Page 7 of Golden Knight

“I wanted to make sure you're okay. I saw you retreat to your office and then I saw a man leave.”

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? Who was that?”

“A man from my past,” I answered.

He seems to understand my cryptic answer. “Was that Jake? The one you used to talk about. When you know, we were…”

He doesn’t have to finish his question. I just nod my head. My voice seems to be stuck in my throat. I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to go back there, but my memories have a different idea. Seeing Jake today brought all these feelings to the surface. Feelings I shoved away a long time ago. I slam my eyes shut, willing the memories to disappear. Hoping the tears don’t come, but I can’t seem to stop them.

A large hand encases mine, and when I open my eyes, Paul looks at me with those eyes. The ones that tell me he’s here for me. The memory of how we met flitters through my mind. “Do you remember the night I came to the warehouse?”

He grips my hand tighter as he answers, “I remember. You had super long blonde hair, way past your waist, but that night it was stained with blood. Kinda reminded me of a bloody Rapunzel. Your eyes were swollen shut, your body beaten and bruised. I’m assuming it was because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut.” He lets out a little chuckle and continues, “Especially since you kept yelling at them. You didn’t come quietly.”

A soft smile comes to my face because even though it was the worst night ever, it was also the night I met Paul. “Yeah, I couldn’t go down without a fight. That was the night I was taken.”

He nods.

“If it wasn’t for you, I never would have survived. Thank you for being there for me, Paul,” I whisper as I squeeze his hand.

“Yes, you would have, Amber. You’re stronger than you realize, you didn’t need me. It was me who needed you.”

Tears threaten to spill over. “Paul…you would’ve been fine.”

He just shakes his head. “I was already beaten down when you came that night. It was you who gave me a new reason to fight. Always talking about escaping and giving those bastards a run for their money.”

Paul looks like a bodybuilder now, but that’s all new. He’s been working on gaining muscles over the last two years. When I met him, he was a scrawny kid, malnourished and unhealthy. Beaten and bruised from all the abuse he took over the years. Since we left, he started boxing to fight his demons.

“Amber, what else is going on? You still seem stressed.”

“Do you think Jake finding me means I should be worried the Wolves will too?”

Paul seems to think about this question carefully before responding, "I’m not sure.”

I let out a breath trying to calm my racing heart.

“Amber, look at me.” He waits for my eyes to slowly rise. “You know I would do anything for you. Even if that means starting a new life. Maybe we should see how it goes. If we have any sign the Wolves are coming after us, then we leave.”

I nod my head. Paul lets out another deep sigh. “You’ve been waiting for him for so long. I remember how much you used to talk about him when you first came to the house. Remember, he’s not the bad guy. You deserve to be happy.”

He’s right, I did wait for Jake. Every night I prayed that he would save me, but in the end, I had to save myself. But now that he’s here, I’m terrified. Maybe we could have a second chance or maybe it’s too late. “Thank you, Paul,” I whisper.

“Well, I better get back out there. My manager is a real pain,” he says with a wink as he leaves.

I lean back in my chair and take a deep breath. I let myself contemplate and wonder what a future with Jake could be like. Could I let my guard down and let him in? I’m a different person. I have demons that follow me around now. Could he love this person? Or does he expect me to be the same as I was before?

I try to hold back my tears but I can’t. The memories, the pain, the questions…it’s all too much. I squeeze my eyes shut tight, willing the tears to stop.

I don’t have time to think about this right now. I need to get back to work. I grab his card and shove it in my purse. Standing up, I brush off my clothes. “You got this, Amber,” I mutter under my breath. “Don’t let the thought of him keep you in the past with your memories.”

I grab the clipboard that I was using for inventory earlier, ready to go over it, and drown myself in work. Someone knocks softly on my office door. I groan to myself. What now?

“Come in.”

I look up and see Ella. Oh, thank god. She always brings a smile to my face. I smile at her but I know she sees my tear stains because her face drops when she sees me.

She doesn’t stop or say anything, she just comes around my desk, pulls me up from my chair, and engulfs me in a hug. Squeezing me tight, I stiffen at first but then I relax in her hold as tears track back down my face.

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