Until Tia by K.L. Humphreys
Prologue
TIA
Beep, beep, beep.
The sound of my alarm rouses me, my dream lingering in the back of my mind but I’m unable to grasp just exactly what it was. I shift slightly and instantly regret it as I whimper in pain. God, why does it feel as though I’ve been hit by a freight train?
“Tia?” The shaky worried voice has my eyes instantly opening. November. What’s she doing here? “You’re okay,” she whispers, her hand clutching mine.
I flinch at the harsh light and my eyes once again close. “Wh…” My voice is hoarse and slurred.
What the hell is going on? I’m not in my bedroom. Where the hell am I?
Beep, beep, beep.
I realize that it’s not my alarm that I’m hearing at all, but a constant beeping noise.
“Tia, can you hear me?” November questions, and I can’t believe that she’s actually here. She’s supposed to be in Tennessee.
“I can hear you,” I rasp. “What’s going on?”
“You’re in the hospital,” she tells me and my heart starts to race; the machine starts to beep like crazy.
There’s only one reason as to why I’d be here in hospital. Jamie Pope. My boyfriend. I’ve always wondered when this would happen.
“How bad?” The words this time hang in the air.
“Bad.” Her word tinged with anger. “How long has this been going on?”
I don’t answer her, the shame and the fear are coursing through me. I never wanted anyone to know, to find out how weak and useless I am. The machine continues to beep and I feel her hand on mine, trying to soothe me. “Nov,” I whisper.
“Calm down, T,” her hands clasp mine, “you’re safe. I promise you.”
“Jamie?” Shivers run through my body as I think about what could happen once I get out of here.
I hear the low growl and my body tenses.
He’s here.
“Fuck.” The word is harsh, angry, and clipped. “Tia, I ain’t going to hurt you.”
The fear starts to ebb away as I recognize Asher’s voice.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as the shame washes over me.
“Don’t apologize. You’ve nothing to be sorry about.” His voice gets closer to me. “I promise you, T, this is never going to happen again. You’re coming home with us.” The conviction in his voice has me opening my eyes, he’s looking down on me with such a fierce look that I have to glance away, unable to bear him seeing the shame and vulnerability in my eyes.
“T, girl. Don’t,” November warns me and I forget just how well she knows me. Even with all the distance between us these past few months, she’s still my best friend, the one person who sees through the facade I usually have up. The only person who has ever managed to knock down my walls. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, this is on that asshole, not you.”
I nod slowly, pain radiating through my head as tears spring to my eyes. “Where is he?”
“He’s disappeared, your neighbor heard the screams and she called the police. By the time they arrived you were unconscious and he’d already gone,” Asher explains. “You’re coming home with us.”
I lick my lips, my mouth dry as I try to swallow. “No.” My voice isn’t as strong as I’d like.
“T, he’s still out there,” November says and I see the tears falling down her face. “Please, I’m begging you, come with us.”
“I can’t,” I tell her, hating that I’m making my best friend cry.
“Why?” Asher demands, “Why won’t you come? There’s a good chance that he could come back and find you?”
I nod, “I know that.”
November gasps. “What? Why on earth would you stay?”
I squeeze her hand. “He said that I was his.” My voice is getting weaker, my eyes getting heavy but I need to say this. “That if he couldn’t have me, no one could.”
I hear Asher scoff, “So why the fuck are you staying?”
“He could come and find me, Asher. I’ll not lead him to your door,” I tell him as I stare him in the eye. “I won’t risk November’s or my goddaughter’s life,” I tell him as I reach out for November’s ever-growing stomach. She’s almost seven months pregnant with their first child.
I see the war going on in Asher’s eyes, he understands what I’m saying. If Jamie does come to find me, it’ll expose November to the firing line and neither of us are willing to do that. She’s his wife, the love of his life. She’s my person. The one that understands me. I can’t and won’t put her in danger. “I’m staying here.”
“She’ll stay with me.” The velvety voice has me turning from Asher toward the door and I’m stunned to see Gabby standing there.
My sister, the woman who’s always beautiful, pristine, and put together, is wearing sweats. Her hair’s tied up on top of her head, with loose tendrils hanging down her face, and she’s not got an ounce of makeup on. I glance at November to see that she’s staring at Gabby as though she’s never seen her before. I guess, she’s never seen her like this. “Gab, are you okay?”
She steps into the room, “Am I okay?” Her voice vibrating with emotion, “My sister gets the shit beat out of her from her useless asshole of a boyfriend, she has two broken ribs, a broken arm, and a shattered kneecap. Not to mention the broken nose, busted lip along with the bruises around her neck where the asshole strangled her and she asks me if I’m okay? No, Tia, I’m far from fucking okay.” The tears start to fall down her face as I gape at her, “I’m pissed that you were going through this and never called me. I’m angry that I didn’t see that you were being hurt and I’m infuriated that that asshole has disappeared.”
My throat constricts as I look at my big sister, in the past seven months, Gabby and I have grown close. She doesn’t realize it, but she was the only reason I stayed sane while I was with Jamie, having her in my life was the only thing I had to keep me going. “Gabs,” I whisper.
She shakes her head, the tears falling freely. “You’re going to be okay. We’re going to get you back on your feet and then we’re going to rebuild your life,” she vows, her eyes filled with determination. “He will not touch you. Fuck him, he doesn’t get to hurt you anymore. No more.”
“She’s right, he’s done enough,” November says through her sobs, Asher moves over to her and pulls her into his arms.
That’s all I wanted, someone to adore and love me as Asher does November. But I knew not long after Jamie and I started dating that he was far from what I wanted. Soon, I became trapped and couldn’t find a way out.
“I’m going to make sure the apartment’s secure,” Gabby tells me. “I’ll have it ready for when you’re released.”
“I’ll help, I’ll have Kenton on it,” Asher tells us, talking about his cousin. “I’ll call him today and see when he can get it done.”
Gabby’s shoulders drop, the bravado she had is gone and sadness seeps out of every pore. “Thank you.” She weeps, “I’ll never be able to repay you.”
November shakes her head, “She’s my sister too, Gab; has been since we were six years old. I’ll do what it takes to keep her safe.”
I’m unable to keep my eyes open any longer, the need for sleep is taking over. “Love you,” I whisper, “all of you.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “From the bottom of my heart.” Tears leak from my closed eyes.
“Same,” Gabby replies on a gasp.
“Always,” November sobs.
“Never doubt it,” Asher growls and I smile, the man’s a big softy underneath the gruff exterior.
I fall asleep as they talk among themselves, I feel at ease knowing that they’re here and love me.
I made a terrible mistake with Jamie. I forgot about those who loved me, if I had trusted my worth, I wouldn’t be lying here right now. Jamie damaged me, but he sure as hell hasn’t broken me. He never will, he never had the power.