AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Del may have been disguised in the company as a typical financial guru, but he was my one safety net. Even his brother Ethan hadn’t been informed how beneficial he meant to the firm. It was too high risk. The less people who knew the better about his role. Not just for the company but their safety too. He knew how to find anything no matter what. I never asked questions and he never mentioned his methods, but I knew that whenever he gave me data, it was truthful, and he could be trusted with my life.
Now the real games were about to begin, and it was time to man up. Everleigh have told me some of her demons, and I just ran like before. I promised never to do that to her again, and at the first fucking hurdle I go and run… shit. It didn't matter what reasons they were, she deserved for me to listen and stop being a hot-headed bastard – well, at least outside of the bedroom.
I had to deal with the situation and stop being chicken. As I walked in the direction I came, I took a huge calming breath. Time to realize we were a team and there was more to this than meets the eye.
Whatever sick and twisted game Stone thought he was playing, he wouldn’t be ending with the winning hand he expected. No, the games were just about to begin alright, but not the game he had in mind. I would tear him apart for what he had done, for what he had done to us and lay true to my promise. Now time for that coffee, if Nurse Williamson was still waiting for me, then back to stay beside Everleigh and ask for her forgiveness and get answers to the questions spinning around in my head.
20
Everleigh
He just left. Walked away from me without a second glance. After everything. I knew there was a chance he’d do this, run like he did before, without letting me explain. He needed to know what Stone and Tye were up to, to know what they did to me tonight. I was still shocked that Tye was in cahoots with Stone but more shocked that he allowed Stone to do this to me, to put me in the fucking hospital. He could’ve killed me.
I took a few calming breaths, getting myself under control. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “He broke me once, I can patch up the cracks.” I’ll be fine again in time. This time though, the patches would be impenetrable. I’d make sure of it.
I knew there was a chance he'd do this, allowing the past to repeat itself. Dé ja vú was a bitch, but Stone wasn't holding that power over me. I just didn't think I would've seen it happen before my eyes,again.My already fragile heart that had just started to repair was torn straight in half. I thought he would have yelled, screamed, maybe even questioned me, but no. Nothing. The darkness consumed him the second he heard my confession. Dawson fell into the shadows yet again.
Angry, messy tears soaked my face, and I didn’t give a fuck. For once, I wanted the world to see my pain. I didn’t want to hide away what I felt. I let the tears flow, causing red puffy eyes and wet cheeks as they ran thick and fast. My vision was blurry, whether from the crying or the concussion, I didn’t know, nor did I actually care. My throat was hoarse from the sobbed roars that left me, all visible reminders that I wasn't hiding my pain. I may have a concussion and a broken wrist, scrapes, cuts, and bruises but nothing compared tothis.
Heartbreak.
Nurse Williamson came in and took my vitals, professional to the core. My tears didn’t even phase her enough to be surprised, as if I should have expected anything else? I wished she would’ve just asked me if I wanted to talk, if I wanted her to call anyone for me. I saw the sympathy in her eyes as though she wanted to hug me and to tell me everything would be okay, but that wasn’t how life worked for me. So, for once, I just let the world see how broken I actually was. I was a loner; I had been since he left the last time. Eventually my cries and anguish diminished into sobs and gulps of air, but the pain still crippled me.
The slight imploring look and squeeze of my hand she gave me before leaving gave me all the realization I required.
I was alone.
My friends had no clue what had happened. It wasn't like I could've called and explained everything. What would I have said? My ex, yeah, that's right, your boss, his father tried to kill me. I'd be getting a one-way ticket straight to the mental asylum with the key thrown away for good measure. They would've claimed I'd lost my mind; it was like an episode from a sitcom, not real life.
I closed my eyes, hoping that this nightmare was just that an awful mistake that my confused mind had spiraled out of control. I let it drift back to earlier times before Stone laid his cards on the table. If I'd just rested for an hour or two, maybe my brain wouldn’t be so foggy, and I’d know what to do next. Like how the hell I was to tackle this fucked up mess of my life ahead.
* * *
“Belle, it's okay… it's just a nightmare,” the soothing voice said as my eyes shot open. I looked at the head leant low watching me, and the hands cupping mine as his fingers slowly drawled over the top. “Shh…”
“Dawson?” I choked the word out, questioning if what had happened earlier was real or not. I attempted to drag my less weary body up the bed to sit up.
“Let me help… please,” he said as I nodded. His strong arms supported me and eased me gently up the bed, before leaning me gently forward and placing my pillow behind my head. “We need to talk, Belle…”
I looked closely into the depths of his eyes and immediately saw the hurt and pain. The dark circles, the slightly stubbled jaw that he hadn't shaved for a few days and the normally pristine appearance knocked with a half tucked in shirt hanging out over onto trousers. It wasn't a dream. It happened. I could read every damn emotion, and I was shocked as hell at him being beside me. He'd come back, but why? Was he finally going to lay the last nail in the coffin and ruin me forever more? He wouldn't, would he?
I prayed he was here to fight for me. That earlier was an over-the-top reaction, but his furrowed brow showed me he had unspoken questions he had to release. I just knew that maybe this conversation wasn't going to be a simple exchange, but more one of truth and honesty. Either he had to accept my flaws and issues as a package or realize that Stone had won. Deep down, I knew I'd walk over hot coals barefoot for him, but would he do the same for me?
“I thought…” I said quietly. “I thought you’d left.”
“I did,” Dawson admitted blatantly in a whispered tone, “but I couldn’t go far. I had to know…”
“What?” I asked, watching his head drop lower. I lifted my hand to his lips as he kept his eyes fixated on mine.
“Why tell me now? Why when you’re injured, would you even think about it, unless you’re still with him? Shit, are you still with him?” he questioned, letting his thoughts tumble from his mouth.
“No Dawson, I wouldn’t do that, we were never together, not like we were. He was only ever a distraction. He knew about you, not who you were, but he knew the love of my life. That you left me with no warning and that all I was willing to give him was my body. He never had my heart, Dawson… that’s always been yours….” I whispered.
I couldn’t miss the large audible sigh leaving Dawson’s mouth. “I had to ask…”
“I know…”
This wasn't the Dawson I knew, the vulnerable man crawling into his own skin, questioning everything before him. It was as if every ounce of strength had disappeared and all that was left was an empty shell. He cradled his head in his hands and the muscles on his shoulders visibly shuddered. He was broken, lost and unsure of what words could have come from my mouth. Ones that could've destroyed every judgement he allowed his gut to make. Deep down though, I knew he was relieved that he'd come and faced the past and asked. Used the courage inside himself. Even though he knew it may have given him answers, he'd never be able to unhear.
