Of The Drakos Kind ~ Book 2

18 - Salvaged Heart

Dimitri had texted several more times. Each one a bit more needy, demanding. “Rayne this is something we should do together.’ ‘I will fight to see him and you.’, things like that. He was trying harder than ever before and she was being difficult. Dimitri threw the tv remote across the room, hitting the far wall.  

Reaching down to his phone, Dimitri set up a video call with Kris and Angelos. It rang and rang. No answer. Looking at his watch it was ten o’clock. Too late with a kid, to just show up at the front door again. Tomorrow morning, he would be at her door and this will be hashed out. Enough was enough. They belonged together and he had nearly seven years to make up for. Darius ran through his mind.  Perhaps now his brother would look down and be happy with his actions. There not only was a son to think of but Rayne deserved better than what she had gotten and the guilt of that would take him years to get past.  Trying once more he called Rayne directly. Straight to voicemail. She was infuriating. He headed down the hall to grab some ice and pour it over the small bottle of bourbon that was calling his name.

Rayne finished her call with Kris who had just gotten up in Greece. They talked about a lot of things and she finally mention Dimitri and Kris tried to smooth things over. He reminded Rayne for a man to travel on a thirteen-hour flight there had to be some good intentions behind it. She knew he was right but her embarrassment of not revealing Zane sooner and his anger towards the situation had set her off. While she initially didn’t tell him to protect herself and Zane from his tirades, she saw in his eyes standing there something amazing. Love. Instantly, upon the realization of who Zane was to him, Dimitri softened and looked at the boy with affection. For this, Rayne felt guilty. The phone rang once more and Dimitri’s name popped up on the screen. She signed. The cosmos could just give her a break. Setting down her phone on the desk ignoring the call, Rayne walked into the kitchen for a snippet of win. She no more got a glass down from the shelf and her house alarm started going off.

 Zane came screaming into the living room about how loud it was and what was going on. Rayne walked over to the front door and typed the code in to stop the alarm. Within a second the front window was smashed in throwing glass all over Rayne’s body. Thankfully, her fluffy robe protected her from being severely cut from the spray. Screaming she told Zane to go to the safe space now!  Zane ran into the office and cowered under the desk where your legs would go pulling the chair in to cover his body.  It wasn’t the safe space in his closet but he was so scared getting there wasn’t in his mind.

 A hand reached in and unlocked the door and swiftly kicked it in. What came next made perfect sense suddenly to Rayne. It was Joshua, her former boss. He looked enraged and his eyes emblazoned. Rayne took a few steps back and headed for the kitchen. Hearing the front door swing shut and lock, Rayne was in panic.  She couldn’t see her phone and realized it was still in the office.  Grabbing a knife from the drawer she turned quickly to try and fend him off. He reeked of alcohol and body odor. The smell sickened her nostrils and her stomach wanted to heave.

He was quicker than she expected and had her wrist in his hand in seconds. His grip was so hard she wailed in pain and dropped the knife. “Finally I will pay you back for the life you have forced me to live.”

“I didn’t do anything to you Joshua. You stole money and got caught. Go to Jail and serve your time. Get out of my house!”

“OH I will leave your house when you are dead and that little bastard of yours is too. Wish his father could come see this happen. The pain he caused me and my family was catastrophic. She left me, took my kids and my life. That was all your fault.”

 Trying to wriggle free Rayne was slammed with such force into the refrigerator, the wind was knocked out of her completely. He was pressing his body against hers and she was trying to not throw up at his smell. His hand was on her throat and she could feel the world spinning. Bringing up her knee as hard as she could, there was a prayer that some sort of contact was made.  As expected, he didn’t see that coming and thought he had the upper hand. He backed away groaning in pain when her knee met his balls perfectly with ample force. Shoving him back to the counter across the kitchen she took off in a run to the office. Before she was halfway across the living room, she was tackled to the ground hitting her shoulder on the corner of the coffee table and screaming in pain.

 “Get the f**k off me!” her voice echoed through the house and Zane started to cry.

The soft vibration above his head caught his attention. He knew it was his mommy’s phone. Sticking his hand up and trying to feel for the phone on the desk without coming out of the crawl space. Zane took hold of her cell. Pulling it under the desk with him, Zane proceeded to redial the last number that called.

 “Rayne. Finally. I thought you were going to…”

 “Daddy. Dimitri…I am scared. A scary man is hurting mommy.”

 Dimitri froze. He had walked back into the room and starting to pour his drink when the phone rang. He had expected the sweet yet mouthy voice of his woman on the other end. The scared little boy who dared already call him daddy was another thing entirely.  He grabbed his keys and wallet and ran out of the room and down several flights of stairs. Zane was sniveling on the phone and Dimitri was about ten minutes away.

 “Stay with me Zane. I am coming as fast as I can.” He knew he should dial 911 but didn’t want to lose Zane. “Hey, I am going to hang up…”

 “No…” Zane whimpered.

 “Zane listen to me. I need to call the police but I will call you right back. I have to get mommy help.”

 “Ok, you better come back” and Zane hung up the phone.  

 Dimitri dialed 911 and gave all the pertinent info and explained he had to hang up as his son was waiting for him to call back. The operator patched in the number and they called together.

 “That was a long time…” Zane whispered through sobs.

 Dimitri told Zane he was almost there, that a 911 agent was on the phone because when he pulled in, he was going to come save mommy. The agent had the audacity to tell him that wasn’t the best idea. Dimitri ignored her. He would be damned if in this lifetime he lost two people he loved. Pulling into the drive he couldn’t get out of the car fast enough

 Her every thought was of Zane. She wanted this nightmare to be over and quickly. Joshua had tackled her by the waist throwing Rayne to the ground. The force her shoulder hit the coffee table should have dislocated it but other than the throbbing, searing pain it seemed intact. Her head was pounding and her heart was so fast she honestly felt like death was coming. Joshua’s two hundred twenty-pound body was sitting firmly on her thighs. Both her wrists were held in one of his hands over head. The stench from over drinking and not really giving a s**t about showers was overpowering. She twisted and turned as his free hand was feeling up her shirt as he laughed.

 “Get your disgusting hands off me!” She bellowed.

 “Oh I am going to finish what was started and then take your life as you have taken mine.” With that comment she spit in his face, rearing back his hand the slap to her face was forceful, jarring. Her vision blurred for a moment and her fighting stopped. His laugh was maniacal. All the fight she had in her was dwindling. She spat at him once more and nailed it right in his eye. His hand came from inside her shirt and drew back to hit her once more. She winced as it started to come down and shut her eyes tight. The blow never came.

 The weight that held her down was gone and she could take a deep breath finally. There was a loud thud noise and she started to focus. Kneeling over her was Dimitri. She smiled and flinched all at once. Her cheek was definitely shrieking in pain.  Dimitri placed his hand on her other cheek and smiled while pulling her tank top down and covering what had been disturbed.

 “Zane. Please.” Was all she could get out.

 Dimitri kissed her forehead and rushed down the hall. “Zane, I am here. Zane?”

 For a moment there was silence and then in the smallest voice through a closed-door Dimitri heard it. “I’m here” Rushing into the door he flicked the light on and a sobbing mini Dimitri faced child peaked out from under the desk. The phone still in his hand.

Reaching out for Zane he picked him up and headed back into the living room. Joshua was still knocked out on the far wall where Dimitri had thrown him after punching his head hard.  Rayne was sitting up holding her head and trying to focus.

 Zane was trembling and buried into Dimitri’s neck and shoulder. This was a moment of reality for Dimitri. All his life he had throw away love, toss emotions and caring aside because his own father didn’t know how to love him. What a fool I was. He thought to himself.  This is what life is about, being here for those who need you and protecting those you love. His eyes were full of tears. Only one other time in his adult life had he cried willingly and that was the death of his brother.  These tears were happy.

 Sirens were heard pulling in the driveway along with an ambulance not far behind. The officers came in with guns raised and looking at Dimitri. “Sir we need you to put the child down.”

 “This is my son and that piece of s**t against the wall is the perpetrator. Rayne needs medical attention", he said pointing to her glancing at the EMT’s. The officers looked from Dimitri to Joshua and headed to cuff Joshua. The very soft-spoken petite blonde EMT asked if she needed to look over Zane.

Zane lifted his head and looked to him mom. “I am fine lady. I hid under a desk. My mommy needs help please.”  Rayne was sitting up wincing at this point. Her blood pressure was sound and she didn’t seem to have a concussion.

 “I was just winded from being thrown around like a pillow. I am fine.” She watched them drag Joshua out hollering he was going to kill her one day.  There were many other words and cussing statements all the way to the car.

 “Ma’am we need a statement please if you are up to it.” Rayne nodded and recounted everything for them. She waited for the EMT to call in her refusal to be taken to the hospital and clearing her.  Her shoulder was badly bruised and would likely need a doctor at some point but she wanted to hold Zane and be close. Sitting on the couch Zane was still clinging to Dimitri. His face was buried in the crook of Dimitri’s neck.

 “Z are you ok? Mommy needs a hug.” Dimitri set him down on the non-bruised side of her body and Zane hugged her tightly.

 “I was so scared mommy but I saved the day. I called the Daddy I wished for. He came! You were right! He showed up! And I was right. He is a Hero in a mean man’s costume.” It hurt to laugh but she couldn’t help it. It was funny and absolutely correct.

 “Alight Zane you need to get to bed. It is late and everyone is safe.” Dimitri said sternly.

 “But if you leave and the bad man comes…”

“I am not leaving. I am staying here tonight and every night for the rest of your life. Now, go get in bed, we will find you something to watch until you fall asleep. I will be there, to tuck you in shortly.” Zane hopped up on Dimitri and clung to his neck.

 “Can you take me there? I will just in case need you to check the closet and under the bed.” Dimitri raised his eyebrow and looked down on the innocent replica of himself.

 “Alright. Let’s do this. I need to get your mom in a bath and bed so she can rest. “Dimitri touched her hair for a moment.

 Rayne watched Dimitri, the man of a million growls and grumbles, be tamed by his son. They walked down the hall discussing why he was a medium sized dragon and how scary that would have been if had only popped out to hurt the bad man. Dimitri assured him that the bad man definitely would have been scared but staying hidden helped him call and save mommy. Zane hugged Dimitri and kissed his cheek for a long moment.

 “You can’t lie to me ok. You have to stay. I prayed and prayed and you came so I know that it is meant to be. I know it.” Zane yawned as he crawled under the covers.

 “I am not lying Zane.  I am not going anywhere I just need to convince your mother I need to be here forever. But I am sure we will work it out.  Now here is your tablet and I am going to check under your bed… Nope nothing there.  And your closet… All clear. You should be good. Want me to leave the bathroom light on?”

“Geez I am not a sissy. No light please. I got this.” Dimitri laughed and headed out of the bedroom. Reaching the living room, Rayne was gone.  Damn, Stubborn woman. She had walked into the bedroom and started gathering clothes to shower and change into.  She was standing in front of the shower trying to reach and turn the water on with her non-dominant arm.  Dimitri stood over her and slid his arm in front pushing on the water.

“Why don’t you sit and let me do this Rayne.” She looked at him and wanted to have a snappy comeback, she wanted to be mad for all that had happened but in truth she just wanted to curl up in his arms and cry. Wrapping her good arm around him she buried her face in his chest and just sobbed. He proceeded to wrap both arms around her, without touching her damaged shoulder and let her cry. Kissing the top of her head, Dimitri said clearly.

 “Come on, let’s get you showered and in bed. We should get you some ice and pain reliever for that shoulder and face. You are going to hurt in the morning.” Dimitri stood her back a few feet and stripped of her clothes. She was teetering in the breeze that didn’t exist.  Stripping off his jeans and shirt he lifted Rayne into the shower. Dimitri stood behind her and washed every inch. While the very sight of her naked in front of him stirred the inner man who wanted to be inside, he took deep breaths and cared for her wellbeing first and foremost.  Washing her hair and his in turn, he took the handheld shower and made sure all traces of soap were gone. Turning off the water he stepped out grabbing two towels from the closet across the way. Slipping a towel around his waist he walked towards her shivering form. Her face was swollen from being hit on the one side but the sly smile she was emanating had everything to do with lust.

“Even hurt and in need of rest you give me such looks blue eyes?” She nodded and raised her arms to fit the towel around.  He carefully helped Rayne step out of the shower and dried her off. The way she felt even from under the towel had him cussing in his head. Not now Dimitri. Think of her first and not your needs.

He picked up Rayne and carried her into the bedroom. Searching the drawers he found black lace underwear and a large t-shirt with FML on the front. It made him snicker a little. She let him dress her and pull back the covers around her. She pointed to the bottom drawer which held a few pairs of boxer briefs and t-shirts that looked very familiar. She had them stashed in her room at the estate and he had missed them when packing up to move. All this time, she held onto bits of the brothers.

 Slipping into the black boxer briefs, she watched him intently move out of the room and knew he was headed to check on Zane. It was a few moments but he came back satisfied that Zane was asleep and the house was locked down.  He slid in the king size bed with Rayne and sighed. It had been a long day and night but finally he was home. He looked over at her grimacing face as she tried to find a comfortable spot.

 “s**t you need pain meds.” Dimitri remembered

 “Top Drawer of the nightstand on your side. Give me three please.” He withdrew the pills and strode into the kitchen to get some water. Returning she was sitting up straight with a crinkled nose.

“I can’t get comfortable. My shoulder hurts.” Handing her the pills and water he watched her take them and set the water on the nightstand. Sliding in on the good side of her body he held out an arm inviting her to curl into him. She took a few minutes but finally found comfort on her side curled into his chest. He stroked her hair and took in the essence of scent she emitted. It was almost as if it wasn’t really happening.

 “Thank you for saving me Dimitri. I love you.” He smiled as her body settled in and she started to drift off.

 He didn’t answer her for a minute. There was so many things swimming through his mind. He wasn’t a lover, a kindness caretaker or a sweet person but suddenly the mother of his child and his gorgeous son had flipped a switch and made all the things about his unfeelingness change. He would have killed for her tonight and when Zane burrowed into his neck and chest, the world was over and Dimitri’s heart was salvaged.