Seeking Relief

Nocturnal Discussions

A pair of women sat at a bar. One was ignoring her drink, talking and gesturing emphatically to her companion.

The other woman was calmly and haughtily taking controlled sips of hers.

The first friend finished her monologue and paused to wait for the other’s reply.

Alisha rolled her eyes at her friend and took another drink of her cocktail.

“Alisha, I’m just voicing my concerns.”

“Well. Thanks, but they’re not needed.”

“We always said that if one of us was with the wrong guy, we would tell the other one.”

“Yea, but I didn’t think you’d give in to jealousy and do this instead.”

“I’m not jealous! Look, I don’t want him. I know at first, I thought he was hot, and I was envious of what he was doing for you. But as time has gone on, I honestly think he’s bad news.”

Alisha put up a hand in her ‘friend’s’ face.

“Stop. Just stop.”

“I’m serious! Alisha, listen. You told me what your s*x is like. Honey, that’s sadism. And not just fun in the bedroom as a fetish, sadism. He is GENUINELY trying to hurt you because that’s how he gets off.”

“Woooow.” Alisha said with sneer, “You really are going for it aren’t you?”

“Just answer me this, do you guys have a safe word?”

Alisha paused bringing her drink to her lips, “A what?” She asked.

“A safe word. A word you both agree on that when it is said, the bedroom games stop. It’s word that signals when it’s gone too far, and you want it to end.”

Alisha scoffed.

“We don’t need that sort of thing. He can read me like a book and knows what I want. Besides, he never goes too far.”

“Alisha. That’s dangerous. Slip ups happen. You need to have clear communication about this before you guys do anything. Including where the boundaries are and safe words you agree upon. You cannot expect him to read your mind and think you’ll be safe.” Her friend grabbed her arm. “Please! I talked to my therapist. She says you are in over your head. That this man is not playing fetish games with you and that he is in fact a genuine sociopath.”

Alisha shook off her friend’s hand.

Tears started to stream down her friend’s face.

“Please. You’re in danger. I have a bad feeling and I don’t want to lose you.”

“Ugh. You’re embarrassing.”

Alisha hailed the bartender for her bill. She paid and as she grabbed her things she turned to her companion.

“Jealousy does not become you. You could have just let things be and not stick your nose in my business. But instead, you can think about what you missed out on being my friend while I live the high life. He’s going to treat me like a queen while you stay down here in the muck.”

She walked by the woman and said over her shoulder, “Have a nice life, tramp.”

Then she stalked out of the door in a fury.

The first woman stared down as her tears dripped down her face and off her chin into her drink. She watched the droplets ‘plink’ into the glass creating rivulets each time.

She slowly closed her eyes realizing that she had a feeling that that was the last time she’ll see of Alisha.

******************************************

Emmett woke a little before Jake, but his realization to what he was hearing was delayed. So by the time he realized the source of the sound and reason, he was jumping out of bed at the same time as Jake.

Heart wrenching whimpers and sobs were echoing throughout the quiet small house.

The men quickly padded down the hardwood hall to the small study/guest room where Jade slept on the murphy bed.

They rushed in and sat on her bed, gathering her in their arms, sandwiching her in between them. Jade didn’t still or quiet her movements, she kept pushing in downward and outward motion with her hands by her crotch.

Emmett felt his stomach turn sour as he realized that she was trying to push something or someone  away from touching her intimately.

Jake grabbed her wrists gently and held them to his chest.

“Shhh. Jade Stone, we’re here.” He crooned to her softly.

Her struggles lessened and her crying slowed, but didn’t cease completely.

Emmett brought his hand to her head and held it to his chest. He enveloped them in his large arms.

“It’s us. We’re here for you.” He soothed quietly.

Jade’s crying softened and her movements almost completely ceased.

Emmett pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. Then he looked at Jake.

“I have a theory. She’s sleeping in our bed tonight.”

Jake answered with a nod.  Emmett easily hoisted Jade in his arms, careful with her slinged, casted arm.

When they got to the bedroom, Jake pulled covers back to help Emmett ease Jade into the middle of their king bed. He propped her bandaged arm on a pillow.

Then the men settled in on either side of her, with their arms draped over her. Then with their other hands they held the other’s hand of the draped arm by their chests. They laid there holding each other and Jade between them as they listened to her cries and whimpers continue. Then they gradually slowed until they finally ceased as Jade slipped into peaceful sleep.

******************************************

Adam sat down with a bottle of water and pulled out his phone. He hadn’t had a chance to look at it since shortly after his shift started. He had seen that Jake and Emmett had Jade settled in, that she had fallen asleep on the couch and they were about to wake her for supper.

He had wanted to talk to her, but her rest was more important. So, he replied to the other guys his gratitude and focused on his job.

It was early morning by the time Adam looked at his phone again.

When he saw the new texts from Jake and Emmett, his heart stuttered a bit, and then fell. Logic-wise it made sense. But he had hoped she wasn’t part of the statistics that explain away abuse and trauma. In pre-med, he learned in psychology that victims of domestic abuse most often also have other forms of abuse in their life. Prior and often after, as their bodies and minds have been trained to recognize abuse as a form of love. Usually with victims there was an event or multiple events from their childhood.

It made sense that Jade had gone through that trauma as well.

But it didn’t change how he had hoped against all hopes that she hadn’t.

He pulled open a different app and dialed Mitch. Idly wondering how much of a fire was lit under Mitch at the moment.

Mitch picked up the line with a typical gruff, “Yea?”

“Hey. Have you seen Jake’s latest texts?”

“Yea.”

“How are you holding up?”

“I haven’t started an effing man hunt if that’s what you’re trying to ask.” Mitch replied roughly, “But I do plan on having some words with Linn.” Mitch also said referring to Jade’s advocate and friend.

“Are you going over to Jake and Emmett’s after your shift?” Adam asked, unaffected by Mitch’s stinging tone.

“We’ll see. It’s a s**t storm tonight, and I have a lot of paperwork to follow up with.” Mitch said with an exasperated sigh.

Adam smiled internally. He knew it. Mitch was a caring man. But he could be rough. Especially when his shift has had a few particular instances in it. But Adam knew that Mitch wouldn’t internalize it. He’d respect confidentiality, but his anger and frustration would be reflected in his tone, then he’d get it worked out with rigorous exercise later on. That was the benefit of being Mitch’s friend, as long as you had thick skin, you always knew what he was thinking.

So Mitch with a biting tone meant that he was having a rough shift. Which meant, he’d need a breakfast loaded with protein and carbs and then a long gym session later on.

Exactly what all of them probably needed.

Adam told Mitch, “I’ll get food and breakfast for you. I’ll make sure it’s heavy loaded. You just get your ass over to Jake and Emmett’s later.”

Mitch huffed out a laugh. “Alright. Later, man.”

“Bye.”  Adam said with a smile then hung up.

He needed a long gym session himself and he found he was looking forward to it.

He finished his water and stood up. That was the signal of his short lived, and rare, break. He tossed the bottle in the trash as he walked back out into the hall.