Heart of Dixon(30)

“Pop the trunk,” Jerome shouts at me as I see car keys flying at my head. I reach up in the air, catch the keys, and pop the trunk then stand back as I watch Jerome smash Zak in the head knocking him unconscious before dragging his body over to the trunk. “Grab his feet. Help me get him in here.” He shouts through loud grunts. He’s a big ass man but so is Zak. He was a personal trainer and nothing but solid muscle. I don’t even know how I managed to fight him off before, he looks like he could bear hug me and crush my body in two.

We lock Zak in the trunk and then after retrieving my shoes, purse, and phone we sit in the car while Jerome talks on the phone with another 911 operator as we wait for the police and ambulance to arrive.

I lay against the door, hugging my knees and crying for what feels like hours, but is really only fifteen minutes, as everything that occurred comes at me full force. As soon as the two ambulances arrived with the police, Jerome and I were looked over. They let me go after covering my minor scrapes with bandages. Though they took Jerome to the hospital because they think he has some broken ribs from the impact of the bullet, and they want to check for a concussion.





Chapter Fifteen




Sitting in the passenger seat of the cop car as I ride to the LAPD to give the police my statement, I pull my phone from my purse with shaky fingers and dial Savannah’s number.

After a few rings, it goes to voicemail. Cursing under my breath, I hang up and immediately call back. This time, after two rings, I hear Savannah’s voice on the other end of the phone. “You’re persistent when you’re drunk, you know that?” She says sarcastically into the phone. The sound of her voice makes the air leave my lungs and I begin to sob again.

All I can think about is how scared she must’ve been that night as she laid in that car thinking she was going to die. I don’t know how she found the strength to fight, but I’m grateful she did and that I was able to too. I never thought I’d talk to her again once Zak pulled me out from under that car. I was certain I was going to die.

“Savannah, you need to get down to LAPD right now!” I shout into the phone in between my cries as I sniffle and wipe my nose with a tissue from the small travel pack the EMT gave me.

I can hear the panic in Savannah’s voice as she asks, “The police station? What’s going on?”

“Zak attacked me.” The second the words leave my mouth the line goes silent. I hear footsteps running up stairs and crying, followed by the muffled sound of Kayden shouting in the background before a loud thud, which I’m assuming is Savannah’s phone hitting the floor. “Savannah! Are you still there?” I shout into the phone, trying to get her attention or Kayden’s. I really don’t care who at this point.

I can hear Savannah crying and what sounds like her throwing up as Kayden’s voice grows louder and clearer. He’s asking her what’s the matter, but no matter how many times I shout into the phone no one answers me. Finally giving, up I hang up the phone. Resting my head against the cool glass of the window, I call Dixon.

After five rings, he finally answers but the music in the background is so loud I can barely hear him. “Brooklyn?” He answers saying my name more like a question than a statement. I imagine he’s confused as to why I’d be calling him since I made it clear I never want to hear from him ever again.

I sob his name out as the sound of his voice causes me to break down again. I never thought I’d ever speak to him again. “Dixon…” My shoulders are shaking as my cries shake me to my core.

“Brooklyn. What’s the matter?” I hear him say something to someone and then the loud music a few moments later grows quiet as I hear a door shut. He must be in Kayden’s office.

Wiping at my tears, I inhale a shaky breath before speaking, “I was attacked...and Jerome. By...Zak.” I say between hiccups.

“You were what?” He shouts into the phone.

“We were leaving the party for Savannah and I insisted on walking with Jerome into the parking garage to the car…” My words taper off as another sob escapes me. I bring my hand to my mouth as I try to calm myself down. I spot the police department up ahead, so I know I need to speed up my phone call.

“You walked to the car?” Dixon asks trying to get me to continue.

I let out a deep sigh before continuing, “I heard a loud bang followed by Jerome falling to the ground. Oh my God, Dixon. If he would’ve hit me instead of Jerome, I’d be dead right now. Jerome, thankfully, was wearing a vest.”

“Holy shit! So Jerome’s okay?” he asks with shock and horror in his voice.

I nod yes even though I know he can’t see me, “Yes. He’s at the hospital though, being looked at. I’m at the police station right now. I was able to fight Zak off and, by the grace of God, Jerome came to just in time… pulling his gun on Zak and shooting him in the leg. We locked him in the trunk of the car until the police came. I was so scared…”

The police car comes to a stop. With shaky legs, I manage to climb out of the car with my shoes in hand and with bare feet walk into the police station.

“I’m glad you’re okay. Do you want me to come to L.A?” Everything in me is screaming tell him yes. Come here. Be with me because I need you. But I’m too scared. Calling him was a huge step but I can’t ask him to come here.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to come. I have Savannah and Kayden coming to the station now. I imagine we’ll fly back to Houston tomorrow.” Even though I am telling him no, a small part of me wishes he’d be stubborn and surprise me by coming anyway.

“All right. If you change your mind, text me or call...okay? I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Brooklyn. But at least now, he’s in custody. You guys can rest easy now that he’s no longer out there, ya know?”

The officer motions for me to sit in a chair beside his desk, which has paperwork scattered all over it. I give him a weak smile and slowly sit down dropping my shoes to the floor as soon as my butt hits the chair.

I sigh into the phone as I let Dixon’s words sink in. He’s right; our nightmare is over. Zak is now in police custody. “You’re right. I hate this is how he was caught, but I’m relieved to know that psychotic asshole is now behind bars where he belongs.

“All right, well I’ll let you go so you can deal with the cops but text me later and let me know how you’re doing.”

“Will do. Bye, Dixon.”

“Bye, Brooklyn.” The second the phone goes dead my heart drops into my stomach.

Not too long after I hung up with Dixon, Savannah and Kayden arrived at the police station. The moment I saw her,

I broke down again, and we stood for the longest time hugging one another as we both cried. We cried for what happened, what could’ve happened, and with relief that it’s all over. Our nightmare is finally over.

I hated seeing Savannah so upset. She kept blaming herself but over and over I insisted that it wasn’t her fault. We are not to blame for someone else’s horrible actions. All fault is on Zak’s shoulders and no one else’s.

We had to sit at the station for almost two hours to give statements to the police. It was hard telling them everything that happened. As I spoke to them, everything flooded back to me replaying in my head. After all that time recounting everything that happened, I think I’m officially cried out. My eyes hurt and are puffy as we say goodbye to the police officer and finally leave.

I push through the doors with Savannah and Kayden right behind me. I spot Maverick’s Silverado parked at the curb. What I see after that causes my feet to falter, and I stop and stare in a stunned state. Kayden and Savannah stop beside me and turn to see what I’m looking at, and they’re both as stunned as I am.

“Hey mate, I got a call from Jerome. He said he was in the hospital and that Brooklyn had a pretty rough night.” He says nonchalantly to Kayden as he opens his mouth to ask him what he’s doing here.

I’m over emotional with my head all over the place as I take in Jax standing by the truck waiting for me. I sprint down the stairs and run into his arms that wrap tightly around me. I feel a sense of calm settle over me as he hugs me to him and gently kisses my temple.

“I can’t believe you came here for me,” I say in almost a whisper because I’m so shocked. My thoughts wander to Dixon for a moment. I think about how he asked if I wanted him here. I now feel bad for telling him no and being my usual stubborn self. But I also can’t help but be angry that he didn’t insist on coming and not taking no for an answer. I wouldn’t doubt it if he is still out partying now even after getting off of the phone with me.

My head is spinning as I battle with my heart and my head right now. I’m too emotional to think straight. Jax quickly helps me into the backseat of the truck where I snuggle against him laying my head on his lap. I don’t even realize I’ve fallen asleep until I feel myself being lifted out of the truck. I wake in a panic, but as soon as I open my eyes and I’m greeted with Jax’s warm and welcoming face I immediately relax against him and wrap my arms around his neck as he carries me into the house and then into my guest room after I directed him where to go.