James placed Anna into the hot bubble bath, yet she still said nothing. As he turned and attempted to leave the room, Anna refused to let go of his hand. She refused to let him break the contact. So instead, James stayed beside her, sitting on the cold tiles, just holding her hand. For what seemed like forever he just kept repeating to Anna, and to himself that she was okay. She was safe. When the water went cold, there was still no movement from Anna. James lifted her out, dried her off, dressed her in her pyjamas, and then tucked her into his bed. Anna winced in pain as Diana applied some anti-bacterial lotion and bandages to her wrists and ankles.

Not wanting to leave her side, James crawled into bed beside her and immediately she nuzzled into his arms. Anna had never been clingy before but now after all that had happened she wasn’t letting him go. James was still stroking her hair when she fell asleep.

Carefully James edged out from under her, taking his time to make sure he didn’t wake her. Downstairs, he swallowed the bile that filled his throat and made the call he never wanted to make. He rang Kathryn and Brandon. They were on their way before James could even finish explaining.

James was sitting at the kitchen counter, looking for answers in a glass of juice when Diana walked in. “How is she?”

“Sleeping,” James sighed wearily.

“Looks like you should do the same. Go on! Go and get some sleep. She’s going to need you, now more than ever, and you’ll be no good to her if you are tired and grumpy.” Diana was right. It made complete sense to try and get some sleep.

“I can’t. I just keep seeing her. Lying there with that asshole…” James’s voice trailed off. He had gone deathly white.

“Try not to think about it. You saved her. You got to her before anything happened. You’re her knight in shining armour. I’m sure once Anna has had some time, she’ll be fine. And it’s all thanks to you. Now, bed!” Diana commanded. After giving his mother a hug James walked back upstairs, climbed in next to Anna, and went to straight to sleep.

Kathryn, Brandon, Lachlan, Kate and Kelley arrived within hours. Diana and Michael had waited up for their arrival knowing they would want details. Diana explained the best she could, skimming over some parts deliberately. This was hard enough to hear without the imagery. Brandon was sent into a state of overwhelming shock.

“What do you mean it had nothing to do with James? I don’t understand. Are you really trying to tell me that this maniac only wanted Anna?” Brandon couldn’t believe it. He was lost and confused and beyond pissed off. His daughter was almost raped and he couldn’t understand why.

“That monster who attacked her, apparently you knew him,” Michael said. Brandon’s already frantic eyes widened. “Someone named Grant.”

A confused look consumed Brandon’s face. “Grant,” was all he managed to splutter. Brandon had loved Grant like a son when he had been in Anna’s life. And despite everything that had happened between them, whenever they ran into each other, Grant always spoke to Brandon as if they were friends.

All Kathryn wanted to do was to see her daughter with her own two eyes. She didn’t care about the details. She needed to see for herself that Anna was okay and safe. Diana led the way with Kathryn, Brandon and Kate trailing behind her. As quietly as she could, Diana pushed open the door. They all stood in silence. Anna was curled up in James’s arms and both of them were sleeping soundly. Thankfully, neither of them stirred despite their audience. The day, which had been filled with so much drama, had completely exhausted them.

Chapter 16

Anna

Anna awoke the next morning shaking. Not from the cool morning air, but from a paralysing, all consuming fear. Despite being wrapped around James like a vine, she felt more alone and more afraid than she’d ever dreamt possible. Dropping her head back against the pillow dejectedly, Anna fought desperately to regain control of her breathing. Sucking in deep breaths and counting to five before exhaling again. She glanced at the alarm beside the bed, it was still early and dawn hadn’t yet broken so she was even more determined to force herself back to sleep. But more importantly she was determined not to wake James. He didn’t need to know that every time she closed her eyes she saw Grant looming over her. Or that every time the breeze ruffled her hair she could feel his bourbon-soaked breath on her cheek. Even without him saying it, Anna knew that James already blamed himself for everything that happened; she wasn’t about to let him feel worse. Sighing, she snuggled into him closer, her head on his wide chest, and willed herself back to sleep.

***

James

It was just after nine when James struggled from bed. It was the latest he had slept for as long as he could remember. He didn’t know if it was the relief of competition being over, the jet lag, the drama from the previous day, or a combination of all of the above which had been responsible for his exhaustion, but something had knocked him out cold for hours. And when he woke he wasn’t pleased about it. Anna was still sleeping soundly and as he looked down to her precious face his anger resurfaced and he was forced to swallow it back down. If anything she looked worse than the day before. The cut on her cheek was angry and the bruising had really taken hold now.

Crawling out from under Anna more delicately than ever before James headed towards the racket downstairs. He could hear the clinking of glasses, incessant chatter, and laughing. ‘What have they got to fucking laugh about?’ James thought bitterly, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

As he made it to the kitchen he realised that everyone was there. Of course he had known from the night before, but even that seemed like more of a blur now than anything else; a nightmare that he couldn’t wake from.

“Morning, sunshine,” Renee chirped happily as he shuffled into the chaos.

James didn’t bother with a response but instead a deep growl rumbled from the back of his throat as he headed straight for the fridge.

“Someone got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning,” Renee continued, unable to help herself.

“Renee.” Michael frowned.

Stiffly Kathryn turned to James and watched him. She watched as he pulled a glass from the cabinet and filled it with juice before gulping it down silently.

James could sense the room watching him. Everyone’s eyes stalked his every move. “She’s okay,” he offered. As his words reached everyone’s ears he watched as they visibly relaxed. Shoulders slumped. Loud signs were released.

“Thank you,” Brandon exhaled, refilling his coffee cup.

But it was as if James’s words were Anna’s undoing. Her piercing scream cut through the quiet. “I got her,” Lachlan called out as he took off racing upstairs, his feet barely touching the steps.

Michael saw the physical distress this caused his son so reached out and rested his hand on James’s should in a sign of reassurance. “It’s okay, James. Lachlan’s her brother. Let him help her,” Michael attempted to calm him.

James’s pale face failed to hide his scepticism but he remained frozen to the spot. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around Anna and promise her the world. He would give her anything as long as she was okay. There was nothing he wouldn’t do. But he was immobile. Too afraid to move. And when the next bloodcurdling scream punctured the silence, his heart shattered.

“I’ll go,” Kathryn declared, pushing out of her chair and heading up the stairs.

She was barely out of the room when they heard Lachlan summoning her, “Mum! Get up here!” Kathryn’s speed increased as unease fell across the room.