“Cooper, I really need to tell you some things. I can’t wait any longer. It’s very important to me that we be honest with each other with everything. Even if there is something that we think the other may not like, we have to promise each other to always tell the truth. I am ashamed of what I’m about to tell you, but I need to so that you know me and why I have issues. This is what made me. I know your past makes you stronger, but it also almost can break you. It almost broke me. Lying in bed with you right now shows that it made me stronger, but there were many times when I did not think I’d get here. I thought I would be alone for the rest of my life when it came to men. Cooper I really hope what I tell you doesn’t change your feelings for me. If they change, you need to tell me now. I don’t want you to look at me any differently. I can’t imagine loving you anymore, but I know I will the longer we are together.”
Cooper didn’t say anything but instead just shook his head yes.
“It all started when I was six and my mom remarried. She married this man that had promised to love us both and provide for us. He knew exactly what we wanted after my dad walked out on us. At first things were great, for the first two years anyway. Then things got bad and then worse. He began to drink when he was stressed and then it went from bad to worse. He started to beat my mother when he was drunk. He would beat her right in front of me and make me open my eyes if I tried to close them. He threatened me a couple times, but never followed through. Still not sure why. I saw the beatings first hand and never thought I could look at or trust another man. I saw him degrade my mother into nothing. He took everything from her. Every year the fights got worse. The police were called. When my mother would be talking on the phone to my grandmother or aunt he would get mad and pull the phone out of the wall. The whole unit out of the wall. He would pull out the air conditioner control out of the wall if we touched it without his permission. We were expected to mind him and if we didn’t there were consequences. He would tell my mom to get out and if she didn’t he would pick her up and throw her out of the house, literally. The yelling was so bad I would cry and cry to try to block it out, but to no avail.”
At this point I am talking like a robot, like I was on autopilot. Cooper rubbed my face and wiped my tears as they slowly fell.
”It never got better. For 12 years we went through this. No one helped us and no one got us out. Family, friends, the authorities they all knew what was going on. He was a monster. My mom never could leave because she couldn’t support us. She tried to protect me as much as she could but all I wanted was to get out of there. Most kids were dreaming or thinking about what they were going to do on their birthdays or on the weekend and I was dreaming about how we could escape. I didn’t care what we had to do to leave. I would have lived on the streets to get away from this life.”
“When I was 17, on the last day of high school, I came home from McKoy’s house to get a change of clothes. I walked right into a horrible fight between my mom and stepdad. I had had enough. I, for the first time in my life, stood up to him. I went and got a gun I had found of his. He told me to go fuck off and get the hell out of his house, so I did. I packed up my clothes that I had already started to pack, grabbed my mom’s and took her to my car. I buckled her in then went in to find him. I aimed at him and I fired two times. I looked at Nick and told him the next time I wouldn’t miss. I managed to shoot a bit of his ear off, but didn’t kill him, although I would have done it gladly. I told him if he came within ten feet of us again, I’d kill him and call it self-defense. He was shocked as hell to hear I had actually thought this through. I hoped I had gotten the point across.”
“All my mom and I wanted was to live a life with no fear. We were prisoners in a living jail cell. I haven’t heard from him since and I don’t expect to. I have a restraining order against him, but, it will be expiring soon. I won’t hesitate to kill the fucker if he comes back around me. He killed my mom mentally and her happiness. She never recovered. All those years seeing what I saw destroyed a part of me. Until you Cooper, I didn’t have hope for a happily ever after.”
Cooper was giving me his full attention and holding my hands. He knew there was nothing he could say to take my pain away. I knew if there was, he’d do it without hesitation.
“When I was finally able to get my mom and me out of the hell hole we called home, McKoy helped us. She had been privileged all her life and she helped me by putting my house I rented in her name. She also put everything in her name that I needed so Nick could not trace me. I could not underestimate him. I had a feeling once he started to search for me, it wasn’t going to be pretty. He was an obsessive man. McKoy was my rock all through my life, since the day I met her. She did whatever she needed to do to protect me and so did her parents. I am thankful for them. They helped me and my mom get on our feet. I don’t know how much good it really did for my mother, but for me it was what made me become independent. One day I want to pay back every penny they gave to me. Of course, Mc wouldn’t dream of it. My mom lived with me for about a year and then moved in with her sister in Austin. I went to a community college and got my degree so I would make sure I could ALWAYS support myself.”
“Ashlynn I am so sorry you went through all this. I wish I had words to relieve some of your pain. I knew you’d been hurt, but I didn’t want to force you to talk. I’d never look at you differently for something you had no control over. I think you’re a survivor and that makes you even more beautiful to me. I’m sorry I never got to meet your mother. I know you fought for her the best you could. I can’t erase what you have been through Ashlynn, but I can tell you I will never let anyone hurt you ever again.”
I just nod my head. I love hearing these words out of his mouth.
“You’re safe with me and I will die protecting you. I will never lay a finger on you and harm you in any way. I will cherish and honor you. I will give you everything you deserve. You will never want for anything and you damn sure will never be scared for your life. I’m sorry you were put in that position. I hate abuse just like you do. That’s why I went into the career I did. I knew it was going to be risky, but I couldn’t stand it after my father. I want you to know I do know what you have been through. I see the stories daily. I see women and their children hurt. It hurts me that you went through that. I saw it too Ashlynn, growing up with my mom and dad. My dad used to beat my mother. I would never lay a hand on a woman, ever!”
“Cooper, kiss me.”
“Ashlynn, I will kiss you for the rest of your life and I will worship you for the rest of mine.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you more, Coop.”
He kissed me gently and held me close. He dried my tears and soothed me to sleep with humming in my ear the song we had danced to earlier. I feel asleep in the comfort of Coop’s arms and the mental release. I shared with him a part of my life I had only shared with two other people and I hope I don’t regret it.
Chapter 20
~Ashlynn~
I slept so good last night. Telling Cooper about my mother gave me a release from my mind I have never experienced before. His reassurance made me feel so much better and that he didn’t look at me any differently showed how one of a kind Cooper really was.
Cooper making love to me had my body completely relaxed. I let my guard down and, as a result got the man in my life that’s my soul mate. The feelings he gave me last night….. There are no words. I felt like crying and screaming at the same time. Damn, if that is what I have been missing with sex, it’s a crying shame. I doubt it would have felt so good with any other man other than Cooper though. I love him so much inside and out and I know every time we make love, it’s only going to get better.
I woke with Cooper placing light kisses on my forehead, my nose and my lips and the smell of fresh coffee. I opened my eyes and felt so good I felt like I was in a dream.
“Baby, I have to go to work but I wanted to see your eyes before I left.”
“Cooper, don�
�t go yet.” I koala hugged him to try to get him to get back in bed with me, but he was already dressed and showered. I wanted him naked on me this minute. I was still naked and hoping I could persuade him.
“I’ve got to go Ash, baby, you’re tempting me.” His voice sounded so sexy this the morning.
I grabbed his shirt and pulled it up over his head, and then I grabbed his zipper and started to unzip it.
I looked Cooper in his eyes and gave him my pouty face. “Please Cooper, make love to me one more time. We said we were going to again last night, but we both fell asleep. I want to feel you again.”
I pulled Cooper down on the bed and move my hips up to him. He responded with a smile and started to kiss the living hell out of me. He slid in and took the lead. He moved with me and we were in perfect sync. He knew I was sore and tried to be gentle with me while making love to me. It was extraordinary. He rolled off me and lay on his back with his arms behind his head and just looked at me.
“What are you looking at Mr. Brooks?”
“Well Miss Ellis, I am looking at the most beautiful woman these eyes have ever seen. You are an unbelievable lover sweetheart.”
“Cooper I have never felt beautiful before you. You make me feel like I am. I sure as hell have never made love, so, hopefully I’m doing it right.”
“Wow Ashlynn, now I really don’t want to go to work.”
“I know, I don’t want you go to either. Stay just five more minutes.”
We finally got up and I watched Cooper get ready. I walked him to the door wearing nothing but my panties.
“I’ll call you later. I will miss you every minute I’m away. I love you.”
“I love you every minute of every day.”
Max walked him out then came back to the bed and plopped back down. I got down on my hands and knees and thanked God for the blessing of Cooper in my life. I prayed for him, and I prayed nothing tore us apart. Everything I’d been through had been worth it if I’m lucky enough to keep Cooper as my man.
ღ
~Cooper~
I returned to the station in a great mood after my night with Ashlynn. I thought the entire drive in about how I wanted to find out who did this to Ashlynn and her mother. I wanted to know his full name so I could do some investigating. I wanted to make sure that this asshole never came near my angel again. She knows I’m an officer so I didn’t know if she would tell me his full name. To add to that, she had such a distrust of the law. Hopefully, he was in prison or better yet dead. Who the hell knew?
As soon as I got to my office, Beau was sitting there waiting for me.
“Why are you later than normal Cooper? We have to get to that house we have been to three times in the last couple weeks. A call just came in. I was about to leave without you.”
“Shit, already this morning? I don’t know how much more that poor woman is going to take, and I mean her body.”
“The last time we were there, I tried everything to try to get her to press charges, but, she won’t. I think she is more scared he’ll kill her from pressing charges against him. I even tried to give her the info to go talk to Ashlynn at the shelter so hoping she’d get some help. No such luck. Apparently, she doesn’t realize she will die this way and probably fast.”
We got to the house in record time and pulled up to the house with our siren silent. It was quiet, which meant we weren’t going to like what we saw. We drew our guns and walked up to the house.
Beau called through the door “Police” and no one responded. It was just as scary to hear nothing as it was to hear screams and fighting on the other side. Beau screamed again “Police” and then nothing. I attempted to open the door, and it was locked. I held up my fingers and counted out 1-2-3 and kicked the door open. I was not prepared for the findings on the other side of the door. Right before me, lying on the floor in the corner was a woman that had been beat nearly to death. She was curled up in a ball and blood was everywhere around her. I ran up to her and felt for a pulse. She was alive, but barely a pulse. “Dispatch, this is Cooper Brooks. I need paramedics here ASAP.”
I reached down and pushed her hair out of her face and told her she was going to be okay. She didn’t say anything and her eyes are closed. I don’t know if they’re closed on purpose or were swollen shut. Once again this man got away. He would have beaten her to death if the neighbors hadn’t called due to the screams and fighting.
We waited with her until the EMS arrived then helped get her loaded up. Beau went next door to ask for the neighbor’s statements. I was speechless. My heart hurt so badly for this innocent woman. I wished we would have gotten here sooner. How could a person do this to another living being?
We got back to the station and fill out the reports. I couldn’t get Ashlynn out of my mind so I texted her.
“Ash, I am thinking of you and wanted to tell you I love you. I hope your day is going good. I miss you.”
It wasn’t a minute later when she texted me back
“I love you more Cooper. You must have been reading my mind because I was thinking the same thing.”
Beau informed me later in the day that he had called to check on the woman from earlier and that she was waking up and coming around.
“He beat her good this time. Luckily she survived it.”
I sighed, “I don’t know how lucky she is. She’s got to get away from him. The faster we can get him put behind bars the better. No telling how many women will suffer under his hands.”
Beau responded, “I’m going to interview her soon to see what I can find out. I’ll let you know once I know details. Hopefully, she can give me some information that will help lead to where he is. With the statements I got on record from the neighbors maybe it’ll be enough.”
“Thanks man, let me know.”
I typed in Ellis in our database, but nothing came up. There were some in other states, but nothing that was in this proximity. The man was her step father so maybe, she hadn’t taken his last name. Hell, I didn’t even know her mom’s name to try to do some research. I needed to find out more information so I could make sure this man was put away. I was going to build the rest of my future with Ashlynn and I wanted to protect her from everything. I wonder if Ashlynn truly felt safe. Can a woman feel safe after going through this ever?
~Ashlynn~
I jumped in the shower after Cooper left for work. My body was sore but a sore I could certainly get used to. Unfortunately, all I kept thinking about was Nick. I kept getting shivers up my spine. I knew it probably had to do with me talking to Cooper about it, but something just didn’t seem right. I had not felt this way since when I first moved here. Maybe I needed to meet with McKoy for some coffee and talk about what I was feeling. She had been through it all with me so she’d understand. Maybe I could ask Cooper to snoop around a little bit and make sure Nick was nowhere near me. He might not even be able to find anything on him, but I just prayed that this feeling I was having was just from talking about old trauma. That sick ass man ruined my mother and my childhood, and if I heard he was dead I would never look back. I saw him put his hand on mom too many times. I hoped another woman wasn’t going through it under his wrath. In a way, I felt guilt knowing when I had the chance I could have ended his life and spared another woman or child from the future pain he could inflict on them. I can honestly say I didn’t think of that at the time when I left. All I could think about was getting the hell out of there. But, now since the years had passed, I felt safe thinking about it now. Too many abusers repeated the pattern over and over. I needed to talk to McKoy and then Cooper to see what I could find out.
I got dressed with Max on my heels and walked to the porch. I noticed my door was unlocked? Did I leave it unlocked? I didn’t think I had left it unlocked. I turned around and looked around the house. Everything was in its spot. Maybe I just forgot to lock it. Max was not worked up. My imagination was playing tricks on me now. Sitting on my couch, I tried to rack my brain about whether I locked my door or
not. I needed to call Cooper about this truck. From the distance, it didn’t look like Nick, but, who knows anymore.
Chapter 21
~Ashlynn~
Age 17
I came home from school in a rush. It was the last day of school and I was getting my stuff ready to move out. I already had a plan of action. I was secretly getting the hell out of here in just a couple days, with my mom or without. I couldn’t handle it anymore. McKoy dropped me off. I was in my room, when I heard a bunch of noises in the driveway. I heard my mom screaming, and my stepdad demanding her to get out. She wouldn’t get out of the car. I didn’t know what was going on other than the usual. They were making a scene in front of the whole neighborhood. They’d both been drinking by the sounds of it. I could hear the words going back and forth telling each other where they could go and how they hated each other.”
“Get the fuck out of my car, you bitch!”
“I’m not going anywhere Nick till you give me what is mine.”
“Ok, if you won’t get out, I’ll remove you myself.” I saw Nick get out of the car and walk around. He grabbed for the door but my mom had locked it. He started yelling and it was going to be even worse if she didn’t unlock it. She finally unlocked it. He pulled her out by her hair dragging her out of the car, and kicked her in the arm to get her to let go. He drug her by the hair on the cement in the driveway and slapped her face.
“Stop Nick! You proved your point and got your way like you always do. Just let me go now.”
Eternal Soulmate Page 11
