Saved by the Rancher - By Jennifer Ryan Page 0,100
Without the photos, she couldn’t prove what David had done to her. She’d tried to file charges the first several times he’d hurt her, but the police were always bought off; the district attorney, pressured by David’s lawyers, would say they didn’t have enough evidence; or David would simply supply an airtight alibi. It was easy for him to get people to do his bidding. She may have a lot of money, but she lacked power, especially after he smeared her name in the press. Not for long though.
“Okay, Jenna. Let’s get the pictures done. You can write your report for Ben. I’ll email the photos to my buddy and have him confront David as soon as he’s located. Are you sure you want to do this now? You look completely wiped out.”
“Let’s just get it over with before I fall asleep again. Jack, honey, you don’t need to stay for this.”
“The hell I don’t. I know he hurt you. I saw what he did the last time. I’m not leaving you to deal with this alone.”
“You’re sure? You haven’t seen what he’s done, and maybe you shouldn’t. I don’t want you to think of me looking like this. It’s bad enough you had to stitch me up the last time.”
“Honey, to me you’re beautiful no matter what. It’ll be okay. We’ll get through this together.” His hand cupped her cheek and their eyes met. She leaned into his palm and fell into his eyes and the warmth of his love.
“Will you help me up so Sam can take the pictures?”
He put his hands under her arms and lifted her to a sitting position on the side of the bed. “Come on, honey. Take it slow. You don’t want to hurt your ribs.”
“It’s not only that, my leg and back are killing me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sam, are you ready?”
“Yeah, all set.”
Jenna stood with Jack’s help. The nurses had put a gown on her that simply hung over her shoulders, open in the back. She held on to Jack as she stood and, facing Jack, turned her back toward Sam.
Sam hissed in a breath when he saw the damage. Black and blue from her neck down to her panties. She’d been punched multiple times in the back, and it appeared each one left its own hideous bruise. She looked like she’d been the loser in a heavyweight title fight.
His gaze fell down her spine to the back of her thighs and the long scar where Jack had stitched her up the last time. The injury healed well and would fade even more over time. Several small bruises covered her legs, but one was large and nasty looking, the perfect impression of a man’s hiking boot. He could almost make out the tread in the impression of the bruise, making him sick. Maybe he could get his forensic guys to match the impression to one of David’s shoes.
None of them had realized just how badly David had hurt her. She’d lain in the bed not complaining or wanting to take anything to make the pain go away. How she managed to even get up, he didn’t know.
Jack held her arms as she stood facing him. He hadn’t seen any of her, except her face and stomach for the last day. He wasn’t sure what the rest of her looked like. Sam’s face fell, agony and sadness filled his eyes at the sight of Jenna’s back. Jack took a step to the side of Jenna, still holding on to her, and saw her back. He couldn’t believe the black and blue marks spreading across her entire backside. Severely beaten, the bastard had kicked her in the thigh. His insides quaked and he wanted to rage.
“Jack, honey, don’t hold my arms so tight. You’re hurting me.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I’m just so angry at what he did to you.”
“Sam, take the pictures, then I’ll turn around and you can do the front.”
“I don’t know if I want to see the front if it’s as bad as the back of you,” Sam said sadly.
“Please, just take the damn pictures. I can’t take this much longer.”
Sam snapped pictures of her back and thighs in quick succession. About ready to pass out on them, she hoped this humiliation would be over soon.
“Jenna, turn your head so I can see your face. That way, no one will dispute these pictures are of you.”
She did what he wanted. He snapped two more pictures of her backside. “Okay, turn around.”