Safe and Sound (Twist of Fate 2)

But then I remembered Emily’s exuberant welcome this morning as I’d entered the shop and Aiden Vale’s charming smile as he’d done the Spock move and I remembered all the warm, fuzzy feelings those things had stirred within me. Things I hadn’t felt since Billy had first come into my life so long ago.

“It’s over, Billy.”

His response was instant and unmistakable in its intent. I didn’t even bother trying to escape the hand that came up to wrap around my throat. I stumbled over my feet as Billy shoved me backward, his hold on my neck not easing even a little as he slammed me against the wall by the front door.

He slammed the door shut, since I’d forgotten to do it when I’d come in.

His grip began to tighten and I automatically reached up to grab for his hand.

“Do you want to say that to me again, Ashton?” he asked, his voice eerily calm.

I couldn’t have responded even if I wanted to, because I didn’t want to waste even an ounce of oxygen to do it. I wanted to cry as I shook my head in the hopes that would somehow mollify him. I’d wanted so desperately to be strong— to take this stand against him. But my need to survive kicked in.

“Do you have any idea what I’ve given up to be with you?” Billy whispered. “You had no one, do you remember? Who was the one who came to that hospital room every day for a fucking year to spend time with you and to tell you that you were going to make it? Who was the one who took care of everything else while you were lying in that hospital bed? Who buried your parents? Who paid your bills? Who took care of you when you finally got out?”

I had a whole host of questions I wanted to throw right back at him.

Who was the one who broke my arm because I made the mistake of thanking the waiter who was serving us on the night of our anniversary?

Who was the one who beat me so bad I could barely walk when I insisted on going back to college to finish my education?

But I kept my mouth shut, despite the fact that Billy had finally eased up his hold on my neck.

“Who’s the one who loves you more than anything else in this world, Ashton?” he said, his voice going soft. He actually sounded hurt as his hand began to caress my skin. But I didn’t mistake the move for what it was. We were merely in the eye of the storm. If I didn’t do or say the right thing, I’d be swept up in the churning winds again, and it would be anyone’s guess where I’d land.

Stick to the fucking plan, Ash.

“You do,” I whispered. “You do, Billy. No one loves me like you do.”

The glassiness in Billy’s eyes faded and his hand drifted down to cover my heart, which was still pounding painfully in my chest. “That’s right,” he murmured. His lips brushed mine tenderly. I could feel tears threatening to fall, but I managed to quell them. He kissed me more deeply and I let him, but I sent up another silent thanks to that mysterious deity when Billy’s phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket.

“Yeah?” he said into it. “Yeah, okay, I’ll be right down.”

Relief began to curl through my limbs, but I didn’t dare move or react in any kind of way.

“Damn, I have to go or I’ll miss my flight,” Billy said as his thumb stroked over my lower lip. “Wish I didn’t have to,” he said. “I don’t like leaving you like this… I don’t like when you get emotional like this, Ashton,” he reminded me.

I nodded. “I know. I’m sorry, Billy. I haven’t been feeling well and I’m really tired,” I said, ignoring the bile that rose in my throat as I spoke the words I’d promised myself I wouldn’t.

“I know, sweetheart.” He kissed me again and then stepped back. “I’ll call you when I land and we can talk some more, okay? We’ll figure this out.”

I managed another nod. One more kiss and then he was gone, softly closing the door behind him. I waited a good two minutes just to be sure he was actually gone before I let out a harsh cry and then slid down the wall until my ass hit the cold floor beneath me. And then I just let go, not even caring that Billy could come back and find me like that.

It just didn’t fucking matter anymore.

Chapter 3

Aiden

On my way to the coffee shop the following morning, I couldn’t get the new barista out of my head. I’d been thinking about him on and off for the better part of the previous twenty-four hours. What was it about the guy that had me so distracted? He was cute, sure, but for once, it wasn’t just that. Maybe it was his fear or anxiety or the fact that he’d looked so damn lost. Whatever it was, it called out to me and made me want to reassure him that everything was all right. And that was certainly more than my usual curiosity about how to get in a guy’s pants. It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling, and even though my instincts were telling me not to get involved with him, I couldn’t stop wondering what he was afraid of.