Stay With Me

by Grayson, Alivia

  “I thought she was okay, Bryan. I helped her into the house, and to your room, where she told me to be quiet because you were asleep. She told me to stay the night, but I didn’t think it was a good idea. I hugged her and told her that I loved her, then I left and went to grandpa Bob’s for the night. I knew he wouldn’t mind me being there, even after everything I’ve done. I didn’t know this would happen, Bryan, honestly, I didn’t.”

  Kendal turns in Tyler’s arms and sobs. I don’t fully understand what finally clicked in Kendal’s mind, but I’m glad it did. No matter what this woman ever did or said to Ricky, I know she still loves her big sister. If Kendal really wants to change her life, then we’ll all help her.

  “Kendal called me not long after we arrived here to ask for help. I explained what happened, and she asked me to pick her up and bring her here. She tried to help Ricky, Bryan. Kendal doesn’t want to cause any trouble; she just wants the chance to prove she’s changed. She wants to come home, Bry.”

  I nod my head. Everyone deserves a second chance, but Kendal will have to work for it like everyone else. If Tyler wants to give Kendal a second chance, then that’s his choice. Love has a funny way of bringing two people back together, years after they part. If the love is strong and true, it will always bring you back together.

  * * *

  Bob arrived with my parents not long ago. Mom left Faye with Josie because this is not the place for her right now. I couldn’t bear for Faye to be upset, and seeing Ricky right now would just upset her.

  I watched Bob hold Kendal in his arms and tell her that everything would be okay. She’s home now, and he won’t let anyone hurt her again. I took it from that Bob knew more than Kendal had let on. I don’t know what Ray put her through, but I got the feeling Ricky wasn’t the only one who suffered at that man’s hands.

  Mom and Dad were curious as to why Tyler and Kendal seemed to be acting like a couple. Tyler explained the relationship they once shared but gave no indication that’s what was happening once again. Who knows, maybe in the future they’ll fall in love again.

  The police also arrived to speak with Kendal after Tyler called them. Two detectives took Kendal’s statement, and even though it was evident that she was terrified, she told them everything. The detectives informed us that they’d be making arrests, but for us not to try and contact Ray or anyone from his church. I may want to go over there and strangle every last one of them, but I don’t have a death wish. I’m also not stupid, one man against an uncountable number? Only an idiot would try and take on a cult alone.

  Detective Roberts explained to Kendal that she needed to stay away from the church. She wasn’t short on offers of a place to stay. My family will take care of Kendal, and we’ll all keep her safe. Tyler would go to the ends of the earth for Kendal, just looking at him, I can see that much.

  Right now, I’m on my way to see Ricky. The doctor came by to let me know that Ricky is awake and asking for me. I was so relieved when he told me that I let go of the sob that had been stuck in my throat all morning. The doctor told me that Ricky was responsive and alert. She knew the date and what had happened to her. Meaning she was able to tell the cops everything she knew.

  The doctor couldn’t explain why it took Ricky the time it did to wake up. However, he did say that Ricky has no lasting damage, and she should be good to go home in a day or two. They’d like to keep Ricky in to keep an eye on her in case there is more going on with her head. Standard practice, so the doctor told me.

  Ricky smile right at me the moment I walk into her room. She holds her hand out to me, and I take it, bringing her hand to my lips and kissing it hard. For a while there, I thought I’d lost her, and I can’t stop the tears from falling.

  I climb into the bed and lay down beside Ricky, staring into her eyes as we both cry. “It’s okay, Bryan. I’m okay; I’m right here.”

  “I thought I was going to lose you, Ricky.” I cup the side of her face with my hand. Everything I’ve been feeling all day has come crashing down on me. I can hide what I feel from everyone around me, but not from Ricky. I don’t need to hide anything from the woman I love, nor does she from me.

  “I’m so sorry, Bryan. I didn’t realize I was hurt as badly as I was. Sure, the guy knocked me out, but I didn’t think it was bad. I came around and decided to walk home. I should have known something more was wrong when I couldn’t manage to find my keys. Then I saw Kendal, and I thought everything was okay. Weird, huh?”

  I nod my head because, in usual circumstances, Ricky would have been suspicious of Kendal. The fact that she wasn’t, only tells me that Ricky was in no way okay.

  “She helped me, Bryan. Oh, no!” Ricky bolts upright, her eyes wide and panicked. “Is Kendal okay? Bryan, please tell me that they didn’t find her!”

  “Shh,” I take Ricky’s face between my hands. “Kendal is just fine, Ricky. She told the police everything she knew about that cult, and what happened to you. The police will be making arrests soon.”

  “What about my sister? What’s going to happen to her?” After everything, Kendal said to Ricky, and she’s still so worried about her sister.

  “You amaze me, Ricky. Do you know that?” She narrows her eyes slightly, and I smile. “Nothing is going to happen to Kendal. Tyler is going to make sure of it. Nothing is going to happen to you again, either. I’m going to protect you, Ricky. You, Faye, and our baby.” I place my hand on her stomach and send up a silent prayer of thanks to God for keeping Ricky and our baby safe.

  “Is it really over, Bryan? Ray won’t be able to do something like this again?”

  “It won’t be over until he’s behind bars, but no, he can’t do anything like this again. Everyone is aware of the kind of man he truly is now. Too many eyes will be on him, and I have faith that he won’t come near you again.”

  “I love you, Bryan.”

  I smile and hold Ricky in my arms. “I love you, too, Ricky. Everything is going to be okay now, I promise.”

  There is nothing in this world I won’t do for the woman in my arms. Ricky has been through too much in her twenty-six years. Now is her time to be happy. I don’t know what’s going to happen to Ray and his cult-like-church, but I do know that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep those people away from my family. No matter if it costs me everything I own, I’d gladly give it if it means Ricky is safe from harm.

  I spent far too many years wondering if I’d ever see Ricky again. Now she’s home to stay, and we’re parents to a beautiful little girl. Soon we’ll be married and welcoming our new baby to the world. Hopefully, Ray will be in prison where he belongs, along with the rest of his cronies, and all will be right with the world.

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue - Ricky

  Six months later

  She’s beautiful, Mommy.”

  I smile at Faye as she kisses Hannah’s head. Faye loves her baby sister so much already, and I am so proud of her.

  I gave birth to my daughter three hours ago. Bryan was right by my side, holding my hand and encouraging me as I pushed Hannah into the world. We hadn’t wanted to know the sex of the baby before this day; we wanted the surprise. Deep down, I’d hoped for a daughter. Not that Faye isn’t enough for me because she is. However, I knew Faye wanted a little sister, and I’m happy she got her wish.

  Kristin has had no contact with Faye since she signed her over to Bryan. The only contact Bryan had with Kristin was to ask if she’d allow me to adopt Faye. Kristin had already handed her parental rights over to me, and Bryan didn’t necessarily need Kristin’s permission to allow it. Still, I wouldn’t have felt right going ahead without informing her first. It cannot have been easy for her, but Kristin didn’t hesitate to say yes.

  The adoption took next to no time to come through, and Faye was happier than I had ever seen her. All she wanted was to be my daughter for real, just like her baby sister. There is no doubt in my heart and mind that Faye is the world to me. Now I have Hannah, too, and I feel beyond blessed.<
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  The police never did arrest Ray for his part in trying to kidnap me. They couldn’t because he was found dead three days after the fact, along with my mother. According to the report, Ray and Mariella were killed because Ray didn’t come through with his end of the deal – handing me over to them.

  Kendal and I were told how Ray and Mariella were shot dead while they slept. They wouldn’t have felt a thing. Kendal didn’t cry, even though I expected her to. She didn’t cry when the detective informed us that if Kendal hadn’t gotten out when she did, those people would have killed her too.

  I cried, even for Ray. I cried for my mother because she never knew anything other than the life she’d been dealt with Ray. I cried for Ray because somewhere inside of him must have been a good man. I don’t believe anyone is born evil, but the people he surrounded himself with poisoned his mind.

  I think I cried more for Kendal because she could have been lost to me if she hadn’t escaped. Bob took it hard, finding out his son had died, but Kendal and I were there for him, and we made sure he knew that he wasn’t alone. He would never be alone, not as long as I live.

  Since coming home, Kendal and I have been extremely close. She moved in with Bryan and me at first, along with Grandpa Bob. I didn’t want either of them away from me, and Bryan had no problem with it.

  As soon as we were informed that Jacob and the others had been arrested, I breathed a sigh of relief. A handful of the men, including Jacob, went to prison for a very long time. Those belonging to the church who’d been brainwashed got help, and hopefully, they’ll be okay soon.

  I’ll never know why those people wanted me so badly. It was on my mind for a good while, but I don’t think about it any longer because it gets me nowhere.

  Grandpa Bob agreed to stay with Bryan and me permanently. I can take care of him for the rest of his days, just as it should be. He handed Kendal the keys to his house and told her the place was now hers. Kendal could have gone back to the house we grew up in, but she told me that she never wanted to step foot in the place again. That’s why Tyler hired removal people to pack up the house and get rid of everything. I did go back there and take anything that belonged to Kendal and me, photos, childhood heirlooms. Not that there was much, but enough to make a photo album, minus any of Ray. I think we’ve both had enough of that man to last us a lifetime.

  Tyler put the house on the market, and it sold within three weeks to a lovely couple with a handful of kids. Kendal and I silently wished them luck and moved on with our lives.

  Kendal says she’s moved on, and maybe she has in some ways, but I still believe she needs therapy. She does because there is no way she’s over everything that happened to her in that house while I was gone. I witnessed Kendal’s nightmares, and I heard some of the things she said. Ray was not kind to her; she only let everyone believe that he was.

  We are free from what happened in the past, now we can but move forward and try to make lives for ourselves. However, mine will never be complete until Kendal is finally happy. I know she fights what she feels for Tyler, but he won’t give up on her easily.

  Bryan and I were married a week after I was attacked. We had to postpone the wedding for a couple of days, but it all went without a hitch. Everything was perfect, and the whole day was magical. I felt like a Queen as I walked down the aisle toward my King. Grandpa Bob gave me away, and both Faye and Kendal were by my side.

  The ceremony went by all too quickly, but I shall remember it for as long as I live. We danced the night away with our family and friends, and everything that had happened was gone from our minds for a few hours. It was the best day of my life, and Bryan made everything perfect for us.

  “I’m so proud of you,” I smile at Kendal as she kisses my cheek. “She looks just like you.”

  “I have to agree.” Bob tells me.

  Maria and Shawn agree, as do Tyler and Josie. Everyone I care about is here in this room, welcoming my daughter to the world.

  Bryan strokes the back of my head. I lean up and meet his lips with my own, and I smile. “You did amazing, beautiful.”

  “I love you, Bryan.”

  “I love you, too.” He kisses me again. “Thank you for staying with me.”

  “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Thank you for giving me everything I ever wanted.”

  “And what’s that?” He asks with a smile. I look at our daughters, then back to him and smile. He smiles sweetly, and I can’t help falling deeper in love with Bryan Spencer, my perfect best friend, the love of my life.

  About the Author

  So, heres the thing. I’m quirky and crazy, and I’m not afraid to be just who I am. Why should anybody have to be afraid of who they are?

  I live in London, England with my man and three children, whom I love more than life itself.

  I am also a teacher of history and I enjoy every aspect of it. I love children, they can teach you just as much as you can teach them.

  A child’s mind is a sponge that absorbs informations from every person around them. Teach them well and they can do anything, be anyone.

  I’m probably too talkative sometimes, or so I’ve been told by my older siblings once or twice. But I believe it’s good to talk!

  So don’t be afraid to get in touch any time!

  Also by Alivia Grayson

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  All For You (Hammer)

  Never Give You Up (Jett)

  Kill For Me (Hawk)

  Vidal! Mafia - MC Crossover (Draven)

  Die For Me (Wrench)

  Crucify Thy Demons (Roman)

  Two Of A Kind (Trace)

  Awaken The Beast (VJ)