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Chapter 27
If all else fails, kick him in the balls. ~ Phoebe’s rules for becoming a better person
Iwalk out of McGraw’s Pub the next morning with a spring in my step. I spent most of yesterday evening chatting with Ryker and getting to know the man behind the gruff bounty hunter. Talking over the phone instead of in-person helped me to open up about the emotional abuse I suffered under Theodore. I talked about things I never thought I’d tell another living being.
Ryker opened up about his past as well. He isn’t from California after all. He’s from Montana, which is why he keeps a cabin there. He told me a bit about growing up in the foster care system. I knew there were problems with the system, but I didn’t realize how bad it truly is.
I wave as Ryker’s truck rounds the corner. An engine revs and I watch as a car comes out of nowhere to screech to a halt right in front of him. He slams on his brakes with barely enough time to stop his truck before it barrels into the car.
What the hell? I start running in his direction to check if he’s okay. Please be okay.
Ryker opens his door. “Run, Phoebe. Run!”
Run? I’m not questioning him. If he says run, I’ll run. I make a U-turn and sprint back to McGraw’s. Pops is inside and I know for a fact he keeps a shotgun under the bar.
I have one hand on the door when someone yanks me back. “Phoebe dearest, you didn’t think you could run away from me, did you?”
I snarl. I absolutely loathe this man. Theodore Abbot, the man who put the ass into asshole. I snatch my arm away and turn to face him.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Tut. Tut. You act like you have a choice.”
I get right up in his face. “I do have a choice, asshole.”
The fake smile drops from his face and the snake beneath is revealed. His nose flares as his eyes fill with venom. “Don’t force me to make you.”
“Fuck. You,” I tell him and then spit in his face. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“My. My. We have a lot of corrections to perform when we get home.”
Once upon a time, his words would have caused fear to run through my veins. No more. Now I know I can get away from him and make a life without him. A life I’m not willing to give up.
I push him away and reach around to open the door to the pub. He grabs the collar of my coat and drags me toward the black BMW waiting in the street. I struggle with him but he’s stronger than I gave him credit for. I unzip my coat and slip out of it. Once I’m free, I rush to the door.
Theodore catches me before I can reach it. He grabs me by the hair and tugs me back to the car. I claw at his hands and arms, but his grip doesn’t falter. I can feel the blood oozing out of his skin, but his grip remains steady.
I try to remember the lessons from my self-defense class, but no one talked about how to get away from an assailant grabbing your hair. I do remember one lesson, though. If all else fails, kick him in the nuts. I swing my leg back and connect with some part of Theodore.
He swings me around by my hair. “Remember you made me do this.” He pulls his right hand back and clocks me in the jaw. The hit stuns me and I drop my hands. He takes advantage of my momentary disorientation and throws me into the rear seat of the car like I’m a ragdoll.
The driver takes off with a squeal of the tires. I look out the rear window when I hear the unmistakable sound of metal on metal. Ryker is in his truck pushing the car blocking him out of his way.
A spark of hope ignites. Ryker will save me.
Theodore chuckles but the sound is devoid of humor. “Don’t worry, my dear. I’ll have your boyfriend taken care of.” He growls. “He better not have gotten you pregnant.”
He can’t seriously take care of Ryker, can he? What about the uncles? Maybe they’ll help.
“And as for those ex-Army losers you hang about with, don’t count on them coming after you anytime soon either. They’ll be entirely too busy.”
“What did you do?” I wouldn’t put anything past him.
He smiles and it looks downright wicked. How can other people not see what an evil man he is?
“Since you’ll never see those lowlifes again, I’ll satisfy your curiosity.” He doesn’t elaborate. Instead, he takes his time unwinding his scarf from his neck and placing it on his lap.
I nearly roll my eyes at his old tricks. He gets off on making me wait. If I get impatient and ask, he makes me wait longer. Guess what? I’m done with his bullshit.
