Freed by You by Danielle Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

head hanging low. I hurried down the steps as soon as my eyes registered the injured man’s movement.
    “Move out of my way, Julian. I need to make sure he’s okay.”
    “Why should you care?” he asked as he turned his head slowly to glance over his shoulder to where I was standing but keeping his eyes down on the ground.
    “I care, Julian!” I screamed at him. “Of course I care!”
    Julian rocked back on his heels and began to stand up, straightening slowly, his head still low, his eyes never meeting my furious glare. As soon as he cleared the way for me I dropped to the man’s side and cupped my trembling hands around his bloodied face. It pained me to see someone so injured. No matter how he had treated me, I couldn’t bear the thought that I was responsible for this man’s torture. He probably had a wife and children. What would those little faces look like when they saw their daddy arrive home looking like this ?
    A loud howl escaped my lungs as I began to sob uncontrollably. Julian rushed to my side and placed a nervous hand on the back of my head. “Don’t cry, Emily. Please don’t cry. He’ll be fine; I’ll get him a doctor.”
    “Give me your jacket!” I snapped, jerking my head away from his touch.
    “What? Why?”
    “Just give it to me!” I shouted through my sobs. My vision was clouded as I looked at him through the tears pooling in my eyes but I could read the pained expression that froze him in place. “Now, Julian!”
    He shuffled out of his jacket and handed it to me and I began folding it neatly, trying my best to create a pillow. Gently lifting the man’s head and sliding the folded jacket beneath it, I turned towards Julian. “Go and get Ryan, please.” I spoke calmly this time, hoping he may be more willing to cooperate if I wasn’t shouting at him.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Well, I’m pretty sure he’ll be suffering with quite a headache right now! I’m trying to ease his discomfort, what does it look like I’m doing?”
    “Why do you want Ryan?” He looked confused, a deep frown appearing across his forehead, his eyes narrowed.
    “Because I damn well trust him to take better care of this man than what you or I are capable of right now! Please, Julian, just get him!” I was pleading with him now, a lump forming in my throat once more as my desperation for this stranger grew stronger with each minute that passed.
    “What’s going on?” The man whose face I still cradled in my palms spoke, startling me. Julian shot to my side in an instant, his bloodied hand reaching for my arm. The sight of it sickened me.
    “Take your hand away from me, Julian.” I heard his sharp intake of breath at my words and I instinctively worried that I had hurt his feelings. What the hell was wrong with me? Why would I possibly worry about hurting Julian’s feelings after his barbaric behaviour? I wasn’t some sort of damsel in distress; I could take care of myself. I didn’t want or need him to intervene. Although how was he to know that? I tried to reason with myself, he was surely just trying to help as I’m sure he would with any of his female staff.
    “It’s okay; we’re going to get you to a hospital. You’re going to be fine.” I tried to soothe this man the best I could. He was in a bad way. His right eye was so swollen that he couldn’t open it, blood still trickled from his nose – I was certain that that was broken. His lips were at twice their original size with a large gaping cut to one side and numerous purpled lumps covered the rest of his face. I swallowed hard as I felt the warm bile rising in my throat.
    The sound of Julian’s shuffling feet took my attention away from the man beside me. Why hadn’t he left to get Ryan yet? I glanced up towards him, about to open my mouth when I caught sight of Ryan making his way down the stairs. Thank god!
    “It’s okay, Miss Braxton. I can take it from here.” Ryan looked down at the tortured face in my hands and a