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When she was about to argue with Calum, Duncan came into the kitchen and jerked Tom’s picture out of her hand. “This the motherfucker?”
Calum nodded at Duncan, who then growled, “His ass is mine.”
Kayla pushed Duncan’s chest and sidestepped him to walk out of the kitchen and into the bathroom. Before she could close the door, Duncan’s hand pushed it open for him to step inside.
“I’m sorry, Kayla, but he messed with the wrong girl. We can’t let him get away with this.”
Kayla knew Tom had to be stopped, but she also knew that she didn’t have anything to stand on. She had lied at the hospital, saying she had an accident falling from the stairs, and now there was no evidence. He would walk away from it all, and she would be going through everything once more while telling her story to Calum’s colleagues at the police station.
She wanted to move forward, not look back. “No, I don’t want to go back and relive all of that again. I’ve already told Calum I will be going to a shrink, so get off my back. I don’t even want to be in the same state as that creep, let alone face him.” Kayla hated the fear that lingered in her voice.
Duncan laid his hands on her shoulders and put his forehead against hers as he calmly said, “I’m sorry, Kayla. I want to keep you safe. I want that asshole locked up, but you’ll have to report him first.”
Kayla shook her head and stepped back from Duncan.
“I’m going to take a shower. Please, just give me some room.” She emphasized her words by waving her hand between them as she took another step back. She meant room for her to get into the shower, but he flinched at her words.
She had to take some time to clear her mind. She couldn’t think straight now that she’d seen Tom’s picture. He was somewhat pushed from her thoughts in the past weeks, and now she could vividly remember the way he grabbed her hair and knocked her against the wall. She shook her head and put her hands over her eyes.
Duncan pulled her into his arms again and kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry, wildflower. Please tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”
She started crying as the panic clawed at her as if she were alone with Tom again. “No, no, I... please, no.” Kayla shook her head and tried to push Duncan back, but he held on and, pulling her hair softly, tipped her head back, but she still had her hands over her eyes. Taking her hands in his, he kissed her closed eyes.
“Shh, Kayla, I’m here. It’s me, Dunc. You’re safe.”
She knew she was standing in the bathroom with Duncan, but in the back of her mind, Tom was shouting at her that she needed to shut up.
“I’m so scared, Duncan. I took one look at his picture and it all came back. I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever see him again. I don’t think I can handle it. He’s going to break me. And I hate it. He’s making me feel as if I’m some weak person. I don’t know how to feel strong anymore. I want to leave it all behind. Please, I don’t want to see him again.”
She cried into his chest, and after a while, Calum cleared his throat behind Duncan’s back. “I’ve made an appointment with the police department here. We are going to tell your story so they are aware, and they can inform you of your options. They can refer you to somebody who can help you deal with all of this. I’m sure they have the best connections.”
“I have to go to work, Calum. I’ve just started my job, and I already took some time off yesterday. I can’t go today.” She stepped out of Duncan’s embrace to scowl at Calum, who was standing behind Duncan in the bathroom doorway as she tried to stick to her guns on this issue.
“Sweetheart, I’m sure my brother will understand. Let me call him and—”
Kayla interrupted Duncan. “Please, will you two stop? Let me breathe. I don’t need two alpha males trying to decide my life and take over. I was doing fine until you came here, Calum.”
She knew it was a low blow toward her brother. She was lashing out at someone who didn’t deserve it, but it felt good to voice the anger that was building up inside.
“If you two just leave me alone, I will be fine. Now, let me take a shower, and then I’m going to work. Case closed.”
Duncan and Calum stood there, both with their arms crossed and angry scowls on their faces.
“Do I have to shower in front of you? Because I will.” She took the belt of her robe into her hands, and Calum instantly walked away with both palms raised in the air, but Duncan wasn’t fazed at all.
“We’re not done, wildflower. You can send me on my way, get angry with me, fuck, you can push at me all you want. I’m not letting you go. I’m gonna go to the dojo now because I can’t be late, but I’ll call you later, okay?” he said with a stern look.
Kayla nodded at Duncan’s words, and he stepped closer and kissed her forehead. “Call me if you need anything.”
She sighed. He was not letting her get away with this. She knew it wasn’t in her best interest to bury her feelings and to try to put her head in the sand, but she couldn’t rely on all of the help he and Calum offered her.
She went on for weeks dealing with this on her own. And now that she had befriended Caitlin and Maureen, started a new job, and made friends at the workplace, she thought she’d finally moved on. She even made a connection with Duncan and had wanted to see where it would go.
And yet here she was, getting all emotional and second-guessing herself once more. She hated feeling lost. She was worried for the safety of other possible victims of Tom, but she couldn’t get herself to step up and confront him. Perhaps talking to a professional wouldn’t be such a bad idea. She looked at Duncan, then went on her tiptoes and kissed him softly.
“I’ll call you later.”
He squeezed her butt with both hands and kissed her once more. “Okay, wildflower.”
