Authors: Jennifer Foor
"You think I give a damn about your feelings? I'm going to tell you right now, that bastard shows up at my house and I'm going to put a bullet in his head. That'll give your dumb ass something to cry about."
"Rick, he has nothing to do with this."
"Keep on talking. You're only proving that he has everything to do with it. Have you forgotten that this is my business and not yours? You have nothing you stupid bitch, you hear me? Nothing!"
He let go of my neck and picked up my purse off the desk. "You're riding home with me. You try to run and so help me god, I will find you and you will be sorry."
I wiped the tears from my face that were more for Conner than anything he was threatening. "I'll go with you Rick, just please leave him out of it. It was all me anyway. I came onto him and tonight he told me he wasn't interested. He's going back to Kentucky and not coming back."
"Walk!"
With him not giving me his word, I worried about him hunting down Conner. It wasn't that I thought he couldn't handle himself. In all honesty, Conner could take Rick down easily, but I didn't want him involved. The man had come to tell me that he loved me and instead of me saying it back, I wasn't going to ever talk to him again.
On the ride home, Rick said more degrading things to me, but I was so numb that I heard none of it. Conner's words to me were all I could think of. I shouldn't have hesitated. I should have told him the very next second that he was everything I ever wanted and the thought of being without him was terrifying to me. He needed to know that I was so madly in love with him that I would let him go to protect him.
Rick never touched me again that night. He barely said two words to me when I gave him his plate of food. Obviously, I had no appetite and chose to retire to my bedroom for the night. I just wanted to talk to him one last time and know that everyone was okay. I sat in the bathtub and cried my eyes out for the longest time. Something had happened to make Conner leave me like he did and now I had no way of knowing what it was. I was worried about him and his family. I kept hoping that it wasn't Miranda. She could have been in early labor.
I was never going to be free from this man. I knew if I called the police he would eventually get out and come after me. This was never going to end. I was stuck in this awful situation, with no family or friends to help me.
I didn't know what to do. I had two grand hidden at the salon, but running wasn't going to be the answer. He would find me and hurt me worse. I was petrified of how much worse it could get if I continued to fight him.
When I finally climbed into bed, I cried myself to sleep.
Chapter 21
Conner
Nothing could have stopped me from hearing Amy's reaction, well, nothing except hearing that my sister had been in an accident. Ty's father had made the call to me, so I could only assume that he had bolted down the road to get to where she and Bella were. I knew it was serious when he said we all needed to get there as soon as possible. I mean, nothing can prepare you for hearing that, especially when it's someone that you love.
My sister was always the constant in my life; the one person that was always there for me no matter how bad I'd fucked up. By the time I got back to the farm, they were waiting in their vehicle. I climbed in the back, shaking worse than I had my whole life. Losing my dad as a kid was awful, but not knowing how severe things were made me think that there was a possibility that I could lose my sister.
I heard my cell ringing a few times, but I couldn't answer it to explain what was happening. I just needed to get to Miranda.
You know things are bad when you get to a hospital and the person you are looking for is still in surgery. Ty's parents weren't able to find Ty, because he was back in some area that they wouldn't let us get through. We had to sit there not knowing what was happening. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the rest of the family showed up. My aunt went and got two hotel rooms to sleep in once we got some news. My mother went all apeshit on the staff and finally located Bella. We were so relieved to hear about her not being injured. Unfortunately, Bella had some news of her own.
She came out with a nurse and ran toward me first, and then my mother. She was my little buddy, especially after living with her for so long. As the family huddled around her she started to get upset. "Where did my daddy go?"
"He's back with mommy, Bells."
She shook her head. "No, they won't let us see her. He told me when we saw Jake and Jax. Daddy was crying real bad."
I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight. "He's just worried. Daddy will be fine."
"I just want to go home, Uncle Conner. Mommy had the babies so now we get to go home." She didn't understand and it broke my damn heart into pieces.
"Mommy is getting fixed by the doctors." My mother tried to make her understand.
"Does she have boo boos?" Her little lip was trembling.
My mother started playing with Bella's blonde hair. "Yeah, baby, she's got boo boos."
Things were better with the whole family together, but as the time went by, we were losing hope that my sister was going to make it. Finally, we learned that she had been taken to the ICU. Since she was out of surgery and there was nothing else we could do, half of us went back to the hotel to get a good night’s sleep. Savanna and Colt stayed with my mother, while all the rest of us tried to get some rest. With my sister not out of the woods, I laid there wide awake. There were two beds in the room and Ty's parents were already asleep in one of them. Bella and I laid together in the other one. She cuddled up in my arms and traced my tattoo. "Uncle Conner, how come you're not married?"
"Cause when I was your age I got cooties." I tickled her when I said it and she squealed.
"You don't have cooties. Mommy says only little boys get cooties."
I kissed the top of her head. "How'd you get so smart kiddo?"
She shrugged her little shoulders. "I have no idea. Is Noah coming here tomorrow?"
"No, he is home with Auntie Lucy."
"I don't like it here. I'm scared."
She kept tracing the lines on my arm and I could tell she was sad. "Were you scared when you got into the accident?"
"We hit a deer. Mommy said it happens all the time. I wish my daddy was with us. I heard mommy yelling his name."
If I'd have tried harder none of us would even be here. I felt like I could have prevented it all if I'd only thrown myself into my Heather project. My sister was fighting for her life, while Ty was hanging onto the notion of losing them either way.
"Your mommy and daddy love each other very much. He got here as fast as he could." Drunk or not, he'd made it there in one piece.
"Did you know I got to see my brothers?"
It was a good time to change the subject. "I bet they're cute."
She shrugged. "Yeah."
She got sad again and started to sniffle. "What's wrong Bells?"
"What if daddy and mommy love them more than me? Will I have to live somewhere else?"
I sat up and grabbed her little face. "You listen here. Your mommy and daddy love you all the same. You know you're their special girl. Don't even think stuff like that, kiddo."
"I want my daddy."
She must have woke up Ty's mom because she reached her arms out and called for her. Bella went running over and climbed into bed with her grandmother.
I checked my messages and was disappointed that I had nothing from Amy. I hated that I could only call her certain times. Right now, I needed to hear her pretty voice. I'm sure by now she was worried sick.
A little later my phone vibrated and woke me up. I hoped it was Amy but it ended up being that bitch Heather instead. Because of her, my sister was lying in a hospital bleeding to death. Because of her, two little children may not ever meet their mother. I filled with rage as I stared at the text message and thought about what I wanted to say. I never wanted someone to die until I met Rick, but Heather was the worst kind of evil. She didn't care who she hurt. She needed to pay for what she'd done and I was the only person to make it happen.
I sent a message that I went home for a couple days and put my phone back in my pocket. When I got back to town, this shit was going to end and I would be the one walking out with what I needed. I had to fix things for my sister. After all of this, she needed to be happy about something.
For the next two days it was still touch and go for Miranda. Once we got through the first night, we all got hopeful that she was going to pull through. I can’t even explain the way I felt when we heard the doctor telling us the news. I thought my mother was going to pass out. I spent most of my time with the family and tried to keep my mind off of not hearing from Amy. I'd left her several messages and even tried to call her at the salon. I couldn't understand why I hadn't heard from her. It made me even more upset when I overheard Ty's mom telling my mom that she had called Miranda's boss and let her know what was going on.
Amy knew what I was going through and she hadn't tried to call me. It made no sense.
Then it came to me.
She didn't love me and didn't want to tell me while I was dealing with my sister being in the hospital.
I had been so sure of her feelings for me. I could have sworn that when I told her I loved her, she was going to say it too. She'd even said how she cared about me before. It made no sense at all.
I'd never told a woman those three words. Hell, I'd never felt the things that I felt for Amy. She'd made my cocky ass want to be someone better. I just couldn't believe she'd just blow me off like that. I couldn't believe she would hurt me like that.
Seeing my nephews for the first time was pretty cool and at least kept my mind off of my broken heart. They were so small and hooked up to all kinds of little wires. I hated seeing them so tiny and fragile, but they gave me hope, somehow.
By the time my sister got put in a real room, I could only stay for a little while longer. I knew I had to get back to work, but mostly I needed to talk to Amy. Miranda was in good hands and much to my surprise, she wasn't acting like her and Ty were going to separate. That helped me out considering that I now had a new life mission to take down Heather and save my sister's marriage.
Before I left the hospital, I ducked in to say my goodbyes. My sister was feeding one of the twins. She and Ty looked exhausted but had been inseparable since her accident. It wasn't my business to interfere and Ty had told me they were staying together and raising their children for sure, so I stayed off of the subject.
The first thing I did when I got back to town was head to the salon. It was still early and I knew she'd be there. I needed to hold her; to kiss those sweet lips and never let go.
When I walked in, her and the other hairdresser turned in my direction. The look on Amy's face was indescribable. She was cutting some woman's hair and froze completely. I sat down in a chair and grabbed a magazine. Amy turned around and told the other girl that I was her next appointment and started back on the woman's hair. I caught her several times looking my way and she looked distraught. She filled the woman's hair with rollers and walked in my direction. I lifted my head and smiled at her. "Why haven't you called me, darlin'?"
"You can't be here!"
She grabbed my arm and pulled me outside.
"What are you talkin' about? Is Rick here?"
"No, it doesn't matter where he is. I can't see you anymore."
I grabbed her arm and she quickly pulled it away. "I ain't leavin' until you start explainin'." I saw tears in her eyes and started to lose my cool. I pulled her around the building so that nobody could see us. When I pulled her into my arms she tried to fight me. "What the hell is goin' on?"
"He's working tomorrow. Meet me at the hotel?"
I cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes. "Are you goin' to explain, because I can't go another damn day not knowin' why you're giving me the silent treatment, especially not after what I said to you."
"I'll tell you everything." Something was wrong. I could tell from the moment I first looked into those eyes.
"Amy, promise me that you're okay."
She nodded her head. "I'm fine. I promise."
I kissed the top of her head, but it wasn't enough. Before she could pull away, I kissed her on the lips. "You better be there tomorrow or I will come find you."
I walked away from her, more pissed than before we ever talked. Something was very wrong and I was going to find out what it was, because I wasn't about to lose her, not for any damn reason.
Chapter 22
Amy
Conner showing up at the salon scared the living shit out of me. I was sure that Rick had some kind of spy cameras set up or maybe he paid the other girl that worked for me to tell him if I did anything behind his back.
When I went home that night, he said nothing about it though. Since I hadn’t been caught seeing Conner, I knew I had to tell him everything. Even if I had to end things, he deserved to know why. With the thought of breaking his heart steady on my mind, it was hard to be cordial to Rick. I’d be lying if I said that I hadn’t thought about offing him while he slept.
For the past week, he had been purposely sleeping in bed next to me at night, but it wasn’t so he could force me to have intercourse with him. It was so that he could watch my every move.
At about midnight, I was awoken to him pulling my hair. I opened my eyes to see him leaning over top of me in our bed. “Now that I have your attention, there’s something we need to discuss.”
Fear washed over me, assuming that he did know about Conner visiting me. I backed away from him as much as I could with him still having a bunch of my hair in his hand. “Rick, let go of me, please.”
He shoved me away, but stayed where he was positioned in the bed. “In a couple of hours I need to leave on my weekly run. If you think for one second you can pull a fast one on me, you better think again. I am just reminding you that if I find out you’re seeing that little prick, you will both be sorry. I hope you warned him about me, because I wasn’t fucking joking.”