by Rae Spencer
Clay glared at Jacob, his lips drawn tight, “Do you think the media matters to me? Do you think I am afraid the image of the band will be tarnished? This band, my friends are important, but not more important than Lily. I will never walk away and leave her alone.”
Jacob smiled slightly, inclining his head. “I am happy to hear you say that, but I had to ask for Lily’s sake.”
Clay stared at Jacob. “For Lily’s sake?”
“Yes, she deserves that much,” Jacob met Clay’s eyes, “once you go down this road there will be no turning back.”
Clay nodded, easing back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “No, there won’t, but I will do whatever I need to do to make sure that bastard never hurts the woman I love again.”
Jacob watched as Clay quickly took the other shot and stood. He was worried over what would happen when Jason showed up tonight. How would Lily react? Clay?
Chapter 20
Clay stood in the doorway, watching Lily laugh with his friends, a smile playing on his lips. She was so young, so much had happened to her, yet she was so sweet, kind, and loving. He wasn’t friends with Jason, not like he was with the guys from his band. They had toured together, laughed, joked, and about Lizzy/Lily.
Clay struggled with the knowledge his Lily was Jason’s Lizzy. He had seen the scar on Jason’s chest, but Jason’s scar paled in comparison to the ones on Lily. Jason deserved his. Lily did not.
Clay sensed Jacob to his right.
“She is beautiful,” Jacob watched Lily laugh with Melissa and Amy.
Clay rubbed his fingers over his chin. “Yes, she is.”
Jacob glanced at Clay. “We can’t let her go back to where she’s been living, too many people have seen her, pictures of her have been taken. He will find her.”
Clay turned slightly toward Jacob. “I know. I have no intention of letting her out of my sight until Jason is behind bars where he belongs.”
“You have to get her to agree.” Jacob wondered if Clay could convince Lily.
“I will.” Clay swallowed repeatedly. “If I can’t be with her, Jacob, I want you to be until we get this settled. I don’t want her hurt again.”
Jacob agreed. “I understand. We can prevent any more physical harm to her.”
“She is afraid of him. Who can blame her? Jacob, she was alone, all alone during one of the hardest moments of her life. I can’t imagine how afraid she was.” Clay gulped, glancing over at Jacob, “but this time she won’t be. This time I will protect her, love her and together Lily and I will get through this.”
****
Lily smiled as Clay approached. Her smile quickly slipped as she got a good look at his face. He was angry. She could see it reflected clearly in his tawny eyes. Lily’s brows drew together as he sat next to her.
“Is something wrong?” She whispered. She could feel the anger vibrating from him.
“No,” Clay whispered just as quietly. Seeing the doubtful expression on her face he added, “nothing we can talk about now, and nothing that affects the way I feel about you.”
She bit her cheek, he was very angry she could hear it in the rasp of his voice. She wondered what happened, if he was angry with her.
He squeezed her fingers. “Don’t worry, Lily.”
She picked up her fork about to take a bite of her salad. She froze, her eyes engorging, her mouth falling open.
Her hand shook violently. Lettuce and cheese tumbled off her fork landing in disarray around her plate, the table. Her skin crawled, her breathing sudden shallow gasps of air.
“Lily,” Amy took the fork out of her trembling hand. “Are you okay?”
Lily didn’t respond. Her eyes stuck on the tall dark haired monster standing in the doorway glaring at her. She tried to swallow, but her throat wouldn’t work. She wanted to run, to hide, but she couldn’t. Her body was immobile, her muscles stiff, they refused to co-operate with her mind.
Jason’s eyes narrowed, his lips twisting into a snarl, contorting his handsome face as he stared at her.
Lily jumped, a soft cry escaping her lips as Clay’s arm slid around her neck. His fingers stroked her skin as he leaned down whispering in her ear. “I won’t let him hurt you, Lily.”
She jerked her eyes to his, hers swimming with terror, confusion. She blinked repeatedly, she wanted to believe him, she did, but she struggled with her fear. She remembered, too much, no matter how she tried to forget, the nightmares wouldn’t let her.
Clay brushed his fingers lightly over her cheek. “I understand. You don’t need to run or hide. I won’t let him hurt you ever again. You are not alone anymore.”
She trembled violently, felt everyone staring at her but she couldn’t speak, couldn’t respond. All she could feel was the terror slithering along her nerves holding her tightly within its grip.
Clay brushed his lips over her cheek. “I love you. I will be here with you. I will protect you. I promise.”
She stared at him, her mouth open, tremors racking her body, moving her in the chair.
“Trust me,” he whispered.
A tear fell down her face running over her cheek. She saw Jason walk toward them. She stiffened, her eyes widening until they bulged on her face, her flight response kicking in. She wanted to run, yet she wanted to stay with Clay.
He stroked her cheek gently. She sensed his strength and her eyes focused a little.
He smiled gently. “That’s it, love, trust me. We will get through this together, you and me, and our friends.”
Clay glanced around at his friends, the curious yet angry expressions on their faces. They wondered what was going on, Lily’s terror was evident, her reaction impossible to miss.
They all wanted to ask questions, but they would wait until the right time. He knew each of them would stand by him and Lily.
He brushed the tears off her face, placing the softest kiss upon her lips. He laid his hand on top of hers squeezing her fingers as he turned, watching Jason approach.
****
Clay’s eyes narrowed to slits, shoulders stiffening. Livid over the way Jason stared at Lily. It was possessive. The man actually thought she belonged to him. The only one who had the right to look at Lily like that was him.
He felt the tremors roll over her through their joined hands. He squeezed her hand again, offering comfort and security.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” Jason stopped on the other side of the table. He stood between Tom and Sara, but behind their chairs.
Lily gasped, the color draining from her face, her body jerking in the chair.
Clay stroked her fingers, noticing how tense Jacob was out of the corner of his eye. He stared at Jason, frowning, “dinner.”
“Dinner, really, I couldn’t have figured that out on my own.” Jason’s fingers gripped the back of Tom’s chair.
Clay sensed Kevin and Scott’s eyes on him and Tom stared at him from across the table. They were waiting, ready to interfere if Clay needed them to, but would let him play his hand.
Clay didn’t respond to Jason, just stared waiting for his next move.
“You found my friend.” Jason pointed at Lily.
Clay stiffened his voice a low growl rolling through the air. “She is not your friend.”
His band mates stiffened. They knew the tone of voice and Clay was furious with Jason.
“I seem to recall differently.” Jason sneered at Lily before looking at Clay.
Lily quivered in her seat, her breasts moving with her harsh breathing.
Clay’s lip tightened over his teeth. “Oh, I am sure you do, you tell the story often enough.”
Jason grinned. “I tell the truth.”
Clay told everyone Lily was Jason’s Lizzy without saying so, to give them a heads up, to help them understand. “You mean your perverted version of the truth.”
Jason took a step closer to the table, his body wedging between Tom and Sara, his eyes on Clay. “Perverted version. I don’t think so.”
> Clay glared at Jason. “I do.”
“What ever stories she told you.” Jason snarled, stabbing his finger in the air toward Lily. “I can assure you they are nothing, but a pack of lies.”
Clay leaned back in his chair. “A pack of lies, really?” His eyes narrowed. “The only liar here is you.”
“Why you,” Jason tried to step closer to the table but Tom refused to budge, his leg blocking him. “I am no liar.”
“I disagree,” Clay saw Amy grab Lily’s other hand, squeezing. Both felt the uncontrollable tremors running through her.
“I can’t imagine you of all people wanting such a damaged piece of ass.” Jason gestured toward Lily, grinning. “Thought you had better taste.”
It was a direct hit aimed at Lily.
Lily heard the words, but couldn’t speak, her tongue frozen in her mouth.
Clay watched Lily out of the corner of his eye. “Taste, there is nothing wrong with my taste, only your perceptions.”
Jason gritted his teeth. “You should pay closer attention.”
“I have,” Clay’s voice vibrated, the veins in his neck standing out.
Jason glanced at Lily, sneering. “Surprised you could stomach it.”
“The results yes, the deed no,” Clay said calmly, too calmly, “I intend to do something about it.”
“You do, do you?” Jason ground out, “I would like to see you try.”
Clay’s friends were all on edge, they knew this was not going to end well for Jason. Things were going to get ugly. They watched rage roll over Clay’s face as his lips tightened.
Lily missed it because she had not been able to stop staring at the monster, her body vibrating with terror.
Jason didn’t miss it. He gulped taking a step backwards. “You can’t intend to throw away our friendship over a worthless piece of ass.”
“You are not, nor have you ever been, my friend,” Clay growled.
Jason stood at his full height, staring down his nose. “I seem to remember your anger over what your piece of ass did.”
Clay’s eyes narrowed. “Lily is not my piece of ass, and your story is a lie. Too bad no one thought to verify it. We would have realized what a disgusting man you were long ago.”
“That…,” Jason pointed at Lily, “that woman lies with every word out of her mouth.”
“Really, Jason, now whose lying?” Clay snarled, “Jacob checked, read the police reports, we know the truth, we know what you did.”
“I did nothing,” Jason waved his hands in the air, “nothing the little tramp didn’t deserve.”
“Deserve,” Jacob hissed, his eyes flashing.
“Yes, deserve,” Jason shot back, “she got exactly what she deserved.”
Jacob glared at Jason, his hands clenched on the edge of the table. “No one deserves what you did. She was a teenager!”
“She deserved everything,” Jason growled lowly, his fingers clenching into fists on his hips as he stood legs spread, glaring at them.
Lily trembled harder, her fear rising, her eyes widening, she gasped for breath. All the color gone from her face as the man before them slowly turned into the monster she remembered.
Clay squeezed her hand sensing her rising fear. He turned toward her smiling softly. “I find it difficult to believe a seventeen year old who just lost her parents in a tragic car accident could deserve anything other than compassion and caring, yet you showed only callousness and greed.”
“Callousness and greed,” Jason’s fists were clenched so tightly they were turning white. “I got nothing from helping her.”
“Nothing, helping,” Clay gasped, his head whipping around to glare at Jason. “You helped yourself to her parent’s house, you took her security, and you nearly took her life.”
“That is a lie!” Jason cried, stepping forward.
Clay watched Jason’s every move, “No, it is not.”
“Yes, it is,” Jason took another step closer.
Clay leaned forward, glaring across the table at him. “Lily’s trustees disagree as do the cops and the District Attorney who is looking forward to seeing you in court.”
“I did not steal her home,” Jason swiped his arm in the air above Tom’s head ruffling Tom’s hair.
“Didn’t you?” Clay growled, “what would you call it.”
“Mine,” Jason snarled, leaning forward.
“Yours,” Jacob choked.
“Yes, mine,” Jason glared at Jacob, “everything was mine, is mine, including Lizzy.”
“I don’t think so,” Clay snapped.
Jason tried to step forward past Tom, but Tom refused to give him room. “This isn’t over, far from over.”
Clay glanced at Jason, then at Lily. “You’re wrong, it is over, and you will stand trial.”
Jason laughed loudly. “She will never testify.”
“Yes, she will.” Clay’s fingers gripped the edge of the table. He knew Jason was threatening Lily.
“I wouldn’t bet your fame and fortune on that, Clay.” Jason’s hands balled into fists, swinging along his hips. “I will not loose to this pathetic, scarred little tramp.”
Lily shook violently as Jason began to lean over Tom’s leg toward the table.
Jason stepped to his right, pushed up to the table next to Sara. Slamming his fists down, he stared at Lily. “Lizzy knows what will happen, don’t you, Lizzy?”
“Yes, she does,” Clay watched every movement Jason made. “You will go to jail for a long time.”
“Oh, Clay, you are so wrong.” Jason smirked right at Lily, “I will never go to jail. Will I Lizzy girl?”
Lily quaked. Jason’s face was so close to hers. She wanted to run, to scream, and hide, but Clay and Amy held her hands. She wanted them to release her so she could leave, run as fast as her legs could go.
“Jason,” Jacob glared at him with seething disgust, “you are wrong.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Jason leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table, “Lizzy girl won’t show, will you Lizzy? She knows what waits for her if she does.”
Chapter 21
He was inches away from her, threatening her. Lily didn’t say a word, couldn’t get her mouth to work, to open. Amy squeezed her hand again. Lily squeezed back, thankful for the comfort offered. Clay squeezed her other hand and she took courage from him, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Jason, afraid his hands would touch her again.
What happened if he made it over the table? Could she run fast enough to get away from him?
“Don’t you, Lizzy girl?” Jason’s face was so close.
Lily jerked, pushing back against her chair as Jason leaned closer to her.
“You don’t think any good can come from this, do you?” Jason snapped, “He will never stay with you, not when there are normal women.”
Lily stared at Jason. Her breathing was shallow as her mind whirled filling with her doubts, her fears, and insecurities. They swirled in her brain like a tornado on a stormy day bumping off one another.
Would Clay be better off if she disappeared again? Yes! She needed to leave, she needed to hide, she needed…. If only Clay and Amy weren’t holding her hands, she could run.
Clay squeezed her fingers, “Normal women, exactly what is that?” He knew Jason’s words were hurting her, making her doubt herself, him, and their relationship. But he didn’t dare stop what was happening, not if he wanted her forever. He needed to prove to Lily he could protect her, he had too so she could overcome her fears.
“How long are you going to stay with her, Clay?” Jason sneered, tilting his head glaring, “until you tire of her like every other girl you have been with or right after you find out the truth of what she hides behind those clothes?”
“I already have,” Clay’s voice vibrated in a low growl, causing all eyes to turn to him, “your handiwork! The actions of a pathetic coward!”
“I am no coward!” Jason snarled, his hand shooting across the table toward Lily.
<
br /> Lily flinched. A whimper broke from her lips. She pushed herself tightly against the back of her chair, gasping erratically.
Clay moved so fast, Lily barely saw. He let her fingers go catching Jason’s hand, slamming it on the table before even he got close to touching Lily.
“Don’t ever think of touching her again,” Clay growled.
Jason laughed in Clay’s face. “Touch her. I intend to do more than touch her. She is going to pay and dearly.”
“I don’t think so,” Clay wrapped his fingers tightly around Jason’s wrist preventing him from moving. “You will never hurt her again.”
Jason glared at Clay.
Amy pulled Lily to her, wrapping her arm around Lily’s shaking shoulders.
Jason pulled at his wrist and Clay eased his grip letting Jason pull free.
The veins in Clay’s neck throbbed as his teeth clenched. “Jason, you are such a coward.”
“This isn’t over.” Jason turned, stepping away from the table next to Tom.
“You’re right, it isn’t,” Clay snapped, “you have court dates coming up, and I promise I will be at every one to make sure you get what you deserve.”
Jason turned back around. “Keep dreaming. It will never happen.”
“Yes, it will,” Clay’s hand once again entwined with Lily’s.
Jason’s lips pulled back in a snarl a second before he leapt the table aiming right for Lily. His intentions clear to all.
Lily gasped.
Kevin reacted as fast as Clay. He grabbed Lily’s elbow, pulling her out of her chair across Amy and down the side of the table to stand in front of Jacob. Chairs toppled as he pushed his wife behind him standing in front of both, protecting them. Jason would have to go through him too if he wanted to get to Lily.
Melissa, Scott, Tom, and Sara stood, too. Melissa and Scott moved behind Clay to stand by Lily, surrounding her. Melissa and Amy stood in front of her with Scott and Kevin standing in front of their wives.
But Jason never made it to the other side of the table caught in mid air by Clay. Clay wrapped his fingers tightly around Jason’s throat slamming him against the table. They all heard the wood crack from the impact.