CHAPTER TEN
Pulling under the carport in Aaron’s truck, I sigh with relief. It was a long day at the salon, and I’m exhausted.
Don’t get me wrong. Working feels good—like I’m finally getting my life back after months of hiding. I kill the engine and dangle my legs out the door, looking at the ground below.
God, I hate this monster truck. Not that I’m not grateful for Aaron letting me use it while he’s away, but seriously—who needs a vehicle this high off the ground?
Getting in requires a running jump that makes me look like an idiot.
Getting out is easier, at least. I just let gravity do its thing and pray I don’t face-plant on the pavement.
I slip off the seat and land with a little thud, my boots hitting the concrete. An icy gust of wind slaps me across the face, and I shiver violently.
“Jesus Jumpin’ Jupiter!” I hug my new parka tighter around me. Three weeks in Missouri and I’m still not used to this bone-chilling cold.
Clutching Aaron’s keys in my hand, I hurry to the door and fumble to unlock it. My fingers are already stiff from a few seconds of exposure.
Closing the door behind me, I start toward the kitchen, then freeze mid-step.
“Shoot!” I spin back to the door, locking it quickly. Aaron made me promise I’d keep the door locked and the security system armed while he was gone. Biting my lip, I punch in the code on the keypad.
“Double shoot!” I mutter when I realize I forgot to set the darn thing when I left for work this morning. Aaron would have a shit fit if he knew.
With the house secure, I drop my purse on the kitchen island and head for the fridge. Grabbing a can of Dr. Pepper, I pop the tab and take a long, satisfying drink.
“Ahhh.” I close my eyes in bliss. So good. The only thing that would make it better is a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup to eat. I make a mental note to grab some when I hit the grocery store tomorrow on my way home.
Walking back to the entryway, I kick off my black knee-high boots and line them up neatly on the mat by the door. Wiggling my toes in freedom, I sigh happily. “God, that feels good.”
A hot shower sounds perfect right about now. First, though, I need to get this sweater dress in the wash. It’s covered in hair. I haven’t even started working behind the chair yet, and I still manage to get it all over me.
Heading to the laundry room, I pull the plum-colored dress over my head, tossing it into the washing machine. Standing in just my sheer bra and panties, I’m about to grab the detergent when my phone starts ringing in the kitchen.
“Coming!” I call out stupidly, as if whoever is calling can hear me.
I almost trip over my feet as I hurry back toward the kitchen to grab it from my purse. I don’t make it that far, though. I can’t because my body is frozen here in the doorway as my blood turns to ice in my veins.
“No.” The word whispers past my lips.
There, standing next to my bag with my ringing phone in one hand and a gun in the other, is Eddie.
“Savi.” His lips curl into a predatory smile, his eyes raking over my nearly naked body. “Looking good, baby.”
I can’t move. Can’t breathe. This isn’t happening. It can’t be happening.
How did he find me?
Eddie silences my phone and tosses it onto the counter, never taking his eyes off me. “What, no hello for your man?” His words slur slightly, and I can smell the whiskey from here.
He’s drunk. That makes him even more dangerous.
“Eddie,” I manage, my voice barely a whisper. “What are you doing here?”
He takes a step toward me, and I instinctively back away.
“What am I doing here?” His face darkens. “That’s all you have to say after you ran off like a little bitch?”
Another step forward, another step back for me. My eyes dart around, looking for something, anything, I can use as a weapon.
“How did you find me?” I ask, trying to keep him talking.
He chuckles, the sound sending ice down my spine. “You think I’m stupid? I’ve known where you were for weeks. Just been waiting for the right moment.” His eyes narrow. “Waiting for your fuck buddy to leave you alone.”
My back hits the wall, and panic floods my system. I’m trapped.
Eddie closes the distance between us in two quick strides, his free hand shooting out to grab a fistful of my hair. He yanks my head back painfully, forcing me to look up at him.
“Missed you, baby,” he growls, dipping his face into the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply. The gun digs into my ribs painfully.
I’m shaking uncontrollably, but some survival instinct kicks in, and I force myself to go limp in his grip.
“I missed you too, Eddie,” I lie, the words like ash in my mouth.
His head snaps back, and he searches my face with bloodshot eyes. “No, you didn’t,” he snarls, pressing the gun harder against my side. “You left me, you ungrateful cunt. After everything I did for you.”
Tears burn in my eyes, blurring my vision. “You’re hurting me,” I whisper, my voice breaking.
His grip tightens in my hair. “Good.” Then he pulls back and slaps me hard across the face.
Pain explodes in my cheek, and I taste blood where my teeth cut the inside of my mouth as my head snaps to the side from the force of the blow.
“Please,” I beg, raising my hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I was wrong to leave. I missed you. I need you.”
The lie feels wrong, but I’ll say anything to stay alive right now. Because I know—I can see it in his eyes—that he’s come here to kill me.
“You’re lying.” He spits the words in my face, dragging me by my hair across the kitchen and throwing me against the island.
My hip slams into the edge, and I cry out, doubling over in pain.
“Please, Eddie. Don’t do this.” I shake my head, a sob breaking free.
Something dark and terrible flashes in his eyes. He cocks his head to the side, studying me. “You want me to let you live?”
I nod desperately, unable to speak through my tears.
He licks his lips, his gaze roaming over my body in a way that makes my skin crawl. “Get on your knees and show me how much you want it.”
Oh God. No. No. No.
Slowly, I sink to my knees, my whole body shaking like a leaf. “Eddie, please,” I plead, my voice breaking as I try to reason with him. “We can work this out. I’ll do whatever you want, just—”
His fist connects with my face before I can finish, the impact knocking me backward onto the floor. Pain explodes behind my left eye, and for a moment, everything goes black.
When my vision clears, Eddie is standing over me, unbuckling his belt, the gun still in his other hand.
“This is what happens to bitches who try to leave me,” he growls. “You’re mine, Savannah. You’ll always be mine.”
He takes a menacing step toward me, then suddenly drops to his knees, a look of surprise crossing his face before he falls flat on his face next to me.
My eyes dart up, landing on my guardian angel.
Cleo.
She’s standing behind Eddie, her chest heaving, eyes wild with rage, a broken lamp clutched in her hands.
“Are you okay?” she asks, dropping the lamp and rushing to my side.
I stare at Eddie’s crumpled form, unable to process what just happened. “Is he dead?”
Cleo’s lip curls in disgust as she nudges Eddie’s motionless body with her stiletto. “I sure fucking hope so. If not, I’ll make sure my husband disappears his ass.”
She grabs me under my arms and pulls, and I stagger to my feet, every part of me hurting. Cleo’s eyes widen as she takes in my face. “Look what the fucker did!” she screeches, then stomps over on her stilettos and jams a pointy heel right into Eddie’s groin. He groans but doesn’t wake up.
“Do you have a gun?” Cleo asks, her eyes hard as steel.
I blink at her, my brain struggling to keep up. “Uh, I don’t know if we do.”
“I’ll kill this motherfucker myself,” she growls, looking around the room.
I grab her arm, suddenly terrified. “No. Please. We need to go before he wakes up.”
Cleo cups my face gently, mindful of my injuries. “Babe. You’re an ol’ lady now. We don’t run.” She looks around the kitchen, her expression determined. “Find something we can tie him up with.”
“What?” She’s out of her mind. Tie him up? No. We need to run far away from here.
“Never mind. I’ll find something.” She waves me off. “Go put some clothes on.”
I look down, suddenly remembering I’m standing here in nothing but my underwear. “Right.”
Stumbling down the hallway to the bedroom, I grab a pair of sweatpants Aaron bought me at the store and pull them on. I add one of his t-shirts, the familiar scent of him offering a small comfort.
When I make it back to the kitchen, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Eddie is on his belly with his hands and feet tied behind his back. “How did you—” I realize she’s hog-tied him with a long orange extension cord.
My brows snap together. “Where did you find that?”
“Never mind that. He ain’t gettin’ away is all that matters.”
Thank the gods for that. But still… “Now what?”
“Now,” Cleo says with a grim smile, “we call in reinforcements.”
I watch in a haze as she pulls her cell phone from her bra and punches in a number. “Yukon? Hey, it’s Cleo. I have a situation.”
I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep it together as Cleo explains what happened with Eddie to the club’s enforcer. My face throbs where the bastard hit me, and I can feel my left eye starting to swell.
“Rambler’s ol’ lady.” She meets my eyes. “Yeah, that’s right. Her psycho ex was here.” A pause. “Oh, he’s still breathing, but I hope you can remedy that.” Another pause. “Address? I don’t know. It’s Rambler’s place. Out by Murphy’s Creek.” She nods. “We’ll be waiting.”
She hangs up and moves to my side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “The cavalry’s on the way, sweetie.”
Less than fifteen minutes later, the rumble of motorcycles vibrates the windows. Then suddenly the door bursts open, and Aaron rushes in, his eyes wild with panic. He scans the room until he finds me, then crosses the space in three strides.