Welcome to New Haven (108 page)

“You can die happy knowing you saved his life” Holly sobbed. “That’s what she said. I thought she meant she had come for
me
. She had come for… If I hadn't had been there…” Alex held her tight to his chest as she cried.

Stacey had shown up
intending
to kill Alex. Seeing Holly there, she’d made the decision to Kill
her
instead. Holly felt sick knowing Alex was targeted.

“She’s not getting released Miss” Dixon assured her. “She admitted everything like she was proud of it and there was nothing wrong. If she doesn’t get locked away in a mental hospital, she’ll go to prison for a long time, due to the crimes she admitted to.”
 

“The people responsible for her release will be hearing from my company.” Said Oli, furious with the mistakes made by the judge.

“Off the record? Make them pay, sir, make them pay.”
 

The officers thanked everybody for their time and left them to digest the information.

“I hope she fucking rots!” Spat Dev as Ben held her close.
 

“It’s over.” Said Holly. “She can’t get to us anymore.” She was rocking back and forth as Alex held her.
 

“My precious girl” he whispered. “She’s not going to hurt you, us, again.”
 

“I’ll see to it you don’t have to testify” Oli said. “With her admission, and with what they’ve gotten, there’s no reason to.”

Holly turned into Alex as much as she could and breathed deeply.
 

“Thank you.” Said Evie, wiping her face. “They’ve been through enough without that too.”
 

“What’s happened is over now. Holly doesn’t need it brought up again and again” Alex told everyone. “None of us do”
 

“You got it, son.” Said Rami and everybody else was in agreement. The only thing they needed to hear now was how long Stacey’s sentence was.
 

“I want to go to my room” Holly said, with a frown.

“Ok baby girl.” Said Kim and she stood to hug her. Holly reached for Alex’s hand, and nobody made any comments as she led him out of the room.

They lay on the bed; Alex arms protectively wrapped around Holly. She buried her head in the hollow of his throat and inhaled him. She felt safe in his arms.
 

Protected, loved.

He stroked her hair and her back as they lay together.

They stayed in their embrace as they both fell asleep. Still tired from the ordeal.

Alex awoke when he heard a soft knock at the door.

Kim and Oli had brought a holdall, from his Mom, with some clothes for the next day and Kim had gotten Holly a new phone to replace the one Stacey had thrown out of the window. Kim sat down on the bed, next to Holly, stroking her head as she stirred.
 

“Hiya love, how are you feeling?” Kim asked, quietly, as Oli sat down next to her.
 

“Hiya Mum, hiya Dad.” Holly replied as she sat up and looked to Alex.
 
Seemingly checking he was there. “I’m ok”

Alex could see the worry behind their eyes.

He couldn’t even begin to think how they felt to have almost lost their daughter. They were clearly putting on a brave face so as not to distress Holly. He understood that completely. He was also trying not to show how it was affecting him. He’d almost lost his other half. The split second decision from a psycho had put Holly’s life at risk instead of his. He would’ve given
anything
to have been able to switch places with her. She would have been safe at home.
 

“Alex” He heard Holly’s voice and felt her hand cupping his jaw, bringing him back out of his horrifying trance. Holly was looking into his eyes, searching. He couldn’t stop himself from wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
 

“I’m sorry. I’m
so
sorry.” He whispered over and over as he rocked them.
 

“Don’t” Holly told him. “You don’t need to be sorry. It’s not your fault” Holly’s voice was shaking as she held Alex’s face.

They remained in each other’s arms as Kim comforted them both. She told them the only person to blame was lunatic who was in custody.
She
made the decision, as the officers had said earlier.
 

Stacey saw Holly as a threat
before
becoming involved with Alex.
 

Holly and Alex stayed in her room, Kim bringing them lunch. Trying to get them to eat.

Holly felt better just being next to Alex. His arms around her. She turned over so she was facing away from him. That way she could mould her body to his. His legs tucked in behind hers, his hard abs against her lower back.

He brushed her hair away from her neck and gently kissed, causing butterflies to dance in her stomach.
 

“Oh my God!” he said, suddenly. Making Holly turn her head to see what was wrong and the butterflies to freeze. “Babe, you have bruises.” He said with sadness in his voice.
 

“I do?” Stacey hadn’t hit her so the only explanation was when she’d been pushing her forwards to the shed.
 

“Yes” he gently pulled down the top edge of her vest top to look closer. “There are a few. Did
she
do these?”

Holly could hear the upset in his voice.
 

“Probably from when she pushed me…” she didn’t want to mention the weapon involved. For them both. “…Towards the shed. She pressed it into my back” she finished. Holly felt Alex shift behind her and felt his warm lips against her skin. He kissed each of the bruises before pulling her back to his front. He buried his face into the back of her neck and took a deep breath.
 

“I love you.” Holly could tell from his voice that he was trying not to say anything else. Neither of them wanted to talk about what Stacey had done.
 

“I love you too” Holly replied as she brought his hand to her mouth and kissed his knuckles.
 

She didn’t know what she would do if Alex weren't there with her. She was strangely calm and not anxious. She had been, that morning, when she had the thought of being alone. She’d burst into tears when she was showering, even though Alex was only across the landing. Holly knew that the ‘normal’ behaviour of a kidnap victim was to go into shock, have anxiety, nightmares and sleep problems. She barely remembered the paramedic mentioning other symptoms. She even wondered if
that
was a symptom in itself.

Holly was happy to be out of the shed and with Alex and their families. She’d had a nightmare but as soon as Alex got into her bed, it hadn’t returned. Other than that and the anxiety that morning, and wanting to stay in her room she felt fine.
 
She didn’t want anybody to fuss over her. Now
that
would be something that would annoy her.

Holly looked to the small bag her Mum had brought for her.

The new phone.

Stacey had thrown the other one out of the window.

They both sat up so Holly could set it up. The note on the bag said that Kim had already had her number transferred to the new one, and the old phone had been wiped, via ‘find my iPhone’. Holly switched it on and restored it from iCloud. Everything was there, even the pictures of Alex. She had a big smile on her face when she showed him her pictures.
 

“I was only bothered about losing these.” She chuckled.
 

“You could’ve taken more.” He said with a sexy smile.
 

“Oh, I intend to.” She replied as she bit her lip. Holly leant into Alex to bring their lips together. His lips were soft and warm as she glided hers over them. She let out a small moan as his grip tightened on her and she felt heat surge through her body, causing her skin to tingle.
 

Then, her phone started to beep.

Repeatedly.

There were lots of missed texts that had started to come through from the girls. Dev would’ve told them earlier that day as Holly wouldn’t want to keep it from her friends, but she also wasn’t ready to face them just yet.
 

She quickly replied to the ‘How are you?’ and ‘Oh my God are you ok?’ texts. She explained she was fine, and they needn’t worry. Even Ben had texted to ask about her too. Before Alex and Holly could resume their kissing, Kim knocked again, with Dev and Ben.

Dev was obviously concerned for her brother as well as her. Ben was worried too. Knowing Alex for so long, they were like family.
 

“Hey, how’s things?” Dev asked as she sat on the end of the bed with Ben.
 

“Getting there.” Replied Holly with a smile.
 

“You ok man?” Ben asked Alex with a bro-hug.
 

“Yeah, thanks.” Alex said with an unspoken ‘manly’ best friend communication between them.

Holly was happy that they’d come over. Dev had been there for her since she’d started at New Haven and was there when they’d found her in the shed with Stacey. There was no way she’d turn them away.
 

Dev and Ben stayed for a while, and Kim asked them to stay for dinner. Again, Holly and Alex didn’t eat much, but neither did anybody else. The night before clearly on everybody’s minds had made them all lose their appetite.
 

Once Dev and Ben were leaving, Holly insisted that they check the car before getting in. Seeing everything was ok; Holly and Alex went back to her room.

Holly was
not
looking forward to Em’s reaction. Her temper at Riss’ house when Ryan threw her into the pool was bad enough. For something this bad, she didn’t know
what
Em would say or do. It was too late to call her anyway. It would be early hours in the UK, and Emily would probably have been out celebrating her first exam being over with.
 

Alex’s phone rang as they sat on the bed.
 

“Hi, Mom.” He said. Holly felt bad that Alex was spending all of his time with her when his family were concerned about him too. “Yeah, we’re ok.” He replied to Evie. Alex seemed to sense Holly’s guilt when he wrapped his arm around her tightly.
 
“No, she’s doing really well. She’s so brave.” He said as gazed into her eyes. “I will, Mom. I’ll see you soon. Bye. Love you too.” He ended the call and wrapped his other arm around her too.
 

“My Mom asked how you were doing. She asked if you had…um…any symptoms.”
 

Holly knew he meant ‘shock’ symptoms.
 

“She asked me to tell you that if you need anything, she’s there.” He added.

Holly smiled as she pressed her cheek to Alex’s firm chest.
 

“Your Mum’s lovely.” She said gently. “Not just for that, but for not telling you to go home too.”

“Well, even if she did I wouldn’t go without you.” He said as he kissed the top of her head.
 

“I love you.” Holly whispered.
 

“Babe, I love you too.”

Alex held her tighter before pulling back to cup her face in his hands. He looked longingly into her eyes before his gaze dropped to her mouth. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her softly. Gently sucking her lower lip.

Holly’s hands fisted in his T-shirt as their kiss deepened.

She released his shirt and ran her hands up over his chest, his shoulders and neck. Pushing her body closer to his, pressing herself to him. Her skin tingled where they touched, even though they were fully clothed. The sensations heating as they travelled through her and down to her lady parts.

Holly quickly threw a leg over Alex’s thighs so she was straddling him. She ran her hands up and threaded her fingers into his hair as she moaned into his mouth. His own arousal evident as it presses against her through his jeans. Holly lightly licked across Alex’s bottom lip before tasting his tongue with hers.

Her heart was beating hard and loud as her breathing rate increased.

She was trying to restrain herself from removing his shirt and kissing all over his perfectly sculpted torso. Holly knew they should be trying to rest because they’d not had much sleep. She also knew their emotions were sensitive, and they needed time to deal with them.
 

Holly was running through the thoughts that were in her head. Knowing the sensible thing to do was to avoid getting each other in a highly aroused state.
 

Yeah that
was
the sensible thing to do but the way Alex kissed her…it was impossible
not
to get turned on. Especially as he was running his strong hands up and down her back.

I want you. Now, always, forever.
 

She’d come really close to not having that chance.

That chance of forever with Alex.

Seeing him, touching him, kissing his lips.
 

Having him tell her that he loves her and that she’s his everything.
 

Holly broke their kiss, panting as she looked into Alex’s eyes. Seeing the love for her in the deep brown pools. She felt her own eyes fill with tears. Alex’s arms tightened around her, worry filling his own.
 

“Oh, babe.” He said softly.

“I came close to losing this.” She said as if she had only just realised. “Losing you, your kisses, touches, smiles.” The tears spilled over her cheeks as she continued. “She was going to take me away from seeing you again.” Alex held her as she cried. “You thought she had.” Holly added quickly, and Alex nodded.

“That was the worst feeling when I thought you were gone.” He said. “I felt as though I’d been torn apart. Empty. I can’t even imagine how
you
felt. My brave girl. Nobody will hurt you again. I promise.” Alex held her to his chest as she sobbed.

Holly needed to get it out. Maybe it
was
a symptom after all. A delayed reaction to her kidnapping.

Yes. She’d been kidnapped at gunpoint, threatened with harm to Alex, her own life, and made to listened to the sick and twisted details of Stacey’s psychotic actions.