“That backseat you were in was mine. Juliana went to the same party at the Delta Tau Chi house with her college buddy. Juliana wasn’t acting like herself, so her friend called, asking me to come get them. She knew something was very wrong. As we were leaving, movement behind a dumpster caught my attention. Then I realized some fucker was raping a woman right there on campus.
“I saw red. I jumped out of the car, snatched him up by his hair, and beat the shit out of him. When I released him to help, well, you, he scrambled to his feet and limped off. It killed me to watch him leave, but I couldn’t leave you three girls there alone to chase after him. Juliana’s friend helped me get you into the car so we could take you to the hospital too. He beat you up pretty badly, and your hair hung like a curtain in front of your face. I couldn’t get a name or anything out of you. All I knew to do was get you and Juliana to the hospital so they could help you both.”
She audibly gasps and her entire body becomes as hard and as unmovable as concrete. Her eyes widen and her bottom jaw is slack. She searches my eyes, darting between them as she searches for any indication to confirm my story.
“That was you?”
“Yes, it was me. I was in Juliana’s exam room when you ran out of the hospital. One of those voices calling for you to stop was mine. I tried to keep an eye on you while you were sleeping, but since we weren’t family and I didn’t even know your name, the staff stopped me really quickly. They threatened to kick me out if they caught me at your door again. Knowing you were alone really bothered me, but I couldn’t risk not being there with Jules. You have no idea how many times I’ve wanted to kick my own ass for letting them keep me away from you. I was genuinely worried about your well-being when you ran away.”
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe that was you. One of the flashes I remember is seeing two guys fighting—literally over the top of me—but the scene in my mind never made sense until now. Rod… I don’t know what to say. You helped me during the worst moment of my life, but you didn’t even know me.”
“None of this was your fault. I don’t care if you drank the entire keg by yourself and got up on the bar to dance for everyone. No man has the right to touch you unless you say it’s okay. No matter what. But, for the record, none of that happened because you drank too much or anything else you may have said or done. Some fucker at the party drugged you. He spiked your drink. There’s no way you would’ve known. It doesn’t have any taste or smell to give it away.”
“You saved me, Rod. You saved my life that night. When I was able to look in the mirror again, I had dried blood, cuts, and bruises all over me. He probably would’ve killed me if you hadn’t intervened. Do you have any idea who he was, or even a good description of him?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t. When I realized what he was doing, I was blind with rage. I’m sure he was also the one who drugged Juliana since Gabriel, the guy she was talking to that night, is the one who had her friend call me. But he never gave up a name, and believe me, I threatened him within an inch of his life more than once. He promised his stupid fucking fraternity brothers he’d always protect them. So I sat outside their house for days on end, waiting for one with black eyes and a broken nose to come out. Gabriel finally told me the brothers had voted him out that night. They promised not to turn him in to face charges if he changed schools immediately. He agreed and moved out before Juliana and I got home from the hospital.”
She nods slowly, but her eyes aren’t focused on anything in particular. She’s lost in a terrible memory from that night. “I don’t know how to tell Landen about his father… or if I should tell him. He’s hinted about his father, but he hasn’t asked any specific questions yet.”
“That fucking lowlife piece of shit isn’t Landen’s father, Daisy. Maybe he was there at conception, but he’ll never be the father of your son.”
She leans her cheek against my chest and tightens her arms around me again. She releases a haggard breath, and her entire body shivers despite the warm southern Florida air. I give her the silence and mental space she needs to process the details I shared. With the last of the gaps in her memory filled in, she must be replaying the events of that night all over again. With my arms encircling her in a protective embrace, we stand motionless on the sidewalk for as long as she needs. I don’t care who’s watching. I couldn’t care less what they think. Daisy needs this love, support, and empathy, and I’m here to give her my all.
My desire to find that motherfucker has been ignited from a smoldering ember into a fully involved five-alarm blaze. After the holidays, I may have to pay Gabriel a visit again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Daisy
Rod and I walk around the block in silent lucidity, emotionally closer than we’ve ever been, and accepting the other despite our flaws and hauntingly
