Dr. Hamilton did not normally work the ER, but made an exception when Liam requested he be brought in to consult. The doctor’s face went stony when he saw the extent of the damage. “Who? Please tell me you know.”
Liam nodded. “Her brother Kyle and his friends. Call the cops so we can give a full police report.” He looked down at Molly, who stared vacantly at the curtain from her supine position on the ER bed. “He can’t be allowed near her ever again.”
“Agreed. I’ve confronted her about her injuries before, but she clams up and won’t tell me anything useful. Won’t even let us treat her.” He met Liam’s gaze with a stern look on his face. “Are you taking care of it?”
Liam sized up the doctor and began to truly appreciate the man. “Yes. She’s coming home with me, and she won’t be in to work for a while. Do I need to call anyone for her?”
“No. I’ll take care of it. She’s freelance, so she can just request to be put back on the rotation when she’s ready.” Dr. Hamilton turned to the patient, who had her eyes open, but was unresponsive. “Molly? Molly Luco? Can you hear me?”
Liam watched every move as Dr. Hamilton checked Molly’s vitals and then continued to her wounds. A gown was put on her and she was wheeled to different rooms for various examinations, but Molly was not aware of any of it. She did not move until the police came to ask her questions. A flicker of life reentered her eyes, and she mouthed to Liam for a pen and paper.
She began to write down everything her adopted family had done to her, from childhood up until that very night. The physical abuse that was rarely spoken of was given a voice on paper that night, and for once, Molly did not shy away from the truth. She did not even care that Liam was reading over her shoulder, or what all this would mean in the long run.
She was on her third sheet of paper when she finally finished, breathing out a gust of life that ached her ribs, but mended her soul. Liam’s hand on her back was reassuring, and when she passed the last sheet over to the police officer, she slumped into his arms, sobbing silently into his shirt.
Two broken ribs, a sprained ankle, contusion to the head and a broken spirit were what Molly went home with when the sun finally came out. Liam wheeled her to her car and buckled her in, taking her to the nearest hotel that did not make his skin crawl. He rented a room for them for the rest of the week, grateful to be rid of her brother and that wretched house.
He laid Molly on the clean bed and sat next to her, looking out the window at the morning coming to life just outside. The room was beige with navy blue accents, but most importantly, it had a double lock. “Get some sleep, honey. It’s been a long night. You’re safe now.” He ran his fingers through her black hair and sighed with relief when she closed her eyes and nodded. It was the most she’d been able to communicate with him in a while, and he took it as if it was a love sonnet.
She trusted him, and that went a long way to solidify the decision that had already been churning in his gut since the first time they kissed.