Wrecked

by Luke Prescott

  Turning my head, I search his face. “What?”

  He tells me to relax before he lets me go. That’s when I notice the cops all over. Two are checking Jake and another one is checking Payton. Fuck, Payton.

  Rushing over I drop to my knees. “Payton, look at me baby,” I plead, as my heart stops beating.

  “Asher, we need your statement,” one of the cops says.

  “Baby, I’m right here,” I say to Payton, completely ignoring the cop. “Someone call a fucking ambulance,” I yell, gently touching her cheek.

  “Asher, let’s go,” another cop says.

  “Until I know she’s good, I’m not fucking leaving,” I roar.

  I gently run my hand on her cheek, her arm and move down to her hand. Wrapping mine around it, my head drops to her shoulder and I break down. I haven’t felt this devastated, this vulnerable, this wrecked, since my parents died.

  “Please don’t leave me too,” I whisper over and over.

  Chapter Seventeen

  ───────────────

  Payton

  Cracking open my eyes, well eye since the right one is swollen shut, I’m blinded by the bright lights. Immediately, it causes my aching head to start pounding. I try to take in where I am, but even with one eye I know. The smell of antiseptic, the whispered voices, the uncomfortable bed.

  “Well, what did the scan show?”

  Asher. His voice wraps around me, comforting me, like a hug. That’s when everything crashes down on me. I’m alive, he’s alive. We got out. Suddenly, the fear resurfaces and I grab onto the railing of the hospital bed.

  “Oh shit,” Asher whispers, rushing to my side. “Payton?”

  Glancing up, I take in his bloody face and gasp. “I’m so sorry.”

  Pushing the railing down, he wraps his arms around me. He holds onto me, like I do to him, silently thanking God that he’s still here.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. Don’t ever apologize for what he did,” he whispers against me.

  “Payton,” my dad whispers. The crack in his voice, makes me realize he knows.

  I’m not the only one who’s been in pain all these years. I’ve caused enough of my own by staying with Jake.

  “Where is he?” I ask, as Asher starts to pull away.

  He pushes the hair off my face, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “The cops got him, baby.”

  Panic sets in and I stupidly shake my head. “That doesn’t matter. He’s a cop,” I explain.

  “Miss Hudson,” the doctor interrupts. “I’m Dr. Bushmen. All your scans came back clear. We’ll need to stitch up that laceration above your eye. You’ve also got a concussion, which you’ll want to monitor. You’re a lucky woman, it could have been much worse.”

  “So, I’ll be able to go home tonight?”

  “Barring any complications, yes, you’ll be able to go home tonight,” he says, with a nod.

  I’m relieved they get right to work, because I want to get the hell out of here. As much as my stomach is in knots, it’s time to finally tell Asher everything. I need this weight off my shoulders.

  After the doctors are finished stitching me up, I look up at the two men that mean so much to me. I know it’s time. Time to tell both of them.

  I clear my dry throat, getting their attention. “I, umm, it’s time I explain everything.” Asher grabs my hand and holds on tightly. His strong hand wrapped around mine, gives me a comfort I never even knew existed.

  “You don’t need to, baby,” he says, kissing my cheek.

  I force a smile, nodding. “Yeah, I do.” Closing my eyes for a second, I take a deep breath. “Jake wasn’t always like that, I need you to know that. It happened so gradually that I didn’t even notice myself.” My dad already has tears in his eyes and I’ve only just started. But Asher, no he is staying strong, just like I knew he would.

  “We met on a hike. He came through and I was his guide. He was so carefree and funny. And that continued for a long while. He was always so attentive, making sure I was happy. It all started to change, after he asked me to marry him,” I say, staring into Asher’s green eyes.

  “You were engaged to him?” my dad questions, with wide eyes.

  “I was,” I say, sadly. I feel like I gave him something that never belonged to him.

  Squeezing my hand to get my attention, I glance up at Asher. “We all make mistakes,” he says, giving me a quick wink.

  This is just one of the countless reasons, I love him. “Yeah, we do.” Finding my courage, I continue. “It was little things at first, things I just thought he was pointing out. The bed wasn’t made right, dinner wasn’t good, my house cleaning needed work.” Looking over at Asher I smile, “I wanted to be a good soon-to-be wife.” He kisses me. It’s short, but it holds so much meaning behind it. A promise.

  “Payton, how bad was it?” my dad asks.

  Nodding, I continue. “It was pretty bad. He was controlling. Controlled everything I did, everywhere I went. I stopped going out, because he liked knowing I was home. He’d say being a cop he was always worried, and at first, I believed him. He made it easy to believe him. I lost my friends, my job, my identity. I lost who I was.” It’s so much harder than I thought to say it all out loud. I’ve thought of it, played it back in my head, but I’ve never spoken it out loud.

  “Baby, you can stop,” Asher whispers.

  “No, I can’t. I need you both to understand. I thought about leaving, tried it a few times. But fear always held me back. Having no money, no plan, no help. It was easier to stay. Which I know sounds ridiculous, but at the time I felt I had no other choice.”

  “You could have called, Payton. I would’ve been on the next flight. And what about your mother and your grandmother? They were there. Why didn’t you ask them for help?” I can understand my father’s anger. No one can understand entirely, unless it was them.

  “Robert,” Asher hisses, staring my dad down.

  Clearing the lump in my throat, I squeeze Asher’s hand. No need for him to get pissed at my dad. We are all mixed with emotions at this point. “Dad, he’s a dirty cop. Everyone had his back, for one reason or another. It wasn’t as easy as you think to go to Mom’s and ask for help. He needed to know where I was, who I was with, how long I’d be. If I was a minute past, he’d be walking in where ever I was. He didn’t like mom or grandma. In his mind, they were taking me away from him. So, my visits and phone calls became less and less.”

  Closing my eyes, I let the emotions wash over me. The pain and regret I felt. “When Grandma died, I couldn’t even go to her funeral. He wouldn’t allow it. Told me there was no point in saying goodbye to a body.” Tears begin to sting my eyes for the first time in much too long.

  “Fuck,” Asher whispers under his breath. “I’m so sorry, baby.” Folding his arms around me, I cling onto him like he’s my lifeline. I can breathe easier when he’s holding me.

  Pulling away, but staying close, I try to smile at him. “He came home one night, pissed about something. Which was easily done. He was always angry for one reason or another, but this night, it was different. His eyes were crazy, his body was shaking with rage and I truly knew what fear was.”

  My dad can’t handle anymore and walks out. I don’t blame him. Who wants to hear about the horrible relationship their child was in? One lived in fear and regret. Sadness and longing. Loneliness and betrayal.

  “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, you have my word,” Asher says, climbing in bed with me. He pulls me to his side, keeping his arms securely around me.

  “That night, he hit me.” I feel him flinch, but if I stop I’ll never get it out. “He slapped me across my face. It was hard, so hard it knocked me to the side. I looked up at him, holding onto my cheek. I was scared to death, but I wasn’t about to let him know.” I feel the first tear roll down my cheek. “I told him I was leaving him. That he had crossed a line a long time ago, but this was the last of it. He laughed.” I stop for a minute becau
se for the first time in months, I’m crying. Tears running freely down my face and I try to take a calming breath.

  “Fuck. I should have killed him,” he whispers into my hair.

  “I packed my things that night and told him I was leaving. He didn’t care. After all the shit, I took from him all those years, he didn’t even care when I walked away. I should have done it sooner,” I cry out.

  “Baby, you had no way of knowing.”

  “It was my grandma, she gave me my freedom. When she passed away, she left me money. A lot of money. So, I walked away with my money and came out here,” I say, full on crying now. Crying tears of sadness for what I went through and tears of happiness for where I am now.

  He tightens his hold on me, turning me to face him. Wiping my tears with his thumbs, he kisses my salty lips. “You never need to worry about any of that anymore. You have my word, I will never be like him. It’s impossible. I love you too much. The idea of causing you one ounce of unhappiness is unbearable to me. I swear to you, I will always protect you, love you, and keep you smiling.” The tears continue as I look into his eyes. They are full of hurt and pain. It breaks me to see him like that, but before I can even question it, he continues. “Jake will never hurt you again. Now that he’s in jail, that’s where he’ll stay. Not only for what he did to you, but for…” he pauses a moment, tears filling his pain filled eyes, “but for killing my parents.”

  The earth stops spinning and the ground from under me collapses. My heart slams in my chest and my tears are coming faster. “What?”

  “You were right when you said he was a dirty cop. He was drunk and caused my parents accident. Brett and I found the evidence tape in your car. That’s what he was out here looking for, baby. He wanted to make sure no one saw that tape. He never thought you’d leave, with the tape.”

  “Asher, I’m so sorry. I swear to you I had no idea, that was before we met. I don’t even know what to say.” I do the only thing I can think of and kiss him. There are no words to bring him peace, so I’ll let him feel how sorry I am. And I do, until he pulls away.

  “He’s finally going to pay for what he did. It doesn’t bring them back, but it sure as hell gives me some satisfaction. He’ll never hurt anyone else, not as long as I’m alive,” he promises.

  We lay holding onto each other, thinking about everything that was said, all the emotions that we’ve felt. We hold onto each other, until I fall asleep.

  When I wake up, all I want to do is get out of here. My dad came back, apologized for leaving, and we decided it was best to move on. So, after convincing the doctors, Asher and my dad, that I would come back if anything changed, I’m free.

  “Payton, where do you want to stay tonight?” my dad asks.

  “She’ll be with me. I’ve got her, Robert. I told you I will never let anything happen to her,” Asher says, grabbing my hand.

  They both look at me and I’m overcome with the amount of love I’m surrounded by. It’s new and means the world to me. “I’m fine, believe me. I’m going to go home and get some sleep.”

  “I broke your door, baby. You can’t go home,” Asher gently says.

  “Oh, right.”

  The events start playing out in my mind and I just need a distraction. “Dad, I’ll be fine. I’m going home with Asher. I’ll call you in the morning.” Less than thrilled, he agrees, giving me a tight hug.

  Asher holds my hand, helping me into his house. Just like he did on the entire ride over.

  Sitting on the couch he tucks me to his side, like he’s done so many times before. It’s comfortable. It’s safe. It’s home.

  Right here, in his arms. Forever.

  Leaving that night, I never would have thought that this is where I’d end up. In the arms of a man who loves me for me. Who doesn’t expect anything from me, yet wants it all. Who protects me, defends me, and loves me so fiercely in a way I never knew existed.

  We’ve both been destroyed by Jake. He took something from us both, wrecked us beyond repair. Until we found each other.

  Epilogue

  ───────────────

  Asher

  Six Months Later

  “Payton,” I say, looking around the house for her.

  I knock into a box, cursing as I push it out of my way. We finally closed on our house. It was time for a fresh start for us both. This house is just the beginning.

  Walking I kick a box of books and sigh. I was wrong when I said she had no girly shit, because this house is going to be covered in it. Box after box of nothing but girly shit. But it makes me fucking grin, because it makes her happy.

  “In here,” she calls out from the bedroom.

  Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I kiss her neck. “Oh, my favorite room.”

  She laughs and turns her beautiful face toward me. When her bright blues collide with mine, it still takes my breath away, just like it did that very first night.

  “We don’t have time to be in your favorite room,” she laughs, pulling out of my hold.

  “Bullshit, there is always time.”

  Still laughing, she slips on her shoes. “Later, I promise,” she says kissing my cheek. “Now, come on.”

  Driving over, I feel a bit like a pussy because I can feel the excitement in my stomach. I just never thought this would actually happen. I’ve wanted it for as long as I can remember. When we park, I turn in my seat to Payton.

  “None of this would have been possible without you.”

  Wrapping her delicate arms around me, she lets out a soft sigh. “Nothing is impossible as long as we have each other.”

  Truer words have never been spoken. Together we take the impossible and make it happen. Payton left the garage and went back to working as a hiking guide. The excitement that used to sometimes flash in her eyes, is a constant now. Which is everything I want.

  Getting over everything that happened with Jake, took a while. For both of us. But when we got the news that an inmate finished what I wanted to do, it was the end of that worry for Payton. I’ll never get over what he did. Not to my parents or my girl. It’s anger and sadness I’ll carry for the rest of my life. But Payton makes it alright, she grounds me. She fucking loves me.

  “Come on,” she says, nudging my shoulder.

  We get out of the truck and the sign is the first thing I see. ‘Kilby’s Garage’ I begin to smile and glance down at Payton. “Looks good.”

  “Looks amazing.”

  Walking inside, I’m greeted by friends, old and new. “You invited everyone?” I question.

  “Asher, this is your dream. So yeah, I invited everyone to help you celebrate it.”

  “Hey you alright?” Payton asks, sliding against me.

  Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss her. “Never better,” I say kissing her neck. “I love you, Payton.”

  “I love you too, Asher.”

  I pull back and search her face, before a smile spreads across my face. “Hey, I’m gonna fuck you in every part of my garage.” We both laugh, but it’s going to fucking happen.

  This girl came crashing into my life, at the worst possible moment. But I knew from the look in her eyes, that she was more than anyone I’d ever met before. It hasn’t been easy, but fuck it’s been worth it.

  Standing in my garage, surrounded by my friends and the woman who makes my heart beat. There is nothing to compare it to. Our story isn’t a fairytale, far from it. It’s real, it’s dirty, and it’s painful. But I’d fucking do it all over again to know this is where we end up.

  The End

  Check out some words Asher never got around to saying -

  Tranny

  Blow-off-valve

  Bad head

  Half-shaft

  Driveshaft

  Blown bottom end

  Longblock

  Rear ended

  Bent rod

  Burning rubber

  Nipple

  Ball joint

  Rear end grease

/>   6" extension

  Crank position sensor

  Input shaft

  Butt splice

  Knob

  T-boned

  Bushings

  Stroker

  Pushrod

  Lube

  Dipstick

  Blower

  Power stroke

  Acknowledgements

  To you, yes you, the one reading this. Thank you for reading Wrecked.

  Beth Hurley, Rhiannon King, Nan Haven, Lauren Renay

  Thank you doesn’t seem enough. I truly appreciate everything you do for me.

  Amanda Söderlund, thank you for all the amazing teasers and graphics you do for me. Your talent is amazing.

  To all the ladies in my garage. Thank you for your support, laughs, and dirty minds. Mostly, thank you for making the garage my favorite place to be.

  To all the bloggers and readers who support me. Thank you for taking the time to read my books and share them. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. Every like, comment or share is appreciated more than you could imagine.

  Keep reading for the Prequel of Unforgotten, Forget

  About the Author

  Luke Prescott grew up in New York, where he still lives today. He likes to fish, work on his Jeep and cheer on the best damn team in the NFL, the Giants. He spends his days getting his hands dirty and his nights using his dirty mind.

  Writing is a new-found interest for him. Realizing how sexy the written word can be, his imagination took over. He’s got plenty to tell and looks forward to sharing it.