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I could feel Trevor trying to pull strands of my hair free when Hunter hollered from below, “Choke him out, Cade!”
“Just shoot him!” Spencer bellowed. “He’ll let her go if he’s bleeding too much to stand up.”
Cade, who was doing his best to keep Winthrop still while Trevor worked on my hair, barked out, “Not necessary!”
“Who cares if it’s necessary?” Brody yelled. “Just get her free before he hurts her any worse.”
I could feel Winthrop still struggling through his grip in my hair. Trevor’s efforts made sure it no longer hurt, but he was not letting go. When will this ever end?
“I’ll punch him in the face!” Tucker offered. “Police can’t punch people, but I’m happy to.”
“You can’t punch him in the face, dumbass.” Hunter bit out. “You might hit Charlotte instead. He’s too close to her.”
“Shut up!” my father yelled from the stairs. I hadn’t seen him climb them, but I was sure glad he had. “They have it under control. They don’t need help from you knuckleheads.”
Seeing my dad made my eyes well up. “Daddy . . .” I choked on the lump on my throat as tears spilled down my cheeks.
His tone was soothing when he responded, “I’m here, sweetheart. You’re going to be just fine. Hold on.” He gave me an encouraging smile.
“Okay.” I took another deep breath. I could feel Winthrop’s grip on my hair lessening as Trevor continued to work it free.
“I almost got it, Charlotte,” Trevor told me. “You’re doing great.”
“You’re hurting my hand! You’re going to break my fingers!” Winthrop yelled at Trevor, but the full force of his voice went straight in my ear.
That was it. I’d hit my limit. “Your fingers?” I was no longer scared; I was infuriated. “Who cares about your fucking fingers! Shut your fucking mouth!” Between that sweaty hand in my hair, his hairy arm around my neck, his hot, smelly breath all over the side of my face, and all the yelling, I’d had enough. “Let me go, you unbearable prick!”
“You’re mine, Adaline!” he shrieked.
“Oh yeah? Then let me give you this!” I flipped from freeze to fight and slammed my elbow into his ribs as hard as I could. He grunted and his grip loosened just enough that Trevor was able to free the last strands of my hair. He had Winthrop’s arm bent and twisted into a hold immediately.
Matt pulled me clear as my dad rushed forward and gasped out, “Thank god!” He turned me into my dad’s waiting arms with a smile.
“Thanks, Matt.”
“Of course, Charlotte.” He ducked his head and looked me in the eye. “Make sure you talk to someone when this hits you. Okay?”
I nodded. My body felt like it was deflating. I held tight to my dad as my adrenaline levels crashed and my knees went weak. The deck was spinning, and my vision was turning white at the edges.
I watched as Trevor handcuffed Winthrop and read him his rights.
Winthrop screamed, “Adaline! Help me!” as he was escorted in the direction of the stairs.
I tucked my face into my dad’s chest and held on as my brain started to come back online.
“You’re going to be okay, my brave Charlotte. I’ll make sure of it. We all will.” My father soothed me by patting my back and stroked my hair gently, easing the ache from all the pulling.
“Give me five minutes alone with that jackass before you take him to jail.” Spencer demanded. I lifted my head to see all my brothers had pushed their way up the stairs onto the deck and were crowded behind my father. “That’s all I’ll need to teach him a lesson.”
“I’m the oldest,” Hunter protested. “I should get the five minutes.”
“How about we each get one minute.” Brody, ever the peacemaker, suggested. “He can learn five different lessons that way.”
I scoffed. “I’m sorry, but if anyone gets five minutes, it’s going to be me. I’m the one he’s been harassing all these months. And, hell, this is for sure going to come back to haunt me. Call that therapist, Cade. I need a freaking appointment. As soon as possible.”
“Charli baby. Come here, I need to hold you.” I turned to find Cade reaching for me. My father let me go and with all the relief in the world, I slid into Cade’s waiting embrace.
His warm arms wrapped around me, cocooning me in safety. “Oh god, Cade. Please tell me this is over.”
“It’s over. Between what he did to you and the other outstanding warrants, he’s going away for a long time.”
