“Parties?”
He glanced over at her to find she was once again staring at him.
“I’m not oblivious to the rumors running around about the Dirty Fuckers’ parties. They’re wild.”
Tapping the steering wheel he focused on the road ahead of him. “What do you know of the parties?”
“I don’t know anything to be honest, only what I’ve overheard in town. They’re a pretty big deal for a lot of women. Also, Chloe is always looking happy about them. They’re a big orgy or something?”
Drake sighed, looking toward her. “I can’t tell you. Only women who are invited or escorted by one of the brothers are allowed to be there.” Sometimes some of the club whores brought a friend. The brothers didn’t mind seeing new talent.
“I’m not looking for an invitation. I’m sworn off men and partying. Right now I’m focusing on getting myself back to being me.”
“What happened?” he asked. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“It’s okay. With you, I feel I can tell you everything. Is that strange?”
Yes. “No, not at all.”
“Well, when my parents were killed in a plane crash, I didn’t know what I’d do. I was eighteen at the time, so at least I didn’t have to worry about finding a guardian to take me in. When I graduated school, I decided it was time for a fresh start away from all the pitying looks. It’s hard to move on when everyone knows your business.”
“I get that.”
“I went away to college, and that was where I met Dwayne. Everything was going great. I mean, he was nice, or at least he was nice most of the time. He suggested he’d earn more with his job in accounting, so I quit school to help support him. After a short time, he started getting nasty, and then he started to get violent.”
Drake wanted to kill that fucker, and he didn’t even know him. Any guy who raised his hand to a woman needed taking down, and snuffing out.
“It’s so embarrassing. Looking back, I was so grateful to have a boyfriend that I would blame myself for him attacking me. If my dad was still alive right now, he’d have a few choice words to say to me.”
“Your father sounds like my type of guy to have a drink with.”
“Yeah, he always told me to stick up for myself, and to never let anyone give me shit. I miss them, you know?”
“I don’t know, darling. My parents were addicts, and put up with me. When I was old enough, I got out, and I’ve not looked back.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“No need to be sorry, but I get what you mean. They’re your family. If your parents had been alive, they wouldn’t have allowed this Dwayne to get a look in. He saw you were vulnerable, and he took advantage of that. You did right, getting out.”
Grace smiled. “I’m kind of proud of myself actually.”
“You should be. You got away.”
“Not just because of that. On that final day when I was packing, Dwayne came in while I was halfway through. He started yelling, and when he came in close with the intention of hitting me, I grabbed the bat that I had purchased, and I swung, hitting his arm. I told him to stay the fuck away from me otherwise I was going to call the cops on his nasty ass.”
“Did it work?” he asked, laughing.
“He spent the rest of the day bitching but he didn’t lay a finger on me, and he hasn’t come after me.”
This woman, she really was something, and what was worse, she didn’t even see it. What the fuck was he going to do?
****
Grace loved the sound of his laughter.
“Did you kick his ass?”
“I would have done. Thinking back, I should have kicked his ass long before then.” Grace hated how withdrawn she’d become with Dwayne. He’d been a total asshole, and she’d been so desperate for affection that she had made all kinds of excuses. “I was so lucky actually. Looking back, I still can’t believe that I fell for his crap. I mean, what kind of man does that? I must have been so desperate for someone to love me.”