Page 17 of Wounded Hearts

Chapter 9

As soon asDrew set foot outside the bedroom Mara knew something was wrong. Her stomach twisted and the feeling of security she’d pulled around her vanished. He walked towards her slowly, his hair still wet, his shirt barely disguising the corded muscle on his big body. He looked beyond handsome, he looked like a dream. A dream she’d held so close in her heart it was hard to perceive he was real, yet she could smell his clean, woodsy scent, feel the electricity that pulsed around them.

Drew Preedy was real, and he was here. She was in his home with him and she’d felt safe for the briefest time. Now the fear was twisting her up inside until she wanted to run. “What is it? What happened?”

He reached out slowly, and she let him take her hands in his, realising she’d been wringing them. His hands felt warm and strong, and she knew he’d enough power in those hands to hurt her. To cause her immeasurable pain and yet she didn’t fear him. Drew treated her with such gentle respect, and not just her but everyone he’d come into contact with that she knew she was safe.

“Come sit with me.” He led her to the couch, and she sat on the edge and he sat beside her, not letting go of her hand, but giving her the space she needed to compose herself.

“Please just tell me.”

The compassion and fire in his eyes told her more than his words did. “Brayden Wells has been in touch. He says unless you’re returned to him, he’ll have an investigation launched and charges of kidnapping brought.”

Although she’d expected the words, her throat closed, and her fear paralysed her breath on hearing them. The room began to spin, and she thought she’d pass out.

“Mara, relax. Take a deep breath in and out.”

She followed Drew’s instructions and her mind began to clear. As she focused, she felt his thumb gently rubbing the pulse in her wrist. Lifting her head, she knew she needed to open up and admit at least some of what had happened to her. “He hurt me.” Three little words had never filled her with so much shame. A big part of her knew it wasn’t her fault, but Brayden had been so slick, so clever in making her believe she was to blame, until she was so lost, she couldn’t fight back and was too afraid to try.

“I know he did, baby, and I am so sorry that he did. I won’t promise it’ll be easy, but you will get through this. I won’t let him hurt you ever again.” His words and the steel strength behind them as he said them settled her a little.

“I won’t go back. I’ll die there.”

Drew took her face in his hands and lifted her chin, so her eyes met his. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, Mara. Not ever again. You’re free and we’ll make sure you stay that way. And when you’re ready to share more of your story with me then I’m here and will listen, but for now, I think we need to make a plan.”

Relief that he wasn’t pushing her to spill all her sordid secrets made her fall just a tiny bit more in love with him. “Thank you.”

Drew nodded and went to the window. Pushing the curtains aside he smiled, and she saw the genuine affection on his face. He turned to her. “Lauren, Dane, and the kids are here. If you’d prefer they didn’t know we can send them away until we figure out a plan.”

Just the fact he was willing to do that gave her hope that good men were left in the world. She took a second to decide. “No, I need to face this and part of that is talking about it, and actually, it helps.”

Drew nodded and went to the door just as the doorbell rang.

Lauren and Dane entered with their adorable twins Leah and Aaron toddling beside them. Each holding onto one of their parent’s hands. It was amazing to see how much they’d grown in the year since she’d seen them.

“Wow, they got so big.”

Lauren gave her a huge smile as she picked her daughter up and handed her over to Drew. He took her and threw the little girl in the air making her laugh and giggle uproariously. Leah was the spitting image of her mother, from her curly blonde hair to her petite stature, but when she laughed, Mara could see she was Dane’s. They had the same smile and eyes.

Aaron toddled towards the couch and the coffee table where Drew had left his phone and immediately picked it up and brought it to his uncle.

“Thanks, champ,” Drew said taking the phone and offering her a bemused look. “He’s a tech nerd already. I think Will has been trying to recruit him.”

Dane snorted. “You mean you are.”

Lauren pushed through the men and came to stand in front of her, taking her in her arms and hugging her. She didn’t say anything, just held her tightly before pulling away with a smile. “I’m so happy to see you.”

Mara returned the sentiment and glanced up, catching the happy look on Drew’s face. They shared a look that spoke a thousand words and she inclined her head.

While Dane and Drew set the twins up with CBeebies on the television, Lauren showed her the clothes she’d brought over.

“I brought you jeans, yoga pants, a couple of t-shirts, and some underwear. We can order more together or get Dane to take us shopping.” She waggled her eyebrows at the last comment. “He hates it, but when I offer him naked gratitude he soon warms up to the idea.”

Mara laughed and felt the foreign sound unfurl inside her.

When she stopped, she noticed Lauren watching her intently. “It gets easier. You don’t ever forget but you do learn to live with it. I still flinch if someone moves their arm too fast.”

Mara realised what Lauren was saying and was gobsmacked as she comprehended what she meant. “You?”