cheek. More blood smeared all over her body, accompanied by endless bruises, scrapes, and cuts.
“Fucking Christ,” Ren mumbles in horror beside me.
I’m still frozen in place, unable to move, breathe, or think.
While I stand there like a useless statue, Ren kneels beside her and reaches out to her face. He runs his knuckles across her cheek slightly before pressing two fingers to the side of her neck.
“She is alive,” Ren announces.
Finally, my body allows me to move again, and I get down on the floor with them. I hover my hands over her body, afraid to touch her fragile-looking skin. Only when I see her body shake and realize how cold she must be, do I slide my arms carefully beneath her.
I lift her up as if she is made of glass, trying not to move her injured body too much as I pull her into my chest. Her eyes never open, but a pained moan falls from her cut lip.
“We have to get her to a doctor,” I whisper as I carry her out to the car.
Ren is already on the phone by the time we get back to my SUV. He opens the backdoor, and I slide inside, cradling Aspen on my lap.
“Turn up the heat,” I order when Ren gets into the driver’s seat and starts the engine.
He is still on the phone talking to someone, but I can’t even concentrate enough to make out what he is saying. My mind is too consumed with the beaten body I’m holding.
There is blood everywhere, but a lot of it seems to come from between her legs. I grind my teeth together, knowing that he raped her.
“Quinton,” Ren gets my attention. “Here, it’s your dad.” He holds out his phone, and I take it with trembling fingers.
I don’t remember the last time I was truly looking forward to talking to my father. Our relationship has been strained for a long time, but in this moment, I yearn to hear his voice, to assure me that everything is okay, and he’ll fix all of it. I know it will never happen. I’m no longer a boy who looks up to his father like he is a god. Like he can fix anything and keep me safe. I know it was never real, just a little boy’s warped perception of his father, but right now, I want it to be true. I want to pretend, even if it’s just for a little while.
“Dad,” I rasp into the phone, barely recognizing my voice.
“Quinton, it’s gonna be okay.” My father’s voice wraps around me, soothing my mind and soul. I clutch onto that piece of comfort, knowing it won’t last long. “The doctor is already on his way here. I have him set up downstairs.”
“No, not downstairs. I’m bringing her to my room.”
“Okay,” Dad agrees calmly, catching me by surprise.
Since when does he agree with me on anything, especially regarding Aspen? I don’t have time to analyze his odd behavior.
“Keep Mom and Scarlet away. Aspen is… in bad shape. I don’t want them to see.”
“I’ll make sure no one sees her but the doctor. Don’t worry, Son. It’s gonna be all right.” Again, his words are comforting, pulling me back to a time when I needed him. When my dad had the power to make everything better.
“We’ll be home in ten minutes,” I murmur into the phone before ending the call so I can give Aspen my full attention once more.
Her breathing is even, her bare chest falling and rising in a steady rhythm that calms me down even more. The cab of the car is heating quickly, and though she has stopped shaking, her skin is still cold to the touch. I need to get her warm and covered.
Without moving her too much, I shrug out of my jacket and drape it around her battered body, wrapping her up as much as I can.
When we finally get to the house, I sigh in relief when I see Dr. Roni’s car parked at the door. Ren stops behind him, and I get out of the car, moving Aspen with me as gently as possible.
My father and our personal doctor meet us at the front door. Roni looks over Aspen immediately, his facial expression not giving anything away. My father only briefly glances at Aspen before dragging his eyes away from her.
We move through the house and up the stairs. My father kept his promise and made sure no one else would see Aspen. Even he isn’t following us.