Guarded heart

Chapter 33 Pure rage

CHRIS POV

After Lisa left I had decided to follow her. I heard enough of her conversation with Summer to know something was happening. I told my dad we would be back later and I explain it then. As I left my dads house I rang Nathan and had him meet me at the cafe.

Upon arrival I noticed the bodyguard nick standing guard of the cafe with all the women and a few customers inside so I decided to go around the back with Nathan and check it out. That's when Sheena said that come women from Simone family had shown up causing drama. I knew who Simon was I wasn't stupid and I also knew what hell the family had put Lisa though.

As they were all leaving I headed in via the back and stayed out the back listening.

I decided to keep hidden unless I was required as I didn't want to upset Lisa even more but I sure as hell wasn't going to be far away incase she needed help.

As she spoke the words I can hear the pain in his words. The anger in her words. And then that women was so vile it made my blood rage until I had enough and decided to stand by my women yes my women side I thought to myself.

I see how Lisa looked at me with surprise. And I see how deflated she also looked at it pained me to see her upset.

And it kept going through my mind at a thousand miles a hour as I listened to everyone talking.

"That will be it for a year" Nick says.

"What do you mean a year?" I ask.

"At least once a year someone pops up to try have words with Lisa" Nick says.

"I don't know why when they have burner phones to do that themselves" Lisa says picking up a cup and throwing it across the room again.

"What did you just say?" Summer says.

"You what?" Hahley shouts.

"Hang on it makes sense now why you change your number so much" Katy says suddenly. But I just look at Lisa as she stays very quiet.

"Wait a minute you always change your number after a nightmare infact I said to Hahley she will change her number any day now" Michelle says.

"That's when they ring you" Hahley says

"Lisa?" Summer says taking Lisas hand.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Katy asks.

"What will it change? Even changing mu. Number doesn't stop them. It happens I kick the s**t out of a punching bag and move on. Now this doesn't change anything it was a slip of a tongue you can't tell Ryan and Sean I need my life back" Lisa says picking up enougher cup and throwing it.

"Okay, it's time to save the cups" Summer says moving them away from Lisa

"yeah I'm all fir the clean up but please let's keep it minimal" Michelle says.

"Okay here's the deal we will tell the lads, but we will also make sure you get your bodyguards go to Emma and your free of them" Summer says.

"I think to many choices have been taken away from Lisa. No disrespect but she didn't get a choice but to be attacked by that family not once but twice. Then they keep coming back for more and Lisa wants her independence that's why she kept the phone calls away from you all. Not because she wanted to but she knew it would take life choices away from her. So how about we let Lisa tell her brothers when she is ready. We can just support Lisa with what we know?" I suggest and I see Lisa look up at me in surprise again.

" Is that true Lisa? " Michelle asks.

" Yes, I wanted to tell you all but I knew more security guards be put in place and I don't them. No offence Beth and nick I love you all like family but sometimes I just want to be alone. I want to feel normal and you all remind me of why your here sometimes" Lisa says

"I think I have the solution" Nick says

"Go on" I say

"I think we should tell Ryan and Sean but I also think we should change the security control to Lisas control. She can then have us when she wants us and I know she will keep Emma's for sure so someone would 95% of the time be near by. But that will also give Lisa the freedom to say I want the extra support when she wants it and to say not today I want a me day ect" Nick says.

"What do you think Lisa?" Summer asks.

"I'd be happy with that" Lisa says.

"Then that's what we will do" Summer says.

"You can tell my brothers though, right now I'm going to hug my daughter for dear life" Lisa says.

"She is safe, my dad was in the middle of making milkshakes with Emma when I left" I say

"No more secrets" Katy says

"No more secrets" Lisa says as she takes my hand

"Can we go now please?" Lisa says looking at me.

"Yes, come on" I say helping Lisa stand up.

"Girls night tonight at yours" Michelle says

"Girl night at mine" Lisa says as she takes her crutches from Hahley

"Girls night" the rest say at the same time.

"Don't worry about the mess I will hire cleaners in for tomorrow" I say

"I will have Sean send some over. Don't worry about that" Summer says

"Thank god for that I was worried id cut my toes in these sandles" Katy says

"Sorry" Lisa says as she continues to hobble towards the door.

"You did good today. I'm. Proud of you" Nick says as he opens the door for Lisa.

I quickly send a text to Nathan say we are leaving and to follow us to my dad's as we walk out to my car.

LISA POV

As we sit in the car Chris looks at me before he turns the engine on but doesn't say anything.

"I will get Emma and go home. This just shows I'm not worthy of a relationship and that I will always be broken. You heard it yourself now" I say looking out the window.

"You don't get to do that. You don't get to decided if I love you or not. You don't get to decide if I run away or not. Your not broken you just showed me even when your in a cast you have a fire in your belly to claim back your life and look after Emma. But your not alone and your not broken" Chris says taking my hand in his.

"Why can't you see how amazing you are?" Chris whispers as he starts the car.

"Because I'm nothing special. I'm destroyed because of that family. They mentally destroyed me as well as physically. I may look normal but I'm not. Look at this leg and look closely" I say opening my legs slightly lifting up the fabric from the jumpsuit.

I point at the ugly scare on the upper inner thigh his parents scared into me.

"Scared, ugly and broken" I say as tears slip down my face.

"No, Your beautiful" Chris says wiping the tears off my face.

"Don't" I say

"What tell you the truth? Now I know why Sean said you always doubt your beauty. It's a scar that shows your battles. And you have had battles yes but I see a women who is beautiful. So is strong. Who is loving and caring dispite what life threw at her. I see you and think how amazing you are. So dont you doubt yourself and don't you dare push me away because of the true ugly people" Chris says then he starts to drive.

I don't want to push Chris away but at the same time I don't want to get to close if he will walk away when she sees how broken I truely am. I start to unbraid my hair because I've got a headache from hell. When it's fully unbranded I run my fingers through my hair before tieing it back losely into a bun before I get my phone out my bag and check my reflection on the camera.

As ugly as ever I think looking at the m******e run down my face.

"I can have Emma see me like this" I say.

"I already thought of that. And that's why we are going by yours first so you can redo your make up" Chris says.

I then pay attention to where we are and see we are a heading in the direction on my home.

"I just need wet wipes from a shop. I don't want make up" I say

"That can be arranged" Chris says.

"And I don't want to push you away but I won't be surpised wof you do when you realise how broken I am" I say.

"Then your be disappointed to realise I'm not going anywhere" Chris says lifting my hand to kiss it.

"I'm sorry cheering you and your dad up ended this way" I say

"You have nothing to be sorry for. But promise me next time you don't go. You tell me and I can have my friends pop along to arrest them. You do realise we can arrest them. And don't worry about the burner phones we can have that sorted as well" Chris says.

"I'd rather not go through statements, courts again it's to stressful" I say.

"Just tell me then and let me help you in future" Chris says.

"I don't need looking after like some weak women" I say

"No but even the strongest people know that having allies is always a good thing to have" Chris says.

"Okay" I say as Chris pulls up to a little corner shop.

"I will get you wet wipes" Chris says kissing my hand again before he gets out.

As I watch Chris walk into the shop I then jump out my skin as Nathan taps on the window next to me. I roll down the window.

"Who do I need to sort out?" Nathan asks.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Chris never asks anyone to come give him back up. But he rang me today. And your face says you have cried, so who upset you?" Nathan says.

"A devil" I say.

"I need a name" Nathan says

"Ah I didn't get the crazy women's name" I mutter

"Don't worry I will have it by the end of the day. You know Chris really likes you. I owe you therefore it's sorted" Nathan says

"Good luck with that" I say

"What do you mean?" Nathan says

"Can we not talk about it?" Nathan asks.

"Sure. But just know you need anything you can ask me" Nathan says

"Thanks" I say

"You also have a whole police station family behind you. I can see you and Chris are getting close therefore we all look after our own. You should ask Chris to be added to the officers partners what's app group they are really lovely people and will also be there for you" Nathan says.

"I only need one thing in life" I say

"What's that?" Nathan asks

"My daughters safety and happiness if that happens I can be happy" I say

"Emma is happy and safe though isn't she?" Nathan asks.

"It's the only reason I live everyday and pull myself back up after the bad days" I say.

"Don't worry your doing an amazing Job at that. You can be happy to you know" Nathan says.

"Thanks" I say

"Okay, well we still need to meet up for a lunch. Don't be a stranger" Nathan says nodding towards the shop and I look back towards the shop to see Chris stood the other side of the car.

"Call it quits for today" I say

"Nope" Nathan says walking away.

What is with these people I think as Chris gets back in the car.

"Here you go" he says passing me the wet wipes.

"Thanks" I say taking them

"I sent my dad a message saying we are heading back" Chris says as I take a wet wipe out.

"How is Emma?" I ask as I start to washing the make up off my face.

"I'm sure she is fine, my dad hasn't replied yet. Here take my phone and you can read the reply when it comes" Chris says holding his phone out to me.

"It's okay, I trust she is safe. I have a bodyguard with her still if something happened I'd know" I say not taking his phone.

"But if you read the reply when it comes then it will put your mind at ease" Chris says

"And what of someone else messages you that's your phone and I'd be Intruding on your privacy" I say

"No you won't, I have nothing to hide from you anyway" Chris says laying the phone in my lap then he starts up the car.

The rest if the drive was quiet even when Chris phone pinged I didn't even glance at it as it didn't feel right.

When we arrived back at Steve's house he was baking cookies with Emma who was so happy. Even Steve seemed very happy. While there cookies baked Chris lead me out to the garden with bottle of waters in hand. He lead us over by the tree where we sat in under. Just as I went to lay down from sitting down Chris picked me up and sat me on his lap with a arm around me as he leaned back against the tree.

"What are you doing?" I ask startled

"Just let me hold you a moment" Chris says as I look at him trying to figure out what he is up to before I rest my head on his shoulder giving up figuring it out.

"Don't let them womens words get to you. There just words and I won't let her or anyone else in that family ever hurt you again or Emma" Chris says.

"It's not your problem though" I say

"No, it's not but they upset you and she brought Emma into it therefore that makes it my problem when they upset the women I've fallen in love with. When they speak of Emma as of they have a claim on her when they don't. It won't be over your dead body because I won't allow them close enough" Chris says.

"You sound like Sean and Ryan just without the shouting from a different room they don't think I can hear from" I say.

"I know your a strong independently beautiful women all I ask for is you share your burdens with me. Together we can solve them. Together not just you on a one women mission feeling like you have the world upon your shoulders alone. I didn't accept you as my women just to show off as some trophy wife down the line. No i accepted you as my women for who you are. I accepted you knowing this wasn't going to be easy and you have personal battles to overcome and I respect that. But it doesn't mean you suffer alone. I accepted you as my women knowing your a brilliant single mum but that means of I want you I have to prepared to step up a father figure to Emma right now as friend until the time is right and I will do that proudly because she is as amazing as you are. So my little fire cracker you can lean on me like this physically just try to lean on me emotionally and mentally as well" Chris says.

"I don't know how to" I say

"I know and that's okay, your learn along the way. I'm not mad you didn't tell me today. I wish you did as I'd of saved you from hearing the disgusting things that women said. But I also get that it's a hard personal battle your facing" Chris says.

"Chris can you just be quiet and hold me for a while" I say just needing some quiet so I can think through things

"I won't let you go until your ready" Chris says as I look up at him and he kisses my forehead.

Not long afterwards my phone starts to ring and I don't move a inch as I look out at the sky.

"Your phone is ringing" Chris says

"It's either Ryan or Sean. Right now I just want to stay like this and think with some peace" I say

CHRIS POV

I held Lisa until Emma came out wanting us to try the cookies. I see how Lisa went from deflated to cheerful mode within seconds. I don't know how she did it but it was inspiring. There definitely wasn't anything Lisa would to to protect Emma from any sadness that's for sure.

Before we left my dad's I quickly went over the repairs to my mum grave and I was happier leaving my dad knowing he was in better spirits.

I then dropped Lisa and Emma home just in time for the Tescos delivery. Lisa took a photo of me carrying in the shopping and I knew she was doing the daily update. No sooner the shopping was put away all the girls arrived and chased me away so they could have a girls night.

I was then happy to leave Lisa and Emma knowing they were in good hands with everyone before I headed for the police station.

"Callum we need to talk" I say walking into his office only to find Sean, Ryan and logan sat in Callums office.

"Looks like you had the same idea as us" Ryan says

"Seems so" I say closing the door

"Summer said you showed up how did you know?" Sean asks

"I over heard part of Lisas and Summers phone call and well being a police officer I knew something wasn't right. Therefore I followed Lisa to the cafe and stayed hidden until I discovered what was going on and let me tell you Callums that women needs to be spoken with. The whole family need a restraining order. As for the ones locked up they need daily cell searches" I say seething mad with anger.

"I know it's already in motion" Callums says

"I want to be the one who goes and speaks with that women from today. Do you have a name yet?" I say

"Calm down Chris. You know full well your to close to this so I had Nathan go already for you and be seemed rather happy about that" Callums says.

"Who did he take with him?" I ask.

"Sarah. You know her history so don't worry she won't go lightly on them" Callums says.

"I think we should change the security team up so Lisa doesn't know who they are" Ryan says

"She will figure that out" I say

"He is right" Logan says

"I can't believe I'm saying this but Ryan we need to do what Lisa wants it's Mali g her hide things from us and that's more dangerous" Sean says

"I think do Lisas wishes and will make Lisa not hide things and she will be more keen to want to have them around. I don't think she fully wants them gone but just when she wants some time to feel free. In which case she is likey to be at work or with friends. I don't think Lisa will keep them away if she was fully in the loop" I say

"That's makes sense" Callums says

"Fine, but we all need to check in more with Lisa and make sure she talks to us as aell as pick up on low moods" Ryan says

"Fine" Sean says

"Okay is there anything else?" Callum says

"Thanks Callum we will leave you to your work now" logan says

"Chris your still on leave get out of here to" Callum says

"I'm hitting the gym" I say

"You have a gym here?" Ryan asks.

"yeah, I brought Lisa here to tackle the punching bags just like I'm a out to do" I say as they stand up.

"Sounds like a good idea" Sean says

"Feel free to join me" I say

"how big is the gym?" Logan ask

"There's plenty of punchbag for us all. It's huge sound proof and I'm going to blare that music" I say

"Okay I'm sold. But beers are flowing afterwards" Ryan says.

"Where is luke?" I ask

"late work meeting however he is meeting us for beers in a few hours so that means we have a few hours to hit the bags" Ryan says

"You know Lisa said I reminded her of you two earlier just without the shouting from a different room you think she can't hear from" I say

"She heard us?" Sean says

"Yeap" I say

"Damn" Ryan says

"She doesn't realise though I held the rage I just stayed calm in front of her" I say

"That's how we all feel when that family strikes" Logan says patting my shoulder as we reach the gym.

"I think she is going to tell me she is happy single and don't need no man" I say as we walk into the gym

"Give her time to think. She won't do that, it's just knocked her a little bit" Ryan says

"Yeah we all see it she loves you man even if she doesn't see it herself yet" Logan says

"You love her to don't you" Ryan says

"I think it was love at first sight months ago I just fall even more every moment we spend together" I say going to put the music on.

The next hour we all take our angers out in the punching bags and each strike I do I can't help seeing Lisas sad face today. From the moment she left my dad's house saying sorry, to the moment she broke down in the cafe, to the moment she told me she was broken pointing at a scar on her leg. Then to the moment she looked out at the sky looking lost and confused while I held her close. Then I imagined how the punching bag was every member of that sodding family who brought Lisa sadness and pain.

When I looked around I could see the others with the same look and force behind there punches and I knew they held so much anger and rage to yet would also walk over coal to see Lisa happy.

"Okay its whiskey time" Logan says throwing one last lunch towards the punching bag.

"Let's go get waisted" Ryan says

"sounds good to me" Sean say

"I definitely could do with a drink" I say going to turn the music off just as Nathan walks in.

"Ahh man I'mage to the party" Nathan says

"No we just going for drinks join us" I say

"You should of seen Sarah man I've never seen her so pissed off u my life" Nathan says

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Turns out Sarah was one of the female police officers to arrive in scene when Lisa was found heavily pregnant beaten and about to have Emma taken from her body. Well let's just say it still makes her blood boil now and she kinda gave that women some hell. Like I've never seen her look so scary in my life. She gave her such looks that I'm surpised the women didn't have burning holes through her head. She told her a few home truths about her family and how of she finds out she is within so much as Emma's or Lisas sight again she will personally dig up everything she can on the room and make sure she never leaves prison so long as Sarah breaths" Nathan says.

"Damn we have seen some stuff but I've never seen Sarah lose her cool before" I say.

"I remember alot of the officers were so disgusted that they had to walk out the room to be sick" Sean says.

"Jesus christ I didn't know that" Nathan says.

"Lisa was so distraught she wouldn't have pictures taken with Emma for a few weeks. She has like three scars I know off left on her body" Ryan says

"Well I think Sarah's words were enough to keep the women away" Nathan says

"She best stay away" I say

"Okay where are we going to drink? Because you all like like you need it to drown out them memories and you look like you need it to destress" Nathan says looking at me.

"Back to mine" Sean says

"Don't worry you can come" Ryan says as we head for the door. But my phone starts ringing and I see it's Lisa.

Hold up Lisas calling me I say and everyone turns to me going quiet.