Beauty and the Outcast (New Hope)

I sit with her for the next few hours talking until it’s time for her to go. A weight lifts off of me when she gives me a hug before leaving Healing Homes with a couple of counselors. I’m hopeful that she can get the help she needs.

I give a few goodbyes before I head out. I’m not sure where I’m going, but I need some air. I check my phone as I head towards the main street debating if I should go to the diner to get something to eat before I face Knox.

It was stupid to run. I don’t want to be toxic with my relationship. Seeing how my mom dealt with men over the years, I know I need to face this head on. If I want to know something I need to ask. Not run or duck my head and pretend it’s not happening. I should have asked about it that day in the gym.

There has to be more that I don’t know. Knox doesn't even want other people touching him. He’s not going to be running off to see some woman because of something romantic or sexual. Something bigger is at play or I’m missing something.

“Crap.” I stop walking when I see the number of missed calls and text messages on my phone.

“Whitney,” a male voice calls. I turn around to see a short dark-haired man coming towards me. “Are you Whitney Bradshaw?” he asks as he draws closer.

“Yes.”

“Just the girl I’ve been looking for.” He comes to a stop in front of me. His dark hair is peppered with gray, his eyes a bit wild. Now that he’s closer to me I can see how disheveled he is. I immediately think this has to do something with my mom. He looks as if he runs in the same circles that she used to.

“I need to get going. Sorry.” I turn to try to flee, but his hand snaps out, locking around my elbow. I start to fight him but stop when something hard presses into my side.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you.”

I freeze. “What do you want?”

“Most definitely you.” He licks his lips. “Revenge is going to be all the sweeter with you.” My heart pounds. “Walk,” he orders me.

“Please don’t do this,” I beg. I glance around, but no one is paying attention.

“I’ve been waiting years for this. He took from me and now I’m going to take from him.” I gasp when he pushes the knife farther into me. “I’m going to enjoy every second of this. Knox will regret what he’s done to me.”

I think he’s going to be the one with regret.

22

Knox

I text Whitney again but get no response. She’s not even reading my texts at this point. I can see that they have all been delivered. I resort to tracking her. When I see she’s at Healing Homes I relax a bit but not much. She’s pissed at me. Can I blame her? I took off without really telling her much. When it comes to Whitney that’s out of character for me, and she knows that. I’m normally hovering around her all the time.

Oz hangs up his phone, and I stop pacing inside of his office. “Your friends' intel is all correct.” The hard set of Oz’s jaw shows how pissed he is right now. “Why the fuck I wasn’t alerted when he got out, I have no clue, but I’m going to have someone’s ass.”

I didn’t even know he’d been watching the guy. “I never gave a second thought to him trying to come after me, honestly.”

“I did. When it comes to the people you love you have to always be thinking about threats. You need to always be one step ahead.” His words hit me right in the chest. My thoughts snap straight to Whitney and who else could possibly try and hurt her besides her stepfather.

“I do have some good news. As fucked up as it might be for me to call it that. For us at least. Whitney’s stepfather overdosed a few hours ago.” I fight a smile. It was only a matter of time. “You don’t seem surprised.” He gives me a knowing look. I shrug.

Oz might not be my biological father, but we share a lot of things. One of those things is a darkness that lingers inside each of us. One we’re more than willing to use if we have to.

“I wanted to give you a heads up about Brock but I need to get going.” I want my eyes on Whitney. Her stepfather might be out of the picture, but I still have a need to watch over her.

“I’ll find him. Just keep your eyes open.” I give him a chin nod before I head out. I try Whitney’s phone again. It rings and rings but still no answer and no text response.