Breaking Free

by LeAnn Ashers

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  Connect With Me

  Other Books from LeAnn Ashers

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2016 LeAnn Ashers

  All rights reserved

  Self Published by LeAnn Ashers

  Designed by: Cover me darling: www.facebook.com/covermedarling

  Model on the Image: Susan Marie Brown

  Formatter: Affordable Formatting: www.facebook.com/affordableformatting74135

  Editor: Diamond In The Rough Editing: www.facebook.com/diamondintheroughediting

  Breaking Free is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Except as permitted under the US Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  Acknowledgments

  I want to say a huge thank you to my editor, Julia! She’s the person who polished this book and made it shine <3

  To my formatter, CP Smith, I want to thank you for being with me since book one.

  To everyone who reads my books, a huge thank you for taking a chance on me.

  Melissa, where do I begin with you? You’re my PA, yet you’re much more! You’re my best friend, confidante, my right hand lady, and I honestly think I would have gone crazy without you this past month. Love you, chick.

  Dedication

  To my review team. This book is for you! <3

  Prologue

  My name is Evelyn. My life hasn’t been a bed of roses . It’s been hard and harder. I had an amazing childhood growing up in a small town where my dad was a police officer and everyone knew everyone, but once I left for college, I realized I was naïve and too trustworthy..

  I left for college when I was eighteen years old. It happened when I was a couple of months in and was walking home to my apartment. He was standing outside of his house by his mailbox when he stopped me and we started to talk. After ten minutes or so, he invited me inside for a drink.

  Accepting that offer was the worst mistake of my life.

  It led to me being kidnapped for four years.

  This is my story.

  Chapter One

  “Mom, what’s wrong?” I hear my son, Ethan, yell, but I am frozen. I can’t believe this. “No, no, no, no, no,” I say over and over. The bowl I am holding in my hand hits the ground and bursts into pieces.

  “Who are you?” Ethan asks, and then a hand wraps around my arm. I look up and meet a set of dark brown eyes. Dave. I want to curl up in his arms and let him take everything away.

  We try to have family dinner here at my house at least once a month, and this time Ethan brought some friends as well. Chase, Isaac, and Kane, who is dating Sydney, along with Dave, who used to be Ethan’s superior in the marines, his First Sergeant, and is now retired. Tonight was the first time I have ever met him. He is only a few years older than me.

  Dave came to dinner tonight with Chase and now he is protecting me? He doesn’t know me, but from the moment I met him, the way he watched my every move made me feel protected instantly.

  Dave steps in front of me, and I grip the back of his shirt. I let out a deep breath and look at him. What do I call him? He kidnapped me, but he is also the father of my children. Those years he had me were hell, but they have blended together over time. He only ever acknowleged Sydney. He hated her for some reason.

  I shift and close my eyes, letting myself hide behind Dave for a split second as the memories come back before I brace myself and turn to confront him.

  “I finally found you, bitch,” he says the moment I look at him.

  Tears roll down my face. I am truly scared, scared for everyone, but I don’t want my kids to get hurt by them finding out. I hid it for a reason. I can feel his hot gaze on me burning me alive.

  “Where’s our bitch of a daughter?” he yells at me, spit flying from his mouth. I flinch before my eyes shoot open wider. No, he isn’t going to do this. Not to my baby.

  I step out from behind Dave completely and move up beside him. Dave wraps his hand around my waist, stopping me from moving forward, his strong hand flexing.

  “Ahh, I see, Evelyn. You have a new dick to suck.” He laughs darkly, which sends shivers down my body. Dave stiffens beside me, but I don’t look.

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Chase, my son’s friend, stop Ethan before he can charge him.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Ethan yells.

  “Ethan, is that the way you are supposed to talk to your father? Speaking of children, where is she? She is the entire reason for your leaving.” He looks all around him dramatically. Why does this have to happen? My body is shaking so hard from the nerves.

  I can’t let him do this.

  Not hurt my kids.

  Stepping even closer to him, I grit my teeth angrily. “Get off my property now! I give you one fucking minute before I kill you myself. You will not touch a hair on her head.” I lower my voice. “You kidnapped me.” My voice hitches at that last part. Dave pulls me back until I am again behind him. I brace my forehead on his back as I breathe rapidly, feeling a panic attack looming.

  Everything around me quiets as dark spots cloud my vision. I breathe deep breaths, trying to breath fully, but it’s like something is weighing on my chest.

  I hear something hard hit the ground and look around Dave’s side, where I see him lying on the ground, unmoving, with Kane standing in front of him.

  Not not long after, the police come and take him away. Everything happened in a blur, but I try my best as I explain all that happened to the police, even though I can’t wrap my mind around the fact he was just here after twenty-four years.

  I go into my house and kneel by the couch in front of Sydney and Ethan. I scoot closer and frame her face with my hands. “Baby, I am so sorry.”

  “Mom, don’t be sorry. I am so sorry that you had to go through all of this,” she says as her eyes fill with tears.

  “Baby, what he said to you…” My tears fall this time. It’s my job as a mother to protect my kids.

  “Mom, it’s okay. Trust me, I will be fine.” She smiles at me.

  I let out a deep breath and look up at the ceiling, willing my tears to recede. “I need to tell you guys everything. But I tried to protect you.” I look back down at my kids. My gentle giant, Ethan, and my sweet baby girl.

  “Twenty-seven years ago, I was kidnapped.” Ethan looks away. I feel Dave place his strong hand on my back. He hasn’t left my side, which is something I can’t think about right now.

  “I was walking home from work when this guy lured me into his house for a drink. I’d just moved to the city and was a country girl. Where I grew up, everyone trusted everyone and it was normal to go inside someone’s house for a drink. I was naïve. I said, ‘Why not?’ and followed him inside.” I stop, take a deep breath, and look down at my hands. “I was stuck in that house for four years. I never went outside, because the door to the room he kept me in was always locked from the outside. Nothing I had could break it. I tried everything. He was horrible. Even when he did let me out every night to cook hi
m food, he would sit and stare at me. I was stuck. I had attempted to leave before and had faced the consquences. My parents probably think I am dead. I got pregnant with you, Ethan, then with you, Sydney.” He wasn’t ever mean to Ethan, something I was beyond grateful for.

  “He thought everything he was doing was normal. Like it happened every day. The only thing that kept me from going insane was Ethan and my unborn child.” I sniff and wipe the tears from under my eyes before I look at Sydney.

  “You were born, Sydney, and he didn’t like that you were a girl… Actually, Im not sure what it was. He is pure evil, filled with hate. He wanted you gone, and I couldn’t let him do that. I was in the kitchen cooking his dinner, so he left me alone. I saw my chance, so I grabbed you both and ran. I never stopped running until you guys were in high school. I did everything I could to protect you.” I feel ashamed.

  I got help to come to terms with everything that happened to me, but I still have those demons. It happened so long ago, but today made everything raw again. I can’t stop the sob that breaks through.

  I feel Sydney wrap her arms around me and turn toward her. When she lets me go, I am lifted off the ground. Dave. I lay my head on his chest, crying softly, as I feel him walking with me and carrying me up the stairs.

  Chapter Two

  Dave carries me up the stairs after my worst nightmare came true. I stopped crying once we reached the top of the stairs, but my body still shakes from nerves. The man that has haunted my dreams and every waking moment up until a few years ago has found us.

  I tuck my head in the side of his neck, taking in the comfort he is giving freely. I feel safe even though my life is going to hell right now. My poor daughter just had the image of her father tarnished, which I’d hoped would never ever happen.

  “You will be okay,” Dave whispers. I look up at him. His eyes soft, he smiles down at me while kicking open my bedroom door. He sets me gently down onto the bed after pulling back the blanket.

  When Dave walks out of the bedroom, I fall back onto the bed, feeling kind of sad he is leaving, but who would stay with an emotional woman? Getting out of bed, I pull off my jeans and climb back in just my t-shirt and panties. I pull the blanket up to my shoulder and turn away from the door. Closing my eyes, I try to forget what just happened.

  Tonight was the first time I met Dave. The moment he walked into the room, butterflies swarmed my stomach, which I hadn’t felt in a very long time. He stared at me throughout dinner, which, strangely, made me feel protected.

  When I was kidnapped at nineteen years old, my life was forever changed. It gave me my kids, but after I escaped, I moved every couple of months, never staying in the same place because I was terrified he would find me. When my kids where a sophmore and senior in high school, I moved into the house I am living in now.

  Over the years, my nerves have calmed down because nothing happened. I dealt with what happened to me and my life was finally getting straightened out. I was happy. Until everything was tilted on its axis today.

  Someone walking into my bedroom breaks me from my thoughts. I lie still, trying to figure out who it is. Then I feel someone climb in bed with me and a warm arm band around my waist, pulling me back against a hard chest.

  Craning my neck, I see Dave has rid himself of his clothes, leaving him in only his boxers. He is lying behind me, spooning. I open my mouth but then close it, confused. I thought he left since he was gone for a few minutes

  “What are you doing?” I ask him and rest my head back down onto the pillow, exhausted. I just want this day to end.

  “Holding you,” he replies and tightens his arm around me.

  I am not in the mood to argue, and I would be a fool to not admit that feeling his arm around me isn’t appealing and makes me feel safe.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, feeling vulnerable. I don’t want to be alone right now.

  “Don’t thank me. You’ve had a rough day. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

  I sigh and turn over onto my back so I can look at him. His arm is still wrapped around my belly. I look into his eyes and he does the same. “Your kids have gone home.It’s been a very rough day and they will call you tomorrow. I promised them you’ll be in good hands.” I smooth my hair away from my face and move it over my shoulder so it’s fanned across my pillow, too tired to ask questions

  “You’re exhausted.” He rubs his thumb under my eyes. I close them at the feel. His hand moves to the top of my head and through my hair. I can’t resist. I move a little closer to him. It’s his hand moving through my hair that lures me to sleep.

  Dave

  After I tucked Evelyn into bed, I walked back downstairs to talk to Ethan, who was standing at the base of the stairs.

  When I stepped down beside him, he looked me dead in the eye. “What are you doing?”

  I honestly didn’t know myself, but I wanted to protect her and make sure she was safe.

  “I want to take care of her,” I told him honestly. Ethan stared at me for a few seconds before nodding.

  “Don’t hurt her or I will hurt you,” he said then turned around, walking out of the room. His back was taunt with anger, an anger I was feeling myself. Seeing the pain that man has brought down on her clear on her face will forever haunt me.

  ~*~

  The smell of bacon wakes me from my sleep. Who is cooking in my house? I never let anyone cook in my kitchen. Opening my eyes, I look at the bed beside me. That’s when everything that happened yesterday hits me like a freight train. What an awful day it was.

  Yawning, I climb out of bed and walk into my closet. I put on a pair of jeans and a tank top with a flannel over top, unbuttoned. Dave must have made himself breakfast.

  After I am dressed, I walk downstairs and turn the corner into the kitchen. Dave is standing at the stove putting bacon onto a plate. Pancakes are sitting on the counter beside him.

  I clear my throat, and he turns around and looks at me. He smiles, and I return it. “I made breakfast.” I sit down at the bar. He sets the plates of food onto the counter and then a clean plate in front of me.

  I must admit, I am not used to being waited on like this at all. My kids have offered, but when they are here, I just want to spend time with them and take care of them like when they were little.

  I give him another smile when he sits down beside me. “Thank you for this. It’s been a long time since someone has made me breakfast,” I admit and grab my fork.

  “Well, that’s going to change,” he says. I look over at him, shocked. Did he just say what I think he did?

  I turn back to my food, and we eat in comfortable silence for a few moments, while I look out of the corner of my eye at him every few seconds. He catches me a few times and smiles.

  “Why did you stay with me last night?” I can’t resist any longer.

  He sighs and rubs his face like he was waiting for me to ask that. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. I don’t want you to be scared anymore.” He stops and looks me dead in the eye. “I won’t allow it.”

  I gape at him, but he continues, “Evelyn, what happened to you was awful and it’s killing me knowing you went through that. I want to make sure you’re okay or help you become okay, because I am pretty sure no one could heal from what you’ve dealt with.”

  “Thank you, Dave. This means more than you know.” I bite my lip blinking back tears, tears I try to hide by turning back to my food.

  I grab my plate and set it in the sink. I need to go take care of my horses. I will wash all of that later.

  “I am going out to feed the horses.” I turn around and look at Dave.

  “All right, let’s go.” He stands up and picks up his empty plate, carrying it over to the sink.

  “You’re staying?” I ask him and he nods. “Chase is picking me up in a bit.”

  “If you need boots, Ethan has some in the coat closet by the door,” I tell him and walk out of the kitchen and into the living room, where I put on my boots before I
walk outside. I close my eyes and stand on the porch, breathing in the clean country air. The minute I saw this place, I fell In love with the rolling grassy hills, the trees, and the room for horses. I can sit on my porch and stare at all the land in front of me.

  I grew up with horses before I left for college and missed them every single day. I remember the day Ethan bought me a horse; I almost fell onto the ground crying. Sitting on a horse melts away all the bad. It’s just me and the horse.

  Walking down the steps, I head down to the barn. I hear Dave come in a few minutes after me, and we spend the next hour cleaning out the stalls, which is not a fun job.

  “Want to go for a ride?” I ask Dave once I am finished and notice he is too.

  “Sure.” He grabs the saddle bags off the rack and puts them on the horses. This isn’t the first time he has done this.

  “Did you grow up with horses?”

  He nods. “Yeah, I grew up on a farm in Wisconsin.”

  I walk over to Buck and rub her nose. She snorts in my face, making me laugh. I run my hand down her neck then put my foot in the stirrup and climb on top of her. Leaning forward, I lie down on her and hug her, closing my eyes, letting every worry melt away.

  “You ready?”

  Dave interrupts my moment, and I sit up. “Yeah.” I click my mouth and she takes off. I hear Dave right behind me. We break free from the barn and head out to the field. A smile breaks out on my face as we speed up and break into a run. This is pure freedom.

  Looking behind me, I see Dave close behind with a blinding smile on his face. That man is gorgeous. He has that silver fox look going on, and I must admit, he wears it well. Very well.

  I pull back until we are going at a walk, and Dave moves up beside me.

  “How long have you lived in Raleigh?” Dave asks.

  “Ten or so years. Before, we moved around.”