CHAPTER 11 - CHANCE
I’d been working hard to get the piece finished, and after staying up all night, I’d finally pulled it off. I wrapped it up and boxed it, and was about to make my way out to mail the prosthetic before closing when my phone went off.
I figured it was Austin but was surprised to see the number for the diner. “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s Dream. Could you come to the diner, please? Nick’s in the parking lot. I know he’s waiting for me to come out. I’m scared to call the police because he’s one of them. He’d convinced people I’m crazy before, even my parents, he could do it again.” Her voice was breaking, and I got up and found my keys as I kept her on the phone.
“I’m on my way. I’ll come to the back, so be ready.” I hurried to the truck and continued talking. How long has he been there?”
“I saw him about ten minutes ago. It’s like he knew I was about to get off.”
I wondered if there was any way he could have seen a schedule, but he’d have had to have gotten into the diner for that. She did say he had his ways about him.
I pulled the gun from beneath my seat to be prepared. If he happened to see her, I knew he was packing heat as well. I wasn’t going to show up to a gun fight unprepared. My leg might be virtually indestructible, but I wasn’t.
When I’d dropped her off at Liza’s the afternoon before, I’d done it on the condition that she’d call me if she felt like she was in trouble. Her ex might be a cop, but I was a SEAL, and I wasn’t scared of a douchebag with a badge.
I saw the diner in the distance, and Dream confirmed he was still out front. When I pulled in, there were a few cars parked, including a dark one I’d never seen.
“I’m here. You wait by the back door, and when you see me open the door, you jump in. Make sure you have your stuff. We’re not coming back today.” I hung up the phone and hurried around the building. Once I saw her at the door, I stopped and threw the truck’s door open as wide as I could. She ran out and dove in, and before I could tell her to get down, she laid out next to me, her head close to my lap. I casually turned around and drove back out.
“Did you see the black car? That was him. He’s not coming after us, is he?”
I glanced in my rearview. “No, not a chance.”
She raised up and then pulled her seatbelt across her. “Thanks.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry I called. I was just desperate. I didn’t’ want to involve you or Star in any of this. I just panicked.”
I hated that she was afraid. The guy was a bastard piece of trash, and he needed to be wiped off the face of the earth. “It’s fine. I told you to call me, remember. You did the right thing. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, Dream.”
“He’ll find me.”
“He won’t. You’re not going back to Liza’s.” She opened her mouth to protest, but I shook my head. “I don’t want a fucking argument, Dream, not right now. You’re not going back to Liza’s. You’re going to stay with me, and that’s final.”
She crossed her arms, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I sounded as controlling as her ex had been.
I softened my voice and tried to reason with her.
“Star’s staying with my neighbor, so you can use the guest room, and you won’t be putting anyone in danger. We’ll figure out what to do from there. I’m not trying to hold you captive Dream. I just don’t want him to be able to find you in any of the places he’d expect you to be.”
“I guess I can kiss my job goodbye, especially if I don’t show up for the early shift tomorrow.”
I felt bad for her. It couldn’t be easy getting your life together only to have the rug pulled out from under you time and time again. She was no different than Star, and I was just as determined to help Dream too.
“It’s just a job, and you don’t need to spend your money staying with me. I’ve got plenty to take care of things, and I can make a few phone calls to some of my SEAL brothers. They’ll be able to help with this asshole.”
She simply nodded and looked up at me with a look in her green eyes that nearly undid me.
We arrived at the cabin, and I jumped out and walked around to get her door as she collected her bag and apron.
She winced as she stepped out of the truck. “My feet are killing me. I think I’ve had too much excitement for one day.”
“Calm down, and I’ll fix us something to eat.”
We went into the kitchen, and I took some sodas out of the fridge. “I have a pizza. It’s one of those that is supposed to taste like you had it delivered.” I opened the freezer and pulled it out.
“Is it pepperoni and ham?”
“Your favorite?” I chuckled. I had a feeling she’d only told Star that to get her to warm up. I preheated the oven and then searched for a pan.
“Yeah, actually, I like anything. But from now on, that’s my favorite.” She gave a halfhearted smile and then cracked open her soda.
“I feel like a walking grease stick.” She pulled the ponytail holder from her hair and gave her scalp a scratch as her dark brown hair fell to her shoulders.
“You look beautiful.” I had to speak the truth, and she looked down to her drink and ran her thumb across the condensation.
“Thank you. I wish I felt it.”
I wanted to reassure her of how gorgeous she was, to tell her all the things her body made me feel. Would she think it was sexy that I stroked my cock to the thought of her lips wrapped around it? I cleared my throat and turned my back to her before she got another eyeful.
“You can use my shower if you like, I have some sweats and a T-shirt you can wear until I’m able to get with Liza about your clothes. I can coordinate something later. Star won’t be home, and I’ll be in my workshop, so you’re welcome to make yourself at home and watch TV or whatever you like.”
“I’d love that, thanks.”
“It’s nothing, really. Besides, Star will be gone for a couple of days. Cynthia wanted company and she’s the closest thing the kid’s got to a grandmother around here. She spoils the hell out of Star and I think Cynthia gets just as much out of it as Star does.”
She wrapped her arms around herself and tucked her chin. “I can’t believe this is happening again.” She sounded utterly defeated and my heart hurt for her.
I placed my hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “You’re safe here. Go get cleaned up and relax, Dream. I promise you’ll feel better.” I wanted to kiss her, but instead, I pulled her close and hugged her. “It’ll be all right.”
Dream pulled away and wiped her eyes. “I guess I’ll go have that shower.”
“Soak in the tub if you like.” I walked with her into the family room and then she climbed the stairs slowly as if she was off to her death chamber. I knew it had to be tough constantly being on the run, but if I could help it, her running days were over.
I went back to the kitchen to get my phone and then sat in my recliner to call Austin. With any luck, he’d be able to give me some much-needed advice.
“You’re actually calling me for a change? This must be a major crisis. What happened, you forget where you left the kid? I’ll call out an APB.” It was always good to hear his voice when I was in this mood, and I was so concerned about Dream that I got right to the point.
“I do have problems. You know the girl I told you about, Dream, the one from the diner?”
“Yeah, the one I’m not sure is real and is probably an actual daydream?”
“No, man. She’s real, and she’s got some real problems too. She’s upstairs in the tub, so I don’t have too much time, but—"
“Wait. Let me get this right. You have a sexy woman in your tub, and you’re calling me? Did you forget where you’re supposed to put your dick? Get your ass up there, man.”
I let out a growl of frustration. “It’s not like that, man. She’s in trouble. Here’s in town, and he’s with the Chicago PD. I can’t just call the police for help, but I was hoping you’d be able to make a few calls where I might get some help over here.”
“What kind of trouble is she in?”
“He’s beaten the shit out of her for most of their marriage. She’s run a few different times, but because of his connections, he always finds her and drags her back home. She’s convinced he’ll kill her this time.”
Austin let out a breath. “I’ll have the Admiral call the local authorities and put in a personal request. I’m sure he has strings with the Chicago PD as well, you know that old bastard knows everyone.”
I gave a halfhearted laugh. “Yeah, I’m sure he does. Anything you can do, man. I normally wouldn’t worry so much, but this is Star’s home too now, and I’ve got to think of her safety.”
“Let me call around, and I’ll see what I can come up with.”
“Thanks, brother.”