Hustler_A Second Chance Romance

by Rye Hart

  “You are not damaged goods,” I said again.

  I watched the dam break and held her as she shook and cried in my arms. I brushed her hair back from her forehead and just kept repeating that she was safe. Finally, her sobs calmed and her breathing returned to normal. She sat back and looked at me, her beautiful face streaked with tears and her vibrant blue eyes rimmed with red.

  “Okay,” she said. “I’m ready.”

  CHAPTER 30

  MELANIE

  My head was pounding when I woke up the next morning. I had told Evan everything the night before. Told him how I’d been abducted in the parking lot one night while getting into my car after class. I told him how the guy had taken me to his hovel in a thick grove of trees and tied me up in his shed and terrorized me for two days.

  He had listened intently as I’d told him that when the guy had finally untied me, only because he had intended to rape me, I had fought harder than I’d ever thought I’d have the strength to fight. His jaw flexed in fury as I described the man pinning me to the floor and ripping at my clothes while I fought with everything I had.

  He smiled when I described the crunch of the cartilage in the man’s nose when he’d gotten close enough for me to headbutt him, and he damn near high-fived me when I told him how I’d rolled out from under him and hit him over the head with a lead pipe, knocking him unconscious so I could get away.

  He never once looked at me with pity; he never once looked at me like I was a victim. Instead, he looked at me with beautiful brown and gold-flecked eyes full of wonder and admiration. He held me close and told me that he was proud of how I’d handled it and that he thought I was the most special woman he’d ever met.

  When it had all finally come out, I felt lighter than I had in years. He and Layla had both been right, I had needed to tell him to stop giving it power over me. I had been so exhausted after my admissions that I had fallen asleep in Evan’s arms on the couch and he had carried me to bed sometime during the night.

  I looked over at his side of the bed, but he wasn’t there. I could hear the kids in the living room and figured he was just giving me time to rest. My phone started buzzing on the side table and I felt a quick stab of panic when I saw my dad’s name flash across the screen.

  “Dad?” I answered. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, sweetheart, I’m okay,” he said. But something in his voice wasn’t quite right.

  “What is it, Dad? Are you feeling bad?” I prodded.

  “No, no, nothing like that. I just called to check in on you and see how you were doing.”

  “I’m doing fine, Dad. Are you sure nothing is wrong?” I asked again.

  “Nothing is wrong. Are you with that Evan fellow?” he asked.

  “I am, yes.”

  “Okay good. Well you just stay there as long as you want to, okay, honey? I’m doing just fine here. I’ll call you if I need anything, okay?”

  “Okay, Dad.” I hung up the phone and shook my head. I knew my dad well enough to know that something was up and he just wasn’t telling me. I knew that if he was feeling sick, he wouldn’t keep it from me, but there was definitely something going on.

  I climbed out of bed and pulled on my clothes. I’d head out to check in on Evan and the kids and figure out what to do about my dad after I had some breakfast.

  Evan was sitting on the couch with Liam cuddled next to him, engrossed in something on his phone. I placed a kiss on the top of his head before going to the kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee.

  “Liam still not feeling well this morning?” I asked.

  “Guess not,” came Evan’s distracted reply.

  “How about Hadley?”

  “Not sure,” he said.

  I sugared my coffee, but it still tasted sour going down. Evan was not acting like himself and my stomach started to twist. Had something changed since last night? Did he now think of me differently since he’d had time to process?

  I steeled myself for that look in his eyes as I approached him.

  “Evan, is something wrong? Are you having second thoughts about us?” I asked softly.

  He finally looked up at me with confusion in his eyes, that immediately cleared when he saw the look on my face. “No! Never. It’s just this article I’m reading,” he said.

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “What’s it about?”

  “Some guy has apparently escaped from the detention center,” he said. “They think he’s fled into the mountains here.”

  “Oh my God,” I said, immediately thinking of the kids.

  “Yeah. He’s being hunted in the area and they’re notifying the locals to keep their eyes peeled and to stay inside.”

  “Evan, should we be doing something? Taking the kids into town or whatever?” I asked. “We can stay with Layla or her parents.”

  “Nope. I’ve got plenty of ammo here for my rifle and shotgun. I’ll keep them close and sleep with one eye open. You guys are safe so long as you’re with me.”

  “Could I see the article?” I asked.

  I walked up behind him and he offered me his phone. My eyes fluttered across the headline before my knees began to weaken, and I only had to read the first paragraph before my vision began to blur.

  I felt my world around me spinning. His mugshot stared back at me like blazing stars in the nighttime sky. I felt vomit rising to my throat as our breakfast got cold on the kitchen table.

  I would never forget that face no matter how long I lived.

  “Melanie? Are you all right?”

  Dropping the phone, I stumbled back into the kitchen table. Evan got up from the couch and rushed toward me, his eyes wide and filled with worry. He reached his hands out to grab me but I knocked them away, desperate to get away from the situation.

  He was out.

  He was coming for me.

  He must know I was here.

  “Oh, God,” I said breathlessly.

  “Melanie, what’s wrong?” Evan asked.

  “I just—need water—I think—”

  My vision was tunneling as I dropped to my knees in the hallway, and I felt Evan’s strong arms wrap underneath my own. The bile was rising in my throat as tears poured down my face.

  Evan’s voice in my ear was the last thing I remembered before my world went black.

  I didn’t know how long I was out and I didn’t know what Evan did to get me back, but when I came to I was lying in his bed. The room smelled of cinnamon and the world was dark. I was shivering underneath the comforter of his bed before I felt something cool touch my forehead.

  “Can you hear me?” Evan asked.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “No,” I said, whimpering. “No. I’m not—”

  Suddenly I remembered the earlier phone call from my dad. “I need to call my dad,” I said, sitting up.

  “Melanie, the guy in that article—” he trailed off.

  I slowly nodded my head. “Yes. It’s him. He’s the one who took me. He’s the one who tried to rape me and nearly destroyed my whole life. He’s out there and he’s looking for me. I know it. He wants me dead for what I did to him.”

  Evan held me as I shivered uncontrollably. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I had finally started putting my life back together, allowing a man in, and dreaming of a future for the first time in four years.

  “Evan, my dad. I need to call him and make sure he’s safe. If he knows where I live, he could go there looking for me. My dad is still too weak to defend himself.”

  Evan got up and grabbed my phone from the table, sitting next to me as I called my dad. He picked up on the second ring and I released a sigh of relief. “Dad. Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.

  I heard him let out a breath on the other end. “I didn’t want you to be scared, sweetheart. I was hoping that the police would catch him before you even found out. I knew as long as you were with Evan and away from the house, you would be safe.”

 
“But what about you?” I asked.

  “I’m fine, Melanie. I’m still with Layla’s parents. When the news broke early this morning, they asked me to stay until it was clear. I fought them on it but, once I knew you weren’t home, I agreed. I didn’t want you rushing over worried about me and putting yourself in danger. Now, is your fella nearby?”

  “Yes, he’s sitting right here,” I answered.

  “Good, put him on the phone.”

  CHAPTER 31

  EVAN

  “Hello?” I said into Melanie’s cell phone.

  “Son, I need you to listen very carefully to what I’m about to tell you,” Melanie’s father said.

  I stayed silent as he spoke.

  “My girl is all I’ve got in this world. I almost lost her once, and I don’t intend to ever go through that again. Now she seems to think the world of you, and I’d like to believe that you are worthy of her. Now I’m not a big man, and my strength isn’t what it used to be, but I promise you this: if you let anything happen to Melanie, you will have to answer to me, and it won’t be pleasant.”

  I nodded. “I understand, sir. You have my word that nothing will happen to Melanie as long as she is with me. I love your daughter very much, sir.”

  Melanie’s father gave me a few more instructions before hanging up. I handed the phone back to Melanie who was still shaking under the blankets. Everything inside of me wanted to go out and find that asshole and kill him myself. I looked down at the beautiful woman – the woman I loved – and wondered how anyone could ever want to hurt her.

  Well, it would not happen on my watch, just as I’d promised her father. Just as I would promise her. I would protect this woman and the life we were building with everything I had. I wouldn’t allow anyone to steal any more of Melanie’s future from her.

  “Melanie, look at me.”

  She turned her teary eyes toward me and I hooked my gaze with hers.

  “He is never going to touch you again. He’ll never hurt you again. While you are with me, nothing will ever happen to you. I won’t let it,” I said.

  “What if he finds me?” she asked, with a whisper.

  “He won’t. Because he’ll find me first, and my face will be the last face he ever sees.”

  I wanted to gather her into my arms and hold her close, but I felt like that was the last thing she needed. I heard Liam beginning to stir, and she went to move to get him off the couch. But I placed my hands on her shoulders and eased her back down underneath the covers before I handed her the glass of water.

  “Finish that, but slowly. I’ll take care of the kids. Just get your feet under you and come out whenever you’re ready,” he said.

  “I’m not damaged,” she said.

  “No, you’re not. But you are shaken up. And it’s completely to be expected. Take your time. We’ll be out here when you’re ready.”

  I went and checked on Liam on the couch before I got Hadley. She was a bit warmer than yesterday, which had me worried. She nuzzled into me and began to whimper, her lips rooting for something to drink. I placed her in her playpen with her favorite blanket before I set out to make her a bottle.

  “Wanna watch a movie, Liam?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” he said.

  “Which one?” I asked.

  “Aladdin?”

  I chuckled at his choice as I shook my head.

  “You know we rented Beauty and the Beast, right?” I asked.

  “But I want Aladdin,” he said.

  “Fine. Aladdin it is. Would you like a popsicle while you watch your movie?’

  “Yes, please.”

  “That was very polite. Thank you, buddy,” I said.

  I snipped off the top of the popsicle and handed it to him. Hadley was already curling up with her blanket and her bottle as she watched the movie come on. They would be back asleep before it was over, and rest was exactly what they needed.

  Which gave me more time to make sure Melanie was all right.

  I walked back into the room and I could hear her crying. She was muffling her sobs into the pillow and my heart broke for her. I couldn't imagine the nightmare she’d suffered at the hands of that asshole, and I felt the anger rise in my gut. How could a man do such a thing to any woman? I swore right then that if he came sniffing around my home, it would be the last thing he’d ever do in his miserable pathetic life.

  The thought of what he had put Melanie through made me fucking sick.

  I walked over silently and sat down on the edge of the bed. I rubbed my hand along her back, trying to get her to calm down without invading her space. She turned toward me and opened her arms, and I quickly slid underneath the covers with her.

  We lay like that for a minute, looking into each other’s eyes. My chest ached with love for this woman. This perfect, beautiful, sweet, smart woman. I knew then that no matter what, I would never let her go. If she pushed, I’d pull. If she ran, I’d chase. I would do anything to make her see that she was worthy of the love and the life that I could give her.

  She let out a shaky breath and I pushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead.

  “What are you thinking right now?” I asked her.

  “I’m thinking about running away. Far away. Packing a bag and never coming back,” she answered.

  “Okay, we can do that,” I said.

  She looked at me incredulously. “You would do that? You would uproot Liam and Hadley for me?”

  “I would. Have you not heard anything I’ve said, Melanie? I love you. That means where you go, I go.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them again, they were shining with unshed tears. Then she shook her head.

  “No. No, I’m not running. He should run. I did nothing wrong,” she said, some strength returning to her voice.

  “You are absolutely right,” I said to her. “You did nothing wrong. That fucking piece of shit animal is the one who should be afraid right now, not you.”

  “I just can’t believe this is happening,” she said. “I thought when I testified at his trial, it would be the last time I would ever have to see him. Except in my nightmares.”

  “It was the last time, I promise you. He won’t get near you. The article said the state and local police are both searching the mountain, and there are only so many places to hide up here. He’s going to be pretty exposed.”

  “He had to have known that coming up here. He’s unhinged, which means he probably doesn’t have an endgame beyond getting to me,” she said. “That’s what really scares me, Evan. What if he comes here? What about Liam and Hadley? I would never forgive myself if anything happened to them because of me.”

  I reached out and stroked her cheek. “Nothing is going to happen to them. And nothing is going to happen to you. I swear on my life, Melanie, if that sick son of a bitch shows up here, the barrel of my shotgun will be the last thing he sees in this world. I will send him straight to hell myself.”

  At that moment, Hadley started to whimper from the living room. I moved to get out of the bed and Melanie sat up to follow. “Stay in here as long as you need,” I told her.

  “No, I need to get up. I need to live my life. I need to stop letting him have any power over me,” she said, the spark back behind her blue eyes.

  My God, that woman was amazing.

  We both went into the living room and I sat on the couch with Liam while Melanie scooped Hadley up from her playpen.

  “She’s pretty warm today,” Melanie said with a frown. “I’m going to go give her a lukewarm bath and some Tylenol.”

  I watched as she carried the baby down the hall, cooing softly to comfort her. Liam snuggled up next to me and I draped the blanket over us both as we watched the movie. Liam started to doze at my side and I stared out the window, my senses on high alert.

  Part of me thought I should close all the curtains, but another part realized that I wouldn’t be able to see anyone coming onto my property if I did that. The best thing was probably
to keep the kids close by in the center room where no one looking in would see them. The last thing I needed was to give that sick fuck psycho more targets.

  I picked Liam up and carried him to his room which was the first off the hallway. I put him in bed and checked that the one window in there was locked and the heavy blackout curtains were shut tight. Nothing and no one would be able to see in or get in. Next, I went out to the living room and grabbed Hadley’s pack and play. I moved it into Liam’s room so that when she was ready to go down, both kids would be in the same place, safe and sound.

  Melanie came out of the bathroom with Hadley in her arms and went to dress her and give her some medicine. Once she was done, the baby was already falling asleep in her arms and so she laid her down in the playpen in Liam’s room.

  The two of us went around the house, checking all windows and closing curtains into the bedrooms. I rechecked my guns and ammunition, keeping them close, but out of the reach of curious little hands.

  We tried to go about the day as normally as possible, though there was no way I was leaving the cabin to go work in my shed. I would stay close to Melanie and the kids until this mess was over, one way or another.

  I did the laundry while Melanie cleaned up. She made us a simple lunch, setting some aside that could be warmed up when the kids woke. Finally, we sat by the fire and watched a light snow fall outside.

  “How are you?” I finally asked.

  “Pissed,” she said, her arms folding across her chest.

  “Good. Pissed is good.”

  She turned her blue eyes on me and my heart stuttered as it usually did. “I’m scared too. And that pisses me off even more.”

  I smiled and pulled her close to me. As long as we were together, everything would be alright.

  CHAPTER 32

  MELANIE

  Sleep was almost nonexistent. Even with Evan at my side and his guns at the ready, I couldn’t get myself to settle down. Every little sound woke me. Every time the wind howled by the window, my eyes flew open. And when I did chance to slip into a slumber-like state, I saw his face. I smelled his breath. I felt his hands. My eyes would come open and I would look around the room, reminding myself of where I was. Then I would look over at Evan sleeping next to me and I would feel safe for the moment. Until I closed my eyes and he was there again.