For Everything (15 page)

Clay squeezed her fingers, “Normal women, exactly what is that?” He knew Jason’s words were hurting her, making her doubt herself, him, and their relationship. But he didn’t dare stop what was happening, not if he wanted her forever. He needed to prove to Lily he could protect her, he had too so she could overcome her fears.

“How long are you going to stay with her, Clay?” Jason sneered, tilting his head glaring, “until you tire of her like every other girl you have been with or right after you find out the truth of what she hides behind those clothes?”

“I already have,” Clay’s voice vibrated in a low growl, causing all eyes to turn to him, “your handiwork! The actions of a pathetic coward!”

“I am no coward!” Jason snarled, his hand shooting across the table toward Lily.

Lily flinched. A whimper broke from her lips. She pushed herself tightly against the back of her chair, gasping erratically.

Clay moved so fast, Lily barely saw. He let her fingers go catching Jason’s hand, slamming it on the table before even he got close to touching Lily.

“Don’t ever think of touching her again,” Clay growled.

Jason laughed in Clay’s face. “Touch her. I intend to do more than touch her. She is going to pay and dearly.”

“I don’t think so,” Clay wrapped his fingers tightly around Jason’s wrist preventing him from moving. “You will never hurt her again.”

Jason glared at Clay.

Amy pulled Lily to her, wrapping her arm around Lily’s shaking shoulders.

Jason pulled at his wrist and Clay eased his grip letting Jason pull free.

The veins in Clay’s neck throbbed as his teeth clenched. “Jason, you are such a coward.”

“This isn’t over.” Jason turned, stepping away from the table next to Tom.

“You’re right, it isn’t,” Clay snapped, “you have court dates coming up, and I promise I will be at every one to make sure you get what you deserve.”

Jason turned back around. “Keep dreaming. It will never happen.”

“Yes, it will,” Clay’s hand once again entwined with Lily’s.

Jason’s lips pulled back in a snarl a second before he leapt the table aiming right for Lily. His intentions clear to all.

Lily gasped.

Kevin reacted as fast as Clay. He grabbed Lily’s elbow, pulling her out of her chair across Amy and down the side of the table to stand in front of Jacob. Chairs toppled as he pushed his wife behind him standing in front of both, protecting them. Jason would have to go through him too if he wanted to get to Lily.

Melissa, Scott, Tom, and Sara stood, too. Melissa and Scott moved behind Clay to stand by Lily, surrounding her. Melissa and Amy stood in front of her with Scott and Kevin standing in front of their wives.

But Jason never made it to the other side of the table caught in mid air by Clay. Clay wrapped his fingers tightly around Jason’s throat slamming him against the table. They all heard the wood crack from the impact.

“You really are a coward, aren’t you? Leaping a table to harm a woman.” Clay’s fingers squeezed Jason’s throat. “You didn’t really think I would allow that, did you?”

Jason grabbed Clay’s wrist trying to break the hold on his throat, but he couldn’t. “Do you know who I am,” Jason choked out, “can you imagine the swarm of media, the damage to me, you, my band, and yours.”

“You are so wrong, Jason,” Clay’s fingers tightened, “this may destroy your band, but mine is no danger.”

“I wonder if your band mates would think the same. You should consult them before you destroy them with you,” Jason croaked, his face turning purple, “a public trial all over a piece of ass.”

“Lily is not a piece of ass,” Clay growled, “and I am not concerned over a trial.”

“You should be,” Jason gasped, “won’t be pretty.”

Clay eased his fingers from around Jason’s throat, “No doubt. Everyone will find out what a cruel man you are. Stay the hell away from Lily.”

Clay reluctantly took a step back, letting Jason stand.

Jacob moved pinning Lily between him, Amy and Melissa, his hands gripping her wrists.

“I suggest you leave, and don’t come back,” Clay snarled.

Jason looked at Lily, hatred seething from his eyes, “This isn’t over, Lizzy. You will pay for this.”

“No, Jason,” Clay moved blocking Jason’s view of Lily growling, “you will.”

Jason swung.

Lily gasped, went to move, but Jacob held her still.

Clay caught Jason’s arm with his left hand, brought his right up under Jason’s chin, snapping his head back and knocking him off his feet.

Jason struggled up off the floor glaring at Clay then charged. He wrapped his arms around Clay’s waist knocking them both into the table, cracking it in the center. Glasses fell, shattering; the liquid running over the table mixing into a colorful array as dishes fell on the floor breaking, silverware clinking as they banged off one another.

Clay shoved Jason off him, sending him flying. Clay stood with his fists clenched daring Jason to come at him.

Jason swung again. Clay caught Jason’s fist with his forearm, slamming his fist into Jason’s cheek knocking him backwards.

Lily twisted her head toward Jacob, tears in her eyes, “Do something, stop them.”

“No.” Jacob pulled her tighter against him, so her back rested against his chest. “This is Clay’s fight. It has to be this way.”

“Why?” Lily cried.

“You have to figure that out for yourself,” Jacob replied, softly, offering her a small smile.

“But he will get hurt,” Lily sobbed.

“No, he won’t,” Jacob laughed, “Clay can handle Jason. Jason can’t beat him, no worries there.”

“No one should get hurt because of me,” Lily whispered, watching Clay deflect another punch from Jason while landing one of his own.

None of Clay’s band mates or security helped, they all just watched. Tom and Sara came over standing by her as well. Tom stood right next to Jacob, within arms reach of Lily, just in case.

“Please,” Lily cried to Jacob as Jason landed a punch on Clay’s face, snapping his head back. She could see blood on his lip.

“I can’t, Lily,” Jacob answered.

Lily stared at Clay, tears falling freely down her face. She struggled desperately against Jacob’s hold. She had to do something, what she didn’t know, but something to put an end to the fight.

Tom placed his hand on her shoulder, pushing down gently, holding her still. Lily looked at Tom her dusky eyes pleading with him.  Tom just smiled softly, shaking his head. He wasn’t going to let her interfere as far as they were all concerned this was Clay’s fight.

“Lizzy,” Jason snarled, blood pouring out of his nose, “I will get you for this. You hear me!”

“You will never hurt her again,” Clay growled lowly a second before he landed a vicious uppercut to Jason’s chin sending Jason sprawling over a chair.

Police officers rushed toward them, people stared, watching the fight. Some took pictures, knowing who the combatants were. The police officers stopped in front of Jason, helping him into a chair, standing between him and Clay, stopping any further fighting.

Jason sat on a chair, his face covered in blood, his elbows resting on his knees.

Clay took a deep breath, turned to Lily holding out his hand.

Jacob and Tom let her go.

Lily ran into Clay’s arms, crying.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding her against his chest, his face in her hair.

Lily looked up at him, her fingers trying frantically to wipe the blood off his face. She grabbed a napkin from the table wiping blood away from his mouth.

“I am so sorry,” she dabbed the cut on his lip, tears rolling off her chin and landing on him.

He squeezed his arms around her. “No, Lily, don’t be sorry. This was my choice, my decision.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered staring into his eyes.

“I know,” he smiled, squeezing her again, “I will explain it to you later, in bed after I make you scream.”

She blinked, her brows wrinkling in her confusion.

Clay lowered his head kissing her hard, stealing her breath.

When he let her lips go, Lily took a deep breath glancing over at the cops. “The cops are here, what if you get in trouble, arrested?”

“I won’t get into trouble,” he kissed her forehead, guiding her away from Jason to stand among his friends. Not one of them said anything just waited, quietly.

Jason sent murderous looks their way from the chair. Lily trembled against Clay. His arm tightened around her, her eyes shot to his.

“It will be okay, love,” Clay whispered. He had hoped Jason would swing at him, had wanted him to. He needed to get some of his aggression, his anger out and what better way than to take it out on the one who caused it.

A police officer came over, began taking everyone’s statement. Each one took their turn, told the officer what they witnessed. No one interrupted the other. They were all calm. Then came her turn.

“Ms. Travis,” the officer began, “please explain what happened.”

“I can’t,” Lily whispered, her eyes on Jason, her body still trembling.

All eyes snapped to her.

“Why not?” the officer asked.

“I didn’t hear… see… I was too afraid…,” she stuttered, “I couldn’t get past seeing Jason, being in the same room with him.”

Everyone listened, watched, waiting for explanations.

“You know Mr. Carr then,” the officer asked.

“Yes,” she murmured.

Clay’s arms tightened around her, squeezing her fingers.

“How?” the officer’s eyes roamed her face, her fear apparent.

“He… he was a friend of my family’s,” Lily glanced at Clay over her shoulder, seeking reassurance.

He smiled gently down at her, caressing her trembling fingers.

The officer motioned toward Jason. “You two have a history.”

“Yes,” her hands clenched on Clay’s, her voice shaking, “he… he… he tried to kill me.”

Silence reined. All eyes were on Lily.

“Are you serious?” the officer croaked. That was the last thing he expected the woman to say.

“Yes,” her fingers clenched Clay’s harder, her nails digging into his skin. “My name isn’t Travis, it is Shelton, and I believe I have a restraining order against Jason.”

“Yes you do.” Jacob offered her a reassuring smile, turning toward the officer. “She does have a restraining order in place against Jason.”

“Let me clarify, your name is Lily Shelton and you have a restraining order against Jason Carr,” the cop pointed toward Jason.

Lily replied, “yes, sir.”

“I have a copy at my office,” Jacob input, “I can have someone bring over a copy.”

The officer nodded at Jacob, then looked at Lily offering her a sympathetic smile. He refrained from asking her anymore questions and spoke to Clay.

Another officer was talking to Jason who was irate, gesturing wildly. When the two officers finished speaking to all parties, they spoke quietly, and then handcuffed Jason.

“You will pay for this, Lizzy,” Jason shouted, “if you think what happened before was bad, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Chapter 22

“You still haven’t learned how to shut your mouth,” a man's voice echoed through the room.

Lily gasped, turning in Clay’s arms she looked. Detective Martin! The man who helped her, held her hand the first night in the hospital. He had stayed with her while they took pictures of her injuries, came to visit her everyday as she struggled to breathe, to live.

“Detective Martin,” Lily whispered, “but how?”

Jacob hesitated looking at Lily. “I talked to him earlier, Lily.”

“You called him,” Lily whipped her head around, gaping at Jacob, “why?”

Clay leaned down kissing her cheek. “I asked Jacob to investigate your past, Lily.”

Lily’s eyes snapped to Clay’s, hurt shining from her dusky depths. “You didn’t believe me?”

“Of course I did,” he brushed his fingers across her cheek, “but I had to find out who he was and about your parent’s house, your trust fund. I don’t want you hiding anymore, Lily, I want you by my side.”

She saw the truth in his eyes. He had kept his word, his promise. He had protected her, refusing to let Jason harm her. She smiled tremulously at him.

Detective Martin and one of other officers walked toward them.

“Did Mr. Carr,” the officer asked, stopping in front of them, “approach you or did you approach him?”

“He approached us,” Scott answered, wrapping his arms around Melissa.

“Did he notice the young woman before he approached?” the officer looked around the group, seeing many nods.

“Yes,” Amy glanced at the officer, “Jason stared at Lily from across the room.”

“And when he leaped the table,” the officer asked meeting Tom’s eyes, “who was he leaping at?”

“Lily.” Tom glanced over at Clay and Lily.