by Daisy Allen
“No, my dear. You won’t,” he says as he shakes his head. “I’m here to make sure of it.” He takes two long steps from the door into my apartment and instinct has me spinning around and running into my bedroom.
I try to slam the door shut, but his arm blocks it before it closes. I turn and push my back against it, my feet sliding on the floor and I can only hold him back for mere seconds before the door flings open, and I’m knocked to my knees.
For a split second I think about praying.
But I don’t have time. I feel him lift me off the ground and throw me onto the bed, his face snarling and panting like a rabid wolf. He kneels down on the bed, straddling me and pulls the hem of my dress up. His hands are rough, clawing at me as I thrash under him.
“Stop moving, I’m not going to hurt you,” he says, and for a moment, I feel relief. “I just want to have a little fun, don’t you?” he snickers, and my entire body floods with fear again.
He leans over grabbing my wrists and pins them over my head. “Such a pretty lady,” he coos and the sound makes my chest heave.
“Get the FUCK OFF ME!” I yell, using my fear to strengthen me. I continue thrashing under him, trying to get a knee free to slam it into his groin. “FUCK OFF YOU DISGUSTING PIECE OF CRAP!” I scream into his face when he grins and tries to kiss me. I squeeze my eyes shut and throw my head forward, slamming my forehead against his. The pain is blinding, and his agonized growl is the only thing that tells me I haven’t passed out.
“You bitch!!” He roars and lets go of one of my wrists and lifts his hand as if to slap me. I squeeze my eyes shut again and turn my face, bracing for the strike, but it doesn’t come. Instead, my body is pulled upward, before his hand slips from my wrists and his heavy, stinking body is dragged off me.
“She said, ‘Get the fuck off her,’ you fucking asshole!”
“Kaine!” I yell, as I watch him throw Earring Man onto the floor.
He’s dressed in his hoodie, thrown over a hospital gown. In the back of my mind I know he shouldn’t be here, but I almost pass out with relief that he is.
“ARGHH!” he responds, as he tries to pin Earring Man to the ground. He’s too weak though, and it takes just a moment before Earring Man reaches out and grabs Kaine’s neck
in a one hand choke hold.
“Kaine!” I yell out again, more worried for him that I ever was for my own life. I slide off the bed and run over, then kick Earring Man in the side, his ribs, trying to get him to free Kaine. He growls and swipes out with his giant hand and almost knocks me off my feet.
“Jade.... run...” Kaine struggles to say as he fights against the hand gripping his neck.
Never.
I run past them and into my living room, looking for something to I can use to help Kaine.
There’s a crash and I run back into my bedroom. Earring Man has flipped Kaine onto his back, both hands on his neck, that evil sneer back on his lips even though there’s blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
“You sniveling shit. You think you’re so good in your ivory tower. I wonder what your precious girl thinks of you now?” he taunts Kaine, who’s face turns a bright red as he tries to peel away the fingers cutting off his air.
In his cockiness though, he underestimates Kaine’s strength. Suddenly, he grunts and doubles over when Kaine frees a hand and slams a fist into his stomach, causing him to loosen his hold on Kaine’s neck. I take the opportunity to gather all the strength I have left, then swing my arm, knocking Earring Man across the back of the head with the object in my hand.
There’s a sickening crunch, one I know I’ll replay in my head over and over at another time, and it’s followed by the sound of him collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
Kaine instantly pushes the body off him, crawling over to me and pulling me into his lap.
“God, Jade, are you okay?” His hands run all over my body as he looks me deep in the eyes.
I burst into sobs and collapse into his arms, the fear dissipating with every tear. Replaced by an overwhelming sense of safety.
Kaine. Kaine is here. He came for me.
“You came for me,” I tell him, through heavy sobs.
He smiles and runs his fingers along my cheek, collecting tears.
“I’m sorry I was late, are you mad at me?” he asks, and it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. And in my state, my mouth has no filter, so I tell him.
“Sometimes, you say the stupidest things I’ve ever heard.”
“Hey,” he protests gently, keeping an eye on the crumpled body a few feet away.
“Why would I ever be mad at you for constantly saving my life?”
“I think you did a little lifesaving of your own there.”
“He was going to kill you, Kaine.” I say, and the thought makes me shiver.
“Hey... but he didn’t. And it’s not like he had great plans for you either.”
“Oh, Kaine,” I sigh, curling my body against his, wanting to feel cocooned in his arms. “Why did you send me away?”
He sighs and I feel his lips drop down onto my forehead.
“Because, I wanted to avoid this. Exactly this. You getting hurt because of me. But it happened anyway.”
“I’m okay.”
“No thanks to me.”
“No. Thanks to you,” I insist.
He smiles and I tilt my face up to his and he lowers his mouth to mine.
“Oh, my Mystery Man,” I sigh and he chuckles against my lips.
“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have sent you away. I should’ve kept you by my side.”
I nod. “You should’ve. It’s better we faced it together, Kaine.”
“And so I intend to do, from this day forth.”
“That sounds like a vow.”
“It is.”
I giggle and melt against him.
“So, should we get this pile of turd out of my apartment?” I say, scrunching up my face at the unconscious attacker in my bedroom.
“I’ll text Xavier to tell the police since he’s there with them at the hospital in a moment. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“Why are they there?”
“Long story. It’s been an interesting day.”
“We have time, you can tell me.”
“I will tell you everything.”
“When?”
“Soon. But first, you tell me, what did you hit him with that made that sound?”
I throw my head back and laugh. And I laugh for so long that he has no choice but to join in.
When we finally regain our breaths, I point to the object on the floor.
“That’s my paperweight!”
“Yeah, I stole it.”
“That, along with my heart, body and soul. I love you, Jade Sinclair. My heroine, my savior.”
And even though I know that every part of my body aches, I feel no pain. Only happiness.
Epilogue
HIM
Three months later.
“I’m nervous,” I tell the smiling woman in my arms.
“Don’t be, you’re going to be great,” she tells me.
And as with everything she says, I believe her completely.
“You ready?” Xavier says, coming up to us, giving us a big smile. “It’s time.”
“We’re ready,” I nod, saying with a renewed conviction, and take Jade’s hand in mine.
Xavier grins and gives us a wink.
“I’m so bloody happy,” Jade says, smiling up at me. “I can’t believe this day has come.”
“I know. I’ve waited a long time for this too. Let’s get it done.”
The music starts and we stroll hand in hand through the crowd who gives us wide grins as we pass them.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Xavier’s voice comes over loud and clear on the speakers, “it is my absolute pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. Kaine Ashley, founder and CEO of ASH Industries!”
The applause is deafening and it stops me in
my tracks for a moment. But there’s a nudge on my arm, and Jade is pushing me, smiling, but pushing. Supportive but firm, the way she has been through the entire ordeal of the last three months to get to this day. I join Xavier on the podium and take the microphone from him.
I take a deep breath before saying, “Ladies and gentleman. It is my life’s honor to present to you today, ASH Industries’ pride and joy, the FireFree.”
I point to the covered display in the middle of the room, and on cue the sheet drops, revealing the entire range of our new product.
There’s a gasp from the crowd as a holograph of an enlarged 3D representation of the FireFree appears. A recorded voice-over, loud and commanding over the speakers, introduces the features and benefits of the FireFree and I watch, my eyes flitting over the faces, wide with awe, my chest filled to overflowing with pride.
It’s been a hard three months since the fire, dealing with the aftermath of Jemima’s work. Doing endless damage control, explaining what had happened and that none of it had been the doing of our company, nor indicative of the efficacy of our products.
So, here we are, three months later, in the repaired and reconstructed New York Genealogy Library, doing what should’ve been done a long time ago, bringing the FireFree to the public, and finally kicking off our campaign to end unnecessary deaths by fire in the home.
ASH Industries’ pride and joy.
And yes, my pride, too.
But not my ultimate joy.
That lies in the hands of the smiling woman standing by the side of the podium, clapping and cheering along with the crowd.
The woman who brought me back to life and gave it meaning.
The woman who will not just be my love, but after tonight will hopefully be my betrothed, my fiancé.
I walk over to her and she holds out her arms to me, wrapping them around my neck and placing a kiss on my left temple.
I haven’t worn a hoodie since that afternoon in her apartment.
I no longer have any reason to hide.
Harriet comes over to us and gives us each a hug.
“Good job, guys, it’s turned out brilliantly.”
“We have Kaine to thank for that,” Jade says, gesturing her head to me. “If we had to wait for the insurance money to come through, who knows when they would’ve started let alone finished work on the building.”
“I knew you wanted me for my billions,” I tease her.
“No, I keep you for your billions, I wanted you for your body,” she wiggles her eyebrows at me, and I can’t believe how ridiculously happy I am.
“Ugh, gross,” Harriet says.
“What? Leave us alone, we’re happy.”
“No, not you guys,” she corrects Jade.
“Then what?”
“Him,” she gestures towards my lawyer and friend.
“Xavier?” I ask. “What did he do?”
“Ugh... he is just so infuriating, thinks he’s God’s gift to the world,” she hisses and wanders off.
“Uh oh,” Jade makes a face at me.
“What?”
“Harriet only makes a show of saying she hates someone when she doesn’t.”
“Ah,” I sigh, understanding. “Well, she’d be better off hating him, though. Xavier is not er, in the position to be hated the way Harriet hates him.”
“Why? What do you mean? What’s wrong with him?”
“I’ll tell you, when it’s time,” I tell her, knowing it may never come to that.
“Okay, Mystery Man, I’ll let you have your boy secrets, but only if you tell me what you have planned for me tonight. I’m so excited!” she squeals quietly.
I lift her chin up so I can stare down at her face.
“The world, Jade. I have the world planned for you.”
The End.
About the Author
First thing about the author you should know is, she hates writing these “About the Author” things.
But if you should run into her in a café in her hometown of Adelaide, Australia, then for the price of a free smile, she’ll tell you details you never needed to hear about another person.
Her husband can vouch for this. It’s how they met. Kinda. But you’ll hear about that when you run into her in a café in Adelaide.
She hopes you liked her book though. Like, really. It’s pretty much all she’s ever wanted to do. Write a book that you’d want to read.
Thanks for helping to fulfil that dream.
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Other Books by Daisy Allen
Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited
The Rock Chamber Boys Series
Play Me: Book one.
Strum Me: Book two
An O’Reilly Clan Novel
Once Bitten
Xavier, the second stand alone book in the Men of Gotham series due out early April.
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