Chapter 221 Sister's Concern
I'm still trembling in Trent's arms when he ushers me out of the bathroom. All I want to do is curl up in bed and have Trent hold me until I fall asleep. I just want to feel safe, and right now everything feels... wrong.
From the moment I left Trent downstairs, my mind has been pure chaos. All my thoughts are flying around in my head, and I don't even know how to control my emotions. I'm a freaking wreck!
I'm so nervous right now. Why the hell can't I act like a normal person? Why can't I stand up and fight to save myself? I always end up needed someone to come in and protect me... I feel so damn weak.
"What's going to happen?" I whisper. I need to know what is going to happen to Axel. I need to know he's going to be punished for what he did to me.
"Well, as far as you are concerned, it seems like Grant is going to interrogate the prick then call the cops. You should press charges; if you don't, he might do it to someone else," he whispers softly.
I hadn't even thought about that! What if we let him loose and he went after someone else and he actually raped her?
"I'm not trying to pressure you, Angel. I just know you wouldn't be able to live with the fact you could put him away and save someone else the pain you are feeling," he says gently. "I am only trying to protect you, Char. I am so fucking pissed he got so close to..." He can't even say it. But he doesn't have to.
He's right. I would feel miserable if I let him get away with it. He needs to pay for what he was planning on doing, even if he didn't get what he wanted. He was so close...
I can't get his face out of my head. That damn sneer, like he'd won already, and he was enjoying the power he held over me. "I know you want this baby... I'm going to ruin this pussy of yours," he promised. The words play on repeat in my head. I can't stop hearing the taunt.
And all I could do was stand there and beg him to stop! I wanted to hurt him in that moment, but I was frozen in fear. I hate that I can't punish him the way he deserves, but someone else can.
"Okay," I say thickly. "I'll press charges. I'm going to make him pay, and hopefully he won't ever be able to do this to anyone else."
"Good girl, Angel, I'm so proud of you," he whispers, placing a soft kiss into my hair. For a moment, he just stops and holds me in his arms, placing soft, gentle kisses along my face. "I'm so sorry, I didn't make it to you sooner, baby. I wish I could go back in time and stop it before it even happened. I hate that that fucking bastard put his hands on you."
He holds me while I cray into his chest. His support is everything to me. I've never been good with male attention. Not since I lost my dad. But something about Trent calms the turmoil boiling inside me. It's like he knows exactly what to do to bring me back to myself.
I'm surprised when he pulls me downstairs and to the living room, right up to my sister, who had been pacing back and forth in front of the couch. I can see the stress on her face. That can't be good for the baby.
"Charlie! Oh, God! I was so worried about you!" Josie sobs, pulling me into a tight hug. "When Trent said he couldn't find you... And then Grant came down carrying the boy to the security room... Rick wouldn't talk to me! He told me to sit tight, and you would be fine! Why the hell didn't he just tell me what was going on?" She rambles, running her fingers through her dirty blond hair.
"I'm okay," I mumble, trying to reassure her. I need to calm her down, and her pacing like this isn't good for anyone's nerves, including mine. I don't want my sister to induce her labor! She's still got a couple weeks left!
"You absolutely are not okay!" Josie demands. "I can't believe that you were attacked in my own home," she blubbers. "I should've protected you better! I should've checked to make sure no one came that wasn't supposed to be! I should've-"
"It's not your fault," I cut off her nervous rambling. The last thing I need is for Josie to feel guilty about any of this. It wasn't her fault! It was supposed to be a safe family friendly party! Then a thought hits me. "How did Axel get here anyway? I didn't think any of Braxton's friends were going to be here," I mumble.
"I'm not sure," Josie looks distressed. "Braxton didn't even show up... He was uninvited. And of course he took Liv with him. I wanted to argue with him, but he just pulled her away like he owned her," Jos grits through her teeth. Josie can be a protective mama bear if the situation calls for it.