Adara alternated between floating on a blissful cloud and sinking into purgatory as she slid onto the passenger seat. The trunk-full of purchases represented maps to heaven and hell. Still, she couldn’t wipe the dreamy smile from her face after Julien’s public declaration of his feelings. He had granted her many firsts.
After the ups and downs of shopping, she’d never been so glad to go to work. Familiar routine would settle her nerves.
“Thanks for accepting my choices, Adara.”
In the boutique, Julien had ignored her near nakedness and commented intelligently on each selection she modeled. He discussed not just style but fit and color, always mindful of her physical comfort. She now had a new wardrobe, including thick strings that he called thongs. Fresh air blasted her face when she opened the passenger window in an effort to cool her face.
Thoughts of returning to her uncle’s house and retrieving her old clothes had instigated several nightmares. Now, she was free of them. The few possessions still there weren’t worth the confrontation.
“Thank you for the new wardrobe.” She’d chosen the least revealing shirt and comfortable slacks to wear despite the knit top molding to her skin.
The Crofton firm sprawled on a large, private lot surrounded on three sides by native pines, firs, and hardy oak. Though none other than co-workers would see her dressed so provocatively, the radical changes in her life warranted introspection. She was thankful for the quiet.
The low rumble in Julien’s chest brought her gaze to see his expression harden as they rounded the curve into the parking lot. Nika’s response picked up where Julien’s left off as she lunged forward between the seats, her snarling and barking filling the air. When the car stopped, she surged forward with front paws on the center console. Her upper lip curled back to expose gleaming white teeth.
The sudden chill spreading through her belly accompanied the immediate, reflexive abdominal tightening she couldn’t control.
Infuriated expressions on Tony and Gary’s faces left no room for doubt of their intentions. Each leaned against her car smoking a cigarette.
Julien issued Nika a protect command with his gaze never leaving his quarry. A feral gleam portrayed anticipation of the confrontation to come.
“Uncle and cousin, I presume. I’ve been looking forward to asking them a few questions.” Julien cut the engine and dropped the keys in her hand.
“Um, yes. And they look mad as hell.” Tears fell as she envisioned the dirty fight favored by her family. Julien was ex-Special Forces, but her uncle and cousin were both muscular and determined, if not nearly as tall. “Oh, God.” Nika nuzzled her shoulder.
“Adara. Look. At. Me.”
His voice whipped her gaze around to face him. “Please. Can we just drive away?”
“Adara. We are going into work. You are of age to come and go as you please. They have no legal hold over you. Do you still want your freedom?”
“Yes.” She had no doubts.
“Answer this one question before we get out. Do you want to stay with me?”
“What? Oh, yes. God, yes I do. More than anything.”
He cupped her cheek before running the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. “God, you are so damn beautiful. I’m the luckiest man alive.”
Julien got out and ambled around to her side to open her door, never taking his gaze off the two men. Road traffic remained light, the parking lot with only a handful of cars. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.” The last word came out with a sneer.
A snarl emanated from her cousin.
The building’s thick plate-glass front wall revealed Nate standing in front of the double doors and watching the scene unfold. Feet spread shoulder-width apart and hands behind his back, he was no less alert than a crouched tiger.
A sense of impending doom hung like a low cloud waiting to rain equal amounts of shame and contempt to forever stain her spirit with its filthy patina while Julien’s offered hand equaled a gateway to everything she’d wanted, the strength to stand on her own.
A slight squeak of the seat signaled Nika jumping out to stand beside her.
The two hulks pushed off her Civic then stalked forward and smiled when Julien stepped to block their path.
Scant yards separated a past terror and the relative safety of Julien’s car. With a few steps forward, Nika angled her body to stand between Adara and the perceived threat.
Both men stopped when Adara rested her hand on the dog’s head. “Easy, girl. Lunch isn’t served…yet.”
“Adara. Get in my car now, girl. You’re in enough trouble as it is. And since when do you dress like a filthy whore? Where did you get those clothes? And where have you been? We’ve been looking all over for you.”
In his late forties, her uncle was well built, the scar above his right eye a reminder of his penchant for fighting. His face resembled a semi—square, hard, and cold. Her cousin took after his father in appearance as his narrowed eyes assessed his opponent.
“Adara is staying with me now, guys. You have no hold on her and as such will not be issuing orders any longer. Also, she’ll be speaking with my lawyer shortly, so you won’t have access to her money either.”
“Adara!” her uncle bellowed. “I haven’t raised you all these years to be cut off now. You owe me, girl. Come here!”
Bulging eyes above crimson jowls dominated the bull-like features. A muscle in Tony’s jaw twitched as he ground his teeth. Fists at his sides clenched and unclenched. Harsh breathing labored through his rage.
Adara’s hand tightened in Nika’s fur. “No! You just see me as someone to beat and…no! Just no. I won’t. You’re both sadistic perverts who just want to hurt those that are weaker.” She’d never seen him so angry unless drunk, which always preceded severe punishment.
“So you want to take up with him?” Quiet until now, Gary swung his full attention to Julien, an incredulous smile widening. “You don’t know who he is. We’ve only given you a taste of what he’ll do.”
Adara sneered before answering. “I know exactly who he is. I’ve been here six months and seen him with all kinds of people. He does nothing but help them, not hurt them.”
Turning to her protector, Adara was surprised to see the long blink and flash of uncertainty. “Julien?”
“Adara.” Julien’s voice calm, even. “I only want to help you.”
The sun hadn’t climbed to its highest point of the day—her uncle should be somewhat sober, but without getting closer, she couldn’t tell. In the back of her mind she felt doubts rising. She’d always obeyed. If not, matters got out of hand.
Years of conditioning made her sidle away from Nika. If she didn’t go with them, they would hurt Julien. She always did as they commanded, always. Like a robot, she inched farther sideways. Nika moved to block her path. Julien’s voice snapped her back to the present.
“Adara. Do. You. Trust. Me?”
Through her tears, she looked at his profile, knowing he wanted to protect her. “Yes, Julien. I do, but I don’t want to see you hurt.” She prayed he’d escape injury in the moments to come.
“Do you want to stay with me?” His voice carried strong in the morning stillness.
“Yes, Julien. I want to live with you.”