by Mari Carr
She snorted, the sound catching him unaware. “You made sure of that, didn’t you, Russell?”
He reached up, his hand gripping her tightly around the neck. “Call me by my name again and I’ll break your fucking neck.”
She didn’t respond. Couldn’t answer. He was cutting off her air supply. She struggled to pull his hand away, but it was abundantly clear that her only weapon in this fight was bravado. All the physical strength was on his side. For a moment, pure, unadulterated panic clawed at her chest. She was in way over her head.
Dani pushed the fear away. Maybe she couldn’t win. But at least she could lose with dignity. She went limp, refusing to continue the struggle.
Her father released her and took a step away. Fury filled his eyes, but she noticed something new as well. Confusion.
He was a professional bully who chose targets who wouldn’t fight back. Regardless of her lack of strength, she was messing with his head. Hope reemerged, combined with even more determination.
“Sit down,” he repeated. He was hung up on the first command.
She didn’t move and he didn’t bother to give the order again. He grabbed her and shoved her roughly down onto the threadbare cushions. A spring poking through the armrest scratched her wrist.
Dani glanced down at the welt, the blood welling there. Great. It looked like she could add tetanus to the list of horrible things she was about to endure.
“You were stupid to run from me, girl. I told you in the jail I was coming back for you. Did you really think you could hide from me forever?”
She didn’t reply. Mainly because she felt more vulnerable sitting, which had probably been her father’s goal all along.
He towered over her. Now that he had his audience in place, he unleashed twelve years’ worth of pent-up anger. “You ruined my life, you little whore! Called the cops, got me thrown in jail. I lost my job, my apartment. Meanwhile, you’re living it up in that big house with that annoying bitch and all her kids.”
He reached down and grabbed a handful of hair, pulling it painfully so that she had no choice but to look up at him. “You think I didn’t know you hated me? The way you were never home, always hiding in your room. Thought you were better than me. Thought you deserved a better life. You got me arrested because you were a selfish cunt. You thought you got away with it too, didn’t you?”
The man was clearly unhinged. He’d had too many years to make her the villain in his life story, to blame her for everything bad that happened to him.
Her eyes watered as he increased the pressure on her scalp.
“Now it’s time to pay.”
Dani was out of options. Her attempts at stalling had gotten her to this point, but they wouldn’t buy her more time. Which left her with only two more choices. Fight or flight.
She glanced around, recalling how she’d escaped the last time. If she could just manage to get her hands on something heavy…
Surprisingly, there was nothing. No lamps, cups, pictures. Nothing. It was as if the room had been cleared.
Her father chuckled. “What’s wrong, Dani? No weapons to use against me?”
He released her hair, his hands going to his jeans.
She reacted without thought, leaning back as she swung her foot up hard, right between his legs. Jackpot.
Her dad doubled over from her kick to his crotch, a loud “ugh” flying from his lips.
“I wouldn’t say I have no weapons.” She tried to use his momentary pain to run. She leapt from the couch, trying to dodge his hand as he reached out to catch her.
She was a second too slow as he caught her by her hair, yanking her backwards with enough force to knock her to her back on the floor.
“You fucking bitch.” He kicked her ribs, the blow sending sharp shards of pain along her side.
She rolled away from him as he swung his foot again, his boot connecting hard against her mid-back, propelling her face first toward the couch.
Despite the waves of pain and the strong urge to vomit, she needed to fucking move. Get up. One more goddamn kick like that and he’d break her in half.
She used the couch for support to lift herself, clearing the floor mere seconds before his foot flew again. He kicked the frame of the couch, but the sturdiness of his freaking boots—Jesus, were they made of steel?—protected him from any pain from the ill-aimed blow.
“Goddamn cunt!” he bellowed as he unbuttoned his jeans. Unlike the last time, there was no fumbling. His purpose was clear.
“You realize you won’t get away with this,” she said, fighting like the devil to keep her tone calm. “Regardless of what you do right now, you’ll be arrested, and this time, they’ll throw away the key. Three strikes, you’re out. Did you like prison that much?”
His brows were furrowed with a fury so intense she had to look away lest she lose her nerve. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to? All you had to do was spread your skinny fucking legs!”
“Don’t pretend this is about sex. You and I both know it’s a fucking power trip with you. A way for you to lord yourself over me. Well, guess what Daddy Dearest, I’m not fucking impressed or scared. You’re a weak, stupid, small man who only feels big when he’s terrorizing women and children.”
Her dad’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head, his breath was coming in loud, harsh pants. She’d propelled him from merely angry to raging, fiery fury. “Shut your fucking mouth!”
He bent down as she struggled to stand and slapped her again. And this one hurt. Bad. Her teeth rattled and her neck jerked so hard to the left she thought she heard a snap. Stars exploded behind her eyes, blinding her momentarily.
She couldn’t shake off the pain, couldn’t find her way back from the agony. Her legs started to give way and she feared she was going down. If she fell, if she hit the floor, she was done for. She locked her knees.
“I don’t give a fuck if I go back to jail. All I care about is that the trip there is worth it. I didn’t get to finish last time. This time, I will. I’m gonna make you hurt, Dani. I’m gonna fuck you up good.”
The fear she’d managed to hold at bay responded to his threat. There wasn’t much fight left in her. Her arms felt like rubber, her brain was still rattling from the last blow and her legs were only holding her up by the grace of God.
“Why do you hate me so much?” She hadn’t meant to voice the question, even though it was one she’d carried around inside her for most of her life. He was her father. She’d seen the other girls in school with their daddies. She knew what that relationship was supposed to look like.
He laughed. He’d taken delight in her question, in knowing that he’d hurt her.
“I know how to shut you up, whore.” It was the only answer she got as his fist flew, punching her in the stomach so hard, she lurched forward, gagging.
His fingers found her hair once more as he shoved her to her knees in front of him. With one hand, he slid the zipper down.
Her chest went tight, a wave of dizziness swamping her. There was a sudden roaring in her ears that drowned out the rest of her father’s hateful, terrifying words.
The sound of a siren pierced the night. Hope emerged.
“Don’t get excited. Cops don’t come here.”
Regardless of her father’s confidence, Dani couldn’t help but notice the siren was getting louder, coming closer.
That was when she heard heavy footsteps pounding, racing up the stairs.
Her dad’s conviction wavered, but there was something in his twisted mind that refused to let go of the goal at hand. Even in the face of arrest.
If he’d been thinking clearly, he would have gone for the gun, would have attempted to get away before the inevitable. Instead, he was determined to finish what he’d started when she was just a girl.
He shoved her back down on the couch, pushing her into the stained cushions. His fingers clawed at her shirt even as she tried to shove them away, fighting to get up. He ignored the sound of car brakes s
quealing, the siren right outside the window.
She screamed, praying the cops were there for her. If they weren’t, by fucking God, they would be.
Her father tried to cover her mouth, but she bit his fingers, screaming again.
A loud bang accompanied the front door flying open. Bryson and Aiden rushed into the room. They took one look at her on the couch, bruised and disheveled, and the fear she witnessed briefly in their eyes turned to cold, hard rage.
Dani lay on the couch, every ounce of strength draining from her body as the world began to move in slow motion. She was acutely aware of every single movement in the room. While her body failed her, her senses seemed to take over.
Bryson grabbed her father by the back of his shirt, yanking him away from her. Aiden moved in front of Russell, his fist flying fast and hard. Her dad’s neck flew back as blood spurted from his mouth. Dani could have sworn she could count how many drops were shed.
Then Bryson moved in for his vengeance, using his elbow against her dad’s shoulder in a way that knocked Russell to his knees, “oomphing” loudly, the sound racked with pain.
If she’d had the strength, she would have laughed at her dad crawling on his hands and knees, attempting to escape her beautiful men as they rained down a rapid succession of punches and kicks.
She wasn’t sure if they would have quit. They’d seen her in danger and gone into warrior-mode. Part of her wondered if they would have been able to stem their anger, to regain control or if the bloodlust would have raged on, but the point was moot when Jett and Blake ran into the room. Blake had his gun drawn and they both looked equally intimidating.
Dani was instantly struck by how much her life had changed. That night so long ago when her father attacked, she’d had to find her own way out and her protector had been an equally terrified, gray-haired neighbor. This time, men who would lay down their lives for her surrounded her.
For the first time since she’d stepped into the apartment, tears fell. How strange was it that she cried now? When she was safe?
Aiden came to her, drawing her up from the couch and into his warm embrace. Like he had after her nightmare, he gently rocked her, stroking her back and telling her everything was okay. Unlike the last time, the tears didn’t turn into sobs. Instead they were quiet creatures that slid slowly down her cheeks as each emotion—fear, love, relief, gratitude—found its way to the forefront.
Blake handcuffed her father and read him his rights, giving her time to pull herself together.
“Dani?” Blake asked after a few minutes. “You okay?”
She nodded.
“Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No.”
Bryson scowled, his gaze raking her face. She had no idea what he saw there, but she could tell her eye and lip were puffy from her dad’s rough slaps. “Dammit, Dani. I think you should—”
“I’m fine, Bryson. Honest. He only hit me twice. And believe it or not, I’ve had worse.” He didn’t need to know how badly she’d been hurt. There was enough terror in his eyes. All that mattered was that he was here and they were all safe.
Bryson winced as he digested that information, his face hard, his jaw chiseled in stone. If Blake weren’t there, she didn’t doubt for a moment, Bryson would make her father pay for those past abuses. And pay dearly.
“Did you come here on your own?” Jett asked.
Dani tilted her head. “Are you insane? Of course not. He was driving the cab. There’s a gun in the pocket of that jacket,” she said, pointing to the coat.
Blake retrieved the gun. “I’ll be sure to let your parole officer know you’ve violated that condition. Though that’s a drop in the bucket as far as what we’re going to charge you with. Kidnapping, assault, attempted rape.”
Russell didn’t reply. Since the arrival of the other men, he’d gone uncharacteristically quiet. It was then Dani realized her father truly was a bully. Only brave when the cards were stacked in his favor, only a tough guy when he was surrounded by people weaker than he was.
Blake grasped her father’s arm, intent on taking him out. “I’m going to need you to come by the station and make a statement, Dani.”
Dani nodded, her gaze locked on her father’s face. “I should be happy you’re going back to jail.”
Russell scowled at her words, but he remained silent.
“But it occurs to me, I don’t care where you are. You’re nothing to me. In fact, you’re nothing, period.”
“Watch it, girl,” her father said, though his tone had lost some of its menace.
Aiden and Bryson stepped closer, flanking her, but she raised her hand to hold them back.
“You can’t break me, Russell. God knows you’ve tried, but there aren’t enough punches and cruel words in the world to erase the amazing life I’ve led. You can’t take away the support I’ve been given by my foster family and my friends, the kindnesses shown to me from strangers who owed me nothing, yet gave me so damn much. You can’t diminish or ruin the love I’ve known either.” She looked at Bryson and Aiden and smiled. “My life has been one giant blessing despite everything you’ve tried to do. You’re an utter failure. Be sure to think about that while you spend the rest of your life behind bars.”
Russell snapped forward, trying to break Blake’s grip in an attempt to get to her. Blake held tight, then twisted him toward the door, shoving him to the hall as he chuckled. “She summed that up pretty good.”
Jett kissed Dani on the cheek, his smile so big Dani thought it must physically hurt his face. “You are so fucking cool. Love you, sis. I’m going to help Blake, leave my car here and see if I can’t finagle a ride in the police car. I wanna turn on the lights and blare the siren.”
Dani laughed. “What are you? Twelve?”
“Hey,” Jett protested. “It’s research. For my next book. I’ll call you later.”
Aiden reached out to place a hand on Jett’s shoulder. “Thanks for everything, man.”
Jett shrugged. “You guys did the heavy lifting. Wish I could have punched the fuck out of that asshole. Sort of jealous.” He looked at Bryson. “You kick the door in?”
Bryson nodded.
Jett shook his head in obvious awe. “I’m putting that move in my next book too.”
Bryson rolled his eyes. “Do me a favor. Call Dani tomorrow. We’re putting her to bed as soon as we get back to the penthouse.”
Jett winked at her, then bid his goodbyes.
“I want to go home,” she said, the adrenaline of the last few hours giving way to exhaustion.
“Okay. I’ll call Blake and see if the statement can wait until morning. We asked the taxi driver to wait,” Aiden said. “We can be back at the penthouse in fifteen minutes.”
Dani shook her head. “No. Home. Nashville. With you guys.”
Bryson kissed her on the cheek. “That sounds damn good to me.”
Chapter Eight
Dani opened her eyes, blinking in the darkness, struggling to figure out where she was.
“You okay, bird?”
She looked to her left to find Bryson lying next to her. “What time is it?”
Bryson glanced toward the nightstand. “A little after one. You fell asleep in the cab on the way back from the police station.”
Dani hadn’t wanted to wait until morning to talk to Blake because it would simply slow down her return home. Now that she had Nashville in her sights, she was anxious to get there.
“How did I get up here?”
Aiden’s arm snaked around her waist as he spooned her. “Bryson carried you.”
She grinned. “Damn. Sorry I missed that. Sounds kinda hot.”
Bryson patted her hip playfully. “For you, maybe. You may want to cut back on those beignets for a while.”
She laughed at his joke, punching him lightly on the arm. “Asshole.”
Aiden didn’t join in the laughter. Instead, he tightened his grip on her. Dani sensed he was still struggling with some latent fear o
ver what they’d faced. She felt the same way.
“You ready to talk about it?” Aiden asked.
Dani was confused. “You guys were in the room when I gave my statement. You know what happened.”
“I mean before. When you were a girl. Why didn’t you ever tell us, Dani?”
Dani bit her lip. She’d kept quiet about it because she’d been ashamed. Jett had told her that was the wrong emotion to feel, but that didn’t make it go away.
However, now, after confronting her father, her fears and the words came much easier. The whole story tumbled out. Every single sordid second of it. From her mother’s death to her father’s drinking problem, the abuse and the details of the first night he’d tried to rape her and his threats at the prison.
And then she talked about life at the Lewis house and when she’d come downstairs to find her guitar under the Christmas tree. She told them about her father’s release and how she’d run away, how Stella had saved her.
Bryson and Aiden listened as she talked, asking questions, laughing with her. Once, she even saw Bryson trying to covertly wipe a tear.
“I’m sorry I never told you any of this,” she said at last.
“Why didn’t you?” Aiden asked.
“I was embarrassed. Ashamed. I know it’s stupid, but for a long time, I felt like maybe I’d done something wrong. I knew he was dangerous. I should have locked my bedroom door. Should have asked for help. Should have done…something.”
Aiden clasped her face tightly in his hands, forcing her to hold his gaze. “You were fifteen years old. He was the adult. Your father, for God’s sake. It was his job to protect you. You didn’t do a damn thing wrong. You got it?”
“I do now. Honest. I was young when I left. The emotions tied up in all of this…” she struggled for a word to describe it, then settled on the only one that worked, “shit were immature. The fears and reasoning of a teenage girl. I know they weren’t rational, but they were all I could remember.”
Bryson had been holding her hand throughout her tale. He lifted it, his lips brushing her knuckles. “You were incredible in that apartment today, Dani. The way you confronted him, told him off. Jesus. I never saw anything so brave, so fucking awesome.”