Abbey's Protectors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 4] (Siren Publishing Menage & More) (2 page)

The change in Peter had taken place as soon as they were on their honeymoon. The way he made love to her was cold and mechanical. She felt empty and used after each joining. She had married him with no history with any man—something she wished now that she had experienced. Her sex life with Peter made her feel dirty, and she blamed herself when Peter attacked her worth as a woman. Her lack of confidence in that innocent aspect of her life had sealed her fate.

When he had told her that he wanted a child right away, a red flag was raised in her mind. Without his knowledge, she had remained on the birth control pills she had been taking and took some needed time to do her own investigating of her new husband.

What she had found out had opened her eyes and had broken her heart. It was bad enough that he only wanted to be married to her because of her money, but the fact that he wanted a child just to solidify his access to her father’s fortune made her sick to her stomach. She had always had dreams about having children someday. This was definitely not the way she would ever bring a child into the world. Instead, she secretly took her birth control pills and pretended disappointment each month when she got her period.

His anger and verbal abuse increased with each passing month. Abbey was a proud woman and was embarrassed by the words he hurled at her. She wasn’t feminine enough. She wasn’t smart enough. She didn’t know how to please a man. If she was more attractive and sexy, he wouldn’t be so frustrated with her. Despite the fact that she knew his words were said just to hurt her and keep her subservient, she couldn’t prevent the insecurity that filled her each time he questioned her value as a woman.

She kept it to herself until just two weeks before, when she had overheard Peter on the phone with someone he had called “honey.” He had been outlining his plan for taking over Abbey’s life and fortune through the child he was determined to have with her.

That’s when she had pulled herself together, confided in Synthia and Shelly, and made plans with them to protect her father’s company. Within two weeks, the three of them had successfully put barriers in place to protect every aspect of Tyler Industries. Abbey had pulled every piece of documentation that would protect the company and herself from her husband’s hands and had placed all of them inside a safety deposit box in Synthia’s name.

Synthia had pleaded with Abbey to hire bodyguards and start divorce proceedings immediately, but Abbey thought it better to leave the area before setting those wheels in motion. Once she was away from him, she would have her attorney serve the divorce papers and make sure that Peter was evicted from her house. Her attorney told her it might take some time to get things straightened out, but the ironclad prenuptial agreement that Peter had signed would guarantee that Peter would leave the marriage with only an executive position in a sister company that would pay him a six figure income as long as the ruling board of directors found his work competent. He would have absolutely no claim to Tyler Industries.

If Abbey and Peter had children, the stipulation changed. Both of them would share in their children’s guardianship and be executors of the money that was set aside in a trust fund until they turned eighteen years old. If Abbey died, Peter would have complete control over their children’s money. He would represent their children on the board and become the majority stock holder in the company that her father had created.

But Abbey was her father’s daughter. She had done her homework. She had set up a plan of protection for herself, Synthia and Shelly, and the company. Executing that plan today was her ultimate win. She would be in control as her father had taught her, and she sure as hell would never allow Peter to get her pregnant.

She wanted a man who would value her and any child they would create together. She wanted her man to be with her because he loved her and wanted a child with her without caring that she was the heiress of Tyler Industries. If she could just push through her pain, exhaustion, and fear, she would be successful in her plan of escape.

“Please help me, Daddy,” she whispered, gasping for breath as she fought to stay on her feet. “Help me.” She couldn’t help but repeat the plea. She needed her father. She needed his love. She missed him so much it still hurt to think about him.

No person could have continued on. But she had to. The other choice was to have Peter find her. That was not an option she was going to take.

A low branch pulled at the backpack she wore, but she pulled free and continued her flight to freedom. She could hear his footsteps as he ran toward her. Terror was screaming through her brain, and she squeezed her temples to force herself to remain in control. Just a few more feet and she would be able to slip down the hidden rock face she knew was just past the edging of trees on her property. It would only be a matter of seconds before she was safely hidden in the cave behind the steep ledge that led out over the ravine. It would be her haven where she could disappear and remain safe until she could begin her journey to a new city and a new life—away from him.

As she carefully climbed down the side of the cliff, she made her way along the ledge and squeezed through the narrow passage that led to the rock face. His voice broke the silence once again. She couldn’t even make out what he was saying. She only knew that he was screaming. She could hear him losing control as his anger consumed him. She knew that if he were to catch her now, he would lose that cool semblance of control that he was so proud of that he presented publicly to so many people.

The sound of a gunshot split the air, making Abbey slide to a stop for the first time. The shot was deafening. An instant of pain laced through her as she felt the blaze of heat that grazed her right temple. Panic froze her in place. He was close. Did he actually see her or was he shooting blind? She turned her head toward the shot and saw him coming toward her. The anger and intense hatred she saw on his face made all the blood drain from her face. She felt herself trembling and fought to pull her last ounce of strength from deep within herself to remain standing. She had to grip the smooth rock beside her to keep herself from falling.

“Please, God,” she whimpered, barely above a whisper. She had known Peter would do whatever he needed to do to ensure his acquisition of her money, but she hadn’t thought he would actually use violence against her—until today.

She looked up and saw that he was stalking determinedly toward her, but his gaze was not directed at her. She was relieved when she realized that he didn’t see her. He lifted the handgun he was carrying and shot randomly two more times. Thankfully, his aim was nowhere near where she was standing. Turning quickly, she finally got her feet to move. She would make it. He would not get her. She refused to allow him to get her, and she sure as hell wasn’t about to let him take her back and continue his slow destruction of her.

She scrambled through the small opening of the cave, tugging the backpack and small duffle bag she was carrying through the opening just as she heard his footsteps above her. She held her breath and waited. A shower of dirt fell across the space carved out of the rock face. Slowly, carefully, she backed her way into the small area that she knew so well. The opening was barely wide enough for her to get through. She had to close her eyes and imagine open spaces and bright sunshine as the claustrophobic feeling threatened to incapacitate her. All her hard work and planning would be ruined if she was unable to control herself long enough to get through the narrow space that would lead her to safety.

Her breathing became short and erratic, and she could feel the scream crawling up her throat. She fought to push it down. She couldn’t make a sound. One sound would cause her capture. The rock walls of the small opening scraped against her arms, and she felt as if she were being pinned down and unable to move. She knew it would just be a moment more before the constrictive space would open up to the vast cave she had found just weeks before. If only she could make it before she lost control.

Her face was dripping—from blood or sweat she didn’t know, and she didn’t care. Her arms ached and her legs were starting to cramp from the crouched position she was forced to remain in as she journeyed through the only path to freedom.

Finally, she felt the walls give way to open space as she backed into the area. She felt for the curve in the rock wall to her left and followed it to a spot she knew very well. She dropped her bundles to the floor as all energy left her. She sat down on the duffle bag, appreciating the softness of the supplies within it, and listened quietly. Her breath was slowly returning to normal now, and she forced herself to remain calm so she could listen for any movement.

Except for the occasional, slow dripping of water that was gently cascading against the far wall in the pitch blackness, there was no sound. She couldn’t hear him.

Very quietly, she settled herself against the cave wall, the softness of her pack cradling her somewhat as she leaned back. She reached up and pulled her thermal hood up over her head and tied the ties snugly under her chin. Lifting her arms before her, she quickly pressed the button on her watch to light up the dial. Seeing the time, she released the button quickly. No need for any unnecessary light, even if there was no way anyone could see the soft blue glow from outside the rock ledge. She wasn’t about to take any chances.

She didn’t need the light. She knew exactly where she was. She knew exactly what was around her. Slowly, she reached into her pockets and pulled out her heavy thermal gloves and put them on. She was going to stay warm, remain calm, and wait. She could wait for as long as she needed to. Once she was sure he was gone, she would make her way out of the cave and begin the journey that she had planned down to the very last detail.

Her father had raised a smart daughter. Peter would never get away with what he was planning. She was disgusted with herself for not realizing her mistake with him sooner, but it was a realization she had made in plenty of time to protect herself, her friends, and her company. Better late than never. She had a lifetime of freedom ahead of her. Finally.

As she sat there quietly, content to allow time to pass without concern, she realized that she was completely calm. There was no terror and no panic now. The quiet and darkness of the cave soothed her despite her claustrophobia. Thank goodness she had found the cave on one of her recent journeys along the outskirts of her land. She had never expected to have to hide here, but it must have been predestined for her to find it.

She felt the warming presence of her father as she thought about him and knew he had to have guided her to find the cave in order to keep her safe in her escape. She would never tell anyone, not even Synthia and Shelly, that she truly believed that her father still was a part of her life. She had no doubt in her mind that he watched over her every day.

It was a nice feeling to be sitting alone on the soft duffle bag. She had everything she would need to aid in her escape. She had planned everything with Synthia and Shelly down to the very last detail. She had made sure that her soon to be ex-husband would not be able to control her money, her business, or her life ever again.

Once she was far enough away, she would contact Synthia and Shelly by e-mail. When she found a place where they would be safe, she would have them join her.

Abbey smiled. It was the first genuine smile she had experienced in such a long time. She leaned back against the cave wall and allowed the sounds to soothe her. The cave was chilly, but it was peaceful and hid her well. The soft sounds of the water dripping off the cave wall gave her something to focus on and keep her calm.

She had done it. She couldn’t believe it. She was away from him. He couldn’t get to her, and she wasn’t going to have to live with him anymore. He could never hurt her again. She would never have to submit to his touch, his demands, or his tirades. He wouldn’t be able to find her. Let him think that she had died. That would make the victory of bringing him to justice that much greater.

Closing her eyes, she took calming breaths and thought through her plans once again. She briefly lit her watch dial once again and sighed with relief that an hour had already passed. They were sixty of the best minutes of her life. She was a little cold and a little cramped, but she was safe, and she was free. Nothing could be better than that.

* * * *

“Clay, grab your gear! We should have been on patrol fifteen minutes ago,” Hunter Stewart shouted to him from the front seat of the police cruiser as he waited outside the home that they shared.

Clayton Forest rushed from their home, slamming the front door behind him and buckling his holster around his trim hips. Despite his six foot three inch height and muscular stature, he carried himself with ease. He had always been a powerful figure, something needed in his job as a local police officer.

“Geez, Hunter, you’re lacking in the patience department today, buddy,” he mumbled as he climbed into the front passenger seat of the police cruiser and quickly buckled his seat belt. “Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

His blue eyes took in the tired circles under his triad partner’s eyes. The usual spark of life that lit Hunter’s brown eyes was absent today. If Clay were to be honest, Hunter’s eyes held little more than sadness, bored frustration, and loneliness lately. He completely understood his feelings. He had been feeling much the same things.

Hunter looked at Clay briefly and started the patrol car, putting it in gear and pulling away from their home. He remained silent as they traveled the road toward town.