With that said, I turned and walked away, holding my shoulders square and my head high. It was taking every last sap of energy I had. It was worth it, though. So worth it. I was almost there. So close. Just as I reached for the door handle, I was knocked sideways. Caitlyn had rammed her shoulder into my side, hitting my ribs. My bag clattered to the ground only seconds before I did, Caitlyn landing on top of me. She wasn’t heavy, but she was squirming and angry.
Another slap to my face and I was seeing stars. I knew I wasn’t going to look pretty tomorrow, but I didn’t care. Taking a deep breath in, at least as deep as I could with her still straddling me, I tried to remember what I’d learnt this week. I needed to get her off me and back on my feet. I also needed help.
I knew the street was deserted, but maybe if I squealed loud enough, Payton would hear me. I opened my mouth to try and Caitlyn must have read my mind. Her hand came crushing down on my throat and too soon I was struggling to breathe. I tried to pry her fingers away, even going as far as digging my nails into her hand. She whimpered, but didn’t loosen her grip. My vision was starting to blur. Black spots were dancing in my eyes as I struggled and squirmed beneath her.
Just when I thought I was going to pass out, I saw headlights coming towards us. Or maybe it was just a white light coming towards me. Maybe this was how I got my ending. Caitlyn’s grip tightened as she leant down in my face. I was fading and fading fast. With her putrid breath all over my face, she landed one final blow.
“The other night when I was in Jack’s bed and he was moaning my name, he couldn’t help but compare me to you. He called you a dead fish. After all your practice, I thought you’d at least be good at sucking cock and…”
She didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence.
I wasn’t sure what was happening, but breathing suddenly didn’t seem so hard. With Caitlyn’s weight lifted off me, I struggled to sit up, coughing and spluttering as I went. When hands reached for my arms, I flinched and swung out.
“Holly, it’s okay. You’re safe. It’s me. Zoe.”
Turning my head slightly, I saw Zoe’s worried eyes staring back at me. I didn’t know what she was doing here, but I’d never been happier to see her.
“Caitlyn?” I mumbled. My throat was dry and sore. I needed water but it would wait. Everything could wait.
“Mia’s got her.” Zoe pointed to where teeny tiny Mia had Caitlyn pinned face first against the glass of Payton’s bakery window. I knew the gym was Mia’s brain child, but to see the tiny woman holding Caitlyn seemingly with little trouble astounded me. Maybe some more lessons would be a good idea.
Zoe helped me to my feet but I couldn’t stop rubbing my throat. My eyes stung and watered, my cheek was still bleeding, but it was my throat which was giving me the most trouble. Even my aching ribs seemed painless in comparison.
“What the fuck?” Beau boomed as he rounded the corner and took in the situation.
That was all it took. Seeing the look on his face broke me. The sobs came thick and fast and consumed me. I was shaking so badly that Zoe’s hold wasn’t enough. Beau must have known what I needed, or he needed the same thing, because soon enough I was swept off my feet, wrapped in his arms and cradled against him. Burying my head in the crook of his neck, I cried even harder. Beau didn’t flinch. Not once did he tell me it was okay. Not once did he promise I was safe, he didn’t need to. Not once did he ask me to stop crying—I couldn’t even if he begged.
Everything happened so quickly. Derek arrived in the police cruiser, quickly taking Caitlyn off Mia’s hands. Jocelyn too was bundled into the backseat. Derek asked if I wanted to press charges. At first I wasn’t sure what he meant. When he explained that I could have them charged with assault everything sunk in. I started shivering more than I had been already. Beau just held me tighter. Payton appeared with a blanket and wrapped it around my quivering shoulders.
“Are you okay now, Holly?” Zoe asked as she looked me over from top to bottom.
“Yeah.”
“I feel terrible. I should have made sure you got upstairs…”
“Don’t, Zoe. This wasn’t your fault. There was no one around. You couldn’t have known this was going to happen. None of us could.”
“But…”
“Nope. No buts, I don’t want to hear them.” I must have wriggled enough that Beau got the message and set me back on my feet. He didn’t go far though. In fact, he remained so close that I could still feel the warmth from his chest against my back. When I stepped forward and hugged Zoe, she stilled in my arms, but only for a heartbeat before hugging me back. “Why’d you come back anyway?”
“Ah.” She dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out my phone. “As soon as I pulled into Mia’s driveway the damn thing started going off and wouldn’t stop. Someone was trying to track you down.”
“Thanks.” I pocketed the phone. Whoever it was, I’d deal with them later. Right now I was tired and wanted a shower and to pretend this day had never happened.
“Okay then.” Mia smiled, stepping forward. “We’re going to head off. That is, if everything’s all good here.”
“Everything’s good,” Payton assured her, stepping to my side. I knew what was coming. They didn’t have to say it. I was going to be wrapped in cotton wool and tip-toed around, just like before. This time though, this time things were different. I was different. I was stronger. And I wasn’t alone.
After a few quick goodbyes, Beau led me upstairs.
***
I was climbing out of the shower when the unmistakeable sound of yelling cut through the thick steam. I was so sick of yelling. “Come on, Beau! I know she’s here. Just let me see her!” a voice I recognised but couldn’t place begged with my brother.
“For fuck’s sake, Beau, let him in.” Ah, Connor. There he was. As eloquent with the English language as always.
Quickly towelling off my dripping hair, I pulled on some sweats and one of Beau’s hoodies. Even though it hung to my knees and smelt like him, I loved it. It was warm and comfortable and made me feel like I was home.
Risking a glance at my reflection in the mirror I saw the scratches across my cheek and the ugly bruise around my eye. No doubt tomorrow I’d be sporting one hell of a shiner. So far there were no marks on my ribs, but my usually pale throat had angry finger marks. Tugging the jumper as high as I could, I tried to hide them. Not from anyone else, I really didn’t give a shit if they saw, but I didn’t want to. It was me being silly and trying to pretend they weren’t there, but fuck it. It was my life. I wasn’t about to forget what happened in a hurry, I just didn’t need the reminders.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I was shocked, although I really shouldn’t have been, to see everyone standing there silent. They must have heard the bathroom door creak open and turned to face me.
Connor, Gage, and Beau were all clutching their beer bottles, Payton and Carly nursed coffee mugs, and Jack. Jack was here. He wasn’t family, yet he was still here.
“Um, hi?”
Connor was first to move. Clunking his bottle on the bench, he was on me before I could even blink. “Never again, Holly. I’m not letting you out of my fucking sight. Got it?” His words were harsh, but his meaning was sweet. He wasn’t trying to be a Neanderthal, he was being Connor. And I wouldn’t want him to be anyone else.
Before Gage could take his turn, Payton handed me a phone. “Hello?”
“Holly?”
“Ryan?”
“I’m so fucking sorry. I should’ve been there. You need me and I’m not there. This is all my fault. I’m leaving now.”
“Ryan! Stop! You’re not coming home right now. I’m okay. Connor and Gage and Beau, they’re all here. And I’m okay. They’re not going to let anything happen to me.” Behind me the three stooges started calling out that I was never moving, they were locking me in the house and that I was getting a permanent bodyguard. They were joking. At least I hoped they were.
“Promise?” I could hear the p
ain in his voice.
“Promise, Ryan. I’m fine. Now you go do what you need to and then come home.”
“I’m working on it.”
“I know you are.”
“It may be a while.”
“I know.” Even though we hadn’t said the words aloud, we both knew. Whatever Ryan was up to, whatever he was dealing with, it wasn’t going to be a quick fix. He’d be home when he was ready. And I’d be right here waiting for him when he got here.
“Love you, Princess.”
“Love you too.”
“And if you need anything…”
“I’ve got three bonehead brothers standing here staring at me who are more than capable of helping me.”
“And one only a phone call away.”
“Promise?”
“Always.”
I hung up the phone and the urge to break down in tears was almost overwhelming. Everyone was being so damn sweet. After everything I’d put them through, all the lies, all the omissions, all the times I’d hurt them, yet here they were, lining up to hug me and reassure me that no matter what, we’d be okay. That we’d get through anything. Together.
Gage came next, but was remarkably restrained. Instead of crushing me against him, he took his time examining my cheek. Anyone would think he was a doctor, not a vet, the way he was looking at the cut on my cheek. I wasn’t worried about it. Yep, it stung like a bitch, but it wasn’t deep. It’d heal in time. “You’re okay?” he asked, his voice croaky. I nodded my reassurance before hugging him to me.
Each of my brothers smelt the same but different. They all smelt like home and there’s no one else’s arms I’d rather be wrapped in.
“Don’t I get a hug?” I asked nervously, shifting from one foot to the other. It had been torture to watch the others hold her and not be able to touch her.
From the moment I answered Connor’s call, I was on edge. I’d never driven that recklessly in my life, and I knew, given the situation, I’d change nothing. By the time I made it into town, thankfully in one piece, I was shaking with anger and probably a decent dose of absolute fear. While Connor had shared what he knew, there were still so many gaps he couldn’t fill. Gaps I needed Holly to fill, eventually. Right now, I just wanted her in my arms where I could feel her heart beat against mine, then and only then would I believe she was really okay.
The others must have sensed that for this conversation I needed some privacy. The issue with Payton’s apartment was, it didn’t offer any. Not that the boys were likely to take their eyes off Holly anytime soon, if ever. Something I understood perfectly.
Instead of answering, she walked towards me and wrapped herself around me. She was doing so well. She was so strong, so brave. But the moment my arms settled around her tiny waist, she buried her head against my chest and shattered. The tears came like a waterfall. Huge ugly sobs racked her body. All I could do was stand there and hold her. Something I was happy to do as long as she needed me to.
“Shh. It’s okay, Holly. You’re safe now. No one’s going to hurt you again,” I promised as I rubbed my hand up and down her back.
I didn’t like promises. They hurt too much. But looking over Holly’s head, I knew this one wasn’t ever going to be broken ever. This room was full of people who loved her and would give up everything to protect her.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled against me.
“Hey.” I smiled, lifting her chin with my fingers so she was forced to look straight at me. “What do you have to be sorry about?”
“Dragging you into all my drama.” She sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve. It wasn’t the most attractive thing in the world, but damn, it was honest.
Hugging her back even tighter, I kissed her temple. “There’s no one else’s drama I’d want to get caught up in, pretty girl.”
We stood there, wrapped around each other for a few minutes while her tears subsided, then I led her towards the couch. With only one seat left and the fact that I was still not quite ready to let her go, I sat down and dragged her into my lap.
“Well, that was…”
“What a fucking day!”
“So delicate with the language, Connor,” Carly teased.
“He’s going to have to change that.”
“Change what?”
“Your language. Going to have to tone it down a notch or two.”
“What the fuck for?”
“’Cause little ears repeat everything.”
“Who’s got little ears?”
Holly giggled in my lap, and it was like music to my ears. She wasn’t my girlfriend. I don’t know if we’d ever end up as anything more than we were right now. I mean, she was hot and a lot of fun, but she was my friend. First and foremost, and nothing was going to ruin that ever.
“Your niece or nephew who will be arriving in approximately six months,” Payton explained, putting him out of his misery.
“Oh.” The look on Connor’s face wasn’t convincing. I wasn’t sure if he had put it all together yet.
“You’re…you’re pregnant?” Carly squealed so loudly I think every cat in the neighbourhood woke up and returned her call.
Beau kissed Payton’s head and all was right in the world. At least it was in the McIntyre world. Who fucking knew what would end up happening in the Reynolds household if and when my parents ever came home.
I was staring into my now warm beer feeling miserable. I’d fucked everything up all because I’d been a selfish asshole. The problem was, no one knew. No one knew what I was doing or what I was hiding. And that right there was the problem. I was so tired of hiding I’d had to get out. Get away. Break free. At least for a little while. I hoped they’d understand. One day. Even more than that, I’d hoped they’d accept me anyway. It was my greatest fear and the one thing that had held me back for so long already. The idea that they’d abandon me. Discard me like last night’s leftovers. Right now, though, I wouldn’t blame them.
I’d just hung up the phone from Gage and he’d promised everything was all right. Holly was a bit banged up, but she was stronger than she knew and she was toughing this one out. We all knew it would take her some time to move on, and no one was going to begrudge her that, as long as she did get past it in the end. She was too amazing of a girl to not. Holly had the whole world in front of her, one she needed to explore, I’d do whatever it took to make sure she had every opportunity to do so.
Picking at the basket of fries in front of me, I looked up at the big screen. I know football was like a religion in Melbourne, but I just couldn’t get excited by it. I’d tried. I mean, I could follow the game, there was just nothing spectacular about it to keep me interested.
“Need anything else?” the cute bartender asked.
“I’m good, thanks,” I replied quickly, unable to stop staring at the retreating ass. Truthfully, I’d been watching that ass bounce around the bar for the better part of the last hour.
I thought about heading back to Zoe’s, but even that idea depressed me. Why would I hurry back to a cold, bleak, empty place? I was grateful to Zoe that she was letting me crash there and she was the only one who knew the truth behind why I was actually in Melbourne in the first place. I just hoped she could keep her mouth shut while she was home. After all, I knew all her dirty laundry too. Laundry she definitely wasn’t ready to have aired out for the world to see.
Finishing my beer, I made a pit stop in the bathroom before deciding to call it a night. As I entered the back room, I was so busy watching a guy in the corner line up his shot on the pool table I wasn’t watching where I was going.
“Shit! Sorry, man.”
“All good. No harm, no foul.”
He was tall. Taller than I was. And built. His shoulders were wide, and the way his t-shirt pulled across his chest made me think he was buying clothes a few sizes too small. But damn, did he pull it off. His dirty blond hair was too long, hanging in his eyes and his jaw was so perfect he was going to give Superman a run for his money. It
was the swirling tattoo though, that captured my attention. Starting near his wrist, it wound its way up his arm before disappearing under his shirt sleeve. Damn, I wanted to see the rest.
“Ryan,” I said pathetically, sticking my hand out between us. For some reason, I found I wanted to keep talking to this guy.
“Carter,” he answered, slipping his huge, calloused hand in mind and giving it a firm shake.
I’d bet there wasn’t anything about Carter that wasn’t firm.
Oh fuck me, was I in trouble.
Want more McIntyres? Read Breaking Free (Meet the McIntyres #4) Now
ALSO BY REBECCA
Swimming Upstream Series
Perfection is just an Illusion
Nobody’s Obligation
On Dry Land
Finding Your Place Series
Coming Home
Running Away
Believing Again
Meet the McIntyres Series
Taking Charge
Picturing Perfect
Fighting Back
Breaking Free
Finding Forever
Standalones
Nobody Knows
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, thank you to you for reading this book.
If I’m being completely honest, this book almost killed me. Bullying is never okay. And to know that there are people out there in our world who are facing the same struggles as Holly on a daily basis made me incredibly sad. No one should have to endure the pain, the suffering, the torture and the humiliation that she endured.
To Kathryn who not only made the beautiful cover and graphics for this one, but also picked me up with every word that knocked me over. She talked me out of giving up more times than I could count, assuring me that Holly’s story had a place and her voice needed to be heard.
Fighting Back (Meet the McIntyres Book 3) Page 24