A Stallion Dream

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  “It’s the engagement ring Jackson Broomes gave to me the day you were born. When we were first married, he couldn’t afford a ring. He proposed with this gold band that he found at a pawnshop for twenty-five dollars.” She pointed to a ring she was wearing on the pinkie of her right hand. “The day you were born, he proposed again and surprised me with this beauty.”

  Collin lifted the lid. Inside was a beautiful two-carat, princess-cut diamond, set in a simple white gold band.

  “We ate beans for the next two years to pay off this ring. After your dad died and I was accepted at law school, I pawned it once or twice to feed us. But I always knew that one day I would give it to you. And that maybe you would want to give it to someone special. This one,” she said, pointing a second time at the slim band around her pinkie, “has always felt like the hope and promise that we had when Jackson and I first fell in love, and the first time I ever took it off my ring finger was when I knew that Matthew was my future. This one, I hope to one day give to my granddaughter, since I never had a little girl.”

  Collin wrapped his arms around his mother’s shoulders and hugged her tightly. He didn’t miss the tears that misted her eyes. He kissed her cheek. “I love you, Mom.”

  Katrina kissed him back. “I love you, too. Now, go get some rest.”

  Collin headed toward the back door. He paused, his hand on the knob.

  “Did you forget something?” his mom asked.

  “No. I was wondering if you would help me with something?”

  “Anything. You know that.”

  “Dad rented out the Cowboys Stadium to sweep you off your feet. Any ideas how I can top that?”

  * * *

  Two weeks after all charges were dismissed against Jerome James he was officially exonerated, his prison record purged. The court of inquiry ruled on Collin’s petition, acknowledging there was probable cause to believe Victor Wells had violated criminal laws by concealing evidence. They formally charged him with criminal contempt. The State Bar of Texas also brought charges against him for ethical violations. Rumor had it he was trying to negotiate a plea deal, seeking reduced jail time in exchange for his resignation and the permanent surrender of his law license.

  London had finally returned to her apartment, feeling better about everything. She and Collin had fallen into a comfortable routine with each other. Work was going well, the two moving on to separate cases with Perry’s confidence in Collin’s abilities at an all-time high. After a lengthy lecture, the director of operations had given their relationship his blessing. London’s friends were ecstatic, teasing the two of them regularly. Weekends were spent between his family and hers, and they enjoyed serious quality time with each other. If it had been physically possible, they would have made love multiple times per day.

  Collin had been surprised to discover her love for knitting and many an evening found her curled up on one end of the sofa with two needles and skeins of yarn in her lap. Almost always Collin sat on the other end, reading his book of the moment. Between the office, the law library, the courthouse and the ranch, they’d found balance, and it felt amazing.

  After a particularly long day, Collin had gone to hang out with his father and brother, Jake playing basketball for a local youth league. London had stopped at the supermarket to buy everything she needed to make her mother’s famous cheesecake. She was determined to surprise Collin with a late-night snack after he’d snacked on her. She had just pulled the grocery bags out of the trunk of her car, turning toward the apartment’s entrance, when she saw him.

  Victor Wells stood at the other end of the parking lot, staring. His expression was hard and menacing. He held a black police baton in one hand, slapping it against his other palm, the gesture threatening. London quickly swept the entirety of the parking lot with her eyes, praying that someone else was there and would see. A man parked midway between them was exiting his own car. She didn’t recognize the stranger but was instantly grateful that someone stood in the way of Victor getting to her before she could get inside to safety. When she turned her attention back, Victor was sliding into the seat of his Cadillac. He eased his car out of the parking space, pulling past the man and then her. As he passed, he pointed the baton in her direction and laughed.

  She was still shaking as she rushed to the door of her building. The other man caught up with her at the entrance.

  “Do you need a hand with your bags?” he asked politely as he entered the door code, pulling it open to let them enter.

  London shook her head. “No, thank you,” she responded, throwing one last glance over her shoulder.

  The stranger nodded. “Are you okay, miss?”

  She eyed him cautiously, her expression reserved. “I’m fine.”

  The man nodded, moving to the mailboxes as she hurried to the elevator. As the conveyor doors closed behind her, the stranger was still staring, and London’s fears increased tenfold.

  * * *

  Even after double-and then triple-checking the locks on her front door, London was still shaking. She looked out of her living room window down to the parking lot, searching out that Cadillac. Once she was certain the car, and Wells, were gone, her tears fell, saline cascading from her eyes like water from a busted pipe.

  She cried and then, just like that, London got angry. Angrier than she could ever remember being. She’d been riding high on clouds of pure joy since Collin had come into her life. Things had turned around and she’d begun to trust her heart again. She’d finally begun to believe that she didn’t have to be alone to be happy. She’d been grateful to let the past go, and now Victor was trying to steal her joy. The more she thought about him, the angrier she became. So much so that when Collin came through the door she was fuming with rage.

  “That bastard was waiting for me in the parking lot,” she snapped as he secured the entrance lock behind himself. She was pacing the floor, unable to contain the resentment spewing through her spirit. “He tried to intimidate me,” she snapped. “And I almost let him get away with it! But I’m not going to let him hurt me. Not ever again.”

  Collin leaned back against the kitchen counter, his arms crossed. He listened as she ranted. Between the ranting and raving she told him about Victor and the strange man and their encounter in the parking lot. He let her rage until she was exhausted. Until she finally fell into his arms, allowing the weight of everything that had haunted her to finally fall away. He held her tightly, shouldering the last of whatever burdened her.

  “You must think I’m crazy!” she exclaimed.

  Collin shook his head. “No, I don’t. I think I should have been here. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.”

  “We shouldn’t have to live this way. I shouldn’t be afraid to be alone.”

  “No, you shouldn’t. I agree.”

  London stepped out of his arms. She moved back to the living room and the groceries she’d dropped in the center of the floor. Moving back to the kitchen, she placed the bags on the counter and began to unpack the food. It was then that she realized the time.

  “You’re home early. I wasn’t expecting you until much later. I thought you planned to eat dinner with Jake and your dad?”

  Collin leaned across the center island, his hands clasped together as he watched her. “My aunt Vanessa called and told me what happened. She didn’t know if you would call and tell me and she thought you might need me.”

  “Your aunt? How did she...”

  Collin smiled. “That strange man is part of the security detail she put on us. He’s been watching after you since the trial.”

  “Security?”

  “I told you my family will do whatever is necessary to protect each other.”

  London nodded, the tears beginning to puddle behind her eyelids a second time. She swiped a hand across her face. “I was going to make you a cake,” she said finally.

 
Collin chuckled, moving to where she stood and wrapping his arms around her a second time. “You are all the cake I will ever need!”

  * * *

  It was only a few days later when a truckload of flowers was delivered, the deliveryman ringing the bell for access. Collin had already left for court when London met the driver on the steps into the building and refused the delivery.

  “What am I supposed to do with them?” the man asked, throwing his hands up in frustration. “I can’t take them back!”

  “I really don’t care what you do with them,” she said as she stood with her hands on her hips, appraising the massive arrangements that filled the back of a U-Haul truck. “Is there a card?” she asked.

  The man huffed as he pulled an envelope from a clipboard. London slid her finger beneath the flap and broke the seal. She pulled the notecard from inside and read it. “For your grave.” The harsh words struck a nerve and she could feel her anger rising with a vengeance. The driver pulled her from her thoughts.

  “Lady, I need to make this delivery. Someone needs to take these flowers.”

  “Someone will,” she said. She reached for his clipboard and pen, jotting down an address and name. “Take them to the Genesis Women’s Center. Here’s their address and I’ll call and tell them you’re coming.”

  “And who do I say they’re from?”

  “If they ask, tell them the London Jacobs Domestic Violence Relief Fund sent them to brighten up the residential spaces.”

  The man shook his head, still feeling uncertain.

  “Is there a problem?” London asked.

  “Nah! It’s whatever,” he finally said as he hopped back into his vehicle and sped off.

  The London Jacobs Domestic Violence Relief Fund. Until she’d spoken the words out loud it had only been an idea in the back of her mind. For too long, London had remained silent, too embarrassed and ashamed to speak about the trauma that had stolen such a huge chunk of her life. She wasn’t interested in being silent one minute longer. She’d made the decision to stand in her truth and tell her story, to be a voice of hope and reason for other women going through the pain and shame she’d experienced. To maybe help one woman change her circumstances. She had a vision and goals and she was determined to see them through to fruition.

  She headed toward her car. Once inside, she texted a message to Collin, asking him to meet her for lunch when he was finished. When he responded almost immediately, she smiled, started the engine and pulled out into traffic. In all of her excitement she didn’t notice the three cars that pulled into traffic after her, following closely behind.

  * * *

  London was practically skipping as she completed her phone call with Barbara Jo at Genesis. The Dallas women’s shelter and support facility was near and dear to her heart. They existed to give women and children in abusive situations a path to lead an independent and safe life. She had the utmost respect for what they were able to accomplish for families in need and it was one of her missions to be of service to them in any way she could. She had hoped the flowers would offer a little hope and joy and not the fear that had been intended.

  So stoked, and riding a cloud of joy, London wasn’t paying any attention when she stepped out of her car. She’d found a parking spot in the rear lot behind the restaurant and had been sitting in her vehicle for a good few minutes. Glancing quickly at her watch she realized Collin would soon be arriving if he hadn’t already beat her there. She had just stepped out of the car to head inside when Victor suddenly stepped in behind her.

  He grabbed her by the arm and spun her around, slamming her hard against the side of her car. Shock and pain snatched the air from her lungs, her eyes widening in surprise.

  “You really should have listened to me,” Victor mused, his sinister expression marked by a demonic smile and a glazed stare.

  London tried to scream but he held his forearm across her throat, leaning his full weight against her. She couldn’t breathe, and her arms flailed as she struggled to get him off. He had just reared back his fist to throw a punch when Collin snatched him off her, his own punch landing against the side of Victor’s head. London spun around and leaned over the car’s hood, coughing and gasping for air. The two men wrestled like two bulls. They scuffled like prizefighters, throwing punch for punch. It was chaos and madness. A crowd had begun to gather, cell phones held high to record everything. In the distance, London could hear sirens and then three men rushed in to pull Collin and Victor apart. She recognized the stranger who’d offered her help the other day and she realized the security team had not been far behind the two of them.

  Victor’s nose was bleeding and his eye had begun to swell. A large man had him down on the ground, his knee in Victor’s back as he handcuffed his hands behind him. Collin and London were suddenly like long-lost lovers in a B-grade movie, screaming each other’s name as they threw themselves against each other.

  “London!”

  “Collin!”

  “Baby, are you okay?” Collin cupped his hands around her face, kissing her forehead, her eyes, the tip of her nose. His fingers grazed the rising bruises around her neck.

  She nodded as she pressed her hands against his chest, tears streaming from her eyes.

  Vanessa suddenly appeared at their elbows. Collin wasn’t surprised, grateful to see a familiar face. She barked orders at her people, her tone commanding.

  “I need everything you have. Video, audio, all of it! Collin, you are going to have to go downtown,” she said, pointing at the officers heading in their direction. “They will probably threaten you with an assault charge. I’ve already called your dad. He’ll meet you there.”

  “You called my father?”

  Vanessa grinned. “Baby, you know I keep my legal team on speed dial!”

  Collin shook his head. Vanessa pointed him toward a police officer. He leaned to kiss London’s lips. “It’s going to be okay,” he said. “Just do whatever Aunt Vanessa says.”

  London watched as Collin stepped toward the officers. They stood in conversation and before she knew it he was standing in handcuffs, being led to a police car.

  “Why are they arresting him?” London cried.

  Vanessa pressed a palm against London’s back. “Baby girl, you need to give them your statement and then you need to go to the hospital. I’ll ride with you. We need to make sure all of your bruises are entered into the record. And this is where it’s going to get interesting. You are just days from the statute of limitations expiring on your last assault, the one that put you in the hospital and almost killed you. If you want this to end, you need to press charges on that assault and this one. You’re going to need to remember everything you can about what happened back then.”

  London’s voice was low. “You know about that?”

  “Baby girl, I make it my business to know everything I can about the people I work for, to make sure I can be the best kind of support they need.”

  London took a deep breath. She took a step back and then moved around to the back of her car, popping the trunk open. Inside was a clear plastic tub with a red plastic lid. Inside the tub lay a number of file folders, each meticulously labeled. She lifted the container and passed it to Vanessa.

  “The police reports, medical files, photographs and my personal journals detailing the abuse.”

  Vanessa’s eyes widened. “You’ve been keeping all of this?”

  London nodded. “I wanted to press charges. I was just too scared. I knew how manipulative and dishonest he could be and I knew he’d leverage everything in his arsenal against me. I kept all this so there would be proof when he called me a liar.”

  “Good girl!”

  An officer interrupted them, demanding to know what had happened. Vanessa passed him her card, identifying herself.

  “This young woman is London Jacobs. Ms. Jacobs was assaulted by Vict
or Wells. He’s been stalking her for years. For the past few weeks my security team has had Ms. Jacobs under protective surveillance and we’ve captured Wells on video stalking and threatening her. Her boyfriend, Attorney Collin Stallion, arrived a few minutes ago and witnessed Mr. Wells assaulting her. He pulled the man off her and acted in self-defense.”

  “Is that what happened, miss?” the officer asked.

  “Yes. Victor Wells has assaulted me on previous occasions, as well. My boyfriend was only trying to help me.”

  “Did you press charges against this Wells guy?”

  London shook her head. “No, I didn’t.”

  Before the officer could ask anything else, Vanessa waved over the EMT person. “Ms. Jacobs needs to go to the hospital. Can this wait?”

  “I’m sure we’ll have more questions,” the officer stated.

  “That’s fine. Ms. Jacobs will be more than willing to answer them.

  * * *

  When Collin walked out of the police station, his father following closely on his heels, his mother was standing in the lobby, waiting for them. She stood with her arms crossed, one high-heeled foot tapping at the concrete floor. Relief washed over her expression when she saw them.

  “What happened?” she asked, kissing her son and then her husband.

  Matthew smiled. “They’re not going to press charges against Collin. In fact, I think someone actually said our son was a hero.”

  Katrina rolled her eyes. She looped her arm through her husband’s. “This is the second time you’ve had to get my wayward son out of trouble, Mr. Stallion. I’m going to have to show you my appreciation.”

  Matthew leaned to kiss her lips. “Yes, please!”

  “Ewww!” Collin said, grinning broadly. “Too much information!”

  His parents laughed.

  “What about Justice Wells? What’s going to happen with him?” Katrina asked. They descended the steps and were headed in the direction of the parking lot.

  “I’m told he’ll be indicted in the morning. They have eyewitness testimony and video to confirm everything Collin and London said about what happened. Also, because of all the evidence Vanessa has about his history and the prior violence against London, they’re going to charge him with attempted murder. The prosecutor is going to request he get no bail. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about Victor Wells ever again.”