Chapter 15
Abigail
HOME. THAT’S WHAT IT FEELS like in my heart, that I finally found home, that I’m finally where I’m supposed to be.
After Tanner made love to me again on the floor, this time less frantic, and more slow and sweet—a reaffirmation of our love for each other, that we’re going to be okay—we both go up and redressed, touching, caressing each other as much as possible.
Tanner and I talked and we both agreed, I won’t run. I will stay here and fight with him by my side. I am going to trust Tanner to protect me from Brandon. And I do, I trust him more than anything. Tanner is everything that Brandon is not. Tanner is good and kind, honest to a fault and strong. Where Brandon is mean and cruel and weak.
“Lock this door behind me and do not open it for anyone but me,” he said as he clipped his duty belt back around his waist. It’s as if a different persona takes over when he clips the Sig Sauer P226 to his belt. This formidable man is a Texas Ranger and he is not to be messed with. This is a glimpse at the Marine. This is my warrior.
“I will, I promise,” I tell him. Tanner kisses me hard on the mouth and it’s over before I want it to be. I will never get enough of Tanner Savage.
I watch him walk out the door before locking it behind him. With Brandon out there somewhere, I can’t be too careful. I decide to pick up the mess I made when trying to find my go bag to get out of here when there is a knock at the door. I smile to myself. Tanner must have forgotten something. I pull open the door and the smile slides right off my face.
Unfortunately, it was a decision that would cost me everything, even my life.
For the rest of my life I had thought that I would hear those church bells on the day that I died. That is until Brandon walked into my life. After we were married, I had often questioned whether I would hear church bells or hell’s bells on the day that I died.
Today I know for sure.
Yes, today all of my questions on life and love and fairness were answered when I opened the front door to Tanner’s home and realized that a demon stood on the front steps. A demon who took not only my person, but my hopes and dreams and crushed them under his boot heels.
I should have known only princesses get happily ever afters with men who are kind and sweet and strong like Tanner—a man I could love for all of my days and would love me back unconditionally. Former strippers from the trailer park do not.
It’s only been about twenty minutes since Tanner left, he must have remembered something halfway to the station.
“Hello, wife,” he sneers. “Miss me?”
“No!” I shout as I try and slam the door closed but he blocks it, shoving me back into the house and he follows. His fist connecting with the side of my head, making me see stars.
I fall to the ground, curling in on myself. This is the drill I know by heart. This is how to survive what is to come . . . hopefully survive. Brandon lands kick after kick to my back and side.
“I watched you, you know,” he screams. “I saw you every time you got on your back and spread your legs for him. Imagine how surprised I was to find out that after my sweet wife poisoned me and left me for dead, I finally find her and she’s whoring herself out for a fucking cop!”
I never stood a chance against him before, trying to overpower him now would be pointless. My only hope now is to buy enough time until Tanner gets back.
Brandon grabs me by my ponytail and yanks. I have to wrap my hands around his at my hair to keep him from pulling it all out as he drags me into the kitchen, throwing me down on the cold, tile floor.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” he spits.
“I love him,” I say with confidence, as I look him directly in his cold, dead eyes.
“You belong to me!” my husband shouts as he backhands me across the face.
“I belong to no one,” I say, my voice clear as a bell but he hits me again.
It doesn’t take my husband long to best me. His lips move as he speaks but all I see is movement. It’s kind of like when a parent talks in one of those old cartoons all “whomp, whomp, whomp.” He pauses as if he’s asked me a question, but I wasn’t listening. I just nod from where I kneel in front of him. My body bruised and bloody. He holds a gun to my bowed head and I know there is no escape this time. Not so long ago, I made a deal with the devil and now he’s here to collect.
When the gunshot echoes through the dark room, I know that I was wrong all those years ago. It wasn’t church bells I would hear on the day that I died, it was hell’s bells because the demon had come to drag me straight back to hell. My only regret is having married him six years ago.
I close my eyes and bow my head as I wait for death to take me. Three more shots echo through the room and tears stream down my cheeks. There is no pain. Only darkness.
“Abby,” Tanner shouts as someone shakes me. “Abby. Abby, baby, open your eyes for me. I need to see your eyes,” he pleads.
I slowly blink them open and there he is, as beautiful as always, “Tanner?” I ask. “You came back for me.”
“I did, honey,” he says as cops swarm the house. “I’m so sorry he hurt you. I was halfway to the station when I got a call that they had seen him in the area.”
“Did he get away?” I ask feeling confused.
“No, honey, he’s dead. He can never hurt you or anyone else again.”
“He’s dead?” I ask needing to be reassured.
“Yeah, darlin’, he’s well and truly dead.”
“I’m free,” I whisper looking up into Tanner’s bright hazel eyes. “I love you, Tanner.”
“I love you too, baby,” he says. “Everything’s going to be alright now.” And then he folds me into his arms as I cry my tears of joy. Tanner held me the entire time.