Grayson’s hands give my shoulders another squeeze, conveying the same message. Mr. Gordon dismisses me and turns away again, but not before I see some of the disdain ease from his expression.

As the third man repeats the line I shake my head. When the fourth one is called, I step away from Grayson and move closer to the window. I look at him closely, his lip is busted and face swollen.

He seems familiar, but I don’t know why…until he speaks.

“This is for Jamal, bitch. Consider it justice served.”

The sound of his voice weakens my knees, making me lose my balance. I grab onto the table next to me to steady myself, my heart pounding in my chest. “Oh God, it’s him,” I manage to say through the fear clogging my throat. “That’s him!” I shout louder as my hysteria builds.

“Are you sure?” Mr. Henderson asks.

“Yes. I’m positive. He…” I trail off as the man’s dark, malicious eyes stare back at me. It’s as if he can see me, his horrific gaze chilling me to my core.

“Liv, what is it?” Grayson’s voice is muffled, sounding distant to my ears.

I start backing away on shaky legs. My vision blurs and the walls close in around me as images begin assaulting my memory.

“Look at me, bitch!”

I shake my head, trying to rid my mind of the menacing words and dark eyes.

“Hey, Liv, you with me?” I try to cling to Grayson’s voice. I try so hard but the other voice is so loud, echoing so much hate and revenge that it drowns out Grayson’s.

“I’m here to deliver justice for my boy Jamal.”

“Please. Don’t do this,” I plead with a whimper. “I swear, we—”

Rough hands tear the clothes from my broken body.

“Me first!”

“NO!”

“Stay still, bitch!”

“No! Stop! Get off of me!” I scream and thrash against the arms that restrain me, desperately begging and pleading.

“Goddammit, get him out now!”

I gasp as the shouted order penetrates my frightened mind, bringing me back to reality.

“Come on, Liv, come back to me, baby.” The same voice murmurs in my ear but now it’s low and soothing, bringing me the peace and safety I crave. The arms holding me are warm and welcoming, as I try to regain my breathing. “Good girl, just breathe. I got you.”

I take in my surroundings, and see I’m on the floor with Grayson holding me. Terrell kneels down in front of me, his gaze sympathetic and concerned. The other men all stare down at me in the same way, including Mr. Gordon.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry,” I apologize through my raw throat.

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Grayson says, his arms tightening around me. “Are you okay now?”

I take a moment to answer. “Yes, I think so. I’m not even quite sure what happened?”

Terrell puts a hand on my knee. “You had a panic attack but it’s almost like you blacked out. You were screaming out things. Do you remember?”

I shake my head. “Not really. His voice…his voice triggered a-a memory, I think. I remembered more of what he said to me.”

“Liv, in your flashback. Could you see him?” Terrell asks gently.

“Now wait just a damn minute,” Mr. Gordon jumps in, his booming voice making me flinch. “She thinks she remembers this. Look at the episode she just had, she’s not in any state to be making accusations.”

“Back off, Gordon, and let her answer the fucking question.” Grayson warns.

I try to think back to the memory as it barely hovers at the edge of my mind, but I can’t grasp it. Shaking my head, I cover my face as a sob of frustration escapes me. “I can’t. I’m sorry, I just can’t.”

“It’s okay, baby. Don’t worry about it. You did good,” Grayson soothes, before addressing the others. “I’m taking her out of here.”

He’s about to pick me up as he stands, but I object. “It’s okay, I can walk.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” It takes me a second to stand, and once I do my knees are shaking so bad I can barely stay upright.

“Fuck it.” Before I have time to process his words, my feet leave the floor and I’m scooped up into Grayson’s arms. I start to protest but he cuts me off. “Just let me do this, Liv.”

I stare into his determined gaze as he holds my trembling body and relent with a nod, too tired to argue. Dropping my head on his shoulder, I turn my face into the crook of his neck and let his scent comfort me. Thankfully, he heads out the back exit, saving me from facing anyone else. He deposits me in the passenger seat of one of the patrol trucks. As he fastens my seatbelt I stare out the windshield, feeling numb and emotionally exhausted. The fear from the memory still hovering over me.

The slam of the door as Grayson gets in on his side pulls me from my trance. “I think we should go see a doctor and check to make sure you’re all right.”

I shake my head. “No, really, I’m fine.”

Blowing out a breath, he runs a hand through his hair. “Okay. Home then?”

I shake my head again. I’m not ready to go home yet. I’m surely not ready to face Pap so soon. He’ll be livid when I tell him everything.

Grayson understands and doesn’t hesitate. He slowly pulls out of the parking lot and heads out of town. I lie back and stare out my window, not caring where we go as long as it’s not here. The further away we get the calmer I begin to feel. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. Hearing that voice again and the memories it brought back has a cold shiver racing down my spine. Will there ever come a time when that voice won’t have control over me, that I won’t hear it every time I go to bed?

A few minutes later he pulls up to Clover Hill and parks.

Silence surrounds us as we stare out at our town.

“I’m sorry I freaked out on you like that,” I whisper, hating I lost control, especially after he told me earlier how strong he thinks I am.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Liv, I should be the one apologizing.” I turn to see him watching me, guilt and anger battling in his gaze. “I fucking hate that I put you in that position. I hate that you remembered even a sliver of that nightmare, and more than anything I fucking hate that even for a moment you felt fear again.”

I shake my head. “It’s not your fault.” I can tell he doesn’t believe me, but instead of trying to convince him otherwise I move the conversation along. “Who is he?” My question is softly spoken. I want to know the answer yet fear for it at the same time.

Grayson watches me carefully before answering. “His name is Reggie West, he’s Jamal’s cousin.” My eyes fall closed in disappointment. “He moved here a few years back from California and was a suspect in the recent fires that were going on.” My eyes snap back open at that information and collide with Grayson’s hard ones. “Terrell had questioned him after the attack but he had an airtight alibi that checked out, so we looked elsewhere.” He shakes his head, frustration and guilt passing over his expression.

Reaching over, I lay my hand on his arm, wanting to calm his turmoil. His eyes find mine again. Taking my hand in his large one, he brings it to his mouth and kisses the inside of my wrist. “But we have him now, and I swear to you, Liv, he will pay for what he did to you, and I will find the others who were with him.”

I nod and give him a reassuring smile. “I know you will, I just hope this all gets wrapped up soon, not only for my sake but for the sake of our town. I just want things to go back to the way they were.”

“They will, in time.” He says it with confidence, but I can see the doubt and uncertainty in his eyes.

After some more talk about what to expect and what will happen next, I have Grayson take me home so I can fill Pap in. The sun has started its descent as we pull up to my house, ten minutes later. Pap’s truck is parked in the driveway and the kitchen light shines through the window. Grayson hops out first then comes around to help me down. Closing the door, he leans against the panel and stares down at me in concern.