Unchained Hearts (Baxter Family Saga) (12 page)

The police came, followed by the EMTs as Kyle was taken by stretcher and Brian was taken into custody, ranting that he was just getting romantic with his girlfriend. The police questioned Randy and he told them how he found her. The police taped off her apartment while they took pictures and dusted for prints. The police ruled Randy out as a suspect since a few students had seen him come in just a few moments before the raucous.

The techs found Randy’s phone between the cushions and found no harm in giving it back to him. He called his friends, told them what happened and headed to the hospital. The nurse asked him to wait and the same detectives showed up in the lobby. The nurse gave them an update and the lead detective, Cam Sykes, filled Randy in. “It’s a good thing you showed up when you did,” he said. “We took a look at Brian Lockwood’s apartment. Apparently, he’d been stalking your friend for a while and took pictures of her every move. He knew her schedule, her friends, intimate details I don’t even know about my own wife.”

Randy couldn’t believe his ears.

“We’re thinking he drugged her somehow, but it doesn’t make sense.”

“What do you mean?” Randy asked.

“We found the Chinese food in the fridge you mentioned and a box of semi-warm brownies which looked homemade. In Brian’s apartment, his fridge was stocked with vegan stuff and his oven looked cleaner than his bathroom.”

Randy roughly rubbed his face as he tried to wrap his head around it all. The nurse came out and said that KC was partly awake. The detectives went in, but came back out a few minutes later and Detective Sykes made his way to Randy. “She doesn’t remember much, but she’s asking for you.”

He looked at the nurse who told him to go ahead. Randy practically ran to her room. Seeing her in the bed, so vulnerable, his heart nearly burst. She turned to see him and said his name.

“I’m here, baby, I’m here.” He walked to the side of her bed and held her hand. There were tubes and wires on her as he gripped her wrist and kissed it.

“All I could remember was eating and then someone holding my hands...”

“Sh, sh, sh, it’s okay. That creep won’t hurt you again. I promise.”

“I’m so tired,” she whispered as her head flopped to the side.

“Go to sleep, I’m right here.”

He heard her mutter something as her eyes closed. Randy watched her intently, trying to figure out what happened. Randy fell asleep in the chair next to her bed, holding her hand and only stirred when a nurse called his name. 

The detectives had some more questions and needed him to stop by the station. He looked at Kyle, not wanting to leave her.

“It’s okay,” the nurse said. “Her mother is on the way, so she won’t be alone.”

He still hesitated.

“So, how long have you two been dating?” the nurse asked.

“Oh, we’re not. Not yet. We’re friends. She’s my tutor.”

The nurse smirked and said as she left, “If my ex tutored me like that, we’d probably still be married.”

Randy got up and gently kissed her on the cheek. He promised to check on her later.

***

Randy went home, grabbed a quick shower and headed to the station. Detective Sykes pointed him to the chair next to his desk which was neater than any of the others next to him. 

“We’ve been talking to Brian all night and he swears KC is his girlfriend. Could he be telling the truth?”

“No way.”

“How do you know?”

“We were supposed to go on a date last night,” Randy declared and saw Detective Sykes’ eyebrows rise. He continued, “She was deeply into school, hanging with friends, tutoring, but over time, we got closer. It just happened between us, you know.”

“Thought so. It seems this Brian has had numerous complaints from women dating back a few years. He never did anything until now, but we’re establishing a pattern of behavior.” Detective Sykes flipped through his pad. “Oh, and Brian reports “hooking up” with a young woman the night before. He didn’t know her name, but she had reddish blonde hair and a “body to die for”, as he calls it.”

“Red hair?” he asked. He remembered the noise he heard coming from Brian’s apartment from the night before...but it couldn’t be.

“Do you remember something, Mr. Hall?”

“It’s nothing.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Sykes said and he tented his hands under his chin, then leaned back in his chair, focusing on Randy.

“We had a football party at KC’s and when I left, I thought I heard a woman’s laughter coming from his place, Brian’s place. It sounded familiar.”

“What do you mean?”

“It sounded like my ex, Soraya Munroe. She always did that laugh when we—”Randy stopped, feeling his cheeks flush.

“Hooked up?” Sykes asked.

“Yeah.”

“Was she at the party?”

“Yes. We broke up and then she left.”

“Could this redhead be her, you think?”

“I guess, but it doesn’t make any sense. What does she have to do with KC almost getting raped?”

“Well, Brian said the redhead showed up at his apartment and told him his girlfriend was ready for him.”

“What?” Randy exclaimed. “That…no, that can’t be right.”

“So we’re thinking she provided those brownies to Ms. Avery and then tipped Brian off.”

“But that would mean she set KC up to be raped? That doesn’t sound like her. Yeah, she’s mad at me, but she doesn’t know KC and I are together.”

Randy shook his head and continued to deny it, but the more he did, the more he had to admit the possibility could be true. As he was thinking, Detective Sykes got a folder and read the contents. “The preliminary panel on the food in her fridge was negative for any drugs. The brownies were loaded with mega doses of
Eschscholzia californica,
also known as California poppy, and smelled of coconuts.”

“Coconuts?” Randy uttered and felt the pit of his stomach drop.

“Yes, why?”

“Soraya makes these brownies with coconut extract, but that other stuff...I don’t know. They’re a family recipe and...” What he was thinking made him sick. Soraya gave KC spiked brownies and set her up. The bile rose up his throat. “Bathroom.”

Detective Sykes gave him quick directions and watched him bolt. He picked up the phone and arranged for a warrant to search the apartment of Soraya Munroe. 

Randy almost didn’t make it to the stall in time. He washed his mouth out thoroughly and splashed water on his face.
Christ
, he thought. 
This can’t be happening.

Detective Sykes came in and saw the look on Randy’s face. If there was a hell, Randy Hall was in it.

“We’re checking out your girl, Soraya Munroe.”

“I don’t understand how...what would...”

“Jealousy, anger can make people do stupid things. She probably thought she would get back at your friend for something she thought she did or you did. Whatever the reasoning, if this story checks out and she did spike those brownies, it’s at the discretion of the D.A. who has a thing about rape cases.”

Randy nodded. 

“I suggest you go home and just try to relax.”

“I’ve got to check on KC. I promised her.”

“Actually, we got a call that her mother picked her up and is taking her away for a bit.”

“Where is she?” Randy asked.

“Her mother asked us not to disclose that, but did say to thank the young man who saved her daughter.” He put his hand on Randy’s shoulder. “You did good, kid. We’ll take it from here.”

He didn’t feel like he did good. In fact, he couldn’t help but feel like this was all his fault.

***

Randy went home to try and study for his midterms, but all he could think about was Kyle lying in that hospital bed. He slammed the book shut. He grabbed his gear and headed to the gym where some of the conversations were about some assault on campus. He plugged in his headphones and just turned the treadmill up. He ran as fast as he could for thirty minutes straight and then stepped off, ready to hit the weights.

Working out for a solid ninety minutes, hard, and then hitting the showers helped. It was late afternoon and Randy realized he hadn’t eaten anything all day. He took a trip into town to the Chinese restaurant and just hung out. Being away from the campus helped and he stayed in the restaurant looking out the window until the restaurant closed.

The next day, his midterms were a blessed distraction. Randy copiously went through every question and answered them. He finished the exam early and went back to his place and just sat on his couch when his phone rang. He answered mindlessly.

“Hi.”

He sat up straight. “KC? How are you? Where are you?”

“I’m good and I’m in Atlanta right now. I wanted to call you, just to hear your voice...and to see how you did on your midterm.”

“I think I did okay. It’s good to hear your voice, too.”

“My mom thought it would be a good idea to be here for a while, but I’m getting antsy. I want to get back to life.”

“I get that,” he said. “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too. You saved me and I don’t know how to thank you. I had no idea Brian was a crazy stalker. They told me about his pictures and the keys.”

“Keys?”

“Yeah. He had made copies of the key to my apartment.”

“What?” Randy’s anger flared. Just thinking about what Brian could have done if he hadn’t showed up when he did. And Soraya…

“I convinced my mother to just have my locks changed. She was ready to find me a new apartment.”

“Maybe you should get a new place.” Randy knew being away from her would be hard, but more than anything he wanted her safe. “The memories of what happened…”

“No, I feel like I’d be running scared from this guy and I don’t want that. We’re putting in some alarm stuff and I’m taking other steps. I just want to go home.”

He fought the urge to convince her to get a new apartment, but the last thing he wanted was an argument.

“God, I miss you,” she uttered simply. 

He smiled. “So tell me, what exactly do you miss?”

“Kissing you. Having you hold me.”

“I can’t wait to do all of that again. When you’re ready.”

He had read enough about victims of rape and attempted rape to know he didn’t want to push her in any way. She needed to feel safe again and that’s exactly what he was going to do, if she let him.

“Listen, I should be back later this week, I’m thinking sometime on Friday. I’ll call you.”

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Randy felt like he could breathe again. The sound of her voice was enough to lift him out of his funk. That was when it hit him. After all this time, all this flirtation, he loved KC Avery. Just the very admission made him feel lighter and happier than ever. He loved her and couldn’t wait to have her in his arms.

The next day was easier. He made up the classes he missed on Tuesday and worked with a renewed purpose. Friday he would see KC again, the thought made him have a little extra pep in his step. It had been a while since he was this happy and he liked it. All he could think about was holding her. There was something about KC that spoke to him. He cared for her, but in a different way than the other girls he’d met. She was smart and beautiful, yes, but she was also tough, confident, and a fighter, especially when she fought off her attacker. Ever since that night, he realized he wanted nothing more than to have her in his arms and he couldn’t wait to see her.

Friday afternoon, Randy got the call he was waiting for. He stopped by the coffee shop and picked up some of his favorite pastries. He practically sprinted to her apartment. The minute she opened the door, he stepped in and grabbed her in a hug, holding her there for a long time.

Kyle’s tension eased as she fit her body into his. They parted slightly, putting their foreheads together.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi.”

“I am s—”

Before Randy finished, Kyle’s lips were on his. At first he was stunned, but then the heat of her hungry mouth made him melt as he gave in to his own desire for her.

Kyle was shocked by her boldness. She usually thought things out so clearly, but being in his arms felt too right and if she had learned anything during her time away, it was that she had ignored her feelings for too long. 

They both stood there kissing and when they parted, Randy looked at Kyle. She held his gaze as she walked backward into her bedroom. She turned him around and gently pushed him back until he sat on the edge of her bed. She straddled him and continued their tongue play. 

Randy’s hands wandered underneath her shirt, caressing her bare skin. Softer than silk was how he would describe it and he couldn’t get enough of it. He could feel her taut nipples against him and gently peeled off her shirt. Kyle unhooked her bra and shrugged it off, tossing it carelessly to the side. Holding her back, Randy devoured her nipples one at a time. At her sharp intake of breath, his erection was about to burst through his pants, but he continued to worship her delicious breasts.

Randy held her as he swiftly laid her on her back and deepened his kisses. Kyle possessively weaved her hands through his hair, enjoying every lick. She reveled in the attention to her breasts. He slowly moved down and had his way with her belly button ring. Slowly unbuttoning her pants, he slid lower and peeled them off, followed by her lacy boy shorts. He gently kissed and teased her triangle and moved his way back up to her lips. While their tongues played, Randy’s hand wandered down to her crotch, playing with her. 

Kyle squealed, pushing her hips up to his as her body gave in to his delicious assault. Randy’s fingers traced her engorged labia lips before settling on her nub, gently caressing it repeatedly. Small bolts traveled up the pit of Kyle’s stomach, building into an explosive blossom of ecstasy. It was the first time in a long time that she had let herself feel this kind of pleasure.

Randy watched her and swore he had never seen such beauty. He loved the look on Kyle’s face, a mixture of surprise and surrender. The way her body responded so sweetly was a testament to just how open she was to him and it made him want her even more. He let his fingers travel to her opening where he could feel her slickness. She was so ready for him and he wanted nothing more than to have her envelop him. 

Kyle closed her eyes and let her body respond. Her hands traced his arms and covered his fingers as they kissed deeply.