Salvation

by Ahren Sanders

  “No, no, no. I don’t do wedding dresses. What you have is perfect,” I tell the little white lie. I have designed a wedding dress, but only one. It’s my dream dress.

  “I’m buying this jewelry set.” She jumps around and waves her hands in the air.

  I bounce in place with excitement. “It will be perfect! And my aunt and I will help with the dresses if you buy the material.”

  They all stop and stare at me. Abbi tugs me into a hug and squeezes so tight I lose my breath. “Thank you.”

  “Of course. What are friends for?”

  She looks at me with a glimmer in her eye. “The way Jimi explains it, we’re family.”

  Two hours later, I’m floating on cloud nine as I walk into Aunt Chloe’s house to find my dad. His car is out front, but Hank insists on walking me in. I set the champagne on the counter and call out for Dad, only to hear a loud clanging in the office.

  Hank rushes by, telling me to stay. He emerges a few minutes later with a sad look on his face.

  “I’m going to wait out front until Hayes gets here. If you need me, text.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Go see your dad, Ember, and be easy on him.” His soft eyes send a pit to my stomach.

  I run to the office to see Dad cleaning up broken glass on the floor. “Dad?”

  He looks at me, and my heart breaks. His eyes are bloodshot and face splotchy. There’s a half empty bottle of bourbon on the desk, surrounded by mounds of paperwork.

  “Are you okay?” I utter, scared for his response.

  He stops what he’s doing and comes straight to me, his eyes void. When he gets to me, he cradles my head to his chest and backs us to the small sofa.

  “I’m so sorry, baby girl. So fucking sorry. I’m supposed to have taken care of you, protected you. When you were born, my life was complete. But I fucked up. I should have listened to my parents and taken you far away from the hatred and abuse. I’ll never forgive myself.”

  “Daddy, what are you talking about? You always loved me.”

  “And I always will, but I loved them, too. I was stupid and blind, thinking that things would get better. You were always the perfect daughter, the perfect student, perfect fucking angel. Now that I know what you went through, my heart bleeds. Serena promised me she would make sure you were safe and unharmed. When we came home that day, I threatened to turn her in for drug use, underage negligence, everything I could think of. She promised me if I kept her name clean, she would take care of you. Now that I know what I do, it’s killing me,” he cries openly, holding me close.

  Tears seep into my shoulder, and I try to be strong. “I wouldn’t have left. I wanted to see you every weekend. It wouldn’t have mattered if you forced me to leave. I’d have found a way to stay to be close to you.”

  He holds me tighter. I find an inner strength that has built in me over the last few months.

  “Dad, you need to forgive yourself. I want you to take the job with James and start living again. No one blames themselves more than me for what happened, but we have to start forgiving.”

  His eyes meet mine, and I feel a sense of pride. “Yeah, can you believe I said it? Forgiving. I have a new life. Chloe, Cruz, Alex, Robbie…the list is endless. I was asked today to design dresses for Abbi Collins’ wedding. Isn’t that incredible? We need to move forward. Together. Can we do that?”

  His eyes widen and dry up. Tensing, he drops his head to my shoulder and starts to shake with laughter. “Always my angel. Not sure I can get past this shit, but for you, I’ll try.”

  “I’m no angel, but Cruz told me months ago to let it finally go and I did. Now, I have a lot of good things to erase the bad. You being home is one.”

  We hold each other for a few minutes until he stands up, bringing me with him. “Forgiving, huh?”

  “Yes.”

  “I hope the hell she thinks that way when we tell her our plans.” Robbie’s voice fills the room and I see him standing in the doorway, both hands in his pocket. His expression alone causes my pulse to race. There’s no doubt, whatever he’s about to say is going to be bad.

  Chapter 31

  Don’t Do this

  Ember

  The shower stops and I go slack, breathing deep, faking sleep. Warm steam fills the room, and I know without looking that Robbie is standing next to the bed. The scent of his body wash floats in the air. As hard as it is not to open my eyes, I lay still.

  Last Saturday’s conversation floods my mind, and I clench my stomach tight not to react. Robbie standing in Chloe’s office, my dad holding me tight. Them telling me their plans to go to Alabama this weekend. They wanted me to understand so badly, but I couldn’t. My dad’s explanation was almost reasonable.

  “I need to sit down with Serena. She seems to be on board with a ninety-day rehab. She’s scared for Natalie, and if I can do anything to help, I promised her I would. Then we’ll get a plan together. I can’t do that sitting in Nashville. It’s important I physically see her agree with me.”

  “Why are you going?” I pointed my stare to Robbie.

  “Because this woman turned on him before. Finn and I are witnesses. back, listen, and see if she gets out of line. We’re decorated Marines who work in security and have the Hayes name behind us. She’ll be stupid to try anything. Your dad’s parole officer and the county sheriff are aware of the meeting.”

  “It’s a day trip. Why all weekend?”

  Robbie looked at me with sadness and guilt.

  “You’re going to find Brad, aren’t you?”

  His eyes told me all I needed to know.

  “No! You can’t do that. Please, Robbie, let it go. He wasn’t a monster. I’m the idiot in the situation.”

  “Fuck no, you weren’t!”

  “Please don’t do this.”

  “It’s done.” He looks at me hard, showing no emotion, and I close down. His mind was made up. He was going to come face to face with the biggest mistake of my life.

  I wanted to cry, scream, plead with both of them, but it was no use. So I did what I do best and built a wall to hide my hurt. It had been ages since I’d had to do it, but I was the master at acting the part. Or at least I thought.

  “Babe, stop pretending to be asleep.”

  I stay quiet.

  “Your chest is heaving, pulse elevated, eyes leaking small streams of tears. I know you’re not sleeping.” His thumb rubs across my cheek softly, wiping the moisture.

  Shit!

  “Heard that, too.”

  I open my eyes to him on the side of the bed, leaning into me with only a towel. “Why do I always do that with you?”

  “Because it’s adorable.”

  “Hmmpt.” I turn over, and he eases in behind me, leaving no space between our bodies.

  “I’ve put up with your snit for too long, trying to give you time. But five days is long enough. We leave tomorrow, and I can’t go with you being upset. You have to understand where we’re all coming from. We love you.”

  “I get the whole Dad and Mom thing. But what’s the deal with Brad? It’s been along time.”

  His body goes still against me and hope creeps in. “Robbie, please? Leave it alone? He’s dead to me. I’ve moved on. If you go there, it will dredge up memories that need to be forgotten. If you love me enough, why can’t you let it go?”

  “Fucking Christ! I want to kill him, beat him to a fucking pulp. Of course I love you enough. You’re everything to me.”

  “I’ve lived with it long enough, knowing I was a piece of ass. Now, I’m not. I feel cherished every time you touch me.”

  One arm maneuvers under my side and the other across my stomach, caging me in. “I need to do this,” he whispers against my ear.

  My heart pounds so hard against my chest, there’s no doubt he can feel it. His fingertips skim up my shirt and draw a pattern on my stomach, giving me goose bumps. I turn into him and place my hand against his cheek, searching his face, and my eyes get lost in the depth o
f his gaze. We stare as the energy in the room starts buzzing. Weakness for his touch flows overwhelms me. I physically feel the need for him to love me.

  “Every time you touch me, kiss me, make love to me erases the memories of him. You’ve changed my life in so many ways. So you do what you need to do, but know that he ceases to exist in my world with you by my side.”

  “Jesus Christ, Ember, what do I say to that?”

  “Nothing, I had to let you know.”

  “You tame the beast in me that wants to beat the shit out of him. How’s that possible?”

  My hand slinks down his chest and over the ripples of his abdomen until it touches the towel. I loosen the edge and push it over his hip, then run my hand back around to touch the tip of his hard erection. He hisses through his teeth when I wrap my hand around his length, pumping gently.

  His fingertips move up until they circle my hardened nipple. He alternates between massaging my breast and pinching my nipples, until I arch into him with need.

  Desire pools low in my stomach when he sucks his lower lip between his teeth and releases a low, grumbling sound.

  “Get naked, now.” He shifts us, instantly moving me to my back and lifting the shirt over my head in one swoop, forcing my hand to release him. My shorts are next, and his legs go to my waist, trapping me.

  Every nerve ending in my body zings as his eyes rake over my flesh with hunger and desire. His dick bobs against his stomach, teasing and taunting me. I push him over, reversing our positions.

  I kiss a path from his jawline, down his collarbone, until I reach his own hardened nipples. My tongue swirls around each one and his chest trembles. I continue moving lower, licking and nipping at his skin until reaching my destination. As soon as my hand wraps around him and brings the tip to my lips, he hisses again and curls his fingers in my hair.

  I circle his crown with my tongue several times and suck lightly on his slit, causing him to whimper and arch his hips. When his breathing increases, I suck him in as far as possible and stroke him in rhythm into my mouth. His tip hits the back of my throat, causing me to swallow hard, sucking more of him in.

  “Fuuccckkk,” he groans and pumps his hips greedily.

  With my free hand, I scratch my fingernails down his inner thigh and cup his balls, twisting them. My lips tighten as they move up and then release him with a ‘pop’. Still massaging him, I lick up and down his entire length and concentrate on the underside, making sure every inch is kissed.

  He twitches and his hands grow tighter around my scalp when I suck him in roughly and start my movements again. His hips are actively pushing into my mouth at the same pace, and I taste the saltiness starting to seep through.

  “Babe, you need to move back.”

  I keep sucking harder, twirling my tongue, and pushing to take him deeper.

  “Ember, I’m not kidding. I’m going to fucking blow in your mouth if you don’t move.”

  Instead of moving, I squeeze his balls tight and feel him jerk.

  “HOLYFUCKINGSHIT!” he roars as warm liquid pours down my throat. I continuing moving my tongue as I swallow.. He spasms one last time and then goes completely still.

  My hands brace on either side of his hips, and I lift up slowly. My eyes are met with deep, dark, inky pools of lust as Robbie’s chest heaves.

  “Fucking saw spots. That’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. I need you now, babe, and it’s not going to be gentle.”

  He doesn’t wait for me to answer before hauling me the rest of the way up his chest and rolling me onto my stomach. His knee parts my legs before he plunges inside easily.

  “Next time you do that, I want you on my face. I want to lick every inch of your pussy while you take my dick as deep as you can. Do you want that, Ember?”

  “Ummhmm,” I murmur, gripping the pillow.

  He pulls me up, melding my back to his front, and drives into me wildly. His actions are rough and uncontrolled. I lean forward and grip the headboard, pushing him deeper. We move in sync, me meeting him thrust for thrust.

  He slows only to lean back on his calves, changing our position. Now, I’m facing him, curled around his body. Beads of sweat trickle down his face, and my stomach starts to knot with the familiar coiling. I throw my head back, arching my body into him. A loud growl erupts from his throat right before he latches onto my nipple and bites down. Pleasure and pain rip through me as I explode, screaming his name.

  He clutches my ass firmly and growls as he pumps his release into me. I’m pretty sure the earth shakes as my body comes down from the most intense sex of my life.

  His body moves slowly, lowering us back to the bed, and he gently kisses where he bit down on my tender flesh.

  We hold each other tight as our breathing and heartbeats start to slow. Tears well up in my eyes when he starts to kiss my neck tenderly, whispering against my skin.

  “I adore you. Let me take care of you the best way I know how.”

  “I trust you, Robbie, but Natalie was right about one thing. The last time someone fought for me, they went to jail.”

  “Don’t bring her name into our bedroom after what we just experienced. She needs to be the farthest thing from your mind. What you need to think about is the fact that they are no longer in your life. And after this weekend, they’ll know they can’t hurt you anymore.”

  I nod against his forehead and let the slightest bit of hope bloom. This is one issue that I hope to hell he can take care of.

  Chapter 32

  Ember Walker Saved Me

  Robbie

  My eyes scan the file in front of me in disbelief. The man in the picture is covered in tattoos with a shaved head and hardened expression. There’s no way this could be Brad Jones. Ember would be scared to death of this man. He doesn’t match the description she gave me. Even with five years between the last time she saw him and now, this would be a drastic change.

  “His name’s Trey Payne.” Shake points to his rap sheet. “He’s a mid-level dealer in town. Natalie owes him around eight thousand, and he seems to have a soft spot for her.”

  “Shit.” I look at Finn, who looks equally as surprised. “He’s not who I was expecting. Is he still supplying her with drugs?”

  “Sometimes. But I think he’s found a way to bring her into the mix by making her distribute at the bar she works. He has a few people watching her each night. One regular is the guy that I told you about a few weeks back. At the end of each night, she meets him with a wad of cash.”

  “Can we shut it down? Spook him?”

  “I have a contact that can make that happen. We’ll put word out that the cops are following her.”

  “Do it,” I say.

  “Consider it done, but what are you going to do about the money? This guy won’t forgive too easily.”

  “I’m not too worried about that. We’ll keep the word circulating that the cops are watching her in rehab. Hopefully, they’ll move on. If not, then she’ll have to figure it out.”

  Shake nods before asking, “Out of curiosity, who did you expect?”

  “Last time we know of her owing someone money, it was a guy named Brad Jones.”

  He pulls out his laptop and starts typing, as Finn and I look over the rest of Trey’s file. Thad joins us, coming from his meeting with the Social Worker at the Drug and Rehabilitation Center across the street. His mood has shifted slightly since our drive up this morning. I’m hoping that attitude stays when we meet with Serena next.

  “I have several Brad Jones’ in the area, but only one that has a record for drugs. Looks like he’s been clean for five years. Nothing. Not even a speeding ticket.” Shake shows me the screen, and I recognize the address as the same one from my own research.

  “Interesting,” is all I respond.

  “Good luck with everything. I’ll keep you updated on my end.” He packs up again and shakes our hands before leaving.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking,” Finn says, sitting back and crossing his ar
ms across his chest.

  “That fucker may be clean, but he’s still gonna pay.”

  An evil grin spreads across his face as he nods. “Good.”

  “She’s here,” Thad announces. We watch Serena get out of her car and walk toward our table.

  “Thad, I thought we were meeting privately to discuss our daughter.” Her voice trembles slightly.

  “Sit down now,” he growls.

  Her eyes grow wide in anger, but she slides her ass into the chair.

  “You decide to make a scene, I’ve got witnesses. Learned the hard way not to play your games. You want help for Natalie, then listen closely.”

  Her eyes meet mine and narrow a bit but then widen in understanding.

  Yeah, you’re done fucking with Ember.

  “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to encourage Natalie to enter the ninety-day program as an inpatient. You cannot check her out. While she’s there, you figure out how to keep her sober and clean when she gets out, because there’s only one shot here. This is both your chances.”

  “We’re supposed to be here discussing options.”

  “We are. There are two options. One is rehab. The other, nothing. Seems like I’m being pretty generous.”

  “Generous? She’s your daughter!”

  “And that’s exactly why I’m here. This is me being a dad, taking care of her. Not enabling her to continue on the path she’s on.”

  “How the hell do you suggest I talk her into this? She’s going to refuse.”

  “That’s easy. Either rehab or jail. We know she’s passing drugs through that restaurant. One tip to the police will put her in jail.”

  “You call that being a dad? Don’t you think one member of the family with a felony is enough?”

  “My time is served, but since you brought it up, there’s one more thing. You communicate with me about Natalie. If I’m not available, talk to Chloe. Under no circumstances do you go near Ember for anything. Nothing. Ever.”

  “I’m her mother.”