Victory Lane (Shady Falls #1) (36 page)

“Of course I do,” I said with a smile. “But what about you?”

“What about me?” she asked confused. “Don’t use me as an excuse, girl. I lived by myself in Nashville; I can live by myself here. Besides, I’m not alone here, Uncle Bobby’s right here if I need him.”

“But–” I started.

“No buts, Toni. No more excuses. It’s time for you to move on with your life.” She stood and smiled at me. “I love you, girl. It’s time to cut the cord. There’s nothin’ tyin’ you here anymore. Besides, when you need a break from all the sex you’re gonna have, you can come here and see me.”

I laughed and didn’t know what to say. I shook my head. “Alright. I’ll think about it.”

“No thinkin’, you’re movin’. I’ll pack your shit up this weekend while y’all are in Indianapolis. You ain’t gonna be livin’ here anymore. Besides I need to be able to bring home hot guys without worrin’ if we’re gonna wake you up.”

I shook my head and sucked in a deep breath. I knew she was right, if I wanted things to move forward with Jules, I had to stop being so afraid. “Okay. But for now, I gotta go get a shower and get ready for the day.”

“Well,” she said, rinsing her coffee cup out, “I’m headin’ to the gym. See you tonight.”

“See you tonight,” I confirmed. I went into my room, gathered my clothes, and got into the shower.

I thought about moving in with Julius, about being with him with no buffers and no fears. No more apartment to use as an escape, no more excuses. Instead of feeling afraid, I was excited. The idea of being with him was exciting. I wondered what he would say when I told him. Would he be happy? He asks me at least once a week to move in with him, why wouldn’t he be happy? I was going to do this. I was going to finally, truly move on with my life. Unable to wait, I finished showering and quickly climbed out of the shower. I immediately called Jules, hoping he wouldn’t be at the garage yet. I put the phone on speaker and dried my wet body.

“Hey, angel. What’s up? You on your way to the garage?” he asked. “You want me to come get you?”

“Not yet, I’m just gettin’ outta the shower,” I smiled. He’s been trying to convince me to let him drive me every day and I always insisted on driving myself. But today was different. I was releasing all of my old fears and reservations. Mia was right; it was time to move on.

“You ain’t right, woman. Now I’m imaginin’ you all wet and naked. Dammit, honey. You can’t do this to me,” he whined.

Laughing, I asked, “Did you leave for the garage yet?” I pulled on my t-shirt and panties. I gathered the rest of my clothes, took the phone from speaker, and walked across the hall into my bedroom where I threw my stuff on the bed.

“Nope, not yet. You want me to come pick you up?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Alright, honey. I’ll be there soon. I love you,” he said sweetly.

“I love you too, Jules.” I hung up the phone and smiled to myself. He loves me and I love him. I never thought it would happen, but it did. I didn’t doubt him. I wasn’t afraid of him.

Behind me, I heard my door open and close quickly. “Mia, I thought you were leavin’. You’re gonna be so late if …” I started, but as soon as I turned around I didn’t see my best friend standing there, I saw my worst nightmare. Todd stood there, leaning on the door, staring at me. His eyes grazed over my body, up and down. I felt like I was being violated. My hands immediately went to the hem of the short shirt that I wore, trying to cover myself. “What–?” I began, but he immediately cut me off.

“Well look at you. Ain’t you somethin’? All hot body and long legs.” He stepped toward me slowly, making me step back away from him. “This body was somethin’ else in high school. I think it’s just gotten better. Your tits look bigger than they were. I can see why you spend so much time at the gym now.” He stepped toward me more. I grabbed for my phone, but he was faster. He knocked it from my hand and sent it smashing into the wall. He stood in front of me, only about a foot away. The proximity was unnerving. “You ain’t callin’ no one. We need to talk,” he insisted.

“You-You don’t belong here. Get outta my room and outta my house.” I tried to sound commanding and confident, but it came out as more of a pathetic plea. “We have nothin’ to talk about.”

“I ain’t goin’ anywhere,” he said calmly. “You ain’t expected at work for at least another hour or so. No one’s comin’ either. Mia’s at work. Your Uncle’s visitin’ your father; no one else’ll be comin’ here any time soon. Guess you shouldn’t have insisted on drivin’ yourself to work.” I looked at him, surprised. He knows I go to the gym almost every day. He knows I was insistin’ on drivin’ myself, up until today. How the hell did he know it all? The one thing he didn’t know, Julius was on his way for me. All I had to do was keep him at bay until Julius got here. But I had no idea how long that would be. We didn’t need to be at the garage for at least an hour.
Julius may not be here soon enough.
I had to get that thought out of my head. I had to stay strong. Julius was on his way, he never made me wait long.

“What’re you doin’ here? You shouldn’t be here. I have a restrainin’ order,” I reminded him. I stepped around him toward my bed. At least if I could get my pants on, I could maybe feel more confident.

“Yeah, about that. What the fuck? You honestly think a stupid fuckin’ piece of paper’s gonna make me go away? You get even more stupid over the years?” he asked.

“Why’re you here, Todd?” I asked, trying to sound brave. I reached for my bed, for the pants I had thrown there just moments ago.

He moved quickly toward me again, and lunged at me, knocking the pants from my hand. He shoved at me from behind and knocked me down face first onto the ground. I tried to scramble back up, but he held me down and shoved my face into the carpet. The burn of the carpet grinding into my cheek brought tears to my eyes. “No, no, no,” he growled in a singsong voice. His voice low and near my ear. “I like what I see right now. See I know you think you love that prick driver, but you’re mine. I told you before—you’ll never get away from me.”

He grabbed my arms, and twisted them behind me. “Todd, please don’t do this,” I cried. I didn’t want to cry, but panic built in me. He ground my face deeper into the carpet. I couldn’t let him do this to me again. I didn’t want to be the victim anymore. I tried to remember what it felt like to be strong. I tried to remember what Cade taught me. I thought about how far I’d come. I was stronger than this. I couldn’t give up. I let him do what he wanted for years. I didn’t know what else to do then. I didn’t think I’d survive if I didn’t at least try to fight back now. There was always a way to fight back.

“Now, I don’t wanna do this on the floor,” he rumbled in my ear. “So I’m gonna help you up and you’re gonna sit your ass on the bed. Understand?”

I nodded. I didn’t want to speak, but I did want off the floor and for him to get off me. I needed to find an opening. I needed to find a way to fight back.

He yanked me off the floor, turned me around, and shoved me to sit on the edge of the bed. He hovered over me, staring down at me. I kept my eyes down, trying to seem timid, but I needed to try to find an opening to get away.

“Why’re you here?” I asked again after a long silence. He just stood there. Hovering. Intimidating.

“You belong to me, Toni,” he snarled. I flinched away from him when he moved his hand quickly toward me. He chuckled cruelly as he ran his hand over my shoulder and down toward my breast. “This is mine.” He ran his finger across touching my other breast. “This is mine.” Then he ran his hand down my stomach to my crotch. He leaned in, his nose inches from mine, his eyes boring into mine. “This is mine,” he growled. I shook my head. I didn’t belong to him. He didn’t have me anymore. He didn’t.

He laughed cruelly. “Deny it all you want. But make no mistake,” he said as he slid his fingers across my panties. “You are mine.” He continued to lean in front of me, touching me. His glare pierced through me. Instead of terrifying me, for the first time in my life I didn’t feel anything. No fear, no love, no hate, I felt nothing for the man standing in front of me. The only thing that terrified me was what he could do to me. His touch didn’t matter anymore. My body wasn’t his. My mind, my life, my fear, and my love weren’t his. That’s when it finally happened. His hold on me was gone. Then I thought about Julius, his smile, his love, his trust. I found some of my courage. I found the strength to fight back. I wasn’t going to be his victim anymore. Not ever again.

“Mine,” he growled once more sliding his fingers back up my body.

Something in me snapped. I thrust the heel of my other hand up into his nose. The crack as my palm met his face was a welcome sound. I stood, trying to get away. I thought I could at least get away if I hurt him, but it didn’t work. He straightened, his free hand went to his nose, but he gripped my arm, squeezing, forcing me up. “That shit ain’t gonna work this time, slut,” he rasped as he wiped the blood that oozed out of his nose with the back of his free hand.

I turned my body. Brought my free elbow back as hard as I could into his stomach. Then immediately thrust my fist into his groin.

He released my arm with a groan. Before I could get away, he grabbed my hair and pulled me back to him. He wrapped the length around his hand. “I like it long. I shoulda never made you cut it back then. It’s so much easier to control you this way,” he rumbled in my ear.

He flashed the knife he used on me all those years ago. It glinted in the light as if it was recently polished. He held my hair in his hand, the knife in the other, pain evident in his face. It gave me some pleasure to know I inflicted even the slightest bit of pain.

Yanking hard on my hair, he pulled me back to the bed. The knife still in his hand, he tried to force me to sit again, but I wasn’t lying down this time. I wasn’t giving in to him ever again. He was gonna have to kill me before I ever let him put his hands on me again.

Cade’s teachings came flooding back. The weeks I spent with him teaching me how to disarm someone with a knife were finally going to help me. Using my hair to propel me to the bed, I landed on the edge with a bounce. I watched Todd move toward me. Like a predator who had found its prey, he was ready to pounce. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, I hurt him. I could see it in his watering eyes, his bleeding nose, and his slow movements. Pride zipped through me. I actually hurt him.

Holding the knife up to my face, a painful smirk crossed his face. “Lie down, now.” The moment his eyes left mine, to graze my exposed flesh again, I took my chance. When his eyes came back up, he stepped toward me with the knife out. I kicked him in the knee as hard as I could. I felt the joint buckle under the force of my kick. He growled in pain and stumbled back just enough for me to stand and hit him in the nose again. This time I hoped to cause enough damage that he couldn’t recover quickly. But before my hand could meet his face again, he grabbed my wrist and twisted it. I let out a scream of pain feeling the bones in my wrist grinding together.

“No way. Not happenin’ again, bitch.” He held the knife to my throat, forcing me to the bed. “You’re gonna lay down and take it like a good little whore.” He pressed the knife harder into my throat. “I’m gonna finish what I started on the side of that road years ago. And this time no one’s around to save you.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Julius

If I ever thought I was happy and in love before I met Toni, I was mistaken. I never knew how much I could love someone until I met her. She was brave and honest, loving and trusting. Even after her horrific past, she still was willing to open herself up to me and give me her heart.

Thinking about last night and how she bravely took the lead and let me know that she wanted me as much as I wanted her made me happier than I’d ever been. That elation increased with her call that morning and the fact she called to tease and entice me had me all kinds of worked up. I knew I had to be cautious with her, and I didn’t have a problem with taking things slow. But damn, if that woman didn’t stop her teasing, I was going to burst. I was getting sick of going home and taking cold showers every night. She was thinking about me and wanted to see me, good signs as far as I was concerned. Driving to work with me meant she had to leave with me too. Maybe tonight would be the night I convinced her to come home with me.

I drove quickly to her house, intent on convincing her to stay with me tonight. We were leaving for Indianapolis tomorrow morning. It would just make more sense if she spent the night.

When I pulled down her street, I immediately noticed a car I didn’t recognize on the street in front of the bar. Knowing the bar was closed and Bobby wasn’t around, alarm buzzed through me. Something wasn’t right. I pulled into the parking lot and turned off the truck. I didn’t know if I was being paranoid, but I also didn’t want to let anyone inside know I was there yet. It could be nothing, but then images of Anna on the hood of her car with a man ravaging her body flashed into my memory. I tried to push it away. Toni would never do that.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed her number. When it went straight to voice mail, I knew something was definitely wrong. She knew I was coming for her; she would never turn her phone off completely. I walked around the bar toward the house and garage. Everything appeared fine, but as soon as I approached the door, I heard Toni scream. The terrified sound emanated from the depths of the house followed by a lower growling voice.

I tried the door. Obviously she wasn’t in there alone, I didn’t want to cause whoever was in there to hurt her. The door was open, surprisingly. Whoever was in there either wasn’t worried about someone coming or was too stupid to make sure he locked the door. I slipped into the house, trying to be quite as I made my way toward her bedroom.

“You’re gonna lay down and take it like a good little whore. I’m gonna finish what I started on the side of that road years ago. This time no one’s around to save you.”

The sound of flesh connecting with flesh sounded through the closed bedroom door, a male grunt of pain following. Pride filled me. She was fighting back.

“Bitch, you fuckin’ hit me again and I’m gonna slit your fuckin’ throat.” A slap echoed through the door. I knew he hit her.

She didn’t cry out, she didn’t make a sound which worried me. Did he knock her out?
He must have a knife if he’s threatening to slit her throat.

I tried the door and found that it locked. What kind of asshole doesn’t lock the door to the house but locks the bedroom door?

A muffled sob. That’s all I needed to hear to know that she was conscious.

Without a thought or hesitation, I backed up and kicked the door as hard as I could. The wooden doorframe shattered as the door burst open.

“Jules,” she whimpered when she saw me.

I surged forward, first noticing she was awake and seemed to have no visible marks on her body. Then I noticed the blood soaking his shirt and the red covering his face. She fought back. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or bad. It could have made him more violent. It could have cost her life.

Before he reacted, I pulled him from her, almost tearing his shirt. The slight rasp of material ripping was the only sound other than her whimpering cry. The silence that had descended on the room almost seemed surreal.

I dropped him to the floor, intent on making sure she was okay. That was my first mistake.

“Jules watch out,” Toni’s panicked voice sounded. “He’s got a knife.”

Todd lunged at me, knife in hand.

The glint of the knife caught the rays of the morning sun filtering through the partially open curtains. I thought it strange that Toni’s curtain was open at all, that was unlike her. It was strange the things you notice when you shouldn’t.

I grabbed for Todd’s attacking arm, trying to subdue him. Pain from the blade sliding across my arm ripped through me. It was then I realized his other arm wielded the weapon.

My warm blood oozed from the now open wound. I knew, no matter what I did here, I had to disarm him before he hurt Toni or me. I wasn’t going to let him harm her ever again.

His knife arm came back around, trying once again to connect with my vulnerable flesh. I grabbed his arm, trying to stop his assault. I was bigger and probably stronger, but he was crazed.

An insane look glinted in his dark blue eyes. He didn’t say a word, only turned, and tried to pull his arms from my grasp. I held tight, trying to use my larger build to push him off balance. I needed to gain the upper hand. His demented stare didn’t settle on anything but Toni. She sat there, unharmed but stunned.

Todd wrestled against me, trying to free himself, his sights set on one thing. Toni. He moved around, straining against my grasp. He was smaller than I was, but he was strong. Seemingly fueled by his irrational belief that he could control her. I had to get her out of his sight.

“Toni, get outta here. Go call the police,” I commanded.

She got up, nothing but a tiny tee shirt and panties covering her body. I was never happier to know she hadn’t left the bathroom in a towel. Knowing he didn’t have the chance to violate her body set part of me at ease.

Todd fought against me as Toni moved around us and ran out of the room. He twisted and turned, kicked and pulled, trying to get at her.

“Toni,” he screamed. “Toni, get your fuckin’ ass back here. This ain’t done bitch. This’ll never be done. Your mine. You hear me? Mine!”

All his fighting gave me the leverage I needed to overpower him. I swung him around and slammed him against her chest of drawers, knocking it over and spilling its contents. The knife flew from his hand, careening across the floor. The impact seemed to unsteady him for just a moment. Todd stood, eyes bulging with fury. He apparently wasn’t used to being overpowered.

He flinched, lurched toward me, fist drawn, and swung at my face. The strike landed on my cheek. The metallic taste of blood instantly filling my mouth. He came in for another hit, but I blocked his unsteady blow with my forearm. I countered with an uppercut to his jaw. It connected with a resounding crunch, causing him to crumble to the ground.

He stayed on the floor, lying in his own blood as I ran to the door to check on Toni. I stepped out of the room so that I could see her. She stood there, still on the phone.

“Toni?” I asked. “You alright?”

Panic crossed her face when she looked up at me. For a moment, I was worried I’d scared her. I probably looked crazed from the fight, bleeding and shaking from adrenaline.

“Toni,” I said again. “Angel, are you alright?”

She smiled at me, but then that smile changed. “Jules!” her terrified scream came just before the feel of the blade connecting with my shoulder. I fell to my knees, realizing I left Todd alone in that room with his weapon.

He pulled the knife from my shoulder and sprung toward Toni. I dove for his legs, knocking him to the ground face first.

A crash sounded from somewhere else and then Toni was at my side.

“Jules!” she cried. “Oh god Jules, are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” I pulled my uninjured arm up to her face and stroked her tearstained cheek. “What about you, he didn’t get you, did he?”

Pressing herself into me and wrapping her arms around my waist, she buried her face in my chest. Her body shook with sobs and she finally was able to relax into me. I felt her shake her head. “No, I’m fine,” she whispered. “I’m fine because of you.”

~oOo~

Richmond Motor Speedway

Federated Auto Parts 400

“Welcome back race fans, it’s been a heck of a day here in Richmond, Virginia. For those of you just joining us from the commercial break, this yellow flag is a result of the ninety-seven and zero-zero getting together in turn one. They’re both in the pits trying to get their cars together to finish out this race.”

“Right, Gus. Today we wrap up our regular season with a great race. Right now, we have Rhett Walker in the Trescane Toyota fighting Julius Fuller in the Icecore Ale Chevy for the checkered flag. Their starts this time around are going to be what determines the outcome of today’s race.”

“These two have been dominant the last few races, Bud. Leading all but twenty laps today. One of these two is bound for Victory Lane, no doubt.”

“Rhett’s had a heck of a season so far, Gus, landin’ himself in the Chase early in the season. The combination of Rhett and his new crew chief, Frank Stoll, has been quite the force.”

“But the real story this season has been Fuller and his number fifty-five Chevy. With the combination of Kyle Redding and our first female crew member, Toni Rizzo, he’s been basically unstoppable.”

“Y’all will remember back in May when Fuller had that terrible accident which landed him in the hospital and out of the driver’s seat. That could’ve crippled the number fifty-five team, but they came back stronger than ever. They’ve been in contention each week since Fuller’s return, never finishin’ below fifteenth place in the last ten races.”

“I wanna talk about Toni Rizzo for a moment, Bud. So many thought her addition to the team, working so closely with Kyle Redding and Kevin Dunn, was a huge mistake. The unprecedented addition of a second crew/car chief was questioned by most, and the fact that it’s a woman was even more controversial.”

“Not since our first female driver has there been this much controversy on a team, Gus.”

“Yeah, Bud, but look at what the combination of Kyle, Kevin, and Toni has been able to accomplish on that team. I’ll be surprised if Fuller doesn’t make a good showing in the Chase.”

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the pace car’s just gone back into pits. It’s time to go racin’.”

                                          ~oOo~

“You got this, Jules,” Toni’s voice reverberated through my helmet. I loved hearing her voice surrounding me.

“Alright old man, bring home the win,” Kyle added. “Get out in front of the sixty-eight and hold the line. Only five laps to go.”

I didn’t respond. Coming around to the green flag, I knew I needed focus. I needed to pull ahead of Rhett to take the lead and the checkered flag.

“White flag, Jules. Bring it home,” Tom encouraged.

Coming around for the last lap, Rhett alongside me, trying for one last chance at the win. Around turn three, Rhett and I were so close we traded paint. Going into turn four, he inched up trying to gain the spot but I wasn’t giving up. Half way through turn four, I slammed my foot down on the gas. One final push to win the race. Rhett edged back, unable to finish what he tried to start.

I could see the checkered flag flying as Rhett and I, side by side crossed the start-finish line. I held him off, his front end at my door as we crossed under the checkered flag. The race was mine.

“Wooo, hooo!” I shouted into the void of my helmet and car. I pulled down the net covering my window and raised my fist out of the car as I did my victory lap around the track. Stopping at the line, I held the break and started my burnout. Smoke covered the entire track as I came to a complete stop so one of the officials could hand me the flag.

I emerged from the smoke, spinning tire the entire way down the track toward the pits.

“Julius, don’t you burn up that damn engine,” Toni yelled as I continued my burnout all the way around the track. Even when she was bitching at me, I loved the sound of her beautiful voice.

“Great win,” I shouted. “Great way to start the Chase, fellas. Tonight we party!”