Belle couldn’t answer, she just nodded.
“For years, he beat you?” Jack pushed, his eyes spearing Belle, his words feeding his own rage.
“How…” Belle’s voice hitched but she persevered, “How did you find out?”
“Well you sure as hell didn’t tell me, poppet,” he bit out.
“Jack!” Joy snapped.
Jack ignored his mother again and answered Belle, “The papers. Front page. With photos. Would you like to see?”
The newspapers. Of course, the stupid, stupid newspapers.
“N… no,” Belle stammered, her eyes glued to Jack.
“No, I suggest you don’t,” Jack agreed immediately.
“Maybe you should calm down, mate,” Cassandra advised softly but firmly.
Jack ignored her too, his eyes searing into Belle. She felt their heat like laser beams and he repeated, “He beat you?”
“Jack –” Belle whispered.
“He raised his hand to you?” Jack didn’t let it go.
“Jack, darling, don’t –” Joy tried to soothe, moving forward.
Jack only had eyes for Belle, his questions stopped and this time he made a statement. “He hurt you.”
Belle just stood frozen to the spot and stared at him.
“Again and again.” Jack’s voice was cutting and she knew it. She knew. If he found out he’d think she was weak and he’d judge her for it and she’d been right. “Come here, Belle,” Jack suddenly ground out and when Belle stood unmoving, Jack shouted, “Come f**king here!”
“Jack, darling, calm down,” Joy demanded, stepping in front of Belle.
“Get out of her way, Mum,” Jack ordered but Joy shook her head and Jack threatened, “I won’t ask again.”
“What’s happening?” Rachel whispered as she walked in the room.
“Take Belle out of here,” Cassandra said urgently.
“Belle, get over here!” Jack commanded, his voice close to being back to a roar.
“What’s on earth is happening?” Rachel whispered, this time fear threading her voice.
Cassandra moved behind Joy, shielding Belle, repeating, “Rachel, get her out of here.”
Something about Cassandra’s words caused something in Belle’s brain to fire and finally the demand from her brain reached her feet, she turned and she ran.
She got ten feet down the hall before she was caught at the waist by a strong arm and then she was going back.
Fear sounded in a muffled way deep in her throat as Jack backed her against the wall and caged her with his body.
She winced and braced, waiting for it to happen, the blows, the slaps, the punches, the pain.
But instead, his hands came to her head, sliding down her hair to her neck, over hers shoulders, down her back and he pulled her to his hard body, his arms wrapping around her tight.
“He hurt you.” Jack’s voice was no longer angry.