Liam
It was early afternoon, and he had hours to kill. Not knowing how long he’d be stuck in Jersey and with limited funds, he decided to skip lunch and just pick up something small from the nearby convenience store later, as he’d long since eaten all his meal bars and drank all his water. He watched a little TV to distract himself and help the time pass then decided he should head to the store before it got dark. It didn’t seem like a bad area, but the hotel had seen better days and the businesses were run down. He figured, why press his luck?
Shoving his feet in his shoes and shrugging on his coat, he headed out the side door of the hotel into what he realized was a dingy alley. Making a mental note not to leave that way again, he headed to the front of the building then took a walk down the street a ways to the convenience store.
He didn’t exactly know what he wanted and only had a little bit of cash in his pocket, so he wandered around the store, picking up a couple meal replacement protein bars, a single bag of microwave popcorn, a couple microwavable noodle cups, and a breakfast protein shake. He figured that would last him the night, and then in the morning he’d hopefully have a bar left and the shake to get him home.
He had to tally the total in his head to make sure he hadn’t picked up more than he could afford. A pretty, young girl walked in, picked up some gum, some mints, and a bottle of water and stood next to him in front of the check out. He glanced over, smiled, and told her she could go ahead. She thanked him and asked the clerk for a couple scratch offs, paid for everything with cash, and left as he proceeded to check out. He had exactly two dollars and eighty-seven cents left once he paid and walked out, happy that he’d probably be able to stave off most of his hunger with his purchase.
When he got outside, two wanna-be tough guys were crowding the girl, talking her up. She looked scared, cornered, and like it was the last place she wanted to be. She tried to circumvent dude-bro number one, but he skirted around her, asking her where she was going and telling her they just wanted to chat. She backed up, and dude-bro number two moved so she backed into him. He grabbed her arms and squeezed them saying some snide, sexual innuendo. She tried to shrug him off and finally said, “Look guys, I gotta go. I’m gonna be late for work.”
Liam approached and said, “Guys, she obviously isn’t interested. Leave the girl alone and let her get to work.”
One of them scoffed at him and said, “Stay out of it, little dude. We’re just having some fun.” He leered at the girl and said, “You’re having fun, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
She glanced at Liam then back to the guys and said, “No. Let me leave, please. I have to get to work.”
The other asshole said, “Oh, come on. Don’t be like that,” and reached for her shoulder, gripping it hard.
She whimpered and tried to pull away, and Liam had had enough. He approached, shoved the dude’s hand away and said, “Back off. Jesus. Can’t you tell she wants nothing to do with you?”
They came at him aggressively, and he wrapped his arm around her and tugged her towards him, hustling them both towards her car. She was teary now and whispering, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” under her breath. They approached the gas pumps, and the gas attendant turned towards them and watched as he bustled her into her car, and she continued to thank him as she turned her car on.
“You’re welcome. I’d avoid this place next time if you see them hanging around again.”
She nodded, and he shut the door. She sped off, and he glanced over at the guys who were glaring daggers at him but making no moves to retaliate. He continued on his way, feeling relieved when he turned back one more time and they appeared to be ignoring him and talking to each other as they lit fresh cigarettes. He picked up his pace but felt like he was out of danger. Another block down and he looked behind him once more.
Breathing a sigh of relief that he didn’t see either one of them, he crossed the street towards the hotel one more block away, still very aware of his surroundings and walking quietly so he’d hear anything that sounded like he was being followed. Finally stepping onto the parking lot of the hotel, he felt like he’d made it. He’d been totally convinced they were going to make a move, and he knew he’d have no chance at fending them off, so he’d expected the worst and was happy—
Suddenly he was flying through the air, breath knocked out of him from the boot he’d gotten dead center in the middle of his back. His bag of food went flying, and he caught himself from hitting his head on the pavement with his palms and wrists, which burned like hellfire. Before he could regain his breath, let alone his equilibrium, he was yanked up by his jacket collar.
One of them spoke low to the guy that had him in his grip as he shut the door to their car. “There’s an alley behind us, take him in there before anyone sees and calls the cops. Fucking idiot, you should have waited until we dragged him back there. If anyone saw us, we’re fucked.”
He’d been walking between two cars in the parking lot and hadn’t noticed another one drive in and quickly park. He’d been listening for hurried footsteps, not a car. So he hadn’t registered it. He was gasping and wheezing, still unable to pull in a full breath and panicking as they yanked him closer to the alley he’d come out of earlier. When he could finally breathe, he did his best to put up a fight, knowing the last place he wanted to be with these two guys was the fucking dark alley.
Try as he might, getting loose of two men much larger than he was, wasn’t possible, and he only belatedly realized he should be screaming his fucking head off. As he was dragged into the alley, he let out a loud yell and cried for help three times before he felt a solid punch right to his solar plexus, and he doubled over with an oomph as all the air left his lungs again. He fell to his knees and was kicked again, his ribs just narrowly missed, his stomach once again taking the beating.
He’d never been so scared in his life, and not being able to breathe was fucking him up even more. He was going to die in this hellhole of a hotel alleyway, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. They wrenched him up into a semi-standing position, his arms held back behind him as one of them punched him in the jaw. The other let him go at the same time and down he went to his hands and knees.
Expecting to be attacked again, he curled into a fetal position and covered his head with his arms. He heard some scuffling, and the world went fuzzy, his pain was so acute. He heard several grunts and what sounded like someone hitting the ground behind him. Not understanding what was happening, he didn’t move and stayed where he was until he felt like he might be able to get up and get away.
He glanced back and saw one of his attackers laid out behind him and two men fighting just beyond that. He knew this was his only chance, so he slowly got to his knees and did his best to get up without using his fucked-up hands, which wasn’t easy. He staggered a step or two and went down again, unsteady on his feet.
Unwilling to give up and knowing he didn’t have much longer, he pushed himself to his feet again, still doubled over from the pain. He managed a couple steps then a couple more and was just about to speed up his pace when he heard someone shout his name. Knowing he must be mistaken, he kept going until he heard it again, along with someone telling him to stop. Something about that voice had his muscles obeying, and he slowly turned to see someone running towards him.
Scared to death he was going to be attacked again, he stumbled back, tripped over his own two feet, and went down hard on his hip, one of his palms trying to catch his fall automatically, sending searing pain up his arm. He cried out, falling onto his side and clutching his arm. He flinched when he saw heavy biker boots come into his line of site and expected another kick. Pulling back, he covered his head with his arms again and whimpered, at his breaking point.
The gentle tone saying his name threw him off and confusion clouded his mind. The soft touch caused another whimper, and he shook his head as he said no, over and over again. The tender touch turned a bit firmer and pulled his arm away from his head. He turned his face away and closed his eyes, ready to be hit again, but it never happened. The calming words continued; he felt a hand in his hair and a thumb softly wiping away tears he didn’t even know he’d shed.
He looked up and realized who was crouched over him, a hulking protective presence, and he gulped, wondering if he was hallucinating. He tried to speak but nothing came out. He tried again and managed no more than a squeak. When at last he was able to speak, his vulnerability came through loud and clear as he whispered, “Daddy?”
Cash
He’d finally arrived at the hotel and had to dole out a Benjamin to get this room number and yet another to get a keycard. The kid at the counter was unable to turn the money or the steely look in his eyes down, and his hands were shaking as he passed over the keycard. He went into the room without knocking and knew immediately Liam wasn’t there.
The dingy room was dark, and the noise from the heater clicking and puffing to keep the room semi-warm was the only sound he heard. The boy’s phone was plugged into the wall, charging. Shaking his head, he knew the boy wouldn’t go far on foot in the cold weather. He turned and exited the room, seeing a side exit and going for it.
He was out of the hotel and walking into a nightmare in the dark alley before the door even closed behind him. Nearly unable to comprehend what he was seeing, he didn’t react as quickly as he should have and couldn’t stop the punch to the head his boy took or catch him before he fell again, curled into a fetal position, covered his head with his arms, and didn’t move to get up.
His vision bled red, and he ran at those fuckers like his feet were on fire. He made quick work of the first asshole, punching him in the temple. He went down hard, out cold before he hit the ground. The second one, the one that had hit his boy, was going to have to suffer a bit more. He didn’t want to take long and leave Liam alone, but he wasn’t about to let the piece of shit get away with what he’d done. He had no fucking clue how long they were beating on him, but when he looked back at Liam, he still wasn’t moving and though he thought he couldn’t get angrier, somehow, he did.
He hadn’t been this angry in years, and he let all of his anger fly with his fists. He stopped when the guy could no longer stand, and knowing he’d have a couple cracked ribs, two black eyes, and most likely a concussion, only made him feel a little bit better. He turned and saw Liam trying to get away. He was bent over in pain, and the anguish that speared through Cash at not being there before he was attacked was nearly unbearable. He called Liam’s name and jogged towards him. The boy didn’t stop, however, so he put a little steel in his voice and said, “Boy, stop.”
That did it, and he put on a bit of speed to get there before Liam fell again, but he must have scared him because he scrambled back and tripped, falling and hurting his arm just as Cash got to his side. Cash gentled his tone and reached out to touch Liam softly. His boy’s arms went up, protecting his head as if expecting another blow. He whimpered when Cash touched him and told him no, over and over again, as if he didn’t realize who Cash was.
Cash gently tugged one of Liam’s arms away from his head, knowing the only thing that would convince him he was safe was to see him. His heart broke when the boy turned his head, still expecting to get hit. He continued speaking softly to him, ran his hands through his hair, brushed the tears from his face. “You’re okay, baby. I’m here now. Look at me, Liam. I won’t hurt you, boy.”
When the boy finally looked into his eyes, he blinked and shook his head slowly then opened his eyes again, as if not believing what he was seeing. He tried to speak but couldn’t, finally managing a whisper that Cash felt pierce his heart. That one word affecting him more than it ever had. The emotion of it, the sheer desperation of it, was almost his undoing.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, baby. I’m here. Daddy’s here. Don’t move, all right? I’m going to call the cops, and I want to make sure nothing’s broken.”
He quickly dialed nine-one-one and gave the hotel’s address and told them what happened. He set his phone down, ignoring the dispatcher, and ran his hands along the boy’s arms and legs, asking what hurt. He knew when he undressed him later, he’d see bruises that would bring all of his anger back, full force. He didn’t want to move Liam, but the boy continued to try to get up, still looking a bit disoriented. When he finally used his Daddy voice, the boy stilled and stopped trying to get away, choosing to sit and rock back and forth to soothe himself instead, which broke Cash’s heart.
He moved to sit next to Liam and gathered him close, laying his head on his chest and kissing his hair, so angry at himself for the way he’d treated him and feeling to blame for everything bad that happened afterwards. He had a shit ton of making up to do, and he’d treat the boy with kid gloves until he was all better then he’d have to set some very strict rules for the boy to live by.
He could hear the ambulance before he could see it. He stood and helped Liam to his feet. “Can you walk, boy, or do you need me to carry you?”
Liam shook his head. “I can walk.”
They painstakingly made their way to the entrance of the alley, and the emergency crews saw them and came their way. The paramedics and EMTs went about helping all three men. Once he was sure they were treating his boy in the ambulance and taking care of him properly, he finally began to answer the cops’ questions. The paramedics, still in the middle of treating his boy, allowed the police to question Liam as well.
He heard one of the police that had been talking to the two thugs talking to another cop about both of the men having records. He knew that would go a long way toward the police believing their version of events. The cop interviewing Liam sent another one down the street to talk to the gas station attendant, and pretty soon, they were releasing Liam but getting both of their information to contact them with further questions.
The paramedic spoke to them both when he said, “You’ve opted not to be taken into the emergency department. You don’t seem to be exhibiting any signs of concussion, but if you have dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, nausea, or anything that doesn’t feel quite right, you need to go. You’re going to have a lot of bumps and bruises so take it easy, and your wrist needs to be kept wrapped for several days. I’d also strongly suggest icing it every hour or so for fifteen minutes to keep the swelling down for at least today and tomorrow. The abrasions on your palms and wrists should be kept clean and bandages changed daily. Any questions?”
Liam shook his head no, but Cash asked several more about the possible concussion, finally feeling confident enough that his boy was really roughed up, but not too damaged. He wrapped his arm around Liam’s back and guided him away.