CHAPTER THIRTEEN

We finally find out Rosa is going to live. I'm so relieved I start sobbing in Colby's arms. He strokes my hair soothingly as I do.

Nattie's with us now, but TJ isn't with her. She's a hysterical wreck over Rosa, possibly worse than I am, and I watch with vague interest as Dean pulls her into a hug. "Don't cry, Nattie," he says. "I don't like seeing you cry. She's alive. That's what matters."

Comforting Nattie should be TJ's job, but I've never seen him do it. The way Nattie is leaning on Dean, I'm positive it's been a long time since TJ has been there for her.

"The photos, Dean," Nattie's saying. "I was so sure she'd been killed."

"I know. Colby showed them to me. I saw how bad they were, but she's okay, Nattie. They all are."

"She's one of my best friends... If I lost her..."

Dean looks deep into her eyes. "You didn't. Rosa's alive and she's tough. She won't let this keep her down."

"She could be paralyzed."

"They'll know more tomorrow. Let's not freak out until then."

"Are you okay?" Colby asks me.

"I think so... I was scared," I admit. "Rosa's been my rock."

"I know. She'll be okay, April."

Drew is pacing back and forth outside of Rosa's room. I walk over to him. "How are you doing?" I ask.

"I'll be fine, lass," he says with a reassuring but very sad smile.

"She survived," I say.

"I know... I'm just praying she's not hurt as bad as they think she might be. I moved her, April... I could have paralyzed her."

"She would have been trapped in a burning car if you hadn't. You saved her life."

He nods, trying to accept this. I can see how exhausted he is and remember he got hurt, too. The adrenaline is wearing off for him now that we know Rosa is going to live.

"You should go to your hotel and get some rest," I suggest.

He shakes his head. "I can't leave her like this."

"Drew, you can't do anything else tonight. She's recovering."

"I didn't leave her in the car and I can't leave her now. Someone should be here when she wakes up."

"I'll stay with him," Tommy tells me. "You go to your hotel and rest. I'll call if we hear anything."

I'm too exhausted to argue. Knowing Drew will take care of Rosa and Tommy will take care of him, I ask Colby to take me back to Phil's hotel. When he had calmed down a bit, he'd texted me his information. I don't want to fight, but I know we need to talk.

I arrive at the hotel a short time later. Colby, Dean, Joe, and Nattie are all with me because the boys came together and Dean offered Nattie a ride so she didn't have to drive. Taylor had agreed to drive her rental back to the hotel for her. I say goodbye and walk into the hotel.

Phil opens the door to his room. He still looks furious and I almost turn around and walk back out, but I can't keep running from him.

"You came," he says.

"My husband's in town. It would be rude to sleep in separate hotel rooms," I point out. "Phil, we need to talk."

"About what, April? The way you fucked TJ behind my back or the fact that you're screwing Colby right under my damn nose?!"

I stare at him in shock. Have I just fallen into an alternate reality? Is he kidding me right now?

"Phil! I'm not sleeping with Colby, first of all. He's a friend. He's been taking care of me because I've been having some issues."

"You gave up your hotel room to move into his! Did you think I couldn't find that out?"

"Are you spying on me? It's nothing, Phil! I needed to stay with someone for my safety."

"So you picked some guy?"

"I picked a friend who's been kinder to me than my own husband for a while now! But I swear to you, Phil, nothing happened between us! I was scared and he's been protecting me."

"And TJ? Is he protecting you, too?"

"I told you TJ lied!"

"Right. Because you're sweet and innocent and virginal, right? You're cheating on me!" He shakes me so hard, I stumble.

"Phil, stop! Stop it!" I beg him. "Let go of me!"

"You're just a whore like everyone says!" He tells me.

I am floored. I stop fighting him and fight back tears instead. Phil isn't done though. "TJ can have you, you slut!" He slaps me across the face so hard I fall against the wall.

I don't know what I'm saying until I'm screaming the words at him. "TJ raped me, you fucking asshole!" I'm screaming and sobbing at the same time. "That's what he was bragging about!"

Phil stares at me. "What?" He asks. He's still shaking in anger, but he doesn't move now.

"Yeah. Your wife was raped and you were so focused on yourself that you didn't even notice." Maybe I'm being unfair, but that bastard just hit me. He deserves worse. "And I'm staying with Colby because he did it a second time and Colby and Dean are protecting me."

"April..."

"No. You do not get to act like you care after you hit me."

"I-I thought you were cheating on me..."

"And that makes it okay? I don't think so." I'm so done right now. I pull out my cell phone. "I'm sick of everyone using me and hurting me and being assholes to me! I am your wife and I refuse to stay with a man who hits me." I dial a number automatically.

"Come get me," I say as soon as Colby picks up. "Please."

I can tell Colby wants to ask a lot of things, but he just says, "We're coming."

I hang up and walk into the hotel lobby. Phil chases after me. "April, don't go. Please. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Yes you did. You assumed I was cheating on you and once you made up your mind, you decided that justified hitting me. You can't change that. And Phil, I swear to God, if you tell anyone what I told you, I'll press assault charges against you." I've snapped, but he knows my secret. I can't let him tell anyone. Everything will get worse if it gets out.

Phil grabs my arm and drags me back toward his room. I struggle against him and pull my arm free, refusing to be trapped in his room. We argue for several minutes in the hallway and he hits me a second time.

I know Phil marked my face when I see all three Shield boys hit a simultaneous rage at the sight of me. I'm just grateful they're here.

Colby looks homicidal, but I go right into his arms, so he doesn't attack my husband. Dean, on the other hand, goes straight for him. "You like hitting girls?" He demands. "Good, because I like hitting jackasses!" He begins beating the hell out of Phil.

I'm furious at him, but I can't let this happen. "Dean, stop! He isn't worth it!" I scream.

Dean looks at me. "I have a real problem with guys like him," he tells me. He throws another punch.

It's Joe who pulls Dean off of Phil. "She wants to get out of here," Joe says. "Let's just focus on April."

Dean rejoins Colby and I. Joe turns to Phil. "If you ever touch her again, our triple power bomb will look like child's play compared to what we do to you," he says. Then he walks out with the rest of us.

"I'm sorry," Dean tells me. "I used to watch guys beat on my mom all the time. It's a sore spot."

"It's okay," I say. "Just get me out of here. I never want to see that son of a bitch again." I'm pretty sure I mean that, and yet my heart is breaking. I love Phil, and I never wanted it to end like this, but there are some things you can't come back from.