Davis

THE ENGINE OF THE TRUCK screams as I punch the accelerator and pass two semis.  I’m on the wrong side of the road heading to Lubbock, but I don’t care.  All I care about is her.

When my phone rings a part of me hopes it’s her, that I was wrong and she’s back at the drill site.

Please let that be the truth.

Looking at the rectangular monitor in the dash though, I see it’s Aunt Becky. I need to talk to her, too, so I hit accept. Even in my crazed state, I need to wrap up a few details I started with her late last night.

Before my life upended.  Before I realized that everything in my life hinged upon a future that included Dahlia.

And that she was gone.

When I got back to the cabin around three AM, it was empty. I spent the next hour figuring out where she lived from some emails and her father’s rather high-profile name.  Then I had to make some phone calls to the company.  Get a new boss up and running to handle things while I was gone.  Tank rose to the challenge, and I was on the road.  I’ve got to find her and I’m sure it’s that piece of shit of a father that came and ripped her from my life.

“Hello.”  I keep my tone as even as I can while swerving back into the correct lane and pushing the truck to near ninety.

“Hi.”  Her chipper tone reminds me that, as of last night when we spoke, all she knew was I had found my ‘one’, and her call to offer me half the family land and the old creek house in exchange for helping her out a bit more.  At the time that was the biggest thing on my mind. 

“Hey, Beck, how you doing?”

“Okay, so we have a deal then?  So funny how things happen.  You calling me right when I was getting ready to call you.  I’ve got all the paperwork in order here, Davis. Just need you to come and sign and I can’t say thank you enough for taking this on.  I never wanted to be a burden to anyone.”

“Stop.”  I soften.  “You are not a burden, Aunt Beck.  I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Before her call, I wasn’t certain what I was going to do.  I knew I needed Dahlia in my life, but I also knew my life on the road wasn’t going to make the sort of life she deserved.  Then I had a brainwave, called Beck and the pieces fell into place.  But now, the only thing I can think about is finding Dahlia and making her safe.

“Well, you just let me know when you can be here.  I’ve put a call into the agency and they will send over some full time live in candidates for me, but, well, I don’t know, Davis. I’m just going to have such a hard time trusting a stranger to move in and help me. This is so hard.  I need your level head and another set of hands until I get all these arrangements made.  I’m so sorry, it’s hard being like this. Not able to take care of myself anymore.”

“Beck, we will work it out. But right now, I’ve got a couple urgent issues that have come up. So I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.  You okay for now?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine.  Just going to take it easy.  Louise from my bridge club is going to stay with me for a couple days.”

“Great. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Thanks, Davis.  I’m so thankful to have you.”

We click off with a quick goodbye and I’m coming up on the Lubbock exit that will take me to Dahlia’s father’s house.

And right now I’m ready for anything.

WHEN I SLAM ON MY BRAKES and throw the truck into park at the door to the house, I’m itching to rip flesh from bone, if only to settle my stomach.  I hope Dahlia is here.  It’s the address I found for her father, but this place is more castle than home.

I’m on the closest door and I don’t knock.  I can’t afford to give them any sort of warning.  I try the handle but it’s locked.

I work my way around the back of the house.  There are windows everywhere, but I have no way of knowing I’m even in the right place for sure.  It’s early morning, the sun is just starting to heat up the day, but my heart is racing and I’m sweating already.

I’m half crazed by the time I stomp through some bushes and come to a stone patio and a wide expanse of windows.  Another door here leads into the house, but I’m starting to question myself.  What if this isn’t her house?  Then what?  I don’t know where to go next and if I don’t find her, I’m going to lose my mind.

I come up next to the windows and blood rushes in my ears.

There she is. Sitting on the counter of a center island in a kitchen.  Her head is hanging low and there’s a woman with her, speaking to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.  But there is sadness in her eyes, too.  How many people has Dahlia’s father upset?

I don’t wait, I crack my knuckles against the window, shaking it in its frame, and Dahlia and the other woman’s heads both snap around.  I point to the door with a nod.

“Now!  Open this door!”  I shout, not caring who hears.  She’s in there and that’s where I need to be.

Dahlia’s off the counter and at the door in a flash.

“What are you doing here?”

“What the fuck do you think?” 

I lean down and kiss her hard, holding her head between my hands before tucking her under my arm, much the same way I did at the coffee shop that first day.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

We enter the kitchen and the woman standing there doesn’t seem surprised.  In fact, she smiles at me and folds her arms over her chest, not saying a word.

“Well, I am here and we are leaving.”

“No, I can’t go.”  She stops, pushing gently away from me.

“Oh yes you can.  Now, Dahlia.  You’re coming with me.  I’ll buy you whatever you need.  It may not be the same life you’ve had, but it will be our life. And I’ll give you everything I can.”

“No, it’s not that, I don’t care about that.  I don’t care about stuff.” She turns her head to the woman, then back to me. But before she can say anything else, a man comes thundering into the kitchen.

“Who the hell are you?”  He stomps forward, but then stops sharp when I step toward him and move Dahlia behind my back.

“I’m Dahlia’s fiancé.”

“What?”  I hear her exclaim from behind me, but I just wrap a hand backward and touch her gently, signaling for her to stay put.

He laughs, then turns to the dark haired woman.  “Did I not tell you not to let her out of her room?”

“She’s not a prisoner.”  The woman snaps.  “You may think you’re her warden but you are supposed to be her father!”

I like her already.

“Yeah.”  Dahlia pokes her head out from behind me, jabbing a finger in her father’s direction, but I sidestep and keep her out of his line of sight.

“Doesn’t matter.  Dahlia’s leaving with me.  Now.  End of discussion.”

I turn, ready to spirit her away, but she looks up and pushes at my chest.

“No.”  She says, but I see the conflict in her.

“Yes.”  I command, taking her hand.  But she tugs it away.

“Davis, I have to stay.”  Her eyes glaze over and something is different. 

“Dahlia has a fiancé.  And you are not him.”  Her father puts his phone to his ear, then begins to speak.  “You are needed in the kitchen. Both of you, bring your weapons, there’s an intruder.”

“Stop.”  The woman interrupts.  “Dahlia, go with him.  Go.” She urges, shooing us with her hands.  “Hurry.”

“She’s not going.”  Her father smirks.  “Are you, Dahlia?  Wouldn’t leave your beloved Sylvia to be sent back home after all these years.  I’ve got I.N.S. right here on speed dial, Dahlia, it’s up to you.”

“What is going on?”  I spin Dahlia to face me, then give her father a glare that keeps him in his place.

She hesitates, but then the truth spills from her mouth.  “If I go with you, he’s going to turn Sylvia in.  They’ll deport her.  I can’t do that to her.”

I turn and step toward her father, then glance back at the woman, Sylvia.  Her eyes have gone wide, clearly she didn’t know anything about this.

“Sweet,” she says.  “Please, you need to go live your life. And besides...”  Her tone sharpens and she smiles over at Dahlia’s father.  “I’m sure I have some information that the Petrovs need.  If I remember correctly,” she examines her fingernails for a long moment before continuing, looking directly at Dahlia’s father.  “Section six, item four in your contract with the Petrovs read, ‘Subject Dahlia Summer Ferrell will be certified by a physician on the day of her wedding to be intact and a virgin.  If in fact the subject is found to have lost her virginity, this contract is null and void.”

The room falls silent as the woman sighs heavily, smiling at each of us.

Two enormous security guards appear in the doorway behind Dahlia’s father, but he holds his hand up to still them.

There is a long loud silence as we consider each other.  I want to snap his neck with my bare hands but that will only delay the other thought that obsessively invades my mind.

When her father finally looks at the floor, I shift my gaze to Dahlia and make a decision for us all.

“Let’s go.”  I grab Dahlia’s hand, then look over at Sylvia.  “You, too.  Get whatever you need.”  I nod at her and her eyes sparkle.  “We’re going home.”