by Vicki Green
I stand, hoping my movements don’t take away the small progress we’ve made. She doesn’t seem to shake or move away as I sit down beside her, putting my arm around her shoulders. “Sadly, I know how you feel. It took me a long time to realize that I had nothing to be ashamed for. I did things I’m not proud of but I did them to survive, to live.” She nods, and my heart hurts for her. “The good news is you can heal from the inside out. It just takes time. Something else that’s precious that you have to be strong and fight for.” I put my hand under her chin, and she gives me a sad smile. “But first, let’s start with you eating until you can’t eat anymore and get more liquids down you.” She nods again and I sit back, giving her some room to try to eat more.
She finishes her food right when Trevor brings her another plate. My heart swells as we watch her eat and drink. She sighs, taking a deep breath as she puts the last bite in her mouth. “More?” Trevor asks.
She shakes her head as she swallows. “No. Thank you.” She lets out a huge yawn, covering her mouth.
My brows lower. “You must be exhausted. Would you like to lay down? I believe Colby called for the doctor to come out but it may be a while before she gets here.” Her eyes widen. I lower myself, resting my arms on my knees. “Look. I get you’re intimidated, nervous, scared, and you don’t know me well enough to trust me. I’ve been here a little over three months after running for my life and I trust these people.” I can tell she’s scared, apprehensive. “He came after me once here, tried to kill Colby, Ditto, my friend, Sadie, who’s also pregnant, and me. I was in a coma for over a month due to injuries.” Her eyes widen again but this time I think out of shock. “Like I said, you don’t know me, but I’ve been through hell and back and I’ve not only made friends here but they’ve become family. I’d trust them with my life and believe me, you can too.”
“He killed my family.” I cover my mouth with my hand, trying not to gasp out loud. “When he took me, he made me watch.” I sit back up and put my arm around her. “I’d like to lay down now. Is it okay if Ditto goes with me?” she asks, such innocence in her eyes. But I know she’s anything but innocent. Not her fault, she was forced and who knows what all he’s done to her.
“Of course.” I smile. “I’m sure he’d love to lay down with you.” I stand and notice Trevor getting up and leaving the room. I keep my arm around her as we walk to the stairs. “He’s quite the cuddler.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. Trevor walks into the foyer from the kitchen, Ditto following. “Would you like me to show you upstairs? You can take any room there except for the first one on the left or the last one on the right.”
She gives me a small smile, looks at Trevor and then lowers her head. “Which one is his room?” She whispers, shifting her eyes back and forth to him.
I pierce my lips, quickly looking at him, and then back at her just as she looks up. “His is the first one on the left,” I whisper back.
Her mouth turns into a bigger smile. “Thank you.” She turns and starts walking up the stairs. “Come on, Ditto.” I cross my arms over my waist, watching her as she gets to the top and takes a left, imagining her walking to the room next to his.
I walk over to Trevor and into his arms, his strength feeling wonderful. “I think someone may have a little crush on you,” I whisper, smiling against his chest.
“Nah,” he chuckles. “Just bein’ kind, somethin’ she’s not used to.”
He kisses my forehead as I take a step back, and I leave him for the kitchen feelin’ like I can actually make dinner. I almost feel like writing, getting her experience down on paper but that’s not for me to do. Yet. I wonder if it would help her to do that, like it does for me. This just makes me want to put an end to this nightmare even more. I knew he had his way with other women but certainly not one that he made watch him kill their family. I set about getting out ingredients from the fridge, thinking about all the things I’d like to do to him, myself.
Chapter Seventeen
Colby
So many things you see in the movies, things that are make believe or even real situations you read about in the newspaper, watchin’ the news, things that are just sad and astonish you. But you never dream in your lifetime that anythin’ that horrific could ever happen to you or anyone you know. Yet, here I am in the middle of a horrible circumstance, somethin’ you would see or hear about in any social media. Who knew when Shiloh answered my ad that it would lead to this. Not only becomin’ part of her living nightmare but fallin’ deeply in love, her carryin’ our child, adding a puppy in the mix and yet another friend that has joined our family.
Then the maniac brings yet another victim into our lives. Young, scared for her life, the feelin’s we’ve all felt. After hearing that asshole made her watch him kill her family, it made me want to take off in my truck, find him, and kill him slowly. Course I already had felt that way once, when I thought he’d killed my love. Now, we have a petrified girl with us who has apparently not only taken a likin’ to Ditto but seems she has to Trevor and Dayton too. She’s been upstairs restin’ for a few hours. We are waiting for Doc Grayson to get here to check her out and make sure she’s okay physically. I think we all need some mental therapy when this is all said and done, me included. I’ve always been the protective kind but this has taken it to a whole new level. Kinda scares me a little.
I walk to the front door when I hear a knock, Dayton followin’ me. He’s all over us now, more than ever. Said what happened in town was too close for comfort. Henry’s callin’ the next town over to get more men over here. This maniac is smart, but he screwed up today. Dayton said he was surprised he showed his face like that in public, that maybe he’s faltering and they can get him soon.
I open the door and see Doc Grayson standing there. “Sandra.” She walks in, concern in her eyes. I take her coat as she removes it. “She’s upstairs. I’ll take you.” At that moment, Shiloh walks out of the kitchen towards us.
“Hi, Dr. Grayson. I can take you to her.” She reaches out her hand but Sandra pulls her into a hug.
“No need to be so formal, Shiloh.” She smiles. She moves back and looks at her. “How are you doing?” She searches her eyes. “Any more migraines?”
Shiloh smiles back. “No. Thank you.”
Strange, she had one yesterday. Maybe she doesn’t want to worry her. Would be so much like her. “Well. I’ll follow you. Maybe you can fill me in as we go?” Shiloh nods and looks over at me, her eyes sparklin’ when she sees me. She leaves her arms and walks over to me, leans up on her tiptoes and kisses me. She smiles as she turns and starts walkin’ towards the stairs, Sandra followin’ her.
I turn and head to the kitchen, Dayton still followin’ me. When I get into the room, I walk over and open the oven, the heavenly aroma of food hittin’ me. I turn around and grab a beer from the fridge, holdin’ it out to him but he shakes his head.
“Nope, but thank you. I’ve gotta be on my game, after today even more so.”
I nod, twistin’ the cap off and take a huge drink. “I’m only havin’ one myself. Ya know ya don’t have to follow me into every room. I’m not the target.” I smile but he doesn’t.
“Look. He’ll be out for whomever is special to her. Most likely it’ll be you. I’m staying close. Trevor’s keeping a close eye on Shiloh and Caprice.”
I look down and chuckle then look back up at him. “Yeah. I’m sure he is.”
He leans back against the breakfast bar, tryin’ to hide a smile. “Yeah, well. Seriously though. He made a grave error showing himself in town.” His brows lower as he rubs his chin. “I just wonder what he’s up to. Not like him to just walk into a grocery store with a hostage. What are your thoughts?”
“I think he’s become careless.” Our heads turn with Shiloh’s voice. She walks over and puts her arm behind me, around my waist, her head layin’ down on my shoulder, lookin’ at him. “I think he’s frustrated, not able to do what he set out to do, enough that he’s now back peddling. He thought
that night in the barn it would be over, done, and he could move on to his next victim.” She turns somber. I can almost see her mind thinkin’ hard. “I didn’t know about Caprice. Makes me wonder how many others he’s terrorized.”
I look down and frown. “How is she?”
Her eyes move up to mine, a sad smile appears. “She’s okay. I think. Sandra’s with her. She was really nervous, at first. I told her how much Sandra’s helped me. Helped us. She seemed to relax enough that I told her I was going to give them a little time alone and not to be afraid. Trevor’s standing outside the door.”
My smile grows. “I think he’s a little smitten.”
Her eyes light up. “I hope so. He deserves someone. But he’s pretty guarded about stuff like that. Anyway….” She leans up and kisses my cheek then steps back. “I need to check on dinner. I invited Sandra to stay but she said she needed to get back to town.” I move outta her way, leanin’ against the counter next to Dayton. She bends down and opens the oven door. I look at her firm ass and wonder how in the hell I can be thinkin’ like that at a time like this. Guess I’m just human and so in love.
Sandra left a bit ago, tellin’ us that Caprice is fairly healthy except for bein’ slightly dehydrated and malnourished. Of course there are other things she said that shocked her but can’t divulge due to confidentiality. Shiloh promised to get a ton of food and water down her, and then Sandra left. Caprice didn’t come down for supper and neither did Trevor. Shiloh took two plates of food and water upstairs on a tray for them then came back down and ate with Dayton and me. Then after we cleaned up, she and I cuddled in bed, watchin’ a movie. She didn’t make it too long and fell asleep layin’ half on top of me. I didn’t mind. I know she hasn’t been sleepin’ well and with everythin’ that happened today, I wondered how she even lasted that long.
The next mornin’ found me wakin’ up earlier than normal. I decide to go down to the kitchen and make breakfast, lettin’ Shiloh get some much needed sleep. When I get to the foyer, I notice the light is already on in there and see Caprice sittin’ at the table eating. She startles when I walk in but relaxes after seein’ me. I walk over make a batch of eggs, potatoes, and onions in the skillet. When finished I start the coffee and once it’s ready I fill a cup and take it over to the table, sittin’ down across from her. She continues to eat and it does me good to watch her. She takes a big drink of water and looks at me.
“Thank you for letting me stay here,” she says quietly. I smile, nodding.
“I’m just glad to see you eating and drinking that water. Doc said you need that.” A small smile plays on her mouth.
“I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink much water, most of the time.” My eyes widen even though I’m not that surprised. “He needs to be stopped,” she whispers.
She allows me to cover her hand with mine, lookin’ up at me with wetness in her eyes. “That’s what we’re aiming for, honey. Just know you’re safe here and are welcome to stay however long you want.” Her chin quivers as she nods. I pull my hand back and take a drink of my coffee.
She starts eatin’ again. “I like Shiloh,” she says as she looks back up at me. “I admire her. She’s been fighting him. She seems really strong, more than me anyway.” She looks back down, runnin’ her fork through her food.
“That’s what I love about her too.” She looks back up at me and smiles. “She’s a strong woman, determined. But she’s had her share of struggles too. I think that’s what’s made her strong though. Sometimes what we go through toughens us up, makes us grow, learn. No one wants this to end more than her.” I smile thinkin’ about the baby in her stomach. She hasn’t really started showin’ yet and I can’t wait until she does. “We both have more at stake now, with the baby growin’ inside her.”
She sets her fork down on her plate and leans back in the chair. “I’m happy for you both.” I watch her hand move over her stomach. “I was pregnant. He made me get rid of it.” My eyes widen again in shock.
“Was it his?” I ask quietly. “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”
“No. It’s okay. Yes. It was his. I hate him, with all I am, but I would have loved the baby regardless. He told me nothing spawned from him would be good and he didn’t want any snot nosed kids around him. He said they were Satan in a world that wouldn’t be able to handle anything that came from him. That part I agree with but still…. A baby wouldn’t have known anything but love from me. I would have made sure the baby grew up knowing the good in the world.”
“I’m sure you would have been a great mama, Caprice.” She looks up, a tear streaming down her face.
We both turn as Shiloh, Dayton, and Trevor walk into the room. Caprice sits up quickly, pickin’ up her fork and takes a bite. Trevor sits down next to her as Shiloh walks over to the food and dishes up some on plates for everyone. Dayton grabs cups and starts fillin’ them. ‘Cept for the dire circumstance, I’m lovin’ havin’ a house full of people. People I care about. Ditto comes scamperin’ in, waggin’ his tail and makin’ the rounds from one person to the next. This. This is life. This is happiness. All these folks carin’ about each other and helpin’ each other through all of this.
The rest of the day is filled with chores for Trevor and me. Dayton was at a loss of who to stick close to. I told him Trevor and I had each other’s backs and to stay with the women. They needed more protection than we did. He finally agreed and Trevor and I set out to get things done. It was a long day. All I wanted to do was be done, so I could be inside with my love. By the time we got finished, the snow was comin’ down like a blizzard. The wind blew so hard, it was tough to see our way back to the house. As soon as we manage to reach the deck stairs, our eyes snap to the back door as the lights flicker off. “I hope that’s due to the weather,” I whisper. Trevor looks at me, his face full of concern.
“Fuck! Gun’s inside. I’m goin’ around the front. Stay low.” I nod and wait, watchin’ him walk around the house. Anger sets in then fear knowin’ my gun’s inside too. Why in the hell didn’t we carry them, just in case? My head snaps up when I hear gunfire and I start runnin’ up the steps. Feelin’s of terror sweep through me as I get to the door. Shiloh’s face flashes in my mind, thoughts of her and our unborn child run rampant within me. I pull on the door handle, but it won’t budge. Locked. More shots fired and I turn around, tryin’ to find anythin’ to break the glass. Everything is snow covered, and it’s not helpin’ that the heavy flakes are makin’ it hard to see. I walk over to the grill, grabbin’ the long fork I use when cookin’ steaks. I turn it around in my hand and aim the handle at the door. It takes a few times of hittin’ the glass hard when it finally shatters, makin’ me think odd thoughts of needin’ a double pane when I replace it and how easy it would be for someone to break in the house. More shots fired as I reach in and twist the lock, then open the door and duck low as I run inside, keepin’ a firm hold on the fork to use as a weapon.
It’s dark throughout the house as I creep into the foyer. I hear voices as I get closer to the livin’ room and stop outside the doorway. “Put it down, asshole. You’ve done enough terrorizin’ for a lifetime. It’s over,” Trevor says. I peek around the wall and have to bite my tongue at what I see. Shiloh lays on the floor, her body still. Blood seeps out around her body, but I can’t tell where she’s hurt or how bad. The madman has Caprice bound in a chair beside him. His arm wrapped around her, a stream of blood runnin’ down the side of his face. He’s holding a gun at Trevor. I look over to his left and see Dayton laying in a pool of blood, no life in his eyes that are starin’ out in front of him. I take a deep breath, blowin’ the air out slowly, quietly. This will end now or I’ll die tryin’.
Shiloh
I made my favorite dinner for the guys. It’s a spaghetti casserole. I had found the recipe in a magazine a few years ago. Ditto is happily playing at my feet, and Caprice went upstairs to lay down for a bit. She seems really nice, and I feel bad that she’s been caught up in his web. Makes me wonder
how many other women or girls are out there that have had to deal with his terrorizing ways. She’s small, timid, and needs some good food and water in her to make her stronger, but that will take time. She needs time to know and understand there are good people here who she can trust and that she can be happy. No one knows that better than me. I place my hand on my stomach, smiling at the thought of having a baby. I can’t be more pleased and happy, happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I will finish the book, put my past behind me, and make a great home for our baby and my man.
I look up when the lights flicker, holding my breath. They come back on and I turn my head, looking out the back door. The snow is falling heavily, the wind blowing it around like in a sweeping funnel. The lights flicker again and go off. I look down and turn off the oven, wanting to be careful in case they are off for a while and come back on when we don’t expect it. Ditto almost trips me as I grope my way through the room. It dawns on me that I really don’t know where Colby keeps anything, making a silent note to find out things like where he keeps a flashlight or candles. I stumble to the doorway and hear Ditto’s nails as he takes off running through the foyer. He starts barking, and it makes me startle. I begin getting a horrible feeling that maybe it isn’t the snowstorm that’s caused the lights to go off as I make my way through the foyer. I’m trying to remember where everything is so I don’t hurt myself. A loud crash echoes in the vast room as I hit the table, the vase that had fresh flowers fell to the floor. Damn! I need to be more careful.
I hear a muffled whimper coming from the living room, and my heart begins to speed up. I find the wall and feel my way, wishing I had a weapon of some kind on me. A small amount of light filters from the living room so I follow it, while trying to keep my heavy breathing quiet as I approach. I turn around, my back against the wall, and peek around the corner. I clamp my lips together hoping my gasp doesn’t sound out loud. Caprice is sitting in one of the leather chairs. Her arms pulled back and I imagine her hands are tied. Tears are streaming down her face, the left side swollen and bruises have already formed. What captures my attention most is the gun Mikael is holding against her temple. My eyes scan from his hand up his arm until they are met with his dark eyes.
