“Not anymore.”
TWENTY-FIVE
I CRIED UNTIL MY BODY felt like it had been drained of everything; my ability to care, tears to cry, and all rational thought.
I pulled on my clothing, angrily cursing under my breath before I sent Tay a text message, but she responded that she wouldn’t be at work for a few hours. If I drove out there, Mason would cause a scene, and I didn’t know if I could look him in the eye without breaking down.
Instead, I packed my things, cleaned anything I may have messed up, and gone down to the study where Mason had shown me the news articles about his childhood.
The clippings were no longer scattered across the desk. I pulled open the drawers that weren’t locked, but they were nowhere to be found. But there was a folder with my name across the top.
My phone rang in my back pocket, startling me and causing the file to spill on the floor in front of me. I dug the device from my pocket and answered the call with an exasperated sigh. “Hello?” I asked as I bent down to begin gathering the papers, but stopped as I landed on a picture of myself while I was out running.
“Belle? I know you aren’t supposed to start until next week, after your training, but I could really use a hand down here.”
“Hunter?”
“The one and only.”
“I uh...” my eyes danced over the image, a fresh wave of anger and confusion washing over me as I slid it to the side, revealing information about my stepfather. I gasped, my hand pressing against my chest in an effort to slow its rapid beating.
“Belle? You okay?”
“I –I’m not sure,” I choked out, as fresh tears sprung to my eyes and blurring my vision.
“Stay there. I’ll come to get you.”
“No, you don’t need to –”
The sound of a clicking let me know he’d ended the call. I sank down to my knees, letting my phone slide to the floor as I looked over the collage of my life.
The front door slammed off the wall as someone entered, followed by the heavy sound of boots against the hardwood floor. “Belle?” Hunter called out.
“Here,” I choked out. After a few seconds, he stood in the doorway of the office, his eyes dancing over the papers that were scattered around me.
“What the hell?” he asked, taking a few tentative steps closer.
“He’s been – I don’t know, stalking me? Following me? How does he have all of this? How does he –”
“Is he here?” he asked, his eyes going up to the ceiling as he listened for sounds above us. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. He got called to the club. The police are there.”
“Come on, Belle. Let me get you out of here. We can talk about this at my place.” His large hand wrapped around my bicep, and he hauled me to my feet next to him.
“What is it you’re not telling me?” I asked, yanking free from his grip and taking a step back.
“I’ll tell you everything. I promise. I just don’t want you to be here if he comes back, okay? I can keep you safe.”
“Safe from Mason?” I asked, shaking my head. I was confused, sure, but I didn’t think Mason would ever hurt me.
“You don’t know? He didn’t tell you what he did?”
“What do you mean? What did he do?”
“His last fight – the reason he quit?”
“Apparently, there was a lot Mason didn’t tell me.”
“Belle, you can trust me, okay? Just come with me.” He held out his hand, and after hesitating for a moment, I slid my fingers over his and let him tug me toward the front door, pausing only to grab my bag of belongings I’d already packed.
“What happened?” I asked, peering through the windshield that looked like a fractured spiderweb.
“Mason happened,” he shot back, his eyes flickering to mine before focusing on the road ahead.
His place was only a few minutes away, but as we made our way toward the club and I saw the police cars, I stiffened in my seat, struggling to see through the fractured glass.
“You can make yourself at home at my place. It’s not big like Mason’s, but there is plenty of room for the both of us.”
“I won’t be here long,” I replied, clearing my throat. I just need to get a bus ticket back to Bloomington.”
“You’re leaving?” He slowed as we began to approach the club, and my phone began to ring in my hand.
“I don’t belong here.”
“If you’re worried about Mason –”
“I’m not scared of Mason,” I snapped. “I just think there is a lot he’s not telling me.”
“I can’t say I blame him. After Rose –”
“Rose?”
“My foster sister.”
I paced the floor of the club, my phone pressed to my ear, but Belle wasn’t answering my calls.
“Somethings wrong,” I bit out, my eyes locking with Devin’s.
“Hey, Collins,” an officer called out over the walkie talkies. “What’s the deal with this garage next door?”
The cop looked to me before holding his radio up to his mouth. “We have the property marked as abandoned. Copy?”
“Affirmative,” the other officer replied.
Just then, the front door burst open, and Annabelle stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the sun that shown in from behind her. But the light was soon blocked out by a larger figure. Hunter was behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders. My lip twitched, and I took a single step toward them before the officer pressed his hand against my chest.
“That the owner?” he asked. Belle’s eyes were wild and red; her face puffy from crying.
“Ms. Emerson?” The officer called out to her, and her eyes never left mine as she nodded.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“This property is in your name. We need permission to search the premises.”
“My name?” she replied, her eyes snapping to the cop who stood before her. “That’s not possible.”
“It’s all yours,” I growled, my eyes locked on Hunter. He shouldn’t have his fucking hands on her.
“How?” Fresh tears sprung to her eyes, and it took every ounce of restraint not to touch her, to pull her into my arms and tell her it will all be okay.
“Do we have permission to search the building?”
She swallowed hard, her eyes going to the floor between us. “I – I don’t know.”
“Just let them have a look around, Annabelle, and then I’ll take you home, and we’ll figure all of this out,” Hunter whispered from behind her as he glared at me.
“I guess. Sure,” she muttered before swiping her hand against her cheek to remove a wayward tear.
“We have permission to search. Copy?” the officer called into his radio.
“Why are you with him?” I bit out; my blood pumping so hard I could hear it whooshing in my ears with every beat.
“What are they looking for, Mason?” she asked, as her face scrunched up in confusion. “What else are you hiding?”
I looked at my brother before taking a step closer to Belle. “They are just following up on a missing person.”
“A homicide,” the officer corrected. We found a body of a woman across town, and we had a lead that she may have come to this... your establishment.”
“What body? What woman?” Belle asked.
The officer pulled out a printed picture of the deceased woman, and I had to look away from her bloodied and bruised face; her eyes fixed on nothingness. “Does she look familiar? She was carrying a stolen license. The name was Krista Malone.”
I watched the color drain from Belle’s face. “She looks like me,” the words came out in a rush, and I knew she was wondering how the woman had gotten ahold of the ID she’d used to get in my club, the ID I’d taken from her.
“Belle –”
“Collins, you’re gonna want to see this,” one of the other cops called from down the hall. His eyes went to mine as he placed his hand on h
is weapon, flicking open the clasp of the holster.
“What is it?” he called back, his eyes trained on me.
“This is some creepy shit, Collins. Maybe human trafficking?”
“Turn around and put your hands on your head,” he snapped.
“That’s not what it looks like –”
“Turn around and put your fucking hands on your head,” he shouted, unholstering his weapon and pointing it at my head.
My eyes went to Beauty before I let them fall closed and turned around to allow him to cuff me.
“Not such a tough guy now, are we?” he asked as he clasped the cuffs on my wrists.
TWENTY-SIX
AFTER HOURS OF TALKING to the police, Hunter took me back to his apartment. I was exhausted, barely able to hold my swollen eyes open. I slept for three days, unable to motivate myself to even get a shower. My nightmares were even worse now without Mason to make me feel safe. Just the thought of cuddling up next to someone who was selling women made me sick. What made it worse, was how much I missed it – missed him. Fortunately, Hunter had been more understanding and caring than I’d ever expected.
I didn’t know exactly what went wrong between him and Mason, but I knew it must have been bad if it caused them to hate each other this much.
I still wanted to make my way back to Bloomington, but now that I seemed to own a crime scene, I couldn’t exactly pack up and leave town.
“How are you feeling?” Hunter asked. I blinked open my eyes and took him in. He was wearing a suit, but the top button was undone, and he was fastening the cuffs.
“Like I’m in some alternate universe. What are you all dressed up for?” I asked, pushing my hair back from my face and arching my back.
“We have a wedding to attend.”
“What?”
“A wedding. Your friend is getting married, and I’d been tasked with getting the maid of honor to the ceremony.”
My stomach sank as I thought about having to get dressed up and go spend time with a bunch of people who didn’t give a damn about me. Especially without Mason. Mason. I haven’t spoken to him since he was put in cuffs. Since I’d seen the offices in the back building, decorated like makeshift bedrooms. My stomach rolled, and I put my hand against my belly to keep from being sick.
“Hey,” Hunter sank down, placing his finger under my chin to tilt my head up. “You don’t have anything to worry about. I’ll be right by your side.”
I nodded, fresh tears pricking my eyes.
“If you want to leave after this, I’ll make sure you get back home. And I’ll clean up this mess for you. The house... the club. I can make it all go away.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked.
“Because I know you didn’t know what kind of man Mason was. He used you. But that doesn’t change who you are, Annabelle. I know you’re a good person. I can help make this right for you.”
I forced a smile. I was grateful for his help, even if I didn’t deserve it. I’d come out here to change my life, and I’d only managed to make more of a mess of it. I couldn’t wait to be able to escape this nightmare.
Hunter pushed to his feet and retreated from the bedroom so I could get ready.
I hurried through the shower and swept my hair up in an updo. I wasn’t big on makeup, but I applied a little bit of mascara and lip gloss, as well as a little bit of concealer to hide the redness around my eyes.
If I could make it through my stepfather’s abuse, and Mason being some sort of monster, surely, I could survive the wedding of my best friend and my ex. At least I’d have Hunter by my side. He’d given me a job and a place to stay, but most of all, he’d given me space. After all I’d been through, I needed that more than anything.
Swallowing back my fear and trepidation, I made my way out to the living room. Hunter pushed to his feet from the couch, his eyes raking over me.
“You look incredible.”
I felt a blush creep over my cheeks and let my gaze fall to the floor. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”
“You don’t look it.”
“Thanks.”
“Ready?” He asked, holding out his arm for me to take. I nodded once, slipping my hand around his forearm as he lead me downstairs.
“You had it fixed,” I noticed, looking over the windshield of his muscle car.
“I couldn’t take the prettiest girl to the ball in a busted car, could I?” He asked, shooting me a wink as he pulled open the passenger door for me so I could slip inside.
The church was only a few minutes away, tucked away in the rolling hills of the countryside, just on the outskirts of town.
Hunter opened my door for me and again offered me his hand. I took it, pulling myself from the car and struggling not to roll an ankle in my heels in the soft grass.
“I’ll meet you back here before the ceremony starts. If you need anything, just call me.”
I nodded, looping my arms around his neck to give him a hug.
Everything was falling apart. I’d been careful. For years, I was able to keep that side of me hidden. But then Belle came into my life, and I got sloppy. I needed to be able to explain to her – to prove to her that I wasn’t the bad guy. I’d done a lot of fucked-up things in my life, but I wasn’t the monster Hunter had made me out to be.
I wouldn’t hurt Beauty. But I sure as fuck would kill anyone who’d caused her pain.
I pressed the clippers against the side of my head, leaving just a few inches of length on top that I trimmed with scissors. I’d do anything for her. I’d change everything about myself if I needed to. I’d move to the other end of the Earth and take her away from everyone who’d ever made her sad. But I was on that list. Hell, I was probably at the top. So I’d have to settle for making sure no one would hurt her again, then I’d have to let her go.
After I’d finished with my hair, I took the clippers to my beard before using a razer to make my face baby smooth.
I didn’t even recognize the man in the mirror. After pulling on my dark suit and canary yellow tie that matches Beauty’s dress, I was a new man. I looked like the man she deserved, not the monster that still clawed at my insides, desperate for a way out into the light.
TWENTY-SEVEN
THE CHURCH WAS ENORMOUS, but it was packed and every seat in the pews filled. I stood at the front, my hands shaking as I gripped the small bouquet of flowers each of the bridesmaids held.
My eyes flitted to Roland’s, and he smirked. I quickly averted my gaze to the floor ahead of me, blowing out a breath as the bride’s music began to play. This was too much. It was all happening too fast.
It reminded me of the night of Cadence’s bachelorette party. As she began her march down the aisle, I looked to Hunter, who was seated a few rows back on the groom's side. But he wasn’t looking to me because he was too wrapped up in a conversation with the man next to him – a man who looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before.
That’s when I saw another familiar face, a face that made my blood run cold and my knees began to buckle just as Cadence reached us, kissing her father on the cheek.
My stepfather. Paul. Why was he here?
I swallowed against the lump in my throat, focusing my attention on the bride and groom. This was my life. In some twisted and warped reality, I was surrounded by all the people throughout my life who’d hurt me. Only one was missing. The man I wanted so desperately to see, even though I knew it was wrong. Mason. I couldn’t help but feel everyone was wrong about him. I’d seen him, in the night, when he held me, so I felt safe. I saw the way his eyes danced over me like I was more precious than anything in this world. No one had ever looked at me the way he did. That had to count for something? I wish he could hold me now, save me from myself.
In a moment where I felt like I was going to collapse from all of the heartache, this time he wasn’t there to catch me if I fell. I was on my own. I didn’t use to mind being alone, but now it made my skin ache wit
h the need to feel his touch. I tugged at the yellow fabric that felt like it was constricting my breathing as the preacher began to ramble on about eternal love and other such nonsense.
I glanced up to catch Cadence shooting me a glare, and I quickly tried to regulate my breathing. I wasn’t going to ruin this day for her. I wasn’t like her – or the rest of these people. I wasn’t going to be the entertainment and fodder for gossip. Not this time. One of the side effects of Mason’s affection was a confidence that crept its way throughout my veins. It was subtle, but it was there. I felt worthy – of love and kindness.
I straightened my back, holding my head up high as I plastered a smile on my face. The second this farce was over, I was going to run – make a dash for the fresh cool air outside. And I wouldn’t stop until my feet couldn’t carry me any further from this place – this town. Law be damned. I didn’t care about the house or the club. The one thing I cared about seemed to be a mirage.
That’s when it hit me. The man that Hunter was speaking with, the man handing him an envelope that he slipped into the inside of his suit jacket, it was Dalton West, the man who’d been at Mason’s home. He was his friend. At least, that’s what he had thought.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the preacher concluded to the sound of cheers and catcalls from the watching crowd.
Everyone was on their feet. This was my chance. I pushed my way through the crowd before the happy couple could make their way back down the aisle. That’s when Hunter stopped me, wrapping his fingers around my bicep. My eyes flitted to Dalton before going back to Hunter.
“I just need some fresh air,” I called over the crowd, forcing a smile.
“I’ll meet you out there,” he replied, and I nodded as I slipped from his grip and continued on, careful to avoid my stepfather.
The moment I yanked open the heavy wooden doors, I stopped short, my eyes landing on Mason, clean-shaven and dressed to the nines.
Breaking Beauty (Twisted Tales, #1) Page 15
