Dare to Trust (The Dare 1)

“Yes. But mostly he was verbally abusive and tried breaking down my confidence and controlling me. I was only twenty-two when I met him and fell for his charms, his good looks, and powerful demeanor.”

“He’s a rich asshole?” Mike asked.

She nodded her head.

“When did you break t

hings off with him? Why do you think he’s after you?” Mike pushed to get to the point and she was shaking as the tears filled her eyes.

“I broke things off when I realized he was cheating on me. He attacked me one night and got crazy. He threatened me, bruised my ribs, and struck me several times. He left me at a party looking like a piece of used trash. I went to the police and got an order of protection against him. I explained how he assaulted me and he got someone to say he was with them that it wasn’t me and that I was lying because I was a worthless whore.”

“Jesus, what a fucking prick,” Danny said and caressed her thigh.

“What happened next? You took off and wound up here?” Mike asked. She shook her head.

“I was home alone in my apartment. I was trying to figure out where to go and how to get out of town, when I started smelling smoke. I usually put a little something in the oven, but I wasn’t very hungry. Peter knew I would do that. Come home and make a dinner, even a small one just for me. But that night I put on the stove for soup. I walked out of the kitchen and heard a noise and a fire broke out. It was so quick, and obvious by the way it immediately spread around the apartment that some kind of accelerant or wiring was used. I was caught inside. I tried to get to the door but I couldn’t. There were flames everywhere. I didn’t know what to do because I was on the tenth floor. There were no fire escapes on my side by my windows. I grabbed the small fire extinguisher and ran to the bathroom, turned on the shower and the faucet to fill the tub, thinking I could throw water on the flames and use the extinguisher to hold off the flames until the firefighters came.

“I could hear the sirens in the distance and everything. I knew help was coming but the flames were shooting into the bathroom. I felt the pain and heat against my side as the sparks of flame hit my hip and I was on fire. I hopped into the tub, grabbed the curtain and the fire extinguisher. I sprayed at the flames with the extinguisher and screamed out for help until firefighters got there. They place was destroyed and they were shocked to see me in the tub and with the extinguisher. I should have died in there. That’s what Peter wanted. He set that fire. But the police, the firefighters couldn’t prove anything.”

“Oh Jesus, baby, that’s the scar on your hip?” Jack asked, kneeling down next to her and caressing her hip. She nodded her head.

“The detectives and arson investigators couldn’t prove arson?” Mike asked.

“They proved the cause was arson and there was an investigation, but Peter had an alibi once again. A woman. The one he cheated on me with.”

“I don’t understand it. The arson investigators, the detectives would have pushed passed some bogus alibi to get the truth.” Mike raised his voice.

Marlena stood up. “You think I’m lying? You think I’m making this up? This up?” she repeated and pushed down her shorts, raised her top, and revealed the scar from the burn she had gotten. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Get out! All of you, now,” she yelled. She was so angry she was shaking. But the three men didn’t move.

“I said get out!” she yelled again as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“No, Marlena. We’re not getting out. You’re not pushing us away. We care about you,” Danny told her and stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. She felt the hands on her back rubbing her.

“We asked for the truth and you told us. We’re not going to lie to you. We’re pissed off, we’re concerned, and things are going to change around here whether you like it or not,” Jack said.

She pulled back, looking at Danny, who held her, reached up, and caressed the tears from her eyes.

Then she looked at Jack. “What do you mean?” she asked.

Mike stepped closer but didn’t touch her. She felt sick. He didn’t want her because of what Peter did to her. What she allowed him to take from her.

“He means that you’re our woman. We’re claiming you officially with the sheriff, tonight. We’re going to protect you, be with you, and provide for you. No more holding back. No lies. No keeping things from us out of fear that we’ll be angry or that we could get hurt or some other nonsense bullshit. You understand me?” Mike asked her.

She sniffled and could hardly hold his gaze, her eyes were tearing so much.

“You don’t hate me?” she asked him.

Mike uncrossed his arms and Danny and Jack released her to him.

“Goddamn, baby, no fucking way do I hate you. I’m practically in love with you if you would let the damn wall down now and let us in. You need us. You’re ours, and there are no more arguments about it anymore. Got it?” he asked, pulling her hard up against his chest.

She nodded her head and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“Are you sure, Mike?” she whispered.

“As sure as anything.” He leaned down and kissed her deeply. She let herself go. She gave her all in that kiss and then felt Mike lift her up and lay her down on the bed. He eased up slightly, his one thigh between her legs as he stared down into her eyes.