Chapter 36 #2
We park in the side parking lot next to Bloomfield Animal Haven, and I take a second to center myself, to remind myself that I’m safe, and the likelihood of Blake coming after me or sending someone after Rhys is slim .
. . even if the club is convinced it was Blake and the people he’s involved with that started the fire at Hell’s Asylum.
Kendra’s smile greets me first, her dark-chestnut eyes lighting up as I walk into the lobby.
“I’m so happy you’re back! Those other veterinarians were great and all, but you are truly a gem to work for. Never leave again!” she says as she pulls me into a hug.
“I’ll do my best! Everything has been okay?”
“Yep! We’ve had it all covered. Had two adoptions, a cat and little Carl, the Pomeranian mix. Everything else has been moving smoothly.”
“Aww. I’m glad they found homes. I’m going to miss little Carl and his cute little overbite! You’re doing a really great job here, Kendra. Thank you for holding everything down. I know I’ve been gone for a while.”
“Don’t mention it, you were working way too hard anyway. I’m sorry you were so sick.”
I grimace, feeling like shit for having lied to her. “I’m feeling better now. You obviously know Rhys, he’s going to be in this week with me. We’re going to go see Harvey and then get settled. My schedule is on the computer?”
“Sure is! All ready for you.”
“Thank you! I’d be lost without you.”
Rhys puts his hand on my lower back, guiding me through the shelter toward the back, where we keep the pets. Harvey is in his kennel sleeping when we get there, but the moment we arrive, he perks up, sniffing the air. Rhys moves first, dropping down to his knees in front of the chain-link gate.
“Hey, buddy, you miss me?”
The tears flow instantly the second Harvey’s tail starts banging against the floor.
“Rhys . . .” I gasp softly.
“I know, baby, I see it. Can you open it up for me?”
I grab the keys off the wall as Rhys starts humming to the tune of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.
I watch him with my heart in my throat, this huge beast of a man in leather, with the softest, most tender heart and soul I’ve ever known, give up his time to help this sweet dog.
I love him. I’m going to love him forever.
Another week goes by, and Rhys and I start to fall into a routine.
Every morning, we stop by Daily Rise, grab our lattes and baked goods, and then make the drive to Bloomfield.
Rhys has developed a relationship with Harvey that melts all my brain cells.
Yesterday, he started to play with Rhys, and today, he plans to take him outside and see if he can get him to get some exercise.
I don’t know how either one of us is going to survive when he finally gets adopted.
I sip on my hot latte, the sweet taste flowing over my tongue as I sign paperwork and go over some adoption applications. There’s a rapid knock on my door before it opens, Rhys’ handsome face filling the doorway.
“Hi, you,” I greet as if I didn’t just come all over his fingers in my office an hour ago.
“Baby, there’s an issue. I have to go back to Amberwood. There was an accident, and one of our prospects caused it by being an idiot. Chaos is tied up, so I have to go bail the kid out of jail and talk with the police.
“I can’t leave, Rhys. I have a surgery in twenty minutes.”
“Fuck,” he curses, looking so torn. “Alright, put your earbud in one ear, we’re just gonna talk on the phone until my backup prospects get here. That work?”
“Of course, your phone voice is sexy. This is not a hardship, Mr. Hudson.”
Rhys moves into my space, pulling me up from my chair. I go willingly as he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him, his other hand sweeping into my hair to angle my head backward. “Mmm. Do you think there’s a chance you’d want to be Mrs. Hudson someday?”
“I’d become Mrs. Hudson tomorrow if you let me.”
The growl that escapes this man’s lips should be illegal. “Baby, if I didn’t have to rush out of here right now, I’d be pulling your ass into that storage closet to make you scream my name.”
God. “That’s just what I needed before going into surgery, thank you.”
“And what’s that, my love?”
I lean in close, whispering my next words. “Wet panties.”
Rhys groans, digging his fingertips into my hip, dropping his head backward.
“Give them to me for the road.”
“No way, you are not getting my panties! Get out!” I laugh.
“Earbud in! I’m calling you in two minutes!”
“Yes, sir! Now leave so I can do a few admin tasks before this spay. I love you!”
“God, woman, I’ll never tire of hearing you say those three words. I love you, too!”
Just as Rhys promised, exactly two minutes later, he’s calling the new phone I got last week. “Hi, handsome.”
“Hi, beautiful.”
“Mmm. I was right, your phone voice is sexy.”
“Yeah? I’ll remember that, maybe we’ll have a little phone sex once I’m on my way back to you. I have no problem talking you through another orgasm.”
“As if the three I’ve already had today aren’t enough?”
“Not until you’re in a puddle, my love.”
Rhys and I talk until it’s time for me to go prep for surgery, the conversation flowing easily, just as it always has.
“I love you. I’ll call you as soon as I’m done.”
“Good. I’ll try to hurry back. I love you, baby.”
Surgery goes smoothly and uneventfully, spaying a stray that had come in months ago pregnant.
When I return to my office, the energy is off, charged, and electrifying.
Goosebumps scatter across my skin, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach.
It’s the same kind of feeling I had toward the end of my relationship with Blake when I was anticipating seeing him.
I slip my hand into my scrubs, pulling out one of my earbuds and pressing it into my ear.
Without looking around my office, I walk normally over to my desk, opening up the top drawer with shaky hands. I look into it, at the smooth black gun that Rhys stashed there on our first day back at the shelter. He showed me how to use it, making me promise that I would if I ever needed to.
“Miss me, darling?” That voice sends a shiver down my spine as my eyes fall closed, terror gripping my heart and squeezing. There are moments like this, when standing still and doing nothing could mean letting someone get hurt.
I grab the gun quickly, holding it out in front of me. “Just aim and shoot, baby. That’s it. There’s already one in the chamber, and there’s no thumb safety.”
“What are you going to do with that, Bristol? Shoot me? You’re too scared.
Too weak.” Blake’s words don’t even make me flinch this time.
He’s nothing to me anymore but a stain on the last few years of my life.
He looks much the same, posh and polished, wearing a suit, his hair perfectly coiffed back in a style that I hate.
But his eyes tell a different story. They’re dark, soulless, empty.
Blake looks pure evil, and not at all like the man I met all those years ago.
“Why the hell do you want me so much if I’m so pathetic, then, Blake.
Why? Just let me go!” I scream, my voice shaking just as much as my hands.
Fucking fear masking my strength. I hold the gun in front of me, my desk, and the two chairs in front of it, keeping us apart.
I use my free hand to unlock my phone, clicking buttons and hoping it connects me to Rhys.
“Never! I love you, Bristol! Don’t you understand? We’re perfect together. You just need to be reminded! You think I’m going to let you leave me for him? He’s a nobody! A criminal!”
“And what are you? You’re worse! Tell me you didn’t know, Blake, tell me you didn’t know what they’re involved in!”
“Baby? Is everything okay?” Rhys says in my ear. Oh, thank god.
“Of course I know, Bristol, I just don’t care. I’m the money man, and I make it possible for them to do it. You think they’d be as successful as they are without me?”
“Fuck,” Rhys hisses in my ear. “Just keep him talking, baby, I’m almost there, don’t worry, I’m coming,” Rhys says, his voice pained.
“You don’t love me, Blake! You loved the idea of me! You loved thinking you owned me! I’m not a possession that can be kept! I’m not yours!”
“Yes you are!” he roars. My hands shake uncontrollably as I hold the gun out, its weight starting to get heavier and heavier in my palms.
“You’ve been busy being a little whore, haven’t you? I know you’ve been fucking that biker. He’s going to pay for tainting you, for touching what’s mine.”
“Sleeping with someone doesn’t make me a whore, Blake! I’m not a fucking whore!”
“Baby, don’t let him get to you. He’s just trying to get under your skin. Stay calm, breathe for me. Just breathe. I’ll be there soon.” Rhys’ voice centers me, and I do as he says, focusing on his voice and not Blake’s.
“That’s okay, I’ll fix you. I’ll remind you whose cock makes you come.”
“Fuck you, Blake! Get out! I swear to god, I’m two seconds from shooting you!”
Blake tsks, clearly annoyed, and not at all taking me seriously.
“Baby, I’m in Bloomfield, I’m almost there, stay strong,” Rhys tells me as tears spring to my eyes.
“If you kill me, Bristol darling, who will tell you where Kira is?” My heart bottoms out, nausea rolling through my body as I sink into the chair, the gun falling onto my lap.
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
“Don’t fall for it, baby. Hold on. I’m pulling in.”
“You don’t find it weird you haven’t heard from her? It’s been, what? Over a week? She’s a feisty one. Don’t worry, we haven’t touched her. She’s a very valuable asset for us.”
“Oh, god.”
The office door is kicked open with a splintering sound as Rhys and three prospects rush into the room with their guns drawn.
I sway in my seat as I watch Rhys shoot twice before Blake can pull out his own gun, blood spraying from his kneecaps.
The loud sound pierces my ears, a ringing so deep my brain rattles, and then everything else goes dark.