Hush (8 page)

“We didn’t have to come to a bar,” Mac said.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I have no problem with other people drinking. I just don’t partake myself,” I said with a shrug of my shoulders.

“Hmm,” he said taking a sip of his beer that the bartender sat down.

I stared idly at the condensation forming on the glass of water. The tiny droplets beaded and bled down the glass in maze like lines before pooling into a puddle on the coaster.

“Hello? Sloane? Are you listening to me?”

“Uh-” That would be a big fat no.

“I didn’t think so,” said Mac
. After a pause he asked, “Is it because of the money?”

“What?” I said not following.

“Were you only with Dev because of his money? Is that why you’re sidling up to his
brother now that he’s gone?” Mac
’s green eyes seemed to pale.

I gasped offended. “How dare you say such a thing,” I spat. “I loved Dev with all my heart. How dare you- how dare you question that,” I choked. “Siva is simply helping me out because he feels he owes it to Dev to take care of me. Siva and Dev didn’t have
much of a relationship. Mac,
I can’t believe that you would
think
that I was that shallow.”

“I’m sorry,” said Mac.

“I should go,” I said
grabbing my stuff
.

“No, please stay. I’ll be on my best behavior,” said Mac putting his hand over mine.

“Alright,” I said reluctantly.

“Thanks for coming,” said Mac.

“No problem,” I said. “We’re friends,” I reminded him. We weren’t good friends, more like work buddies, but I felt it important to remind him of that.

He nursed his beer and kept an eye on the TV. I took a sip of water and risked a glance at my watch. How much longer would I have to stay in order not to seem rude?

“So,” said Mac turning to me and away from the big screen, “any big plans for the weekend?” he asked.

“None that I know of,” I shrugged. “I’ll probably just hang around in the house, watching bad movies, and eating way too many chocolate chip cookies. What about you?” I asked.

Mac chuckled and signaled the bar tender to bring him another beer. My water was still full.

“My parents are coming to visit. So, I’ll have to listen to my dad tell me what a failure I am,” Mac said and nursed his second beer.

“You’re not a failure, Mac,” I said.

“Aren’t I?” he asked. “My dad wanted me to be a lawyer and I did law school for a while
but decided it wasn’t for me a
nd here I am today,” he said spreading his arms wide. “My dad’s never quite gotten over it.”

“I think kids are made to disappoint their parents,” I said. “Do you think my mom wanted me to come here?”

Mac shook his head. “Sloane, you could never be a disappointment.”

“Whatever you say,” I shrugged and sipped my cold water. The glass was slippery with condensation.

We lapsed into easy conversation from there.

That was until Mac was halfway through his third beer.

His hand crept up my calf, to my knee, and then under my skirt to the top of my thigh. Every muscle in my body tightened. My pulse pounded in my ears like the roar of an ocean. His hand crept even higher and sweat beaded on my forehead.

“I need some air,” I said suddenly jumping up from my seat. I grabbed my bags and ran out the door. I could still feel his fingers creeping over my skin despite their absence.

Fresh spring air flooded my lungs as I exited the bar. I ducked around the corner of the building, out of sight of the window, but in sight of the street, and pulled out my blackberry. I quickly called Siva. He had programed all of his information into my phone.

“Kapur,” he said.

“Siva it’s me,” I said breathlessly.

“Sloane, what’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I tried to hastily recover my composure. “I- I’m ready to get picked up. I’m across the street from my work.”

“I’ll be there soon,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said but he had already hung up.

I tried to blend into the shadows and draw as little attention to myself as possible. Despite it being spring the air was quite nippy. I wished desperately that I had a sweater. I wrapped my arms around myself and leaned against the building. Time seemed to slow down. I hummed a tune to myself to fill the never ending silence and wished that I could just twitch my nose and be at Siva’s flat.

A man exited the bar and looked both ways before pausing when his glance landed in my direction. I sank further into the shadows wishing I could melt into the wall. He sauntered towards me at a slightly awkward gait. I recognized his shoulders.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

“Sloane,” he said. “I believe you’ve had quite enough fresh air.”

“No, not quite,” I squeaked in fear.

“Sloane, Sloane, Sloane,” he breathed and his beer ridden breath engulfed me. He shoved me forcefully against the wall. Both of his hands rested on either side of my body blocking any sort of retreat. Fear ensnared me like a vicious drug. He spread my legs with his thigh. “Sloane,” he breathed into my hair. Tears threatened to leak out of my eyes. His hands moved down to my legs, lifting my skirt, while his body pressed me forcefully into the wall. The bulge in his pants rubbed against my leg.

“Mac, please don’t do this. MacAuley!” I said trying to push him away but he was too strong.

“Come on baby, I know you want me. You always have,” he rasped in my ear.

His tongue roamed from the dip in the top of my dress, up my neck, to my chin, before he settled his mouth forcefully on mine. Air could not breach my lungs. Panic ebbed and flowed through my veins. I hoped I had an adrenaline spike or whatever it was that people had that gave them the strength to lift cars. His lips locked
on
mine. One hand disappeared from my body while the other kept me forcefully pinned to the wall. I tried to wiggle away from him but it didn’t work. I tried to scream but his lips quieted the sound. I heard the sound of the zipper on his pants and my blood went cold.

I closed my eyes as the tears started to fall. I couldn’t believe this was about to happen.

“Please, please, don’t do this,” I cried into his mouth.

He groaned in the back of his throat. The hand that had me pinned to the wall was suddenly around my neck closing off any form of oxygen.

“Shut up, bitch,” he growled.

Tears leaked out of my eyes. I knew I was a wet sobbing mess. Could no one see us? Hear us?

I had never been so scared in my entire life.

His lips were back on mine and his tongue in my mouth. I bit down sharply on his tongue and he howled.

He pulled away but before I could move he slapped me hard across the face. Blinking
,
white lights flooded my vision. I was disoriented.

“Don’t do that
again
,” he growled pushing me against the wall again and hiking my skirt up. He fingered my panties and began to slide them down my waist.

“Help!” I screamed.

“Bitch,” he said and shoved me into the brick wall so that my skull clacked roughly against it.

Oh Sloane, what have you gotten yourself into now? Fight the bastard!

“Get off of me!” I cried shoving futilely at him. I was short and small. No match to his height and strength. My only hope was of someone hearing us.

“Sloane baby-” Mac said stroking the side of my face.

“Don’t touch me!” I screamed and spit on him.

“Ugh,” he said and pushed me more firmly against the wall.

His hands pinned my wrists but that didn’t stop me from wiggling around like a fish.

“
Let go of me
,” I spat.

“You’re a tease,” he growled into my ear.

My tears kept falling even as the old ones dried cold on my cheeks.

He slid my panties further down and positioned himself.

“Please,” I begged. “Please, don’t do this,” I sobbed.

“Sloane,” he rasped wiggling his hips, preparing himself.

Sobs coursed through my body so that I shook with them.

Someone lit a cigarette.

“Siva!” I screamed recognizing the form. I saw him turn looking for me. He dropped the cigarette on the ground.

“Sorry, I know I promised I would stop,” he said.

“Siva! Help!” I screamed again before Mac slapped me. His hand covered my mouth making further noise impossible. I choked on my sobs.

“Sloane?” he said peering into the shadows. “Sloane!” he cried in horror.

Something hard and heavy slammed into Mac knocking him over.

“You god
damn son of a b
itch,” Siva said and punched Mac
in the face. I heard a sickening crunch as I dropped to the ground, my panties around my ankles.

Tears streaked down my face and my chest heaved.

Another punch followed by a whimper.

“Didn’t I teach you a fucking lesson last night?” growled Siva. He punched again. “You just don’t learn do you, bastard?”

I let out a loud sob and this seemed to snap Siva’s attention to me.

Mac moaned on the ground before going quiet.

“Sloane?” asked Siva quietly.

Sobs were the only noise I was able to produce. When he tried to touch me I flinched and a look of pain clouded his face.

“Are you okay?” he asked. After a pause, “Dumb question.”

He pulled a phone out of his pocket. “Jacob,” he said into the phone. “I need you to meet me at
J and J’s B
ar.
Yeah, the one across from Avid News.
I’ll explain when you get here.”

The other man must have asked something because Siva huffed into the phone.

“Yes, I took the damn Porsche. Take the fucking NSX and get your ass down here
now!
Understand?” he asked and hung up.

“Sloane,” said Siva reaching out to me.

“Don’t touch me!” I cried.

“I won’t hurt you,” Siva sighed quietly into the wind.

Tears soaked my face, my dress, probably the ground by now.

“Siva I-” I started and then collapsed onto him. His arms came around me and held me close. “He… he was… he was going to…”

“I know,” said Siva. “I know. But I’m here now. You’re safe. I won’t let him hurt you,” he stroked my back.

The two of us lay there, on the ground, while Siva softly stroked my back and my tears soaked his shirt.

The hum of a car pulling up startled me.

“Hush, it’s okay,” said Siva. “It’s just Jacob.”

“Siva?” asked Jacob, peering into the alley. “What the hell is going on? You have me over to play pool
and then you leave like your arse
is on fire. What is it now?”

“I need you to stay with this piece of shit and call the police,” growled Siva over my quiet sobs.

“What did he do?” asked Jacob. “I’ll need to tell the police.” He still looked skeptical. Maybe he thought Siva was off the deep end like he was last night.

Siva looked at me and back at Jacob clearing his throat.

“Mr. MacAuley Grant attempted to rape Ms. Campbell. I got here in time right?” he asked me suddenly looking panicked. I saw Jacob pale at Siva’s words.

I nodded my head and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He shook his head. “I shudder to think if I had gotten here a moment later.”

Jacob glanced at my pitiful form and compassion flooded his eyes.

Siva gently kissed the top of my head. “I’m going to take Sloane home,” said Siva standing and pulling me up in his arms in the process. He didn’t dip under my weight.

“I’ll stay wit
h-” Jacob glanced angrily at Mac
’s prone form, “
this
,” he spat.

“Thank you,” said Siva.

Siva carried me to the Porsche and sat me inside. My panties were still wrapped around my ankles.

“May I?” he pointed. I nodded my head and he removed them. He buckled my seat belt and leaned his forehead against mine. “Sloane,” he breathed my name. “I’ve never been
more scared in my entire life. What are you doing to me?”

Tears poured fresh and vigorous down my cheeks. He closed the car door and climbed in the driver’s side.

As he drove down the dark London streets my sobs and sniffles were the only noise that filled the car.

My mind couldn’t wrap around what had just happened; it didn’t want too. Panic and fear still sat heavy in my chest. I had never been afraid like I was in that moment. I had felt so helpless.
So alone.
I felt shaken to my core. I wanted to shut out what had just happened but instead it kept replaying over and over again. His hands, his
breath
, his strength. It wouldn’t go
away. It was like I could still feel his hands on me. I felt dirty and raw. Ravaged, even. I wanted to scrub my body to the bone.