2. Amber Jaymes
Chapter 2
Amber Jaymes
I was still reeling. What in hell had happened out there? How did he find me? Okay, I knew how he found me, but still. Why now? It’s been months since I left him.
My head was pounding, as was my heart, at the memory. I’d never felt fear as I had when he’d stepped out of that car. My stomach had dropped, panic unlike I’d ever felt clung to my every pore. Judging from the look in his eyes, he’d been there to kill me. I had no doubts he’d try again if he could.
I had my own plans, though. I was no longer the young, inexperienced, scared girl he’d tried to manipulate and change years ago. No, I, Amber Jaymes Daniels, was a badass bitch who could and would fight back. I just had to remind myself that I could.
I had help if I needed it; my brother would always come to my aid. Thankfully, he’d been relatively close earlier; he’d come in ready to tear down the world thanks to the small plastic box on my key ring. It was a panic button, yes, but not something I’d gotten for myself. My best weapon had been locked in my damn truck. Diesel, my 165-pound English Mastiff, had tried to get out. The damage he’d done to the passenger side of my truck’s inner door proved it. It wasn’t the first and I doubted it would be the last time it happened.
Thankfully, my brother’s overprotective need to make sure I was safe and covered in the event of an incident or accident saved me from going to jail when I’d decided to fight back. I was not letting Tom hurt me again. Granted, I’d been bruised and scraped up, but nothing like it could have been.
Now, I sit here, two days later, staring out at my backyard. My heart is hurting thanks to a man I swore would never hurt me again. I had to pull myself up, tighten my bootstraps, and get out of my own head.
I stood, stretching out my sore muscles. My throat hurt like hell, my voice still showing the strain of being choked along with my incessant screaming while working in the dojo. Oh, the rage that fool Tom brought up from the depths of my soul. I think my brother and Chipper had been ready to call an exorcist, but I’d had to burn it out. I think, deep down, my biggest problem was—is—that I let him get to me again. I let him break me down. I wasn’t the girl I used to be, and I needed to keep reminding myself of that.
“Diesel, heir !” He was at my side in an instant, ears pricked. I loved my big-eared, droopy-jowled savior. Even if he slobbered everywhere. I gave him a good scratch behind his ears before walking inside to grab my keys. “Let’s go to the shop. I need to fix my door.”
A woof filled the air when I snapped his collar around his neck. At home it wasn’t needed. I could control him with nothing more than my voice and hand signals. One thing the Daniels family did well was train dogs. My uncles only trained the best dogs. Breed wasn’t an issue with them. I swear, if werewolves were real, they’d have them heeling before they knew what was happening. I’d be okay with this, ‘cause I’ve seen the Underworld movies. I could handle a Lucian any day of the week. Yes, please and thank you.
The trip to the shop didn’t take long since I lived in my parents’ old house. As I pulled up to the shop, I couldn’t help but smile. My dad, James, unlike my uncles, Roger, Keith, and Elton, wanted to follow in my grandpa’s footsteps. James Daniels Sr. was a hard-laced man that ruled his home like a working machine. He took as much care with raising his boys as he did with the cars he worked on.
Daniels Service Center I’d bet money on it.
I grabbed my creeper and hustled out to the truck. It wouldn’t be the first one I had to tear apart in the parking lot.
“Seriously, you look like a Barbie doll. What do you know about working on a truck? You might break a nail,” he muttered.
I scowled. A Barbie doll, as if. “I can assure you, I know more than you do.” I walked to the back of the truck, dropped the creeper, stopping its movement with my booted foot.
The lone pump jingled behind me. I turned and smiled at the old Chevy parking. Old man Kramer slid out and waved at me.
“Gonna get ten dollars in my cans, AJ.”
“Yes, sir. Just drop the money in the box inside.”
“Sure thing. Where’s Diesel? Janey sent him a doggy treat. She made him a meat pie.”
I laughed. The big slobber monster walked across the lot at the sound of his name. The young guy took a few steps back, but old man Kramer greeted the big fur ball with ear scratches.
“Tell Mrs. Janey I said thank you. She’s helping Stella spoil him. Seriously, he gets enough to eat, I promise.”
“Never mind that. You know she’ll just do it anyway.”
“Fair enough…” I shook my head, laughter escaping my lips.
She would accompany that with a swat to my backside if I were close enough. That little woman was may be 4’11”, but her ‘size’ was nothing. That old lady had more balls than a bull on the closest ranch. She wasn’t afraid to tell anyone what she thought and how she got to the conclusion. I simply adored her. I could only strive to be her when I grew up.
With another shake of my head, I laid myself out on the creeper and slid under the truck. The faster I could get this sorted, the faster the jerk would be out of my hair.
Just as suspected, his fuel pump was toast. Thirty-five minutes after he’d pulled in, I was on the phone ordering what I needed. Two hours later, I smugly watched as the big buffoon climbed into his truck. The truck he’d said I didn’t know how to fix.
I deserved some cheesecake for keeping my cool and not breaking his jaw. With a nod to myself, I headed back inside the shop to clean up. It was time to get out of here.