Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
There were no words being said, just the sound of angry grunts, painful whimpers from Lance, and flesh hitting flesh brutally.
She saw people rushing toward them, but she was frozen in place. And only when a few security guys pulled Alex off of Lance, who promptly crumbled to the ground, did she blink back into focus. Mary stared at Alex, blood covering the white shirt under his suit jacket and sprayed along his neck. His knuckles were busted up, split open from how hard he hit Lance.
He was in front of her moments later, taking her face in his busted hands, smoothing his thumbs along her cheeks, no doubt smearing Lance’s blood on her skin yet she couldn’t care about any of that. All she cared about, all she focused on was staring into his blue eyes and letting everything else fade away.
“Mary,” he said her name softly, almost hesitantly. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Seeing him try and take you, force himself on you…” His throat worked as he swallowed, and when he opened his eyes and stared down at her again, she saw so much anguish that she sucked in a breath. “I just love you so much, that the very thought of anyone hurting you makes me see red, and feel like killing them.”
She looked at his lips, saw a smattering of blood, but didn’t feel anything but relief that Alex was there. She burst into tears, unable to control the torrent of emotion that suddenly took over her.
“Baby.” He leaned down and rested his forehead against hers.
“Oh my God.” First it was her mother’s voice, then Margo’s, and then her father was right in front of her, asking her the same questions Alex had. Everyone started talking a mile a minute, and although it was all so confusing and hectic, she found herself answering with a sure, calm voice, as if she were on autopilot.
The time passed in a blur, and between Alex, her parents, and Margo, Mary was never left alone. They didn’t reassure her to say more. They didn’t do anything but give her the silent comfort she needed right now.
Hour after hour passed as the police and an ambulance showed up. Mary refused to go to the hospital to get checked out. She was physically fine aside from a few scrapes on her palms and a twisted ankle. Mentally… she’d be okay too. She felt it.
Alex pulled her close to him and wrapped his big arms around her body. She gripped his shirt in her hands and rested her head on his chest. Closing her eyes and inhaling his scent deep within her lungs, she felt everything else fade away.
And then Margo had surprised the hell out of her by telling everyone that the reception was over and they “need to get the hell out”. Now, here she was with Alex’s big arms wrapped around her, his soft, gruff words of encouragement whispered in her ear, and her family watching the whole thing and giving her support.
Her mother was still crying, her father still looked pissed and broken, and Margo was crying and mouthing “I’m so sorry” as she stared at Mary.
The last twenty-four hours had been the craziest she’d ever experienced.
“Alex.” She didn’t know what to say or how to act right now, so instead she tipped her head back and looked at Alex, who was already looking at her. The situation was fucked-up. “I love you.” He pulled her in for a hard embrace, and she rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes and just breathing in his scent.
“I love you, too.” He smoothed his hand up and down her back. “Let’s get out of here.” He pulled back and looked into her face. “Nobody and nothing else matters but you and me and where we go from here.”
She nodded, knowing that was the truth, feeling it in her bones, in her bones and blood and soul. Things with her family were on the mend. Things with Lance were done, and although it would take time to fully move past… all of that, she felt love and happiness as she let Alex hold her.
Because although things felt a little black and bleak, although a part of her felt battered and wounded because of Lance, she also felt hope. Things would get better. Things would be better.
Because she was stronger, and she had the love of the man currently holding her like he never wanted to let her go.
Epilogue
Two years later
“Baby, where do you want me to put the box that says ‘Kitchen’?” Alex stopped in the entryway of their new home, a big box in his arms, sweat and dirt covering his face, but his grin genuine as he stared at her.