Not knowing the identity of my rapist drove me insane because that meant he was still out there; that he could rape another female or me—again. But, video from the security cameras along sorority row and two of the Delta Gamma house cameras, in conjunction with campus police and the unwanted help of my police officer brother, the authorities were able to identify and arrest the guy who had raped me.
His name was Aaron Dutton, a third-year medical student and Dean’s list honoree. He had thrown away a promising life for what, to get off on fucking a limp body? All I can say is that Aaron got lucky the campus police got to him before Deacon and Kade. Both men had been out for blood and would have risked everything for me.
Once the trial was over, and Aaron was locked up, I felt like I could breathe again. Even so, Sydnee made sure I went to counseling. It was in group therapy that I learned some people don’t recover from something so heinous, but once I came to grip with my reality, I swore I wouldn’t act like a victim. There was no way I would become the woman who was afraid to leave her house, live her life, fall in love, or be frightened of her own shadow. My mind kicked into self-preservation mode, and learning to defend myself was my number one priority. Deacon was more than happy to train me even though I was at the opposite end of the state from him. He never wanted me to feel helpless ever again.
So, my brother geared me up with professional-grade pepper spray, a small taser, and took me to the gun range every day off he had. After I was comfortable with a gun, he surprised me with a 9mm CZ P-01Ω with magazine extensions that, at the time, only law enforcement officers can get. He also suggested I get my concealed carry weapon permit and outfitted my car and bedroom with hidden gun safes.
My brother taught me the best ways to fight off and escape an attacker if I couldn’t get to one of my forms of protection I now carry everywhere. Unfortunately, everything he taught me would only work if I was still conscious, not drugged, and passed out like I was in college. Nothing could have saved me then. But I don’t plan to be in a position for that to happen ever again.
“I’m sorry, dear brother. That question was for me, and I’m more than capable of answering for myself.” And to drive the point home and piss Deacon off, I tell Kade that I would appreciate the escort out to my car.
Kade backs away from my desk and walks out into the hall while I gather my things. He’s still in my line of sight, and I can hear Deacon telling him to back off, but the look on Kade’s face clearly says he doesn’t give a fuck.
Does he look at me and see a woman, or does he see his best friend’s younger sister?
I’ve wanted to ask that question for years but never found the courage to get the words out. Someday, I will finally ask, just not today.
3
Deacon
“Bro, this weird game you’re playing needs to stop,” I tell Kade as he pulls into the police department’s gated underground parking garage. The ride between my family’s office at the vineyard and the station was awkwardly quiet. He knows damn well my sister is off-limits to him, yet he stares at her as if he wants her.
“D, we’re friends. She’s like a sister to me too.” His tone is defensive, and if I know my friend, that means he’s looking at Britney in a way he promised he never would. I need to nip whatever this is in the bud before I kick Kade’s ass.
“That’s just it. Brit isn’t your sister. She’s my baby sister, and your manwhore dick isn’t going anywhere near her. There is no exception to that rule.” When I glance over at Kade, I catch the eye roll, followed by a low growl. He’s crazy if he thinks I’m going to back down when it comes to Britney.
“First, Brit’s not a baby. She’s only a year and a half younger than us. Stop treating her like she’s still a child. You’re almost as bad as your dad.”
“Oh, I was going for worse than my dad. So, you’re saying there’s room for improvement?” We both open our doors and exit his car. Looking over the roof at Kade, I notice his jaw is clicking like it does when he’s pissed. It’s good to know that I can still get under his skin.
“Fuck off. And wipe that shit-eating grin off of your face. I have no problem leaving you here when our shift ends.”
“What?” That is one thing Kade cannot stand; someone who plays dumb when they are not.
Once inside the building, our mood shifts from bro-banter to work mode, leaving our shit outside. Although the city of Los Palomas may not be too far from where we grew up, it is nothing like our posh town. It’s hard to believe that thirty-five miles outside our city limit is what we refer to as Gangland. It’s like there’s an imaginary wall built around the multi-million-dollar estates, protecting them from Los Palomas’s gangsters, keeping them in the outer limits.
“Winslow. Beaumont. The chief wants to see you.”
“What in the fuck did we do now?” Kade’s short-fuse is still lit from earlier as he speaks before he thinks about who he’s talking to. Besides that, we work nights, and the chief is never here this time of the evening unless something is going down.
“Why do you assume you did something wrong?” Sergeant Black directs the question at Kade. “Did you do something you weren’t supposed to?” His left eyebrow rises toward his receding hairline as he waits for my partner’s answer.
“Nothing, Sarg.”
“Get changed out and meet me at the chief’s office.” We both nod and head to the locker room to change into our blues.
After we have dressed in our uniforms, we follow our sergeant’s instruction and make our way down the hall to the chief’s office. The door is open, and our sergeant waves us in and proceeds to tell me to close the door behind me.
“Chief,” Kade greets with a nod in his direction, and I follow suit.
“We received an anonymous tip that the three Norteño gang members that robbed the bank and liquor store last week are back in town. You had eyes on them before they disappeared. We need you two to get eyes on them again and apprehend with caution,” Chief Salazar informs us.
“Do we have any leads on where they might be hiding out?” I ask, even though I already know the answer to my question.
“No,” Chief deadpans.
“We have a CI we can contact. There’s a possibility that he’s seen them or heard where they might be,” I offer as a half-ass solution to the minimal information our superiors are giving us.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Get on it,” Sergeant Black barks out the order.
Kade and I head to briefing, but as soon as we arrive, our fellow midnight crew is filing out of the room and heading out to their patrol cars.
“Where were you guys?” our shift corporal asks.
“Chief’s office with Black,” Kade answers. Our corporal is a bit of a douche, but he always has our backs, so we don’t hold it against him, most days.
“Care to fill me in?”
“The chief wants us to get eyes on the Norteños from last week,” I answer.
“Why wasn’t I told?”
“Take that up with the chief or Black.” Kade’s mood isn’t improving, which only means we’re in for a long night.