Night Together
Today has been long. I spoke to my dad about the wedding, and he was reluctant about the club, but eventually agreed when I explained it was like a home for me and that a princess castle isn’t for me. I saw
disappointment in Jasper’s face as my dad agreed, he honestly thought. he would push me into a big wedding.
I’ve been looking at wedding things with my mum while watching Damiana. My dad and Jasper have been sitting for hours finalising some business things. Jasper appears stressed over it, and I watch as he finishes his drink before pouring another.
I’m ready to leave, but these are insistent on getting things done before the event. I don’t know what business it is, and I don’t want to ask. I can see Jasper is frustrated though and my dad appears to be no help.
“That will have to do.” Jasper pushes the laptop away.
“I will get my jacket.” I watch my dad walk away, walking to Jasper, I straddle him.
“You need to stop Daddy, have a break from everything. You didn’t. sleep last night, I kept seeing you awake.” He hasn’t stopped or slowed for months now. First, he helped my dad get out, then he sorted the clubs, and the house, staying up to watch in case Hayley showed, and in between still doing his businesses.
“I will baby girl. The house is sorted, so it’s one less stress.” He pulls. me closer to him.
“You stink of whiskey daddy.” He laughs and nods. “So, I’m driving.” We’re going in one car, my dad and Jasper will be doing business all
Night Together
night so will drink, and I guess I will be the driver.
“If you’re sure baby girl?” I nod and smile. He needs time out, grabbing the keys I stand and watch my dad walk through to us. I told him to stop avoiding my mum, so now I just need to wait and see if he listens.
Getting in the car I begin driving. I smirk as I remember two days ago, I like the car, every now and then it changes things up.
“What are you smirking at princess?” My dad looks at me from the back and I look at Jasper and laugh, and hear him groan. My dad looks at us confused then has a realisation moment. “Don’t, I don’t want to know, at all.” I wouldn’t have said we fucked in the car.
I look at Jasper, he’s quiet.
“You okay daddy?” He nods but doesn’t look it. “Honestly?”
“Think I’m just tired and coming down with something, I’m fine baby girl.”
“So, it isn’t you’re drunk?” I smirk and he laughs.
“Baby girl I had three, I’m not drunk.” He rubs his head, and I look at my dad who shrugs his shoulders. Getting to the event, I park, and we get out. Jasper stands for a moment, and my dad walks in.
“Daddy, are you sure you only had three?” I walk to him, and he nods.
“Yes, baby girl, just run down. Come on.” He wraps his arm around me, and we go in, I walk around with him for five minutes but even I can tell he is useless. Walking to my dad we stop, and he looks at ust confused.
“I’m going home. I need to lie down.” Jasper states and my dad nods.
Night Together
“I am going to be another hour or two. I will get on the back of one of the guy’s bikes.” We walk away and Jasper stops.
“Stay baby girl. Enjoy the night off. I will get a taxi back, there’s no point in you coming back I will be asleep. I swear I am fine, just tired and I guess today is the day it finally decided to kick in.” Kissing met he leaves, and I try to stop worrying, walking around I talk to some people.
I have met a few of the people who work for Jasper, in his own businesses. My dad seems to be everywhere, clearly taking on Jasper’s role as well. I have tried ringing twice now and have not gotten at response from him.
“Princess.” I look up and my dad smiles. “Stop, he said he would be asleep. You constantly ringing won’t let him sleep. Stop worrying.”
“I’m going to go home.” I know he said he was fine and tired, but I need to go home.
“Okay princess, drive safely and let me know when you get home and do not wake him. I sent him home plenty of times to sleep since I got out and he didn’t listen, so just let him sleep.”
“I won’t wake him, dad.” I just need to know he’s okay.
“Stop worrying, I can see it. I will be a bit longer then I will get back and pick your mum up.” Hugging me he walks off. Leaving I get in the car and drive. I don’t know why but I try Jasper again and get no response. I’m tempted to message my mum but if she is sitting with Damiana, I don’t want to wake her. Stopping at the gate I put in the code and drive in. Our bedroom light is on, I relax slightly, so he got home. The shutters are still closed, and everything looks fine.
I don’t know why I was worried he wouldn’t have gotten home. Getting
Night Together
out I walk in, stepping into the kitchen I stop, my mind trying to process the scene before. Moving I rush towards Jasper and feel something hit my head. My body falls to the floor as darkness washes
me away.
Waking, I fight to make sense of things. I remember leaving for the event. Jasper leaving, Jasper! Shooting up I look around me at the dark room. I remember Jasper tied to a chair. Feeling around I realise I am in the cupboard, trying the door it is locked.
Okay, searching around where I was, I look for my phone unable to find it. I can feel the blood running down my face. Walking to the unit I move it and slowly open the door. It’s a good job Jasper forgot to get it closed up. Peering out I don’t see anyone. Slowly I step towards the stairs and hall, stopping when I hear her.
“I can Jasper, then you have no one left.” Hayley? I look around, the shutters are still down, how did she get in?
“You want me fine but leave Harley and her family alone.” Jasper’s words sound broken. “Please Hayley, I will walk out now with you. before anyone knows, just leave Harley and Rooster alone.”
“No!” She screams and I begin to move forward more, I hope Damiana is in her room. There’s a phone in our room I can use to call the police. “If they are alive Jasper, you will keep coming back, so she dies, but not until I kill him.”
Stepping forward I can just see the chair and Jasper’s hands tied behind
it.
“Don’t Hayley, she has done nothing wrong to you.”
“She took you and my baby!”
“Damiana isn’t yours. Look, untie me and we can leave and talk
Night Together
Hayley.” I step forward again, and can now see Jasper, he’s not looking at me, he’s looking towards her.
“Talking solves nothing, Jasper. She needs to hurt.”
“Hayley she was hurting. Please.” Jasper pleads.
“No, by hurt I mean I want to drag her out of there and throw her down in his blood and make her realise her dad is dead, then she will watch me kill you.” Shit, I step forward again, Jaspers eyes coming to me, his head shakes slightly and his eyes widen.
I can see his hand moving, trying to get me to run but I can’t, if I can get to the mobile phone I can call for help.
“I won’t kill you Jasper, but you will watch Rooster and Harley die.” I step forward again, Jasper shaking his hands.
“I’m sorry, running is the only option I have Hayley. I can’t fight, Rooster would kill me.” Jasper glares at me, I know I should listen to him, but I need to help. As I step onto the bottom step Damiana cries. I hear movement followed by Jasper screaming at me to run.
Moving I run up the stairs, feeling something grab my leg, falling I hit my head and groan. Kicking my feet out I hit her, and begin to climb the stairs again, as soon as I stand my body is thrown to the floor again.. I scream feeling something stab through my leg.
I watch as her hand swings towards my face holding the knife, moving my head she misses and I swing my head forward hitting her nose. Groaning in pain, I push her off me, I shouldn’t have done that, it hurt. Struggling to stand I try and rush to Damiana, but her hands grip my hair and drag me back.
As I scream I try and kick backwards, and feel the knife cutting against my side making me panic. Swinging my head back, I scream at the pain
Night Together
as it hits her. I can barely see now, stumbling forward I reach for Damiana’s room, if I can get in and close the door it will lock. She won’t have the code. I feel her hands grasp me, reaching out I hit the button, and feel the knife against my skin again. As I grasp her hand with the knife she keeps hold of my hair. Her hand swings my head forward into the wall.
This would be easier if I could see and if my head didn’t hurt so damn much. I try kicking her, unsure of where she is, my hands wiping my eyes to cry and clear my vision more. I feel her shoving me to the floor, her foot stamping down on my ankle and I scream.
Whimpering I wipe my eyes seeing her step over me, moving, I kick her knee, watching as she falls. I hear the thuds as she falls down the stairs, my body collapses back as I struggle to breathe.
“Baby girl?” Jasper’s voice is loud but I can barely breathe let alone talk. “Harley!”
“I’m fine.” I don’t even know if he can hear me.
“God baby girl I thought that was you. My phone is here, hurry.” I struggle to my feet, I need to get Damiana, she is still crying. Struggling to walk on my foot I get to her room and pick her up. Holding her against me. I look at the door, if I close it we’re safe, but Jasper? I try and walk to the steps.
It’s too much. I have to go down the steps while sitting, my ankle hurts.
too much to stand.
“Baby girl!” I ignore Jasper and work my way around Hayley, crawling to Jasper I keep hold of Damiana. “Lie down, just lie down baby girl.” He looks at me worriedly, lying down I keep my arms wrapped around her. “Give yourself time, don’t rush.” I nod, but I feel like I need to sleep right now. A moment passes in silence.
Night Together
“Once you feel like you can move, unfasten me, baby girl.” I nod and try to brace myself to move again.
“Harley watch out!” I hear Jasper scream, my hand reaching out for something, grasping the knife from the table I turn and raise my hand, watching as the blade goes through her neck, the blood running down. onto me, screaming I push her off me.
“Shit, baby girl untie me, I need to stop both of you from dying.”
“I can’t.” My eyes grow heavy. I’m dying, I’m sure I am.
“Harley Rose! Do not go to fucking sleep.” His words are stern and I laugh. “Good, unfasten me please baby girl because I need to help and call for help.” Shuffling closer to him I use one hand to untie his.
“My dad will be here soon.” He should be.
“He won’t be, baby girl. He’s busy.”
I laugh slightly. “I hit the panic button outside Damiana’s room.” That button sends a message to my dad, Jasper, me and a few club members.
“I forgot about that, hurry please so I can help you.”
“Why is there a knife in here?” I’m glad, but if there wasn’t I would be dead.
“Hayley brought it in baby girl, just hurry please.” Nodding I continue to unfasten his arms. As I have one untied the door flies open, my dad rushing in and standing shocked with the police behind him.
“Don’t touch them!” The police look at my dad.
“Can someone check her please and the baby?” Jasper points to me, fighting to get his other hand free. I watch one of them take Damiana
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from me and hand her to my dad.
“She’s going to need to go in.” I hear the policeman talk as he leans
over mc.
“Can I sleep now, Daddy?” Damiana is safe.
“No!” I chuckle at his answer. “Can I be untied please?” The room falls quiet or so I think as I hear nothing else. I open my eyes and see Jasper looking at me full of worry.
“You fell asleep!” I laugh. “You scared me, baby girl.” He smiles and I look around myself. “You’re in hospital, you can come home, Diesel has said he will keep a watch on you. You’re safer at the house than here. They just wanted to wait for you to wake.”
“Is Damiana, okay?”
“She’s fine. Not a single scratch baby girl. Next time run don’t fucking fight!” He looks at me annoyed.
“I’m done with running and not fighting Daddy. I’m done with taking everyone’s shit.” Leaning down he kisses me.
“Fine, but don’t ever scare me like that again. Your dad is clearing up the house and watching Damiana.”
“What happened?” The shutters were down, how did she get in?
“I got home, I remember sitting at the table needing a minute because. of how bad I felt and I passed out. When I woke up I was tied to the chair. Hayley had hidden in the moving van at the other house, then hid in the garage until we had left. She had put something in the whiskey, I don’t know what though.”
“My mum?” I didn’t see her.
Night Together
“She’s fine. Hayley snuck up behind her and hit her with someone, she was tied to the bathroom radiator.
“We need to talk about what happened Hayley.” I turn to the police and nod, sitting up and grasping Jasper’s hand. Sitting I explain what happened, and Jasper complains it’s a waste of energy asking me when there is CCTV to show everything. Reluctantly they nod.
“What happened with her? I didn’t want to hurt her.”
“She died, there will be no charges as CCTV does show everything. You had a lucky escape, Harley, you and your daughter.” Jasper looks at them confused.
“How?”
“When Hayley was fourteen, she ran away from her abusive parents, taking her baby sister Hope with her. She was trying to protect her little sister, but the police caught up with her two years later and took the baby from her, she had a breakdown saying Hope was hers. Two years later she was a babysitter, she began an affair with the husband, and his wife was found dead. We suspected it was Hayley but couldn’t. link her there. The husband had stopped the affair, and she was obsessed with their baby. He moved after his wife died.”
I look at Jasper, how did she keep that hidden?
“A year later, she was seeing a man, his ex was pregnant. After the baby was born she became obsessed again. There was a fire, the woman and baby died, and there were signs of foul play but again no way to link her. She swore she had nothing to do with it, but the baby’s dad had expressed that his ex had placed a pin lock on the baby’s room after fearing Hayley would try and take her. We believe Hayley caused the fire, thinking she could get the baby and leave. There was too much gasoline around the house, and the fact the mum was dead instantly
Night Together
from the flames meant Hayley had no way to get into the baby’s room and she died.”
Shit. I feel Jasper squeeze my hand.
“Is that everything?” Jasper looks at them.
“No, since the age of sixteen, Hayley has had multiple partners who had kids, whether in affairs or relationships with divorced men, all of whom had to take out restraining orders as she became obsessed with their babies. Look, you’re lucky to be alive. We saw the footage, we just needed a statement from you, which we now have.” Saying bye, they leave.
“I’m sorry baby girl.” Jasper looks at me, clearly full of guilt.
“Don’t Daddy, this isn’t your fault. It isn’t even her fault, she was a child and wanted to protect her little sister, and did, believing she was hers only to have her taken.”
“Are you crazy baby girl? How can you be so calm and understanding?”
“Because she loved her sister and was clearly traumatised from her childhood and believed that was her baby. She should have been offered help, not had the baby taken and just dumped on the streets alone. Can we just stop, I want to go home.” I do, I want to cuddle Damiana. Nodding he helps me get ready and we leave.
I can’t stop thinking about Hayley though, she was so young, and was trying to protect her little sister and clearly did from her own parents.