|59| blood pool

You have a place in my heart

No one else ever could have.

~F. Scott Fitzgerald

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* Trigger warning *

The silence was overcoming me, it was devouring me whole until all that was left was...nothing

I stare in fear, my eyes stuck on Davids his heated gaze that looks over my whole body,

A smirk grows on his face as it lands on my cuffed wrists, his eyes gaze down my legs, my pants have been thoroughly sliced by what seems a knife,

"They were cut by the sharp fencing outside while you were being dragged" he shrugs answering the curiosity in my gaze as I stare at my bruised bloodied legs,

I swallow roughly trying to keep my strength,

Aaron...I'm keeping strong for him,

And for Henry,

I won't allow myself to give up, I want them proud of me, and I want to live another day outside of this terrifying cell I've been chained in.

"Don't worry though...the pants now give me easy access" his smile grows terrifying, it brings me back to the memories from years ago when he was above me, holding me down against my own will,

I don't want to be raped.

Aaron has given me a new perspective on sex, each time we have it, it gets better, the memories dim of David forcing it on me,

When I think of sex...I think of Aaron, and the way he praises my body with soft touches, making sure I know I'm truly the one in control, even if Aaron is the one above me...

It doesn't matter to him, he always makes me understand I have true control over any new thing we try.

And I won't have that be tainted by David's touch, I won't let him ruin that for me,

I'll fight as I've never fought before if his hands try going anywhere near me,

"Oh be quiet you imbecile, you can have your fun with her after we weaken her body" Wren walks in, rolling her eyes as if David's talk of rape is an inconvenience to her plan,

"Well well...look who it is" she smirks looking at me,

"Your poor clothing..." she tsks shaking her head

I look down at my torn-up clothing, dirt covers my skin from me being dragged, my hair feels gross, and the bun I had in earlier has completely disappeared, mostly likely from once again me being dragged,

"It's not like it was my choice" I grit out

She scoffs "I think you should watch your mouth...I'm the one in control here"

"And me" David speaks up with a smirk

"Oh shut up...you're a man you don't get any control" Wren bites out

I stay quiet trying to figure out a way out of here, but there's no way unless I'm free of the cuffs on my wrists and ropes around my ankles,

"Well, shall we get to the fun?" Wren sighs walking out and a few moments later coming in with a rolling cart filled with different knives and tools,

I inhale a shaky breath watching her pick up some dagger-type knife,

"What do you want from me?" I whisper

"I want you to know you're nothing...that you don't get to have Aaron if I can't have him, he was mine! And you stole him from me" she yells

"He made it clear he didn't want you" I stress out

"Because you're alive!" She grits out before stalking towards me and cutting slices into my wrists making me scream in pain,

My breathing is shallow and fast, I pray that Aaron notices I'm not home, that he tries calling and got mad that I wasn't answering his calls so he went looking for me,

Please let me see the love of my life one more time.

"But maybe if you're not alive...he'll finally notice me" she sighs with a smile walking back and grabbing some weird pointy rolling tool,

She walks back with a frown and looks over at David "since you like them worthless girl so much take her top off"

My eyes widen and my body shrinks back into itself, but there's no hiding in this cell-type room, they can do whatever they want since they truly do have all the control, I'm tied up with nowhere to go,

He rips my top off sending buttons flying everywhere, the fabrics harsh against my skin almost burning at the speed he tore it off,

Well, there goes another memory that will be tainted because of David...except this time it's being torn against my own will.

Wren grabs the weird tool and starts rolling it over my skin, sending a sharp needle-type sensation to grow on my skin,

Looking down I see little dots of blood forming on my skin, I bite back a scream as she continues rolling it over my stomach and then back up to my shoulders,

David smears the blood on my chest with his fingers, making me want to gag at his touch,

I miss Aaron...I miss his presence and touch, the way he smiles when he sees me smile, the way he holds me like I'm everything he's ever wanted from this world, the way he makes me feel heard and seen, treats me with respect and makes me believe that true good men exist in this cruel world,

"You've grown so gorgeous from the girl I was with in college" David chuckles as he continues smearing the blood, as Wren creates new dots of blood all over,

He rips my pants off, making a sob escape my throat, the roller is pressed harder into my skin making blood seep out of my arm,

They're psychopaths, complete and utter insane delusional psychotic monsters,

I feel humiliated and so exposed in only my bra and underwear, blood covers my skin from different tools and I feel my body grow more and more exhausted as moments pass,

"Are you done with your fun yet?... I want my turn" David frowns watching Wren light a match and use my skin to defuse the fire,

I scream at the burn my skin feels on my collarbone, and it's that moment I know she put it on a part of my tattoo,

I'm sure she doesn't know that the tattoo has a meaning behind it that reminds me of Aaron, but I'm sure she just wants every part of my body to hold a bad memory,

She tightens my cuffs making me groan in pain, my body is not my own anymore, as hours pass I'm covered in more blood and bruises, and my skin is red and burns in excruciating pain, it's not the same body Aaron worshipped late last night.

"Your turn" Wren smirks at David,

His smirk comes back full force as he stalks toward me,

𝑁𝑜, 𝑁𝑜, 𝑁𝑜

"Leave...I don't need you here" he spits out as he glances at Wren,

She scoffs "watch your mouth you useless man" she spits out before I hear her heels click on the cement flooring as she leaves, the door harshly closing behind her,

"You ready for some fun?" His voice tries to be smooth and sexy but just sounds terrifying, like some ugly nightmare,

I close my eyes harshly, my throat feeling dry, and my body grows numb knowing what's coming next, I blank my mind like I used to, and I mentally prepare for the nightmare that I'm about to receive,

For the biggest fight of my life.

After I arrive at the warehouse I see many different cars parked outside of it,

Around fifteen men wait quietly outside, some with guns already in hand and others with their hands crossed over their chests,

A car parks beside mine and Enzo walks out and Zara quickly follows behind,

Enzo quickly walks over to the men, who nodded to him "nice to see you again" one man replies

Enzo nods in response

"We've been waiting for your signal," another man says

Enzo looks at me, I take a deep breath in and nod,

"Go" Enzo barks quickly

"Keep close got it?" He quietly speaks to his wife

"You two should stay here...you have three kids to worry about, I'll go get my girl you just stay here and make sure Wren and David don't try escaping" I speak quickly

Enzo nods and glances at Zara then back at me "yeah we'll stay here, just let my men secure Wren and David before you do anything okay? I don't need a dead billionaire at my expense"

I run into the building I see Wren unconscious in one of the men's arms,

The man's lip curls in disgust as he watches her "what do we do with her?" He asks me

"I honestly don't care just get her away from Vanessa" I scowl at her and run after the men I see turning a corner,

I hear yelling, specifically my beautiful girl's voice,

"Get off of me! Stop don't touch me" she yells in agony, making me run so fast I don't know where I get the energy from,

A shot is heard and I run in to see David collapsed on the floor, with a bullet wound to his head, a blood pool already forming,

"He's dead?" I ask

The man sighs with a nod "he wouldn't move off of her, it was our only option"

The blood pool fills my body with the slightest relief...at the realization that he won't touch her again.

"Won't we end up in jail because of this shit?" I ask

The man snorts "we're the mafia we know how to handle death,

"Get him out of here...and all of you leave" I speak loud

The men nod, and they take David out of the room, leaving as well,

I run over to Vanessa, her eyes are still closed and her whole body trembles, as she continues to scream and try to kick, she's only wearing her undergarments, making me feel nauseous at the possibility of what could've happened if we weren't fast enough,

"Hey, I'm here, open your eyes" I gently whisper as my eyes well seeing her body bruised and blood covering almost every inch of skin,

"Aaron" she gasps between tears

"I'm here, I'm here" I whisper cupping her face

"Please get me out, please please" she begs as she sobs

I untie the knots on her ankles as fast as I can, I sigh when I see her cuffs

"Sweetheart I don't know where the keys are" I whisper cupping her face, her eyes are red from how much she's cried, she looks so tired,

"Please" she whispers in agony,

"Okay, I need to find the keys" I sigh about to stand up,

"No no don't leave, please don't go" she cries

"Don't leave me" her voice is barely above a whisper

I blink back my tears and try to stay strong for her,

I text Enzo asking for him to tell his men to force Wren to tell where the keys are,

Enzo: she's not telling

Make her...I don't care what you have to do just make her tell me where they are

I type out quickly,

I take my suit jacket off and cover her body as best as I can with her still being cuffed, but at the chance, any more of Enzo's men come inside, I don't want her body exposed for everyone to see,

"Please come closer" she whispers, she continues repeating please over and over again, breaking my heart as the second's pass,

I kneel in front of her, my body as close as I can get to hers without putting pressure on her skin which probably burns in pain,

"I'm scared" she cries

"I'm here, I'm here, I promise I'm not leaving you alone" I mutter, tears fall down my cheeks without warning,

I move some hair out of her face, I take a hair tie I have in my pocket that I always carry for her and I gently put her hair in a ponytail,

"I'm right here sweetheart" I continue speaking so she knows I haven't left,

She can feel my body warmth, but I want her to know it's me, so I continue speaking so she feels as safe as possible,

"It hurts" she murmurs

"What does?" I ask quietly as my fingers brush her cheeks carefully, she leans into my touch unknowingly,

"Everything" her whisper sounds pained when she speaks

"If I could take your pain away, I would do it in a heartbeat...I'd trade places with you in a second" I whisper watching her cry harder,

I get a text and quickly take my phone out

Enzo: we finally got it out of her...I'll have one of the men bring it to you

I wait until a man comes in with a key, I nod taking it from him then send him out of the room,

I take her cuffs off as quickly but gently as possible, her wrists are terribly bruised after I take them off,

Her body collapses after there off, I catch her body and help her put my jacket on to cover her, my jacket is big, so it falls just above her knees, covering her as best as possible.

"Come here, you're safe now" I whisper holding her body close to mine,

Her legs wrap around my torso, and I can feel her body weakening, she hides her face in my neck as she cries silent tears, clutching the back of my shirt harshly, her body trembles in fear

"We need to get you a doctor," I tell her when I step outside, my hand covers the bottom of the jacket ensuring she doesn't flash anyone,

"I'll send my doctor to you...we don't need you going to the hospital and getting questioned on her cuts and bruises, my men will handle David and Wren's dead bodies, you go home and make sure she's okay" Enzo speaks typing away on his phone

"Oh my Goodness, Vanessa" Zara gasps

"Hey let Aaron be with her, you can see her later okay? She's clearly out of it, she doesn't even look like she's mental with us right now...like she's still in that warehouse so just wait until she's at home" Her husband whispers,

A tear slides down her cheek as she nods, Enzo wipes it down and kisses her cheek whispering something in her ear that makes her kiss him and nod once again,

"I sent the doctor to your place so you guys should go" he nods

I take a deep breath in "thank you" I nod, the words are not as difficult to say since it includes the safety of Vanessa,

My brain and body are getting out of the adrenaline and my brain catches up with something he said: "wait Wren is dead too?"

He nods "my men got annoyed with her while trying to get the location of the key out of her" he rolls his eyes in annoyance as he glances at some of the men

"And you're sure that the cops won't question that it was a murder? We were supposed to go to court in a few days" I sigh, feeling Vanessa's hands wrap around my neck tighter, squeezing me, and from that alone I know she wants to leave,

It's true, I can tell she's not truly present at the moment, she reacts to no one's voice but my own, anything that's said around us doesn't have her reacting,

She's just...not here.

"They'll make sure it looks like suicide, and with so much evidence against them in court, it will look like they knew they'd end up in jail so they ended their lives instead" he nods

"Okay, well I appreciate your help, I'm gonna go" I clear my throat and make my way inside my car, I gently place Vanessa in her seat but she doesn't let go of me,

"Sweetheart, you need to let me go, so I can drive us home" I speak gently in her ear

She shakes her head and cries harder, I blow a breath out, trying not to break down.

"How am I supposed to get us home than beautiful?" I whisper

Her body shakes, her head is bleeding from what looks like a hard hit,

I wish I could beat the ever-living shit out of David, it feels unfair that Wren and he got such an easy death,

But instead of being angered at that, I focus on Vanessa,

"Sweetheart you need to let me drive, it will only be you and me in the car, you can hold my hand the whole time okay?" I plead and kiss the side of her head,

Her hands slide down my chest and fall in her lap, I buckle her in and when I'm about to lean out to close the door she clutches my arm in fear,

"Hey, I'm just going to close the door, and then quickly run round to my side so I can get us out of her, I'll go around the front so you can see me the whole time" I place my hand over hers,

Her chin trembles but she lets go of my arm reluctantly,

I quietly close the door and run around the car feeling her gaze on me the whole time, getting inside I lock the doors, turn the seat heater on so she can warm up a bit,

Her hand instantly latches onto mine, both her hands over my own as she clutches on for dear life,

"We'll be home soon," I say gently

The two-ish hour-long drive seemed longer with her in the seat getting weaker as time ticked by, I talk to her most of the time, keeping her awake and making sure she knows I'm right next to her,

When we arrive at my place I see a man standing in front of the building, he looks identical to the picture Enzo sent of the doctor,

I run around the car and help Vanessa with her seat belt, her body still trembles as I take her into my arms, holding her closely,

"You the Doctor?" I ask

He nods "okay follow me"

______________

"She has a slight concussion, and her body is tired and weak, I wrapped up the bigger cuts on her body, and I gave her fluids so she should feel a little better now, all you can do for her is keep her well rested and make sure she's eaten, with her heart, especially you want to make sure she just rests as long as her body needs to" the doctor puts his jacket on to leave

"So she should be okay?" I ask with a nod

"Yeah, she's in shock, and her body had been through hell, but she'll be okay, thankfully she doesn't have anything broken, and I ran a rape kit and it came back clean"

I breathe out harshly "thanks" I clear my throat and close the door after him,

Walking into our room, I see Vanessa on the bed and she's slowly falling asleep, when she sees me her eyes brighten,

I sit on the edge of the bed "hi beautiful" I whisper caressing her cheek

"Aaron" she breathes out

"I'm here" I try to smile for her, but I can't muster up anything more than keeping my tears in,

"Can you lay with me? I can't sleep without you" she whispers

I immediately get into the bed and she scoots close to me, putting her head on my chest, I hold her close to me, making sure to be gentle.

"I thought I would never see you again" she whispers

"Never...I'll always fight for you, and you'll never have to fear that I won't be there, I will do anything humanly possible to ensure you are safe" I confess

"I love you, God I thought I'd never get to say that to you" she cries

"I love you, Dammit I was so scared" my voice cracks as I kiss her head

I cover her body with the thick blanket to keep her warm, but also so she doesn't feel the tears that fall freely down my face

"I don't think we should tell Henry," she says half asleep

I nod "I agree"

"Sleep Vanessa, you need to rest, I promise I'll be right here when you wake up" I kiss the side of her head,

She lifts her head and leans her face close to mine, connecting our lips in a gently kiss

"He tainted my memories of you tearing my clothes off...and much more" she whispers against my lips as tear fall down her cheeks matching my own,

"Well when your body is strong enough, I'll make sure you never think of David or Wren again, especially when surrounded by sex" I whisper

She nods wiping my tears, and hiding her face in my neck, breathing softly against it,

She falls asleep fairly quickly with how tired and weak her body is at the moment,

But I stay awake for hours, holding her close, listening to the beating of her heart,

Reminding myself that she's alive, that she's here laying with me, and that she's not kidnapped anymore,

But that doesn't stop tears from continually falling until I fall asleep from the exhaustion and the fear of today.

----notes----

Shit, this chapter was hella hard to write!! Hate that my baby had to go through that.

Also merry Christmas lovelies (to those who celebrate) !! What are you guys planning to do for the holidays? >>>

Vote and comment♡ means a lot

Word count: 3639