to myself and to others. Immediately, I drop the gun to the floor and fall down with it, a sob wracking my body. Jake quickly rushes over to me and wraps his protective arms around my shoulders. A few uniformed officers come in the door, and one of them checks his pulse. He looks at Jake and shakes his head.
He’s dead.
Not thinking straight, I start clutching onto Jake. “I’m so sorry, so sorry, so sorry,” I say to him over and over again.
“Shh, Ana, it’s okay. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I left you on your own. I didn’t know what else to do. I’m so sorry.”
“Ana, please don’t do this to yourself. I’ll take whatever I can get. Don’t be hard on yourself. I still love you. Nothing and no one can take that away from us. Do you hear me?” He takes my face into his hands and studies me. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
I shake my head. “He slapped me across the face, but that’s as far as I let him go. I kicked him in the balls. I’ve wanted to do that for the last ten years.”
I said it as a joke, but it’s no laughing matter. That thought quickly brings me to the situation in the room. Alan’s laying dead on the floor, and police are pouring into the apartment.
My stomach coils. Nausea erupts so violently that before I know it, I’m up and racing to the bathroom to be sick.
Jake hurries after me, shouting my name, but by the time he reaches the door, I’m already heaving. He takes care of me, getting some water from the fridge. I still feel rotten, but I’m glad Alan isn’t here to hurt me anymore. I will have to live with his death on my hands, but I keep telling myself that he can’t hurt me or any other poor victims, for that matter. Finally, I can get on with my life.
Once I’m finished, an Officer Collins pulls me away from my bedroom and takes my statement before giving me a pat on the shoulder. He smiles, telling me well done for getting the son of a bitch. I have to smile at that even though I’m still in shock.
Jessie’s home before I know it, staying by my side, but all of us are told that we have to stay at a hotel for now until forensics sweeps the scene and clean up is ready for us to stay here again. The thought has me groaning as I pack a bag for the next couple of nights.
“You both can stay with me,” Jake offers as we’re grabbing our stuff.
Jessie doesn’t say anything, just peers across at me as if asking for permission. A hotel would be better considering me and Jake’s circumstances, but it would be pretty stupid to turn it down when we know full well Jake can put us both up in his home.
“Okay,” I reply, causing Jessie to smile softly at me.
The officers confirm we’re no longer needed, so we make the journey to Jake’s home, my heart and mind whirring with everything that’s happened. I’m barely out of the car when Matthew barrels his way into my arms so forcefully, that it almost takes the wind out of me.
“Ana! Oh, my God, are you okay?”
Tears welling at his concern, I pull away from him and smile, my hand cupping his cheek. “I’m fine now,” I reply, although I know in my heart that’s not true.
“Come on, let’s get you both in and settled,” Jake suggests, grabbing both our bags from the trunk. I nod at Jake and take Matthew’s hand, squeezing it as we all make our way to the house.
Standing in the hallway moments later, I take in all the familiar surroundings which cause me to clutch at my chest. I miss it here. Fuck, do I miss it here.
Jake soon leads Jessie into the room she will be staying in for the next couple of days or so before turning to me, bag in hand looking all sheepish. Jessie smiles behind her door but then closes it, obviously giving us the privacy we need.
“Do you want me to put your bag in this room?” Jake asks, pointing to my old room.
“I should say yes, but for now I want to be selfish. After what’s happened, I need you.”
Jake lets out a sigh of relief before taking me by the hand and walking us into his bedroom. There, Jake