"Apparently they need someone else to find him, so they don't break a nail." One grumbles making me snicker.
"There's a car on the back road, but I can't see the make or model. It's black and in a thicket." Ridge clicks a few keys, rolling the mouse to bring the image forward. "I can't fucking see a damn thing! Outstanding job on making this place safe."
My belly flips when I realize what he's done. I lay my hand over his, drawing his attention. "You did all of this for me?"
"Harper, there's so many things I need to explain to you." His head drops, and for the first time, so does my resolve.
"You keep saying that and it's obvious you think whatever it is you need to tell me, is devastating but Ridge, there's no mistaking what you've done here. This was to keep me safe once I came home, thank you." I squeeze his hand in hopes to elevate the weight of what he's carrying.
He shakes his head, refusing to face me again. "One, I'm gonna need to go check this out. What's your eta?"
"Ten minutes, tops."
Ridge's head slowly bobs. "Harper, I'm gonna need you to stay here and wait for One. Remember what we discussed and where you need to go in case of an emergency?"
"Yeah, but..." Tears fall with every shake of my head. "please stay with me."
His hand slips from beneath mine and I immediately shiver, chilled to the bone. "I need you to stay here, watch the screens and if you see him, do as I ask. Will you do that for me, please?"
"Do I have a choice?" Anger boils in the pit of my stomach.
Ridge's eyes lock on mine, his words filled with as much emotion as his gaze is. "Yes, Harper. You've always had a choice and that will never change again. I'm asking you to do this, not telling you."
"Go." A wave of fear and nausea sweeps over me. "Just please... come back to me."
He lifts his hand, running the back of it over my jaw. "I will never leave you, ever."
"Ridge, be careful. I'm bringing the calvary." One ends the call and Ridge turns to the door.
"Please," I latch onto his hand. "I'll be waiting."
He leans in, pressing his lips to my hair. "I love strawberries." He swings the door wide and races down the stairs. I move closer to the monitors and watch as he runs toward danger, thinking of me and not himself.
"Dear God, please hold him close." My eyes flicker from screen to screen, hoping nothing's there but knowing he's lingering somewhere close.
I watch as Ridge's form disappears from view, laying my hand across my churning gut. I glance at the others, not wanting to leave Ridge for long.
A chill races down my back when something catches the corner of my eye. It's a black sedan sitting just beyond my brother's driveway.
My head snaps around when I hear something behind me. Holding my breath, I wait, hoping to hear Ridge coming up the stairs. The noise echoes around me, urging me to look back at the monitors again.
I bite my lip as two people come into view. My breath hitches as I squint, praying this isn't who, I think. As they come into focus, I gasp. "You son of a bitch."
Springing from my chair, I hurry down the stairs, trying not to fall before I can get out of the door. "I have to do something; I can't allow him to hurt her."
I sprint down the drive toward the gates, only for it to hit me I don't have the code for it. I have no other choice but to climb over the fence.
"Shit." I groan as my battered and beaten body takes another blow to its well-being. I maneuver the wall and race to her. Now, her cries are clearer, and rage fills me.
"Tell me where she is!" Weston's muscle flex as he grapples with Scout, yanking her around like a rag doll.
She yanks away long enough to protest. "Not on your fucking life, you pussy coward."
"No, bitch! It's on yours!" He wrestles her to the ground, wrapping her in his arms and stands. His car door is open, I know he's about to take her.
"Stop it!" I scream from the other side of the street. His head whips around and I shudder when we make eye contact. "Let her go, you're not here for her."
Weston drops Scout on the ground beside him. She claws at him as he stalks toward me. "Where the fuck have you been?"
"You need to leave Weston or did you forget you're wanted by the FBI?" I yell, doing my best to make as much noise as possible, while inside I'm falling apart. I know he's going to attempt to kill me.
His face is distorted and for a split second, I don't even recognize the man I married. I shouldn't be surprised; I never knew him before now.
"Get in the goddamned car before your fucking mouth gets you what you deserve." His anger so apparent, he froths from his mouth.
"No, you're the one that needs to get in your car and get the fuck outta here!" My body vibrates with rage.
His fingers dig into my bicep as he yanks me closer to his car. "I said, get in the fucking car bitch!"
"Let go, Weston!" I yank away from him. My body is still reeling in pain from his earlier attack, even in its weakened state, I try to make a break and run from him. But I'm too slow and his hands are in my hair before I can get away.
"You're coming home where you can learn some manners." He growls, jerking me backwards.
"Fuck you, asshole!" I swing my elbow into his side. If I'm going to die, I'm going down fighting from now on. "You've beaten on me for the last time!"
We struggle to the ground and he lays over me; I turn my face away as he leans in, snarling. "You can't fight if you're dead, now get the fuck up and get in the fucking car bitch."
I try to scuffle with him but as always; he has the upper hand. Weston stands, wrapping my hair in his hand and hauls me toward the car.
Scout yells, holding her phone in the air. "The police are on their way Weston, leave her here and go while you can still get away!"
"Then we'll both die." Weston's words seep out low and guttural. I fight to pry my hair free, leaving chunks all over us both. When he turns, he puts a gun in my face and obliterates my resolve. "Now, Harper."
The gun blurs in my vision when I look him in the eye and all I see is black, it's as though his soul is already gone, and he has nothing to lose.
I hold my hands up, giving in to him once again. "Okay. Alright. I'm coming."
"You will learn, once and for all to never defy my orders again." He snarls against my ear.
It's not enough that my hands are raised or the fact that I've stopped fighting him. As with all abusers, Weston wants to humiliate me and show me how beneath him I am.
When he grabs me this time, he gets a handful of my hair and shirt. Instead of allowing me to walk, he turns and drags my body over the pavement, to the opened door.
I want to fight. Also, I want to live. I just don't know how to escape him without losing my life or risking the lives of those I love. Even now, as my flesh is torn from my knees and hands, I loathe myself more than I do him.
Just when I think I'm giving in; I see his face and know that I have to fight a little longer. For him. For my family. For a future. And for me.
"I don't love you! I can't love you!" I bellow, waiting for his wrath, and still I go on. "I've never loved you. It's always been him, Weston. Every time you've kissed me or forced me to fuck you, I thought of nothing but him."