Swept Away in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 1)

“I followed your sister all the way here.” He squeezed her arm until it hurt. “I knew she was lying to me when she said she didn’t know where you were. Who are those people you are staying with?”

“None of your damn business, Paul. Now let me go. It’s over between us.”

“It’s over when I say it’s over and not before. No one walks out on Paul Holstead.” He jerked her out the door.

For months she’d suffered silently, trying to keep up appearances just like she’d been taught by her parents all her life. He’d slapped her around outside a club in an alley back home because he thought she was looking at another man instead of him. She hadn’t screamed for help then, feeling helpless and ashamed. Instead, she had just taken his abuse. No more.

“Let go of me now, Paul.” And then she started screaming as loud as she could. “Help me. Please. Anyone.”

He slapped her across the face, and she fell to the ground. But out of the corner of her eye she saw her three Wilde men shove him to the ground and begin punching him again and again.

I’m safe. I’m not alone. I’ll never be alone again.

She got up on her feet.

Dan and Dillon were holding Paul down. She could see both his eyes were swollen and his lip was bleeding.

Craig came to her side and put his arm around her. “You okay?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.

“I’m fine.” She put her hands on Dan and Dillon’s shoulders. “Thanks to you three.”

“You ever come near Mary again and you will discover it was only a sample of what will happen to you,” Dan said through clenched teeth.

Dillon pressed his arm over Paul’s throat. “Do. You. Understand. Asshole.”

Paul didn’t speak but nodded.

She stood over her ex, feeling more herself than she had in a very long time. “How does it feel, asshole?”

Again, no words but his eyes widened in fear, and that was answer enough for her.

“Call the law, guys.”

“Don’t have to, sweetheart,” Craig said, keeping hold of her. “That’s the sheriff running this way now. Your sister and mom are right behind him.”

“I’m okay,” she yelled to Maude and Carol, hoping to reassure them. There would be plenty of time to tell them everything that had happened. “Craig, you’re bleeding.”

“Not from this, sweetheart. My stitches must’ve come out.”

“Then we’re taking you to the doctor right now.”

“Not just me,” he said. “You, too. I want to make sure you didn’t get injured.”

She grinned. “He only grabbed me by the arm.”

“Maybe so, but Doc is going to check you out, too.”

“Okay.” She looked back down at Paul, and said to her three men, “He finally is going to get what’s coming to him.” She kissed Craig. “I’m going to testify against him. I’m not running away this time. I’m not afraid of him anymore.”

* * * *

Mary looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. “What do you think, Maude? Is this okay for my date?”

“Absolutely,” her sister said. “I love the red top. It goes so well with your skin tone. You look like you could step on a western movie set.”

“Thanks, sis. I can’t wait for my date.”

“No wonder,” Maude said. “It is three days late.”