CHAPTER FOUR
Ace
Two Weeks Later
“You sure you wanna do this?” I question Violet as we stand outside her trailer. She brought me out a drink to where I’m parked in her driveway. Like I am every other night.
She nods. “I go back to work in two days, and I really want to feel safe when I go there. Trust me, I know this isn’t a fix-all, Anthony, but it’ll make me feel better.”
“You know I’ll do whatever it takes to make you feel safe, and if showing you how to fire a gun is going to do that, it’s what we’ll do.”
I’ve tried to be accommodating with things she’s needed, and I completely agree with this request of hers. I believe more than anything, she should be able to protect herself, and if I can help her with that, I’m going to do it. The small can of pepper spray she carries can buy her some time if it ever came to that, but a gun? It could save her life if push came to shove.
“Can’t we do it here?” she asks, even as she’s getting into my truck.
I shake my head as I start the engine. “Not here, there’s too many variables I can’t control. If we go to a shooting range, I can make sure you learn how to do it right and have all the tools you need within reach.”
She’s quiet and I get the feeling she isn’t being completely honest with me. “What’s really bothering you? Is it going back to work?”
“Will everyone be staring at me? Whispering about what happened to me? That’s my biggest fear about going back to work. Will people look at me with pity in their eyes, Anthony?” She pushes back her dark hair, her eyes cutting over to me across the seat. “I don’t know if I can take it. Everywhere I’ve been, people have looked at me with pity in their eyes.” She licks her lips. “Everyone but you. You’ve never looked at me like you could fix me, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”
“You’re not broken, Violet. There’s nothing to fix.” I reach over and grab her hand, entwining our fingers together. When I come to a stop sign, I let my eyes drink in the sight of her, see her face for the first time in weeks without the mar of bruises and the tightness of tension.
The shaky breath she pushes between her lips is the only sound in the cab of the truck. “Thank you,” she whispers, silent tears slipping down her cheeks.
Reaching over, I use my thumb to wipe up the moisture. If I could give this woman anything, it would be my vision of how I see her. She doesn’t understand what a strong person she is. How she’s handled what’s been given to her is nothing short of extraordinary. “No thanks necessary. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you see what an amazing woman you are.”
“I’m not amazing.” She keeps her head down, averting my eyes.
Trailing my thumb down her cheek, I sweep it under her chin, tilting it to force her to look at me. “You’re everything, and I won’t stop until you realize it.”
Realization of what she’s doing flairs in those eyes of hers, and I think for the first time, I’m getting through. “Please don’t stop. Give me hope, Anthony.”
“You got it.” I lean over, kissing her on the cheek.
One small peck holds our past, our future, and everything in between. Her brown eyes are locked on my green ones, and in this moment, we’re on the same wave-length.
The honk of a car horn behind us breaks the moment, but as I continue to the shooting range, I know this has been a game-changer. After everything she’s been through, Violet trusts me.
I’ll never betray it or abuse it, but I damn well will nurture it. And if she lets me, I’ll turn it into the most passionate love she’s ever experienced. I’ve waited to meet her my whole life, and I’ll be damned if I let the damage of the man before me wreck what could become the best thing either of us have ever had. I’ve been patient, I’ll continue to be patient and I’ll put in the time, because she’s worth every bit of the effort.
* * *
“Keep your form tight,” I tell her as I stand behind her.
“Like this?” she asks as she widens her stance, holding the gun in front of her with both hands.
“Is it okay if I show you?”
Glancing over her shoulder, she nods. “I want to know how to do this correctly. I’m good with pepper spray, but I’d like to have more than that to save me if I need it.”
If I have anything to say about it, she’ll never have to worry about protecting herself again; that’ll be my job. Stepping up close behind her, I tuck her back into my front. Awareness flashes through my body at holding her for the first time. I’ve wanted to hold her in a million ways since the day she came home from the hospital. If this is the only way she’ll let me, I’ll take it.
I extend my arms alongside hers, leveling her arms and adjusting her grip on the gun. After I guide her left hand to cradle the butt of the gun, I place her pointer finger alongside the trigger.
I lean in close, trying to ignore the way our bodies fit together. If this had been any other woman, at any other time, I’d press myself completely against her, let her feel the way I react, but I don’t want to scare her, and she’s tense enough. “Relax. You’re too tense, you’ll be sore tomorrow if you don’t take a breath and loosen up.” My voice is quiet, tone is level. “Relax, line up your sights, and focus on your target. When you’re ready, move your finger on to the trigger. Take a deep breath and slowly pull. You need to get a feel for how the gun fires.”
She pulls the trigger, staggering when the recoil forces her to lose a bit of her stance. Holding her up, I help brace her body as she adjusts her stance and arms and continues to fire until she empties the revolver we’re shooting.
“Wanna go again?” I ask, raising my voice so she can hear me above the ear protection. We’re alone in the range, having picked a time when I knew hardly anyone else would be around.
“Yeah, this time by myself. I get what you’re saying about relaxing, yet being strong.”
Taking the revolver she set down, I show her how to load the chambers. Placing it back down, I give her a nod. “It’s all yours.”
I step back, watching her as she assumes the position, lines up her shot, and fires. Her aim isn’t completely accurate, but she’s shooting well enough to injure someone if she needed to. When she empties again, she looks over her shoulder to me.
“It’s not perfect,” she worries her lip between her teeth.
“No, but no one ever starts out perfect. It’s just like anything else, you have to practice. Once you practice enough it’s muscle memory and you won’t have to even think about it. We started you out with a lower caliber gun, and when you’re ready, we can practice on something bigger. The most important part is being able to accurately shoot whatever gun you have.”
Her brain is working, I can almost see it as she nods. “Do I have to be with you to come here?”
“No, but it helps to have your concealed carry license to rent a firearm and buy ammunition. Plus you’ll be able to carry. We can work on getting it, and then you’ll be able to do this whenever you want to.”
“Good.” She carefully lays the gun down and takes a step back. “This is what I want to do.” She runs her hands over the back of her jeans, and I try not to pay attention to how well they fit.
Clearing my throat, I start putting our stuff away. “Are you done for the day?”
“Yeah.” She gives me a smile. “Yeah, I think I am.”
Seeing the little bit of pride she has in herself warms a space within me. Since all this went down, she’s been a shell of the girl she was when I first walked into The Café, but today it seems as if she’s gotten a little of herself back. The spark that initially intrigued me, is back today. I’m not ready for us to leave one another, I’d like to spend more time with her.
“You hungry?”
“Starving.” Her voice is soft again. I’ve noticed it gets that way when she’s answering questions she may not be used to being asked.
“Then let’s go get some lunch.”
We’re leaving the range when she grabs my hand, pulling me to a stop.
“Not at The Café, right?”
Even though that was exactly where we were going, I cover it well. “No, we’ll go to my house if that’s okay with you.”
Again she shows an amazing trust in me. “Sure, sounds good.”
And now I have to figure out what the fuck I’m going to feed both of us.
Violet
“I know you weren’t planning on feeding me and you probably did think of going to the Café, so thank you for not making a big deal out of it,” I speak around the grilled chicken I have in my mouth.
Ace had covered it well when I asked him if we had to go to the scene of the crime, so to speak. But when we got here, I could tell he hadn’t been planning on feeding me. We’ve done a good job as a team, though. He grabbed some chicken out of the fridge, grilling it to perfection with homemade barbecue sauce on it, while I found some sides to go along with it in his cupboards.
He laughs as I call him out.
“Guilty as charged. To tell you the truth, you’re dealing with everything so well, I didn’t even think about it.”
“You think I’m dealing with things well?” I take a drink of the best sweet tea that’s ever been placed in front of me. When I’d asked him who made it, he’d said his mom with a wink and a smile. By the end of the lunch, I have a feeling I’m going to be trying to figure out how the hell to get her to make me a week’s supply at a time.
“Hell yeah.” He takes a bite of his baked potato, blowing out a breath. “Damn, that’s hot.”
It’s comical, him trying to get a drink without spilling it down the front of his shirt, and a giggle breaks its way past my throat. It feels like forever since I’ve had any cause to laugh, but it feels good. Anthony Bailey gives me hope that things in my life can be different.
For a moment, I let my brain drift back to us at the range, his body pressed up against mine. It had taken everything I had not to show how it affected me, how my hands shook, how my heart pounded, and my breath hitched. I’d done my best to keep it friendly, but one day, that things in my life will be different. One day I’ll know what it’s like to settle in his arms, and not have to pretend like it doesn’t affect me.
“Anyway. I’m proud of you.” He finally swallows, giving me his attention and directing mine back to him. “You’re getting out of your house, even if I have to drag you out. You’re facing things head-on. That would be a problem if you weren’t. But you’re taking things at your own pace.”
I give a little nod, showing I’m accepting the praise, and just maybe I’m a little proud of myself.