CHAPTER10
Hadley
For years, I beat myself up about being the only girl in the family that hadn't experienced tragedy. I thought, if it happened to them, why shouldn’t it happen to me too? Guilt is a critical bitch because now it has.
And I understand their fears.
Their worries.
The pounding terror that shoots through your heart when you realize you’ve been snatched from your safe place.
I shouldn’t have been another Empire statistic.
But I was.
And if it weren’t for watching what the trauma did to my friends, how it stole their sanity, I might still be trapped. Isolated. Tortured and dead.
I've always wondered why I was the one that was spared and being taken has been eye-opening.
I firmly believe that things happened the way they did because I was meant to be the others' rock. Their stability. And as I lay in my hospital bed, IV in my arm, pulse monitor thingy on my finger, I know one thing beyond question.
Through Aria, Lake, and Scotlyn's struggles, I became strong enough to escape my own abduction and will be able to sympathize with them better from here on out.
“Hey there, lamb.” Ashton’s soothing voice brings tears to my eyes, and I couldn’t be more grateful that I’m alive to see him again.
Lifting a hand up to cup his handsome face, I scratch the burgeoning beard he has going on and pull him down to kiss me. “I’d sure like to feel this between my thighs,” I whisper against his lips.
“Son of a bitch. Seriously, Hads?” Hendrix groans as he stands and leaves the room.
“Whoops.” I’m not at all sorry. I’ve overheard some things from him and the other boys that I’d have been perfectly fine never knowing too.
Ashton’s chuckle is warming as he shakes his head.
“Sweetness,” he sighs. “You scared the fuck out of me.” His passion could be mistaken for anger, but I recognize the hint of vulnerability in his dark gaze.
“Yeah,” I choke on the single word. “Me too.”
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again,” he grumbles, leaning down for another kiss. I gladly accept it.
Yawning as he climbs into bed with me, I respond, “I’d be okay with that,” as I lay my head on his chest. I hurt almost everywhere, and I should be asking a million questions, but I just don’t care right now.
I have Ashton at my side, Lake is safe, and my family has finally accepted the man I’ve chosen for myself. There isn’t much more I need right now.
* * *
Ashton
She thinks I was kidding. I wasn’t. Not in the least. Having Hadley in my arms as she falls back to sleep makes it easier to breathe. She may have only been gone less than twenty-four hours, but it felt like a damn lifetime.
After Castiel and King hauled Riina off somewhere—they wouldn’t elaborate in order to keep me clean—Daniel drove like a madman to get Hadley to the hospital. Unfortunately, the drugs had to work through her system, and thankfully, her injuries were minor and looked worse than they were. Her side was grazed by the bullet when she fell through the door. The burns will heal, but she’s scarred.
The cops were able to pin the murder of the shopkeeper on one of the guys we caught; the rest were arrested for kidnapping and forcible confinement. I think if it weren’t for the murdered shop owner, all of Riina’s men would have been killed. I can’t say with surety that that isn't a future possibility, but I'll do my damnedest to protect what's mine.
We found Hadley yesterday morning, the sun is now setting at the end of the day, and I can’t say I’ve ever felt more exhausted in my life. Hearing the door open that her brother exited, I see Castiel standing there, watching us.
With a nod, he sits in the vacated chair, ready to attack anyone who dares enter the room. If I had to guess, there’s someone else outside—likely Hendrix.
Cas and I had a nice long talk while Hadley was being examined. I’m not a man who asks anyone for anything, but family is the most important thing to Hadley, and when I asked him for her hand, to make her mine, he didn’t hesitate to say yes. All I have to do now is convince her I’m worthy.
I never thought of myself as a fall in love, get married again, have babies kind of guy. For years, it never crossed my mind. But my mother was right. Once you find the right girl, everything clicks into place.
From the minute I laid eyes on Hadley, I knew she would be my forever. Through her resistance, the knowledge of her fears, the subtle hints at her dreams, we are now a done deal. I’m not as powerful or deadly as her family is, but I know she doesn’t care, and that gives me all the encouragement I need to make sure I provide her with everything her little heart desires.
After Carver, her brother, and cousin had grabbed Edward and Denise, bringing them back to Castiel’s house, I was ready to kill the two of them. Given the choice in that moment, I think I would have. And I’d have felt zero remorse. But Daniel found enough evidence against Denise for conspiring to kidnap that he believes she’ll be in prison for a long-ass time. Especially with the shop owner's death.
Edward was a little harder to prove any illegal connections, even though I know he uses them with nearly all of his business dealings. The fucking fool had to know what Denise was planning to do to Hadley, too, so we didn't let him go without some sort of dirt on him. Carver had some fun teasing him with his knife before he confessed to watching underage porn. We were all a little sick and murderous at that confession.
After a severe beating and some very colorful threats, they were both handed over to the authorities after we found Hadley, with enough evidence to lock them up for life.
But even knowing she’s safe now, I’m always going to have this damn fear of, what about tomorrow? It’s going to be a good long while before I let my girl get far enough away from me without being able to touch her. Good thing I know just how to keep her happy.