Waiting for Romeo (34 page)

“Professor Milton.” I whisper.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“WHAT? I DON’T UNDERSTAND.” Logan sits back down or maybe he falls back into the chair. He reaches and takes my hand in his again. “Professor Milton? Why?” He shakes his head in disbelief.

“Milton is Jenna’s father.” I say, quietly. “I don’t really know much more than that.”

His brow furrows. “How? Maybe you should just rest, baby. I can’t tell you how good it is to have you back.” He leans forward and kisses me softly on my forehead.

I wonder if he thinks I hit my head so hard that I now have amnesia and I’m just totally confused by what happened. “You don’t believe me?” I ask.

“No. Of course I believe you…but maybe you should just take it easy for a little while. How do you feel? Can I get you something?”

“I’m fine…a bit sore, but fine otherwise.”

“I probably could have guessed that you were going to say that…you always say you’re fine. Did I tell you how much I missed you?”

“Yes.” I laugh, slightly but stop abruptly from the pain. “Ow.”

He stands suddenly. “See? You’re in pain. Please, you should take it easy.”

At that moment, a nurse walks in the room.

“Miss King, it’s good to have you back. I could see from the monitors at the nurse’s station that you were alert.” She pauses and then turns to Logan. “Why didn’t you come and get me, Mr. Prescott?” She scolds.

“I was just about to.” He smiles at her and I can tell by her reaction that his irresistible smile wins her over.

“Okay.” She checks my pupils. “You’re looking good, Miss King.”

“Please call me, Emilia.”

“Well, Emilia…you had a lot of people worried about you, including myself. But this guy right here…he never left your side. I do believe he was your best medicine.” She checks my pulse. “All your signs show remarkable progress, Emilia. I’m just going to let your doctor know and I’m sure he’ll be in here shortly. You’re sure I can’t get you anything?”

“No…not right now. Thank you. Thank you for taking care of me.” I say, softly.

“My pleasure. It’s my job and I love it. You want to know why?” She smiles but before I can answer she responds. “Because of miracles like you.” She turns towards Logan. “Now, let her rest…okay?”

“I will.” Logan says.

“She calls you Mr. Prescott and Logan?” I ask, amused.

“When she’s irritated with me I’m Mr. Prescott, otherwise I’m Logan. She reminds me of my mom.” Logan explains.

“I can see that.”

“I texted your dad and Bryn. They’re both on their way. You’re sure you don’t need anything?”

“Just you. Did the police arrest Sebastian?” I ask, confused.

“You’re sure you want to talk about this now? The nurse said to let you rest. I don’t want her annoyed and I really think she’s right. You’ve gone through so much. I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re okay…you’re looking at me and talking…and you seem so…so…” His voice trails off.

“So okay?” I breathe.

“Yes. You’re so strong. I always knew that, but your strength is truly awe-inspiring. Do you know how badly I want to take you in my arms and just wrap myself around you?”

“Go ahead.” I smile, slightly.

“I’m sure the nurse would be thrilled.” He pauses a second. “If you’re up for talking, I’m up for listening.” His voice is scratchy.

“You’ve done a lot of talking.” I say, quietly.

“You could hear me?” He caresses my hand.

“I could…sometimes. Everything was so dark, but I could hear voices and then they would stop. I wanted so badly to say something to you to let you know I could hear you. I tried so hard.”

He leans and brushes his lips against the top of my hand. “Have I been out long?”

“It’s Monday morning. We found you late Friday night.” He sighs and moves closer to me, sitting on the edge of the hospital bed.

“I was tired.” I try and smile, but my face is sore. My smile is probably more of a grimace.

Logan’s expression changes from serious to one of amusement. He softly caresses my cheek. “That’s one way of looking at it…”

I interrupt him. “Oh, shit. I missed the meet.”

Logan smiles. “Ah. Now, I know you’re going to be okay.” He pauses a beat and then continues. “Can you tell me more about what happened? Why would he do this to you?”

“Revenge. He said I ruined his life. I don’t know…the only thing I can think of is that Jenna must have said something. She needed to get help…I was only trying to help. I’m hoping the police can help put the pieces of the puzzle together.”

“I hope I can help put the pieces of the puzzle together, too.” Detective Fernandez walks in at that exact moment. “Welcome back, Emilia. I heard the excitement in the corridor. You’ve made a lot of nurses very happy.”

“She has made me
very
happy.” Logan whispers so I can only hear him.

The detective places the two cups of coffee down and pulls out her notepad from her back pocket. “Now, I promised Logan, here, I’d take it easy on you, but it looks like you’re in the mood to talk…what were you saying about a puzzle.”

“It wasn’t Sebastian.”

Her mouth falls open. “What? Who?”

“Professor Milton. He taught our Shakespeare class this last trimester. Professor Meyer is the teacher usually, but she’s on maternity leave. His name isn’t Milton or maybe it is now but he changed it. His real name is Michael Hughes.” I glance at Logan and see him frown.

Detective Fernandez stares at me. Her ability not to blink still astounds me. “Michael Hughes?”

“Yes. He’s from Virginia. I haven’t seen him in years…he used to be our neighbor. He raped me when I was twelve.”

“Oh my God.” Detective Fernandez replies and her fingers move swiftly across her phone.

“I know it’s crazy. I’ve been in his class all trimester and had no idea. I thought there was something vaguely familiar about him but I never in a million years would have put that together…so much time has passed, but it wasn’t just that.” The tears well up in my eyes.

“Detective, I think that’s enough. Emilia, you should…” Logan moves closer to me. His expression is full of concern.

I blink up at Logan. “It’s okay, Logan. I want to tell her so they can find him.”

Logan takes my hand back in his and then resumes his spot on the edge of the hospital bed.

I lean my head back and rest it against the pillow, trying to remember everything. It all still seems so unreal…a nightmare.

“I’d never forget his eyes. They were so dark, menacing, but Milton’s eyes were green. He changed his hair color too. His whole look was different, but it was his eyes that made me realize it was Mr. Hughes.” I shudder at the name. “He didn’t have his contacts in…I thought it was Sebastian too.”

“What do you mean…you thought it was Sebastian?” Detective Fernandez looks up from her notepad.

“Before Professor Meyer went on maternity leave she asked me if I could assist the substitute. I’ve been helping Dr. Milton…I mean Mr. Hughes all trimester.”

“The sick bastard.” Logan seethes. “He’s just been waiting for the opportunity to make his move.”

I glance at Logan and nod. “So it seems.” I breathe.

I continue with my story. “When we finished our exam on Friday he asked me to stay after class.”

“We gave him his opportunity.” Logan’s face falls. “Emilia got a text from her dad saying he got a flat tire. I went to help him and Chloe stayed with Emilia.”

“Right. Chloe went outside to wait for me.” I say, softly.

“Professor Milton thanked me for my help and he was just sort of making idle chitchat. He’s always been a bit odd.” I glance at Logan.

He nods in agreement.

“But I never thought…” The tears surface in my eyes, but I blink them away. “I was in a hurry because I had to get to the track for the meet. I told him I had to get going and that was the end of the conversation.”

“He attacked you in the hallway outside the classroom?” Detective Fernandez asks.

“Yes. I was texting Logan when he grabbed me from behind so I never saw who it was. It all happened so fast. He grabbed me and held some toxic rag over my mouth and nose. I tried…I tried…” My voice cracks and the tears prick my eyes again.

Logan leans forward and gently kisses my forehead. “Shh…you’re safe now, baby.”

I breathe. “I blacked out and the next thing I know I’m in a dark room.”

“Do you remember anything about the room? Do you think you were in his house? Anything you can remember…any little detail is helpful Emilia.” The detective pauses for a second then continues. “I already have my partner on this Milton/Hughes fucker. We’ll get him, Emilia.”

I smile at her hatred and vehemence. “I hope so.” I pause and then try and remember details of the room. “It was so dark, but I know it was a room on the second floor…maybe a bedroom. There was one window but it was boarded up that’s why it was so dark. It took my eyes a little while to adjust, but then I could see there were two doors.”

“No furniture or anything?” The detective asks.

“No…it was empty. Just a boarded up window and two doors…that’s all I can remember. I’m pretty sure, but like I said it was hard to see.” I murmur.

Logan sighs. “You’re sure you want to continue? Maybe you should rest? She probably has enough to go on right now.” He says, quietly.

I blink up at him. “It’s okay, Logan.”

“You’re sure, Emilia? Logan is right…if you want to take a break…I can get the rest of your statement later.” Detective Fernandez glances back and forth from my eyes to Logan’s.

“I want to tell you how I realized it was him and not Sebastian.” I whisper.

“Okay, but just tell me when you’re tired or don’t feel like talking anymore.” Logan says, softly.

I smile up at him.

“What?” He looks, amused.

“I wanted to talk for so long. I heard you…I heard the voices around me and I can’t tell you how badly I wanted to talk. So right now, there’s nothing I’d rather do than talk.” I lean my head back against the pillow.

“Okay.” He strokes my hair.

“I don’t know if it was
his
house. Maybe. Everything happened so fast and it was dark. There wasn’t anything that I remember seeing that made me think this is where he lives, but it was definitely a house and I was in the upstairs room.” I pause a second and gather my thoughts.

“My wrists were tied behind my back, but the rope was fairly loose so I was able to get out of it…that was my saving grace. If my hands were still bound when he came in the room I don’t think…” My voice cracks.

“Oh, baby.” Logan whispers and kisses me softly again.

I swallow and fight back the tears. “I thought it was Sebastian. I made my way to the door and tried to turn the knob but it was locked. He was just on the other side because he heard the knob turn. He said one word: ‘Don’t.’” The memory of the word sounds chills through me.

Logan squeezes my hand, gently. “You’re safe now, baby. It’s okay.”

I nod and gaze up at him. “I still thought it was Sebastian. I tried to talk to him. I was worried he had the gun on him. I kept talking to him…pleading with him until he just got fed up with me. He was angry. He threw open the door and that’s when I realized it wasn’t Sebastian.”

“Why don’t you shut the fuck up.”
His voice echoes in my head and the tears well up in my eyes.

“I couldn’t believe it at first. I thought I was having a nightmare…like I often do, but he looked different…older, heavier, darker hair, but it was his eyes that I recognized immediately. I…I couldn’t move at first.” I start to cry.

“Emilia, I’m so sorry.” Logan breathes and I lean into his chest.

“You know, I’m going to go now.” Detective Fernandez stands. “But may I ask just one more question? You may or may not know the answer to.”

“Sure.” I whisper.

“Why? Why would he go to all this trouble to come after you? Change his identity and after all this time.”

“I think I can answer that for you.” Logan says, quietly and looks towards me for approval to continue.

I nod.

“The sick fuck raped his own daughter, repeatedly. Emilia was friends with the girl and when she told Emilia what was going on…she encouraged the girl to tell someone and get help…that was just before Emilia and her dad moved out here.”

“The daughter probably ratted him out and he blames Emilia.” Detective Fernandez mutters and scribbles on her notepad again.

“Do you remember her name? The daughter?”

“Jenna.” I breathe.

“Do you know for sure that’s what happened…that the daughter went to the police or someone?” Detective Fernandez asks.

“No…we don’t know that for sure, but when Milton…Mr. Hughes came into the room he said, ‘Paybacks a bitch.’” I shudder at the thought. “He also said, ‘you ruined my life, I’m here to ruin yours’.” I answer. My voice is quiet and shaky.

“Sounds like we have a definite motive. Emilia, you’re an amazing young woman. You just get yourself better and we’ll make sure this fucking asshole spends the rest of his life rotting in jail.”

“Thank you.” Logan says, quietly as my tears start to fall.

“I’ll let you know what we find out as soon I hear something.” Detective Fernandez says and then heads out the door.

“I just want to hold you.” Logan whispers as I weep into his chest. “But I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You’re not hurting me…please hold me.” I say, softly.

He lies down beside me. Then very slowly and carefully he wraps his arms around me.

“I feel so safe in your arms.” My tears stop falling as I gaze into his eyes.

He gently wipes my tear-stained cheeks with his fingers. “I love you, Emilia. If I could hold you like this, surround you, keep you tight in my arms and safe forever I would. All I can do is try and I promise I will try every day for the rest of my life.”

“I love you, too, Logan. I was so scared. I thought I was never going to see you again.” I sigh.

“I know, baby. I thought the same thing…I was so worried. I knew something was wrong…we were at the track waiting for you. It’s not like you to be late. I was worried when you were just a few minutes late…I knew something wasn’t right.”

“I was texting you, Logan. It happened so fast if I had just typed in something to alert you.” I frown.