Obsessed

| Ten

“ I’ll start with the fact that you stopped breathing for a while, but we were able to get you back and stable enough for the surgery. You may not remember anything, but you suffered a stab wound to the neck that pierced and split your larynx, causing no sound and intense pain. “

“ Who could have done this? “ my father asked.

“ That’s not a question I can answer, sir, but the police will be here in a minute. “ he nodded to my father, then turned his attention back to me. “ You will be here for a while, Mr. Huff, basically until we can get you back to normal with eating and drinking. If you would like, your nurse can administer your nutrients through a tube. I know it’s going to be rough, but if you work with us, you’ll be out of here in no time, okay? “

I nodded as he exited the room. The stares all turned back to me. No one knew where to start. Jaylin did, though. She knew what happened, who did it, and even why they did it. She gave me a look that told me I was lucky my voice was gone because she would force me to give up the information, and even then, I knew it still lingered in her mind. She was about to blurt it out and have me deal with the consequences.

“ Did you see who did it? “ my mother cupped my cheek and I shook my head. “ Do you remember anything? “ I waved my hand, saying a little.

“ I’m glad Vinny was literally right at that corner. You would have bled out completely, son. “ my father controlled himself from spiraling into an emotional rage. My mother rubbed his back.

I reached over to Vinny, rubbing his bald head. He grabbed my hand, pulling it to his lips and letting the tears fall. The officers knocked on the door, peeking inside. Both my parents walked outside the room to meet them. Jaylin walked to the right side of the bed and stared at me, tears welling up in her eyes.

“ I know this ain’t your fault, David. “ her voice trembled. “ You need to at least tell Vinny the truth. “

I reluctantly agreed but knew it would be for the best. Jaylin told him everything that she knew: from the threesome to the incident at my house, to the incident in Alabama, and last night. She knew it was the wife, although I never told her much about Angela.

I expected Vinny to be upset with me, but he displayed more vengeance than anything. “ I knew dude was up to no good. “ he sighed, shaking his head and attempting to hide his anger from me. I never saw him angry, but I could feel it. “ Have you talked to yo’ people? “ I shook my head. He looked disappointed. “ Why not? “

“ I’m sure he’s afraid they won’t believe him. “

“ David, you know that don’t make no sense. “ Vinny cooed. “ You gotta’ say somethin’. “

The door opened again as Detective Seemore walked inside. She looked at me filled with so many questions that she already knew the answer to.

“ Say it ain’t so, Mr. Huff? “ she shook her head. “ I gain no joy from telling you this, but he was released this morning on bail.“

“ Whatchu’ mean released? “ Jaylin spoke my words for me.

“ I’m not sure how this happened, we are still investigating that part. “ she sat down at the edge of the bed. “ The restraining order is still set in place, and you should be safe here. “

I looked away, not accepting any of the words she was speaking. Vinny stood up, pacing the floor before punching the wall and storming away from the room. Jaylin took off after him. I prayed she was able to calm him down. How the hell did I make this much of a mess?

“ Still no parents? “ I shook my head. “ Listen, I know that you are scared and afraid, but you can’t let this go any further. Your life was threatened last night, Mr. Huff, what does that tell you? “ she sounded like my mother. “We will continue to do anything we can to keep you safe, okay? “

Her defeated sigh followed by her gently patting my leg further frustrated me. How the hell could he get released? What charges were filed against him in the first place? No matter what she told me about safety this and safety that, even if she was telling the truth, Jonothan would find a way to slip through those cracks. He would get to me by using the power he has.

____________________

It’s been a week, and hunger is eating me alive. I’ve been doing the tube feedings, but if you knew how uncomfortable and complicated they were, you’d be starving just like me. I just told them to take it out. I glanced at the clock on the wall that read ten o'clock. I rolled my eyes at the small TV screen playing yet another episode of House of Payne. I turned the TV off, causing my mother to look up from her book. She stood up, walking over to me and kissing me softly on my forehead.

“ It’s gonna’ be okay, baby. “

The door was pushed open and Vinny walked through with a tank top and grey sweat pants on. I looked at my mother who was staring him down. I nudged her gently, pulling her from lustful thoughts.

“ Your daddy’s getting' some tonight. “ she swooned, giving Vinny a hug and a kiss before leaving the room.

I looked him up and down, my eyes darting between his d**k print and his handsome face.

“ Look, I wanted to be comfortable, aight? “ he chuckled, pulling the jacket off, kicking his slides to the side, and climbing inside the bed behind me. He kissed my neck before I turned around to face him. I pulled gently on his beard hair as we looked into each other's eyes. “ You okay? “

I nodded my head before he planted a kiss on my forehead.

“ D, this was scary as s**t. Findin’ you on that floor was scary. Made me feel grateful. I never took us for granted, but I always assumed we’d have time. “ he rubbed his thumb across my cheek.

I closed my eyes, and before I knew it, I had dozed off and slept for what seemed like forever. I felt Vinny get up from the bed, and head into the bathroom. Or at least that’s what it sounded like. The opening and closing of the second door is what sent me into alert mode. I turned around, facing the male nurse standing with his clipboard. Something was familiar about him, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

“ How are you feeling, Mr. Huff? “ he asked me. I nodded, turning over and sitting up in the bed. He walked over to the monitor, checking to make sure everything was reading correctly. Something was off, though. He didn’t wear a nametag, and his body language told me he wasn’t supposed to be here. I reached for the panic button. “ Stop fuckin’ playin’ with me. “

His voice froze me in my tracks, but I still managed to push the button. He ripped the tube out of my neck as that familiar pain stung me again. I coughed up the blood, staining the blue hospital gown and the white blanket. He straddled me in the bed, placing his hand around my throat and pushing me into the pillows.

“ You thought I wouldn’t come for you? Huh? You get me locked up and think I ain’t gone’ show you who in charge? “ he growled at me. He stuck out his tongue, licking the side of my face. I felt disgusted. “ You mine, D, don’t ever forget that s**t. “

He lifted the hospital gown, viciously ripping away the white briefs I had on. I was too afraid to even react to what was going on, so I let him. I let him hurt me. He moaned and cursed as he enjoyed my body, and I was getting the worst end of it. He kissed the scar on my neck and I winced.

“Paybacks a ‘muhfucka. “ he raised his hand that suddenly held the plastic knife. He used all of his strength to penetrate the healing wound.

I sprawled awake to Vinny’s light snores. My head moved in sync with his breathing, causing his chest to crescendo and cave. The lights were off, except for the one emergency light by the door, and the small light shining through the curtains from the rising sun. I lifted my hand, gently reaching for the bandages still around my neck. I had to make sure they were still intact.

“ You good? “ Vinny stirred, repositioning his legs. I nodded. I hated to wake him.

There were knocks on the door before Jaylin came walking inside. Behind her was a middle-aged woman with beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes. She looked over her glasses at me and smiled.

“ Good morning, Mr. Huff, I’m Doctor Alexandria. “ we shook hands as she nodded to Vinny and Jaylin. “ If you don’t mind, I would like to take you down the hall for a little test to see how you’re healing, is that fine? “ I agreed. “ Great. We’ll let you get freshened up, and I’ll be back in thirty minutes. “

The woman turned on her heels to leave the room. Jaylin turned her face up. “ She tryna’ say you stank? “

“ No, she doin’ her job. “ Vinny grunted as he got up, helping me off the bed and over to the bathroom. He took the hospital gown off of me, running the water, and giving me a light bath as I sat down in the white chair. Once he was finished, he dried me off, putting the fresh gown over my body and walking me back over to the bed.

After about twenty minutes, the doctor came back to get me and escorted me down the hall into a smaller room. I sat on the covered fixture, shuffling until I was comfortable enough on the loud paper.

“ Alright, Mr. Huff, I need you to open as wide as you can, okay? I’ll be sticking this inside so I can get a better look. If you feel any discomfort or gag reflex coming on, you let me know. “ I nodded as she proceeded to place the nasty wooden stick on my tongue and slowly ease the long and thin device inside of my mouth. “ Oh, awesome. Seems you’re healing very nicely, I don’t see any scarring, and the stitches are completely gone. Redness and swelling are gone as well. “ she removed the device from my mouth as I held my neck where the scar was. She removed the bandages and took a look at it. “ This will take more time, but it is looking well. “ she redressed the wound, placing the fresh bandages over the cut. “ Good news. We’ll have you on shakes for two days to see how you react, okay? Thank you so much! “

She guided me back to the room where Vinny, Jaylin, and my parents were waiting. I walked further into the room and noticed that Detective Seemore was standing inside as well. My mother looked at me with sad eyes and my father couldn’t look my way at all. I knew it was time.

“ David, why did you keep this from us? “ my mother started, more disappointment in her tone than anger. “ Your life could have been in danger. “

Jaylin stood there with a satisfied grin on her face. She knew I couldn’t say anything, and I would just have to sit here and take everything that came my way.

“ Jonothan is still a threat, unfortunately, we cannot locate him. I had other detectives check out his active addresses and they’re both empty. No one saw or heard anything. “ she explained.

“ A lucky man he is. “ my father shook his head. He then looked up at me. “ What took you so long to tell us, David? Just like your mother said, you were in danger and we could have put a stop to this before it got to this. “

“ I think he was scared. “ Vinny looked at me. “ Jonothan ain’t some random man, he has history with the family. He was family, and he was trusted. We all know David, he don’t want the drama, but some things you can’t keep pushin’ under the rug. “

“ Now that makes sense. “ my father nodded to Vinny. “ This still could have been avoided, David. “

I nodded, not really knowing how to feel. Embarrassed. Relieved. Stressed out at the fact Jonothan and Angela were both gone. I sat down on the bed, processing everything.

“ Baby, nobody cares that you had a threesome. “ my mother sassed as everyone internally chuckled. “ No matter the circumstances, if something is bothering you, small or big, you come and tell us. “

“ Which won’t be a problem ‘cause you’re moving back in. “ my father insisted.

Nobody said anything. Nobody went against it. The fear came rushing back, and I remembered how relentless Jonothan was. He didn’t care who was in the way, he wanted me and he would do anything to get me. I was about to use my eyes to speak up for myself, but my father interrupted me.

“ You heard what I said, and you don’t have a choice. “ he stormed away from the room, slamming the door behind him. I looked at my mother who was speechless like everyone else.

“ We will continue our searches and update you with any new information we find. “ my mother nodded towards Detective Seemore, walking her out of the room.

“ Listen, David, I know you’re scared, but this might be for the best. “ Jaylin comforted me, eyeing Vinny to chime in for support.

“ Yeah, babe, it-it's probably for the best. “

I looked at them like they didn’t get it. How could they be so naïve? They didn’t know what this man was capable of. They didn’t know how twisted his mind was. By going back to my parents, that was putting them in grave danger, and I will never be able to live with myself if something happens to them. Any of them. So I snatched away. I turned away from her, silently crying. Here I was, thinking this would all be over soon, but I wasn’t sure anymore. I felt just how I did crawling on that bloody floor. I feel like I’ve already lost. It feels like I’ve already died.