Dragon Hunts

“That was after his accident.”

“Yes. It was stupid of me, but I thought getting back with him would be good for us. I needed someone to help shoulder the financial burden and Bobby needed his father. But it was a mistake.”

“Is there any other reason why he wants you back so badly?”

“Probably because I know too much. We lived together for four years, and during that time, I heard some things I shouldn’t have. Names. Business dealings. Secrets.”

“Did the Feds ever approach you?”

I nodded. “Once. I turned down their offer.”

Declan grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “We’ll handle this together. Don’t worry. Braden will get you and Bobby new IDs. We have the connections to make that happen. We’ll put Bobby in a new private school. We’ll hire a security company to monitor you and Bobby’s safety. Everything is going to be okay.”

“What about my job?”

“Why do you need a job? You have me. You don’t need to worry about your finances anymore. I will take care of you and Bobby well.”

“I feel like a freeloader.”

“Jessie,” he chided. “I love you. When I said I wanted you to consider me a part of your future, this is what I meant. I want to be with you and this is part of my responsibility. To protect you and make you safe.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“You’re still rattled by this whole thing. How about you relax and take a nap? We’ll talk more about this later. Bobby is safe and now you can rest your mind.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

Declan kissed me on the lips. I closed my eyes and savoured it.

“Shall I show you your new room? You’ll be living in this house for now.”

“This big house?”

“Yes. Or do you want a bigger house?”

I grinned. “No. This one is good.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Chapter Five

Even though Declan said everything was going to be okay, deep in my mind, I knew things weren’t as simple as he made them out to be. Declan’s offer to shelter me and my son was a tempting one but, as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t accept. Before Scary Joe had popped up uninvited in Bobby’s school, I’d thought I could keep my new life and my new lover. But the game had changed. If I didn’t tread carefully, someone was going to get badly hurt. If Scary Joe knew where Bobby’s school was, it was only a matter of time before he found out where I worked and the nature of my relationship with Declan.

In Lorenzo’s twisted mind, since the accident, I was the only woman for him. I’d never ridiculed him for his problems and I was submissive enough to live under his iron-clad thumb. If Lorenzo ever found out I had taken a new lover, he would hunt Declan down and kill him.

I shuddered.

Sometimes, the nightmare was too vivid to be forgotten.

Lorenzo, breath reeking with alcohol, had pinned me down in bed while he’d raped me with the handle of his favourite knife. My back had been bleeding and I’d wondered just how badly he’d cut me this time. He’d asked me how I liked it. Told me I was his favourite bitch whore. And if I ever left him, especially for a new cock, he would make that man’s face look worse than my already scarred back.

Declan was sweet and caring. He was everything I ever wanted in a man. He accepted me for who I was. But he was a mere businessman. He didn’t know how things had worked in that side of my past life.

He had no idea just how crazy Lorenzo really was.

So I made my decision.

I had to leave Declan and discard this life to start over again. Hopefully, this time, I could elude Lorenzo forever.