Dare to Forgive (The Dare 3)

Warner watched as the panicked expression covered Bentley’s face and he opened the green file. He lost all coloring and fell back into his chair.

“I hope you enjoyed the good life, the fancy cars, the expensive dinners, and showing off all that hard earned money. Because it will be nothing but a dream where you’re going, buddy. Prison is a very bland and humbling experience.”

Warner turned around to leave.

“What does she want? I’ll do whatever she asks. Just don’t hand these over to the police.”

“You’re nothing but scum. You don’t deserve any chances, not after what you did to Adel, what you tried to do to the Ferguson construction company, and what you did to those other women. It’s over, Bentley. Adel won and you lost.”

Warner headed out of the office, closing the door behind him. As he walked past the secretary he could hear Bentley screaming and raging in his office.

“I’d look for a new job, honey, your boss is taking a very long vacation.”

* * * *

Adel got the text message from Warner. He told her it was done. The situation was now over. Bentley was going to jail, she was pressing charges, and so were four other women that Max had gotten to come forward and no longer remain silent about their assaults by Bentley. Adel was relieved as she leaned back on the bed, closed her eyes, and tried to rest. The tears rolled down her cheeks and she let them fall.

“Somebody is in a lot of trouble.”

She heard Hank’s voice and she saw his face, as well as Will’s and Leo’s. Their eyes widened and she could tell they were upset at seeing her bruises and her battered body. She rolled to her side and tried covering her face with the pillow.

The bed dipped and Hank was there caressing her hair.

“We’ve been so worried, baby. Don’t shut us out. We’re not going to hurt you,” Will told her as she felt the bed dip on the other side then right below her feet. She knew they surrounded her and then she felt the gentle caress from Will’s hand on her thigh, and Hank’s hand moved along her hair and Leo’s lips touched her shoulder.

“I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

“But you’re ours and we’ve been so worried. Plus things are over now. Bentley can’t hurt you anymore,” Hank told her.

She lowered the pillow.

“I told Max not to tell you anything. I said I wanted to be alone and not have you see me like this.”

“Well, things work a little differently in Chance, baby. Everyone knows that a woman’s men take the best care of her and that she’s their responsibility,” Leo said.

Hank pulled the pillow away and held her gaze. He stared into her eyes. The swollen lip and the bruises were definitely making him angry.

“You’re a survivor, Adel. You fought hard and you came out on top,” he said and then leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“I don’t feel like I’m on top. I feel like I lost what’s most important to me.”

“Your parents? Why, after all they did to hurt you?” Will asked.

“No, not my parents, you guys. Because of what my father and Bentley did to me, I went there looking for closure so I could open up my heart to each of you, but the truth was, I already opened my heart to you. I didn’t need to go there and it nearly cost me the three of you and my life.”

“But it didn’t. You fought him off and even afterward you organized a pretty high-tech plan to get him back and bring him down. Quite impressive, I must say,” Hank told her and she smiled at him. The tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I love the three of you so much, but I didn’t want you to get caught in my problems and wind up losing your company because of me.”

Hank cupped her good cheek. “Well one thing you need to learn right now is that we’re here for you no matter what. It’s not your place to decide if we get to help or not. You’re our responsibility and we love you. Can’t you let us in and let us take care of you?” Hank asked.

“I can try,” she whispered.

“Good, so about these bruises, where else are they, and we want to know exactly what went down,” Leo told her.

“Just kiss me, Leo, and hold me in your arms and never let me go. Any of you.”

“You got it, baby. Always.”