Avery pulled her into his arms, kissing her like his life depended on it. Instead of ravishing her with lust, he showered her with the most loving kiss she’d ever been on the receiving end of. Everything between the couple clicked in that moment. They realized exactly how much they meant to each other, no matter what happened, or what words they used to explain it. They didn’t need the spoken confession.
“Emily, I never expected this. Not in a million years.” Avery ran his hand through her hair, stopping only to cup her chin and kiss her again. “I love you, Emily Taylor. Make love with me again.” Desperation filled his body, and his need for her slowly became carnal as he leaned in to ravish her mouth once again. Then he moved his mouth down to her neck, sucking, branding her with his mark. Even though she couldn’t repeat his confession of love—not yet—she knew deep down she was as much in love with him as he was with her.
With each kiss, he pulled another piece of clothing off until Emily was bare before him for the third time that night, and he knew she was the last woman he ever wanted to see naked. Ever.
***
The light flickered on in Emily Taylor’s apartment. The tall shadowy figure tore through every drawer, cabinet, and closet in the home. He was determined to shatter every ounce of safety that bitch had in her perfect new life. Grabbing a knife from the butcher block on the counter, his sanity slowly began to slip.
Looking down at his scarred arms, he ran the large blade against his flesh, watching the blood pour down his hand and onto the perfect white carpet. Fuck your perfect life. He thought.
Making his way to her bedroom, a place he’d only dreamt about, rage washed over him, tearing through everything within him like a violent storm. Suddenly, a crashing noise outside the apartment startled him. Dropping the knife, he ran from the broken front door of the apartment, fleeing the scene in a sleek black sports car.
Chapter Eight
Back to Reality
Two weeks later, they packed the last of Gran’s belongings into the back of Avery’s truck. The load was virtually bursting at the seams, but there was no way he was going to get her to go without taking everything she insisted she just couldn’t live without—which just so happened to be everything she’d accumulated in her seventy-two years on this Earth.
“Y’all ready, Gran?” Avery called from the dirt driveway as he packed the last of the bags into the extended cab of his truck. Emily had graciously given up her shotgun seat to let Gran ride in comfort for their three hour trip back to Daytona. While Gran was sad to leave her beautiful country home, she was ready to tear up the city as she’d told Emily the previous day. Emily could only laugh at what a complete spitfire this little old lady was. Gun powder and lead for sure. Emily thought.
As Gran walked out of the front door of the house, she kissed her wrinkled fingertips and pressed them to the door. A single tear slipped out of her eye, tumbling down onto her sweater as she turned for the truck. She clutched her homemade purse, taking one step at a time to the truck. Pausing at the door she looked over at Avery before she spoke the first words either of them had heard from her all day.
“How the hell do you expect me to get into that damn monstrosity of a damn vehicle, Avery?” Instead of the scared feeling Emily had washing over her, nervous of what would become of this pint size firecracker in the big city, she let out a belly laugh as Avery walked around the tail-gate to help his Gran up into his ginormous truck.
When they started down the dirt driveway, Gran turned in her seat, eyeing Emily. “I hope you have normal sized transportation down there in Florida.” She chuckled to herself as she turned around. What the hell did I sign up for?
***
Pulling into Daytona Beach, everyone was exhausted. The ride wasn’t long, but any extended period of time in a car was sleep inducing. Avery pulled the truck into Starbucks, jumping out to grab a couple of coffees before they headed to his apartment.
“What do you call that concoction?” Gran asked when Avery returned with Emily’s Frappuccino. Emily explained the concept of a Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino to Gran, who insisted she could make one in Avery’s kitchen when they arrived at his house. Yup, we are all in for a treat!
Getting Gran set up in the house only took a half hour. Emily insisted on going to her apartment to check her mail and do all those responsible adult things most wish they didn’t have to do.
“Gran, we’ll be back in a little bit. I’m going to take Emily over to her apartment. We will be back in no more than an hour,” Avery said without even thinking about the request he’d just made of her.
“Well, aren’t you sure of yourself, boy!” Emily laughed. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she had no desire to sleep in her apartment alone. She would pack some clean clothes, grab her computer and spend the night, again, with Avery.
***
Pulling into her apartment complex, everything looked the same as she’d left it days before. She stopped at her mailbox before making her way to the door. Bills, bills, crap, bills, and more crap! Finally looking up to her normally white front door, she stopped dead in her tracks, staring at the blood tainted, broken surface.
The door rested almost closed, but clearly broken at the lock. Dread rushed through her body as she came to a stop. Her body froze, refusing to move any further. Avery continued babbling until she reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it until it turned white. Her body tensed, stiffening as she surveyed the scene in front of her.
“Fuck!” Avery growled as he briskly pulled his phone out, dialing 911 and reporting the break in.
Emily’s feet gave out from under her, the same way they had the night she learned of her parent’s death. The haunting images of her loss flashed through her mind, resting on the crumpled car. Her eyes closed as Avery sat her down with her back up against the wall across the hall, frozen in fear and unable to step foot into her apartment, the only place she’d called home for almost six years. This apartment had been a safe haven when her world crashed down around her. Her safety had been violated; her comfort zone had disappeared into thin air.
How had no one noticed the door? Why had no one called her? When did this happen? Why would someone do this to her? Why her? Why had no one heard anything? Why didn’t someone call the cops and catch whoever did this?
The questions swept through her mind like flood waters over a burst dam. While she sat in silence waiting for the police to arrive, Avery walked over to the complex’s business office. Given the time, there had to be someone on duty. Her mind continued to run through a marathon of questions, all remaining unanswered. The silence was becoming her worst enemy when she heard sirens in the distance, which alerted her to the arriving police cruisers. As they whipped into the parking lot, lights flashing and sirens silenced, two officers burst from their vehicles. One stopped to speak with Emily, and the other made his way into the apartment in a search for the assailant, careful not to touch anything as he made his entry.
She tensed once more and knew this was no longer her sanctuary. She had become homesick over the past week and the only place which was going to make her feel safe, was moving back to the house where she’d lived when she made some of the happiest memories of her life—her parent’s home. It was just time. This whole break-in just solidified the idea which had been lurking in the back of her mind.
Jogging across the parking lot, Avery joined Emily.
“When did you last leave your apartment, Miss?” the officer asked. He was a tall man, at least six feet, towering over her petite five foot frame. His high and tight brown hair showed a hint of gray coming in, and his eyes were a dark and intimidating shade of brown.
“It was Saturday. Last Saturday around seven hundred,.” Avery spoke up as Emily still struggled to find her own voice. As the officer turned to eye the person behind the voice, he recognized Avery.
“Firefighter Martin?” he questioned. “How are you, buddy?” He extended his strong hand for a shake. Avery met his
in greeting.
“Emily is my girlfriend. She was in Georgia helping me with some family stuff. We just arrived back here about ten minutes ago, at most. We haven’t touched anything. When we left on Saturday the apartment was locked up tight.” Avery gave the officer everything he needed to know.
“Wait here until we can give you the all clear,” he spoke before disappearing into Emily’s ransacked apartment to back up the second officer. As the door opened ever so slightly, Emily could see her belongings thrown around without care. The foyer of her home was completely trashed.
Avery sat down on the concrete next to Emily, gently putting his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close. He offered all the reassurance and comfort he could while she was forced to deal with unnecessary bullshit.
“It’ll gonna be okay. We’ll take whatever you need and go back to my house for the night, then we’ll make a game plan and figure it all out, Baby.” His voice helped to soothe her nerves. Avery felt her body begin to relax slightly under his touch.
“Emily, have you checked your car?” Avery spoke quietly. He didn’t want to upset her more than she already was. But if someone had targeted her apartment, they very well might have gone after her car also.
The thought of someone trashing her brand new car caused her body to tense up all over again. Fucking bullshit! She thought to herself as she waited for the cops to return.
“Can you?” she whispered to Avery, barely able to choke the words out. Even in the ninety degree, humid Florida air, Emily began to shake. Shock was slowly starting to settle in.
A crowd slowly started gathering around her apartment, as two more police officers pulled into the parking lot. One of the cars was clearly an unmarked police car. The khaki wearing, polo clad officer stepped out, heading for her front door while Avery returned alongside him. They exchanged pleasantries, making their way to Emily.
“Miss Taylor?” the plain clothes officer spoke. “I’m detective Denton. We’re having our forensic team come in to take some samples of this blood. In the meantime, we are going to have to treat your home like a crime scene. Do you have someplace else you could stay for a couple of nights?”
She eyed Avery, as he nodded and spoke up, “You’re going to stay at my house. No questions,” he spoke firm, far more serious than she’d ever seen him, even during the grief of losing his mother mere days ago. “By the way, your car is fine, Emily.”
“Am I going to be able to take some of my belongings?” she questioned the officer, completely forgetting her concern for her brand new car while trying to peer through her door. She wiped her clammy palms down her shorts while she waited for his reply. Nerves were starting to get to her.
“Of course, we just have to wait for the officers inside to let us know it’s safe.” As he finished his words, the first officer came out holding an evidence bag. Inside was a bloody knife. The voices around her started to quiet; and the beautiful summer sky started spinning. Her breathing sped up as her legs gave out from under her. Down went Emily.
***
Emily blinked, her eyes slowly opening. Bright lights surrounded her as the gurney below her bumped and shook. It wasn’t until Avery took her hand that she realized where she was. Once again in only a few short weeks, she was in the back of an ambulance with Avery by her side.
“We gotta stop meeting like this,” he joked as he ran his fingers down her chin. A friendly familiar face stood above her. Kelsey was taking her blood pressure, and speaking into a portable radio connected to her shoulder.
“How are you feeling, Emily?” Kelsey spoke, continuing her examination. Emily still felt disoriented. The last thing she remembered was a police officer walking out of her apartment with a bloody knife. Now she was waking up in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital. Her head was pounding and her body was drenched in sweat.
“Not so hot,” she replied, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. “What the fuck happened?” Emily asked, as everyone continued to stare at her. Avery gave her hand a squeeze and began to speak.
“You passed out. As soon as the officers walked out of your apartment, you went down like a sack of potatoes. I caught you before you hit the ground, thankfully. You are in shock, Babe.” His words hit her like another ton of bricks.
“Don’t think about any of it right now. The police have everything under control. I’ll go back there tonight and get everything you need. You won’t have to go, I promise you. We’ll figure everything out. Just relax a bit so we can make sure you’re okay and I can take you home.”
Home? I don’t have a fucking home anymore. She laid her head back against the gurney again as they pulled into the emergency room entrance of Halifax Medical Center. Might as well get my own personal room here.
***
Five hours and a clean bill of health later, Avery and Emily returned to his house, greeted by an unhappy Gran. She apparently hadn’t been impressed by his lack of food in the fridge nor his ability to tell time. Only when she discovered the shape Emily was in, did she go into Momma Bear mode, helping Avery put her to bed for the night.
Emily laid in Avery’s king sized bed with Gran rubbing her hair, something no one had done for her since her mother. A trip down memory lane led her to the final time her mother ran her fingers through her blonde hair. It was longer then, down to her mid-back and she’d just had her wisdom teeth removed. Twenty-three was a hell of an age to decide an operation like that was a good idea. Her mother had stayed at her apartment with her for five days straight, lying in bed with her, rubbing her head, and braiding her hair to prevent Emily from getting vomit caught in her long locks. It was the motherly type affection she longed for. Tears fell from her cheeks as Gran comforted her until her body finally gave up its battle and fell asleep.
As Gran emerged from Avery’s bedroom, he walked through the front door with his arms full of Emily’s pink apparel, and two large suitcases he managed to find in her ransacked closet. It was probably better that Emily hadn’t made her way into the apartment. It was torn apart from top to bottom. All of the dishes in the kitchen cabinets had been smashed into pieces on her kitchen floor. Pictures had been pulled off the walls and shattered on the carpet. Canvas prints had been impaled and torn. Clothes had been thrown about her bedroom. Her bathroom mirror was shattered into a million pieces. Both of the big screen televisions were busted. But what alarmed him the most was the blood all over her bed. Whoever did this had made it personal. It wasn’t just some random crime. Emily was targeted. It was personal. This was a vendetta.
Who would want to hurt such a sweet person? Emily didn’t have a bad bone in her body. Clearly whoever it was wouldn’t give up easily, either. Thank God she didn’t see that apartment.
Avery dropped Emily’s things onto the living room couch before walking into the kitchen and sinking down onto one of the dining table chairs. Without a word, Gran opened the fridge, fishing out a pitcher and pouring him a tall glass of sweet tea. The simple gesture made him finally crack a smile. No matter what he had in his cabinets, Gran had finally found something she could make while they’d been gone. Her words from childhood echoed in his head, just as she began to speak the words.
“No southern home is complete without a pitcher of sweet tea, son.” Her hand cupped his shoulder, as she placed a kiss on the top of his head.
“She is really worked up, let her sleep,” was all she said before turning to head to the spare bedroom. “Tomorrow, we’re going to the market. We can’t survive on beer n’ cheese.”
Avery chuckled as he started to organize all of Emily’s stuff he’d thrown haphazardly on the couch. He had to do something to keep himself busy or he would go crazy.
***
Bright and early the next morning the couple woke to Gran humming along to Johnny Cash in the kitchen as she sat knitting a light pink blanket. Emily bent down, offering a hug to her as she passed by, heading straight for the coffee pot.
“Mornin’ suga’,” Gr
an said, giving Emily an extra tight squeeze. “Market today kids, this home needs some food. Gotta give an ol’ lady something to do all day.” She smiled sweetly. In a lot of ways, Gran reminded Emily of her own mother. Her mother would have only been a few short years behind Gran. She had given birth to Emily so late in life; in fact her mother had thought she was in menopause when her periods stopped. Surprise! The age difference also became a stress factor in the relationship between her and Amelia. Especially after she learned she lost the vast majority of her inheritance to Emily when her parents passed.
“I wanted to go get my car today,” Emily mentioned to Avery, noticing her pile of stuff in the living room. She walked over to her plush pink robe, picking it up and immediately putting it on. Ahhhh, feels like home. She thought to herself. It would be these little comfort items that would get her through this transition.
“Already done. Becca and Tom took care of it last night while I was picking up your things,” Avery said, pouring his own cup of coffee, leaning in to take a sip. Taking everyone off guard, he spit the coffee all over the place.
“What the hell? Who made this?” Gran smiled as she nodded, taking ownership of the freshly made coffee. There was no way Avery would be drinking Gran’s mud in a cup brew.
“Starbucks, Emily?”
He didn’t have to ask her twice, for she eagerly nodded in agreement. “How about if I go to Starbucks, and bring some back to you in a bit? I’ve gotta take Gran to the grocery store this morning.”
Avery nodded in acceptance. “I’ve got a couple things I need to take care of anyway,” he explained, pulling his phone out of his jeans pocket and thumbing through his e-mail.
“Why don’t you go get all made up, Gran? We’ve got a date with the grocery store,” Emily said.
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