“Baby, you okay?” he ignores me.
“Yes, it’s… nothing.”
Pierce’s fatherly instincts must kick in because he reads her thoughts. “If you’re worried about your mom, I’ll take care of it.”
All the worry written on her face disappears, and her mouth splits into a genuine smile. “Can I see your ring?”
I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until my lungs burn, and I exhale softly, a weight lifting off my shoulders. Her loyalty to her mother is understandable, and I can’t help but feel sorry for her.
Pierce doesn’t release my arm, but he does stretch it over the counter, cupping my hand in her direction.
“That’s beautiful,” she raves, staring at it in awe.
“Thank you.”
“How about you call your grandma and tell her we shared our news?” Pierce suggests to her.
“Oh, can I do it?” Cole jumps down and yanks the phone out of the cradle.
“Yeah, buddy. Maya, you should talk to her, too.”
They go to the living room, talking over each other, and I sink into him.
“You’re shaking.” He spins me to face him.
“I hate Connie,” I spew. “That poor girl was scared to death of her mother’s reaction. Obviously, Connie is still messing with their heads.”
“Like I said, I’ll take care of Connie. You don’t need to worry.”
“I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about Maya.”
His eyes grow warm, and his lips touch mine in a gentle kiss. “That means a lot to me.”
“Dad! Grandma says we’re celebrating! She wants a family dinner at Rosen’s.” Cole barges in, holding out the phone.
Pierce takes it right as mine rings in my pocket. I don’t recognize the number but step away and answer it while Pierce talks to Jill.
The salesclerk on the line explains the issue, and I check my watch, assuring her I can be there before they close.
“Mom was ready to pounce. She’s got a reservation at Rosen’s tonight for all of us, including your family,” Pierce informs me when I hang up.
“What time?”
“An hour.”
“I’ll need to meet you there. That was the supervisor at The UPS Store. There was an accident with one of my boxes, and they’d like me to come down and open it to see if anything is broken or damaged before loading it in the morning.”
“We can all go by on the way to dinner.”
“They close in twenty minutes, and you still need to shower. It shouldn’t take long. I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”
His eyes grow annoyed, and he shakes his head. “I’m not showing up to celebrate my engagement without my fiancée. I’ll push the reservation time. You go take care of it, come back, and we’ll go to dinner together.”
“Fine!” I throw my hand in defeat. “There’s not time to argue. Get in the shower. I’ll be back shortly.”
I tip on my toes, give him a short kiss, and grab my key. Out of habit, I call for Runner.
“Leave him here. He’s fine.”
I nod, yelling a bye to the living room, and hurry to the truck.
The irony hits me as I pull onto the street. Rosen’s is the place that started this all. It’s the perfect place to celebrate.
•—•—•—•—•
“Darby, I knew you had nothing to worry about. Now, we plan a wedding,” Stephanie says as Scottie’s high-pitched squeal echoes through the car.
“Tell him I’m going to be deaf if he continues to screech like a banshee every time we mention getting married.”
“I’ll tell him when my own ears quit ringing.”
“Y’all are not going to rain on my parade. This wedding is going to be fabulous,” he yells again from the background.
“What are the chances of keeping him away from Mom and Jill for the foreseeable future?”
“Zilch, he’s already called your mom twice today to see if the secret had been revealed.”
“Ugh, that explains the texts to hurry for dinner. She’s itching to openly discuss this. Most likely, the gossip chain has been activated.”
“You can count on it. Call me tomorrow and we can—”
“What the hell?” I cut her off when Pierce’s house comes into view. He, Maya, and Cole are wandering around the yard, a rope hanging from Cole’s hand.
“What’s up?”
I tell her what I’m seeing, and then I recognize the rope in Cole’s hand. It’s not a rope at all; it’s a leash. “Oh my God! Runner!” I slam to a stop at the curb, switch the car off, and disconnect the phone to her shouts.
“What’s wrong?” I run to the edge of the yard.
“Runner got out,” Pierce tells me firmly.
“Runner got out? He doesn’t do that.”
“It was an accident,” Maya replies faintly, her skin pale with streaks down her cheeks.
Cole locks eyes with me briefly, seeming equally as miserable.
“Runner! Runner!” I scream at the top of my lungs.
“Darby, calm down. We’re going to find him.” Pierce clasps my wrists, standing in front of me, and brings my attention to him.
“How long ago did he get out?” My voice is unsteady as I pivot in all directions, searching for his golden body. “You know how he likes to explore unfamiliar places. He hasn’t been here enough to know your layout.”
“He’s been gone maybe fifteen minutes. I was in the shower.”
A hushed cry gurgles from Maya as fresh tears roll down her cheeks.
There’s no time to comfort her because the loud thumping of bass comes from a car rounding the corner. A young man is behind the wheel, and the sun hits a reflection of his phone in hand right as a flash of fur appears from around a huge tree across the street.
“Runner, stay!” I shout, but the sound of my voice sends him barreling toward me.
It happens fast. The boy looks up in time to slam on the brakes, but over-corrects, fishtailing into a large brick mailbox a few houses down.
There’s the squeal of tires, the crunching of metal, the explosion of bricks going everywhere, then the unmistakable agonizing howl of Runner’s doggy voice piercing my ears.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” My own earsplitting wail fills the air.
“Holy fucking shit,” Pierce growls, but I can barely make out his words.
With superpower strength, I wedge my wrists free, shove him out of my way, and streak toward the wreckage. Twice, I almost trip, but I stay upright, dropping to my knees and skidding the last few inches to Runner’s side. Pain rips through my knees, shins, and feet as the concrete tears my skin.
“Oh my God. Oh my God,” I chant, tossing bricks aside to get to his head. Blood covers his back leg, an open gash cutting his hip.
I gently crawl over him, whispering his name. He strains his face in my direction. Sobs wrack my body, my arms circling his neck so I can nuzzle into him.
“Is he okay?” The young man appears at my side, and I glance at him.
Blood dribbles from his nose and mouth, his lip busted open. His eyes are wide in shock. “Are you okay?” I manage to croak.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Darby, scoot back so I can check him out,” Pierce instructs me, but I shake my head in refusal.
“No.”
“Baby, we need to see Runner’s injuries. There’s a lot of blood.”
At the mention of blood, I go lightheaded, burying my face back in my dog’s neck. Runner’s tongue licks up the side of my cheek. “It’s okay, sweet boy. I’m going to get you fixed up,” I say to him.
A strong hand rubs up and down my back, Pierce moving me a few inches and whispering soft words to Runner.
“His tail thumped,” Cole stammers in a shaky voice.
“I only see one cut. We need a towel,” Pierce soothes.
“I have a blanket,” the young man offers.
I suck in my tears and kneel back, running my hands everywhere to search for
any more damage. Gently, we peel Runner forward to check his other side. The cut on his hip is the only visible wound.
“I’m going to pull my truck around so we can load him up.”
I nod, not taking my eyes off Runner.
Pierce stands, and there’s a loud hiccup, followed by wailing. I glance up to see a flicker of pain pass through his eyes as he scowls at Maya. My already broken heart aches for her.
“It was an accident.” I try to help the situation, sticking up for her.
There’s an eerie tension in the air. I take in the scene. Cole’s gripping the leash with white knuckles and a look of panic. Maya is openly weeping. Both exhibit signs of shock at seeing an accident and a dog hit by a car. It’s the blinding rage set on Pierce’s face that turns my blood to ice. His eyes are cold and hard, his lips drawn in a taut line, and his eyebrows are pulled together sharply. He’s pissed, and not in the general Pierce way of being pissed. He’s holding on by a thread, ready to snap.
“Runner didn’t sneak out on his own, did he?”
Pierce’s eyes fly to mine, and I know the answer. Maya falls into her dad, crying uncontrollably and mumbling. It’s hard to make out her words, but I pick up on a few statements.
“Mom said she’s allergic.”
“She said she’d die if we came home with dog hair on us...”
“She told me she’d take away…”
At this point, I tune her out, and the superpower strength from earlier returns. “Will you help me hoist him?” I ask the young driver.
“Yes, ma’am, but are you sure that’s smart?” He frets.
“Just follow my lead.” I look back at Runner and speak softly. “Okay, baby, we’ve done this before. You hang on to me.”
I swear to God, my dog nods in understanding. He trusts me, putting his paws on my shoulders. I slip to crouching position, wrap my arms around his back, and surge up. The man jumps into motion, elevating Runner against me until I can anchor my arm under his hind legs while he whines in pain.
“Thanks.” I try to sound grateful, but it comes out strangled and brash.
“Darby, give him to me.” Pierce backs away from her, extending an arm.
“Get out of my way,” I grate out.
I ignore him, trying to get to my car without wobbling my trembling dog. He runs ahead, opening the truck and adjusting the blanket as I lay Runner down and shut him in.
“Darby, you’re in no condition to drive,” he starts, and I throw my hand in his face.
“You have a mess to clean up here. That boy needs medical attention. It’s smart to get a police report, and then you should let your neighbors know they have a demolished mailbox. After that, I suggest you get your daughter under control.” Hate and anger boil to the surface. “She’s proved today she’s a wrecking ball that has no sense of what’s right or wrong. I was ready to defend her!”
Guilt stretches over his features, but I’m too wired to care. “You were going to let me believe my dog escaped your house, which he has never done before!”
“I was going to tell you when we could discuss it in private. Word spread fast, and Connie got a hold of Maya while I was showering. There’s no telling what she told her. We hadn’t gotten that far when Cole ratted her out for shoving Runner out the door.”
“That’s because Cole has a heart and a good soul! He’s you down to the bones. With what’s happened today, it’s hard to believe that girl shares your DNA. Wait a minute…” I bark out a cynical laugh, laced with wicked intent. “She’s Connie Webber’s daughter. That’s where her malicious, conniving, and spiteful streak comes in.”
His eyes grow stormy, his jaw clamping tight. The overprotective Pierce is about to make an appearance. “She’s a girl, Darby. Don’t dump her into the same category as her mother. She’s misguided.”
“Misguided? She almost killed my dog because of her mother’s jealousy. That’s not misguided; that’s a fucking sociopath in the making! I have no idea the way you and Connie have chosen to parent all these years, but it’s obvious your daughter has no moral compass or self-direction. You need to stop blaming it on her mother get a handle on that shit.”
I yank open my door with so much force, pain shoots through my shoulder. The sting fuels my adrenaline, and I can’t stop from lashing out again. “You say you want to build a family with me? Start a life, fresh and clean of the past? It’s time you concentrate on the life and family you already have. There’s not a chance in hell I’d bring a baby into a house where he or she could be harmed because your ex fuck buddy influences your kids the way she does.”
He doesn’t try to stop me from slamming the door and driving away. Hot tears pour down my face as I speed to the only after-hours vet I can think of. The impact of my outburst weighs on my chest, and my own guilt claws up my throat.
I’m pretty sure Runner is going to be all right, but the thought of being alone sends panic through me. I fumble with my steering wheel, scrolling through my emergency contacts.
“Darby? Where are y’all?” Evin answers on the first ring.
“I need you.”
Chapter 28
Pierce
What a shit fucking night. On top of all the obvious, I can’t stop Darby’s words from rolling through my brain. Connie isn’t what I’d consider my ex fuck buddy, but Darby was right about her influence over Maya. It’s dangerous, and tonight could have ended under fatal circumstances.
Evin is waiting for me on the porch when I drive up. He’s been my point of contact since he met Darby at the vet. Runner is going to be fine. He’s bruised, and the gash on his hip needed stitches, which requires a cone on his head so he doesn’t gnaw at them. But, otherwise, the vet saw no other damage.
By the time he got to them, she was solid and in control. She took the news well and insisted on driving home while he followed. I wish like hell I could have been with her, but I had to handle the mess left behind.
“You want a drink?” he offers.
“Yes, I want to down a bottle, but it won’t help.”
“She dozed off with the beast laid at her side. He’s going to be groggy for a while, and the pain killers prescribed are going to make him loopy.”
“As long as he’s not in pain.”
“I got her side of the story. Want to share yours?”
“In hindsight, I should have called Connie right away, but I figured tonight would be safe. Stupid decision. She got wind of our engagement and called Maya, in an outrage, while I was showering. Maya says she tried to ease the news by explaining some of the things I told her while we were at the beach and my previous relationship with Darby. Connie lost her mind, called me a liar and told our daughter that Darby is a home-wrecker. Maya is not equipped to deal with her mom’s brand of crazy. One thing led to another, and after convincing her that Runner was a threat to Connie’s health, Maya opened the door, pushed the dog outside, and the rest is history.”
“Sounds intense.”
“You have no idea. Losing Runner would have destroyed Darby.” Her face pops into my head, the terrified yell that stopped my heart playing on a loop.
“How’s the kid?”
“He’s fine, but that’s another story. His dad showed; he’s a lawyer. Immediately, they shifted the blame.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.” I sigh.
“Her adrenaline crashed pretty hard. She’s regretting a lot of what she said to you.”
“She didn’t hold back, but she had good reason. Jesus, Evin. It’ll be a long time before I can forget the horror on her face and that bone-chilling scream. The image of her standing there, covered in blood, her dress ripped, cuts and bruises covering her legs.”
“Runner is pretty special to her. He took the place of the baby she couldn’t have.”
I wince, rubbing the throbbing ache that’s hammering against my ribs. “I better get inside.”
“I told her you were coming. I also went ahead and moved the mattress to the floor in th
e living room. Runner’s too drugged to jump up, and she’s not leaving his side.”
“Appreciate it. I owe you.”
“No, you don’t. I hope you can get this straightened out. Call me if you need me. Mom and Dad will be by in the morning to help.” He swallows the last of his beer, flicks his fingers in the air, and leaves.
I watch him drive away and quietly let myself in. Darby is awake, watching the door with a weary grin. “Hey.”
My feet take me straight to her side, where I squat to eye-level. “Hey, yourself.”
“I heard you talking.”
“Sorry if we woke you.”
“I didn’t know I’d see you tonight.”
“Where else would I be?”
“Did you take them back to Connie?” I notice she doesn’t use their names.
“They are with my parents. Cole is flipping out. Maya finally stopped crying. She realized her mother lied to her, used her to try to hurt you, and the guilt was too much. I didn’t know someone so small could cry that many tears.”
“We’re small but mighty.” She sifts her fingers through my hair. “Although, I’m paying for my herculean effort with every muscle.”
“How about I help get you to the bed?”
“Can you help me get him down there? I could use a glass of wine.”
I slide my hands between Runner’s body and hers, grunting at his weight. “I can’t believe you carried this beast. He weighs more than you.”
“Close, but not quite.” She fluffs the doggy bed laid beside the mattress.
I lay him down, and he huffs out a snort, which sounds distorted from inside the cone. There’s a shaved patch where his stitches are visible, and thankfully, it’s not nearly as bad as first believed from the amount of blood that soaked into Darby’s clothes earlier. “Tomorrow should be interesting when the anesthesia wears off. He’s not going to like that cone.”
“He’ll probably sleep a lot. The pain medication has a sedative.”
I stand awkwardly as she pours a glass of wine, gets a beer, and brings them to sit on the edge of the sofa. There are no words for the guilt and blame weighing down my conscious.
“Have I ever told you how I found Runner? Or, should I say, how Runner found me?”
Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers Book 1) Page 28