by Aliyah Burke
She was torn between stay and run. God help her, she wanted to run back to Kansas and Piper but she wouldn’t leave while Dogfish was still in the hospital. She would stay, at least until he was back to work.
“Ellie?”
She blinked away her memories and focused on the large man watching her with sharp eyes.
“Say your piece, I have to get back to work.”
“Okay, first, are you okay? Why did you run from the hospital? Who the fuck was that guy and what happened for you to pass out? I know it wasn’t heat stroke. You passed out from fear.”
She had to focus on something other than him. His eyes were imploring her to fall into his trap and offer up her trust. She’d done so one time already and had forgotten what men could be like and what they could do to her. And this man across from her was trained to kill. Quickly and efficiently.
He placed her items on the desk and took a step toward her. She locked her knees to keep them from trembling. He noticed and stopped his forward progression.
With a heavy sigh, he held his hands out to the side. “Will you talk to me, Ellie? I’m not going to hurt you.”
That’s what they all said. “Thank you for returning my stuff. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, and none of that is an answer to my question. Not any of them.”
Yeah, she was fully aware of that fact.
“Talk to me.”
“Nothing to say. I just needed to leave and get out of there. I don’t like hospitals.” That, at least, was the God’s honest truth. All they did was teach her to be a better liar.
He crossed his arms and she was once again reminded how big and strong he was. How easily he could hurt her. Hell, he could kill her without expending all his strength.
Her heart fought with desperate fervor, the thoughts streaming through her brain, reminding her that he’d been nothing but gentle to her from the start. Too many years of abuse outweighed anything else. And those words were exactly what Trevor had said.
“We have nothing to say to one another. I’m sorry for leading you on, but I think it best that we end this now.”
“Bullshit. Who’s Trevor?”
The menace in his tone scared her all over again. Biting the inside of her lip, the metallic and all too familiar taste of blood snapped her out of her frozen fear.
“It doesn’t matter. If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do. A business to run.”
“I’m not letting this go, Smash. You mentioned his name right before you collapsed and I’m guessing it was the prick who was manhandling the woman beside him. Combining that with the statement the doc made about all your healed bones, I’m guessing that fuck beat you. Often.”
Heart clenching, she worked to swallow and retain moisture in her throat.
He exhaled slowly and stepped back farther. “I hope you know I’d never hurt you, Ellie. Ever. Not just you, any woman. I wasn’t raised that way. I know it’s not easy for you to hear or believe but it’s the God’s honest truth. I’d sooner eat a bullet than raise a hand to you.”
Tears burned the back of her eyes and she furiously blinked them away. Heaven help her, it would be so easy to trust him.
That’s what I thought of Trevor as well. Look how that turned out. Fuck. What if he found out I was here? What if he has come here to drag me back with him?
Her breathing grew ragged and shallow. She struggled to get a decent lungful of oxygen but couldn’t manage. He stepped toward her and she scrambled back, not sure she could take him touching her. Because she couldn’t trust her body around him, it was weak. She had to stay strong.
“Please,” she said, hating herself for begging but needing him to understand. “Leave me alone.”
She backed out of the room, wiped angrily at her eyes, and slipped back behind the bar, a fake smile plastered on her face. Part of her expected him to barge behind the counter and drag her away. Trevor would have done so but Bennett didn’t. Instead he came out of the office and claimed a spot at the bar. In her section.
He ordered a lemon-lime soda and sipped it throughout the night. Bennett never pushed her to talk but he never took his eyes off her. She felt their weight on her all night long.
On her break, she slipped into the employee bathroom and pulled out the phone he’d returned to her. Putting it to her ear, she waited for it to be picked up on the other end.
“What’s wrong?” Piper’s sleep laden voice was laced with concern.
“Trevor is here.”
“What the fuck is he doing there? He was going on vacation with his new wife. Oh shit. He went to Oahu and you ran into him. Did he say anything to you? Threaten you? What happened?”
“He actually didn’t say a word to me. I saw him and her, bruising and all. Then I heard his voice and I panicked, Piper. I fainted. I want to come home.” The tears she’d struggled to hold back spilled forth.
“What about Bennett?”
“I broke it off with him. I can’t take the chance he would swing at me. He’s so much bigger and stronger than Trevor. I’d be killed.”
Piper sighed, and Ellie waited for her to scold her for being a baby.
“If you feel you need to come home, I’ll be there to pick you up at the airport. Let me know when your flight is. I love you, Ellie.” She was gone.
Her nerves were killing her and she puked, heaved, and did it again. After washing out her mouth and making sure she looked presentable, at least passable, she went back out to work, snagging a mint from the office desk to suck on.
Bennett remained on the same stool, eyes locked onto her the moment she came into his line of sight. He rose slightly but sank back when she shook her head at him, ever so slightly. The night picked up and it was a struggle for her not to jump each time a man raised his voice. It was a bar, for crying out loud, they got rowdy and loud.
She took an extra break just to get her bearings. As she stood facing the back wall, the door closed behind her and she turned to find Mikeyla there.
“Do you want to stay in here for the rest of the night? I can tell them you have massive amounts of paperwork to finish up.”
She shook her head and kicked at the chair, wincing when it barely moved, but the spike of pain shafted right up her leg. “No. I…I…”
Ellie bent at the waist, desperate to keep the bile down this time. Inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth. Or was it the other way around?
It didn’t matter, neither way helped. Mikeyla walked up to her and guided her to the couch.
“You’re safe here,” she said, pushing Ellie to sit on the leather covered cushion. “You do understand that, right?”
Ellie’s lower jaw chattered against her upper, echoing in her head. She tried to nod, but it wouldn’t work. Mikeyla got down to her level and stared directly into her eyes. She couldn’t make out her features, it was all nothing more than a blurry blob floating before her.
“I need a verbal answer from you, Ellie. I need you to confirm you know where you are and that you’re safe here.”
The panic surrounding her didn’t want to release her. It clamored to close in closer, grow thicker and suffocate her. Mikeyla’s voice was that of the beacon of light from the lighthouse, shining a clear path through the stormy weather. Ellie latched onto it, scrambling and fighting not to lose it.
Her palms burned as if they had been cut and torn in her struggle. But she made it and, ever so slowly, Mikeyla’s face came back into focus. Her brown eyes remained steady.
“Head down, slow deep breaths.”
Ellie knew the drill and put her head between her knees and waited for more clarity to sink in. When her heart had slowed along with her breathing, she sat back and rested along the couch, drawing her legs up with her.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, but I do need an answer to my question.”
“I know I’m safe here, yes.”
“Thank you.”
Mikeyla pulled up a chair and sat
as opposed to claiming a spot beside her on the couch.
Flames of shame raced up her cheeks and she touched them, warm and flushed. She lowered her gaze until Mikeyla cleared her throat.
“You don’t get to be embarrassed by that. Panic attacks happen. My question to you is, will you stay in here for the rest of the night? They’re only going to get louder and rowdier.”
“By that logic they need me.”
“Your people can run the bar. I can run the till. I can’t make drinks, but I can wash, run the register, and help out in other ways. I know there’s paperwork to be done here so focus on that. And get it out of your head that you’re running from the problem. You don’t always have to face everything head on, at that very second.”
She blinked and laced her fingers together. “And to think I thought you were a bitch when we first met.”
A rare smile lifted Mikeyla’s lips, transforming her into a stunning woman. Amazing what a smile could and did do for a person.
“Make no mistake, I still am, but I also have worked with enough battered women to recognize the signs, and in rare instances I shelve my bitchiness. This was one of those times, but don’t get used to it.” She patted Ellie’s knee and got to her feet. “I’ll get back out there and tell them some phone call came in and you had some paperwork to finish. They won’t ask me more than that since I don’t know the business and am just the boss’s niece.”
Mikeyla went to the door and paused before opening it. “Buzz my phone if you need me.” Then she left Ellie alone with her thoughts and fears.
* * *
Bennett waited for her to come back out. She didn’t. Mikeyla did and spoke with Larson, who nodded and guided her over to the register, explaining a few things, he supposed. He let her get settled into her new role as a cashier before he left his stool and went over there.
“Bennett,” she said with a nod as she swiftly made change for one of the waitresses.
“Where is she?”
“Last I knew, Ellie received a phone call and mumbled something about paperwork. She was facing a few piles when she asked me if I could assist out here since she would be tied up back there for the rest of the night.”
He mulled that over. It was possible, there had been nights where she’d gone to the back and did paperwork. Those nights he typically left early. He came to see her and if she was in the back there wasn’t any point to him hanging out. Mikeyla didn’t lower her gaze or act as if she were trying to hide anything from him.
She’s a lawyer, she lies for a living.
“What kind of paperwork?”
She never missed a beat. “No clue, she just sat at the desk and pulled some things out before getting to work on them.”
“Here, hon, two whiskeys straight.”
Mikeyla again made change and handed it back.
Bennett let it go. Short of kicking in the door and scaring the shit out of a woman who was already frightened made no sense to him, he had to wait. He didn’t want to, but he would. So he went back to his spot at the back of the bar, where he could see if and when she came back out.
The staff didn’t act any different, no one continually popped back to check on her so perhaps that’s all it was. He still had his suspicions. By the end of the night Ellie still hadn’t made it back out and he had to leave with the rest.
He slowed as Larson was rounding up the stragglers. The man stopped by him and looked pointedly between him and the door.
“I need to see Ellie.”
“We’re closed. Sorry, all I know is she’s doing paperwork and we don’t disturb her for that unless it’s an emergency, and her boyfriend wanting to see her doesn’t fall into that category. Call her and she will either come out or not, but I’m not going in to get her, nor am I letting you in.”
That wasn’t just some man throwing around words either. Larson was a former PJ who’d had to stop jumping from an injury, much like him. The man was deadly in more ways that he ever wanted to count. And Bennett had no doubt the man meant every word he said. That would be a messy fight.
Digging for his phone, he called her. He stared at the office while it rang but no one picked up. “Call me back, Ellie. This is insane that you’re so close to me and I have to talk to you on a voicemail.”
“So that means you can go now.” Larson pointed to the door.
He bristled but went. He wasn’t about to disrespect Dogfish or Ellie by starting a brawl inside Last Call. He stepped outside into the night—early morning—air. Glancing around, he remembered he’d yet to get his truck from the park. So, he flagged down a taxi and started on his way there. By the time he got to his truck and had slid behind the wheel, he had tried Ellie five more times. All to the same result.
“I shouldn’t have left her.”
He drove to her apartment complex and parked, waiting for her to come home. He woke up in the same place with a crick in his neck.
Bennett swore as he climbed out of his truck and ambled to the entrance of her building. He moved to her door and knocked. Not too loud since it was early and he had no wish to wake anyone else. Ellie never answered the door.
Unease grew in his gut and he wanted to pick this lock and let himself in just to make sure she was okay. Glancing at his watch, he swore once more. He had work that was coming due. Heavy steps took him away from her building.
Back at his place, he showered and settled in to get his work done. Even so, his thoughts didn’t stray far from Ellie and he called her when he stopped for a short break.
Still no answer.
“Ellie, I know you’re getting these messages. Pick up the phone and call me back.”
After work, he went surfing and stopped by his mother’s to drop some things off for her. Nodding to his uncles as he entered, he kissed her on the cheek.
“How are you?” She cupped his cheek. “You are sad, what’s wrong, my son?”
“I had to take Ellie to the hospital yesterday and found she’s running from a bad past. Now she’s not answering her phone nor is she home when I go see her.”
It never dawned on him not to share with his mother. She’d been there for him his entire life and he’d never kept a secret from her. At least, not one that didn’t pertain to what he did in the military.
She took his hand and walked him to the back porch, much as she’d done when he was a child. And like then, she had him sit beside her on the swing.
“You love this woman, Bennett.”
He didn’t answer for she wasn’t asking, she told him.
“And you’re upset on her behalf for what she’s had to go through. But right now you’re angry because she’s avoiding you.”
“I’ve never given her any indication I would hurt her. Ever. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.”
“Look at it from her point of view, son. I’m sure the asshole who did this to her started off kind and caring as well. It’s when you’re in a certain position that it changes, and the true colors come out. She’s scared. You’re going to have to let her get through the fear.”
He frowned. “How are we supposed to move forward if she doesn’t trust me?”
“I don’t speak for her but my guess is she doesn’t trust herself.”
“That doesn’t make sense. I don’t get it. At all. How can I show her this if she refuses to see or talk to me?”
His mom didn’t say anything, and he turned to her. She stared out over the water her expression sad.
“Mama?”
“I can’t fix this for you, Bennett. You’re going to have to figure it out.” She met his gaze. “Just remember to be patient, understanding, and kind.”
He wasn’t sure how much more of those he had to be. Holy fucking hell, he’d been all of them. Not making a scene at work. Or at her place. What more did he have to do to prove himself? Anger churned in his belly and, with a kiss for his mother, he got to his feet and left.
This time he headed for the hospital to see Dogfish. Aware he had to get some sleep soo
n, he just wanted to check on the man. He strode down the hall to his room and peered inside to find a nurse making the bed.
It was Bryn.
“Morning, Nurse Bryn. Where’s the Marine?”
She looked at him over her shoulder, a large smile spreading over her dark features. “Good morning, Mr. Harvey. He’s been discharged, his niece was here to pick him up.”
“Thanks for taking such good care of him.”
She waved at him before going back to her job at hand. He really wanted some sleep and so went home to crash. When he woke it was late enough the bar had already opened, so he headed over.
Dogfish was in his usual corner and Bennett strode over there. The Marine looked at him and gave a small nod.
“I see you’ve been sprung.”
“Can’t keep an old dog down. Thanks for keeping an eye on Ellie and the place while I was laid up.”
“No problem. Where is Ellie, I have to talk to her.”
His bushy brows rose before he furrowed his brow. “She left. She said she told you.”
“Left?” The banked anger bloomed up with fresh vigor.
“Back to the mainland.”
“Is she coming back?”
“I don’t know, she said she wasn’t sure when she talked to me about it. Said she had some decisions to make. Did something happen between the two of you?”
Bennett shook his head and departed the bar. He could have asked to find out where she went but he was a computer whiz. He could get this on his own and not have anyone feel bad for betraying a confidence. I’m not giving up without a fight, Ellie.
Chapter Thirteen
Ellie snuggled up to Max, digging her fingers into his plush coat and allowing her tears to be soaked up by him. He didn’t mind, in fact, she was pretty certain he’d fallen asleep. The mutt had saved Piper’s life as much as she’d saved his. He was a golden mix who’d been abandoned by the road. An elderly dog, no one wanted to adopt him and when Piper had gone back to see that he’d been adopted, she’d learned he was a day from being put down. So, she’d brought him home to live out the remainder of his days with her.
