Safest With You

Chapter 1

ONE

Brandy Davenport

FOUR DAYS. FIVE SESSIONS. Relaxation. Four days. Five sessions. Relaxation.

The mantra played in my head repeatedly as I led my final yoga session for the day. I was set to host my Mind, Body, and Wellness retreat this weekend in Puerto Rico. I tried to host the retreat on islands that were U.S. territories so more of my clients could attend.

Most of them didn’t have passports and could barely afford to keep up with their payments for their sessions, so I made sure to give them notice, created a payment plan, and worked out all the arrangements for us to have a great time with as little stress as possible.

And for the most part, my clients always participated.

They loved to travel and who wouldn’t want to travel with ya girl?

Not to toot my own horn, but I made sure to accommodate well.

No stone was left unturned, and the praise, pictures, and videos always left more people interested and wanting to attend the next year.

As I wrapped up the session, I noticed someone walking in from the back.

Being as though this was a hot yoga session with dimmed lights, it wasn’t hard to miss the intrusion.

I instantly sucked my teeth and headed over to grab my towel to wipe my face.

I did so as slowly as I could because I couldn’t face the person heading my way without looking like a fool to everyone around me.

My stomach was in knots and I had to find a way to control my breathing.

“Brandy, I can’t wait for this weekend. We’re meeting at the airport at five-thirty, right?” my client and best friend, Marsha, asked.

I was glad for the distraction. She knew how badly I didn’t want to have a conversation with the man close enough to clog our noses with his cologne. Stella turned on the lights and I was grateful for that. Now, there couldn’t be any surprises. I put my full attention back on Marsha’s question.

“Absolutely. I’ll be there a little earlier to make sure nobody takes up our little link up space.” I giggled and she did the same and patted me on the shoulder.

“It’s going to be so great. This is my first vacation since I had the twins four years ago. I can’t wait.”

“Oh yes, this is perfect for you indeed. We’re getting massages a couple hours after we arrive and maybe that’ll help you with that downward dog you were struggling with a little bit ago,” I teased.

She laughed then hugged me and began to say something as the intruder interrupted the conversation with their presence.

“Uh. We’re in the middle of a conversation. Can you please wait until everyone is gone to interrupt?” I asked in the softest voice possible.

“It’s imperative that we speak promptly,” he said. The harshness in his tone made Marsha’s head snap back. She and I locked eyes and I quickly shook my head so she wouldn’t snap on him.

“It’s okay, Brandy. We’ll have more than enough time to chat this weekend. I’ll see you in the morning,” Marsha replied.

My nostrils flared but I nodded and put on a smile as I hugged her then watched her trot away and grab her things along with the other girls. They all waved at me as they headed out and I did the same until the last person left.

Oh, how I wish one of them had stayed. There was usually at least one who would wait around to ask for tips to help them improve. I guess it was a good thing they hadn’t today but bad for me.

I stared at the one person I wished I wouldn’t see before this trip. That I wished I wouldn’t see ever again.

“Okay, they’re gone. What do you want? How’d you find me?”

“It’s time for you to bring your ass home, Brandy,” he said sharply.

“And why would I do that, Jeffrey? So you can toss me around some more?”

“That was a mistake.”

“A mistake that happened more than once. I’m good off that,” I replied.

I grabbed my duffel bag and bottle of water. My attempt to walk around him and leave failed miserably as he grabbed my arm. It was the softest he’d grabbed me in a long time.

I sighed as I halted my steps and tried my best not to turn around and swing on him. If I did, I was so sure my employees would find me lying in a pool of my own blood, either knocked out or dead.

“Let me go now,” I urged.

“Stop making this bigger than it has to be. I miss your little sexy ass. I need you home lil mama,” he said.

“Let me go. Please, Jeffrey,” I begged.

He huffed then let me go with a slight shove, like that would make me want to give him another chance. It only led me to believe there was no changing that temper and I refused to be abused.

Our marriage had once been beautiful. Date nights, fun around the house, and massages all went down the drain in the span of a year and turned into arguing, broken dishes and furniture, then being thrown into walls.

There was nothing Jeffrey could do or say to make me give him another chance. I’d filed for divorce and had been patiently waiting for him to give me what I wanted for over a year. Our marriage had lasted six miserable years.

The system made us attempt counseling and being separated for a year just to see if we can resolve our problems, since nobody believed that he put hands on me. I did that only to realize the attempt was BS and I didn’t need to proceed further, even though I had proof of his abuse.

Yet, he made every notion to prolong the divorce, arguing over assets and properties he could honestly have.

I didn’t need or want anything from him and our prenuptial agreement clearly showed him that from the beginning.

I failed to understand why he thought that had changed now.

Especially with him trying to grab me again.

“Come home, woman. All this damn running and shit got me searching for you. Stop playing with me. All this petty bullshit you on. I’m always gon’ find your pretty ass.”

“The only one playing is you,” I said as I snatched my arm away.

“Yeah, I fucked up, but I promise I’m getting my shit together. You tryna tell me you don’t miss me?”

“No, I don’t. Not at all.” I scoffed.

“You’re mine, Brandy. Always have been and always will be.”

“You want to bet that on your life?” I murmured under my breath as I walked away.

“What? You’re out here making threats?”

“If that’s how you want to take it. Just sign the damn papers and leave me the hell alone before I get the police involved again.”

He said something in response but I was too far away to care. I wasn’t about to stop my stride to acknowledge his banter. I wanted to get the hell away from him.

The one thing Jeffrey wouldn’t do was make a fool of himself in public and I used that to my advantage every time he found his way to me. I just hoped I could make it to my car fast enough.

He called out to me as I reached my car and I couldn’t get the door fully open before he slammed it shut. His huge steps with swift movements were always hard to track.

“Understand something and I’m going to make it very clear to you, Brandy. You will always be a Davenport. You will always belong to me and you will never get what you want. It doesn’t matter who you involve. You’re mine.”

“Please do me a solid and get the hell on, Jeffrey. The only person I belong to is God. Bye.”

“God can’t save you from me. Now bring your ass on before this turns into a show,” he warned as he grabbed my bicep and yanked me into his chest.

The air expelled from my lungs harshly when my body thudded into his. My groan only irritated him further. His eyes dared me to fight back and the defiance in mine let him know he would be getting his wish.

I pulled away from him as hard as I could, but his grip only slipped a little. I pulled once more, and his grip secured firmly, which caused my knees to buckle. I was losing feeling in my arm quickly and needed him away from me.

“Jeffrey, please let me go and move on. Why can’t you see this will never work?” I pleaded.

“You don’t get to say what will and won’t work. It’s ’til death do us part, sweetheart.”

He gave me a sinister smile then pushed me out of his face and into the driver’s door, which made me collapse to the ground. He pushed me so damn hard it caused me to dent my door.

He leaned over and grabbed my chin. He stared at me wickedly, hauntingly, and I was about ready to piss myself. Somehow that evil ass glare turned soft and the love he once had for me began to show. It made my stomach churn. This man was beyond delusion.

“I’ll be back in that soon, lil mama,” he said, then planted his lips on mine.

When I didn’t return the kiss, his fingers dug into my cheeks as he cuffed my chin, making my lips part.

He slid his tongue into my mouth and I shoved him then tried to pry his hand off my face.

That only pissed him off because his gun was now planted against my head.

His eyes were still closed as he pecked kisses on my lips.

He took the safety off and tears rolled down my face.

I conceded and kissed him back. I really didn’t want to die outside of my yoga studio today.

My gun was sitting in my glovebox and I was madder than hell that I didn’t have it on me this time.

I closed my eyes and tried to envision any sexy actor or singer, but it didn’t work. His tongue slid along mine and I knew if I bit down that would be it for me. I’d watched this man shoot a few people with the same evil glare he usually had on me.

After a moment, he pulled back and stood, and I quickly did the same. He chuckled like something was funny then swiped my cheek with his thumb followed by a wink. He stepped a bit closer to me and brought his lips to my ear.

His steady breath halted my body from doing anything at all, including breathing. My throat got tight and the hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention. I tried to gulp but it was hard and dusty. I needed to figure out a way out of this.

“Bring your ass on and this will all go smoothly. Fuck around and you’ll quickly remember who you’ve been running from. You got that shit, lil mama?”