“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours, chérie?”
T-Rex’s voice brought her eyes up to meet his, stunning her into responding without thinking. Later she’d kick herself.
“Davis will have an alibi. The other truck will be just that, a truck on the road. You have no proof it was anywhere near here. If we do report it, they’ll claim harassment, making them look like the victims. Trust me, they know how to work the system.”
“You sound as if you know from experience.” He folded his big arms over his chest, waiting for her to fill in the blanks.
Lux ignored his words as she handed a tissue to Nora, shaking her head as the other woman blew her nose loudly and very unladylike. Which was such a relief to hear come from the girl who’d been prim and proper back in high school.
“I should be going,” Nora said. Her red-rimmed eyes looked ready to start leaking again.
“You planning on going home where Davis probably knows where you live, not to mention he probably has access to the property?” Ember growled.
A little grin flitted at her lips hearing one of her partners at Twisted Ink sound more than a little possessive. Hell, she was sure Ember would be the last single man standing at Tymber’s nuptials. Shit, she’d have bet he would be single until he was old and gray with a bevy of willing young girls still crawling to do anything he asked them to do. However, since Nora walked through the front door of their shop, Ember was more than just a little interested. She only hoped her buddy could deal with going slow, since she had a feeling Nora had some baggage to work through.
“I got a great idea, and hear me out before you shoot me down, Nora. Ember has a huge house with what, four bedrooms, all with their own ensuite right? Why don’t you go home with him? I can promise you that dickfuck Davis would never think to look for you there. Plus, there’s a huge bonus, and no, Ember, I’m not talking about your package because I’ve never seen it, nor do I plan to—ever. However, his house is like a freaking fortress.” Which was the truth since he’d bought the place from one of their clients who wanted to unload it after an unpleasant situation that made it impossible for the man’s ole’ lady to stay there. Again, she didn’t ask questions, only knew that Ember had swooped in and bought the beachfront property. It had amazing views while still boasting security that the freaking president could come and chill for a night or two without fear. She personally loved the house, but then again, she loved the beach.
“Oh, I couldn’t,” Nora began.
Ember held his hand up. “No, that’s the perfect plan. Besides, I’m just rattling around in the big place all alone. You’d be doing me a favor if you come and stay with me.”
Lux turned away on the pretense she needed to grab something, not wanting Nora to see the way her eyes were lit up. She could never play poker and win, not with the way her eyes were always sure to give her away, or that’s what she’d been told. Once she was sure she could control the snort and watering eyes, she took a deep breath before facing the group again. “I agree with Ember. Besides, if you decide you want to leave, he’s the very last man who would hold you against your will. Trust me on that.”
NORA LICKED HER LIPS, feeling her heart hammering against her chest. God how she wanted to jump up and down and say yes, god yes, take me. Good girls did not run into the arms of a stranger. They certainly didn’t want to climb said sexy, tattooed, biker looking stranger who seemed like they could tie you up and spank you, then make you scream their name all night long. And still they’d make you beg for more. But she wasn’t a good girl, not anymore. Fuck, she’d never really been what society tried to mold her into. Oh, she’d tried, dear god had she tried.
She could see her mother, clutching her pearls if she saw Nora, standing in the middle of a tattoo shop with a half sleeve tattoo, wearing skinny jeans and a T-shirt. Thinking of the woman who should’ve had her back, should’ve been there, on her side with open arms and an open door made her angry.
Nora bit the side of her cheek to stem the useless tears. Fuck them all. When she’d walked out of the home she’d shared with Davis, both of her parents had given her an ultimatum. Return to the man she married and drop the charges before she mars the pristine reputations of an upstanding family. When she’d cried, showing them the marks, the evidence of his abuse, they’d turned away from her.
She’d done as they’d told her to do, going back to the abuser. A month later, she lay in the hospital, cold, colder than she’d ever been and alone. Why had she been sure they’d support her? Not that she needed them financially, nor did she want their money, but emotionally she’d expected their love and loyalty. She’d learned that wasn’t going to happen.
“Can you tell us what we’d be facing, Nora? I know your family is very close, and well, your mom and dad were always very disapproving of those not of their ilk,” Lux said, shrugging her shoulders.
Nora thought of the moment her reality shifted and the truth had hit her. She was laying in the hospital, staring at the stark walls, listening to the hum of machines with her only comfort a steady beep of her monitor. She shut her eyes, her hand going to her stomach. “You don’t have to worry about them. When I left Davis for the last time two years ago, they gave me another ultimatum. I chose me and my happiness over their or else shit. I honestly thought they’d come around. You know, they were my parents and all. When I ended up in the hospital after...well, after Davis’s last attempt on my life, I called them from my room. I didn’t have my cell or anything.” She had to take a breath before she could continue. Fuck, it was hard remembering without breaking down.
She couldn’t look at Ember while she spoke. Hell, she wasn’t sure he’d still want her to stay with him once he heard about her family disowning her. Well, better to find out from the jump.
“On the second day I was there, the door to my hospital room opened. I’d already informed the nurses and other staff that my soon to be ex-spouse wasn’t allowed in to see me. The murdering bastard belonged in jail, but he was out on bail. You know, money talks, lets fuckers walk. He was living life as if nothing had happened. When Mother entered with her two-thousand-dollar heels clicking on the hospital tile, I tried to put on a brave face. My eyes were watering, my heart pounding, and foolish me, I was hoping they’d come for me. She swept in like royalty, followed by my father. I held out my hand.” Nora pictured the scene in her mind, reliving the same need she’d had then, just wanting someone to comfort her.
“You don’t have to tell us anymore, Nora,” Lux offered.
Nora shook her head, dropping her hand. “I have many regrets, but I wish I could go back and order the staff to keep all visitors out. My hand went untouched by either of them that day. I ended up dropping it because I got tired of holding it up. My mother made a harumph sound when my stupid chin had wobbled. I fought really hard not to cry, but dammit, I was hurting. It wasn’t only from the physical abuse, but emotionally. Old Father Dear had sighed and turned from me as if I was a disgrace and paced to the window. And then my mother... she told me these things happen and that I needed to buck up and be a better wife.”