Page 11 of Rescued By the Guard

Wayne growled and accelerated on the gas. “Amelia, shut up. I need to concentrate, all right?”

I grabbed the handle and panicked as we passed a sign saying “Thank You For Visiting Forbidden Falls. Please come again.”

I closed my eyes as Wayne took the curves dangerously close to the edge as we moved around the mountain.

“Wayne, slow down. You’re going to get us killed.”

“Fuck, Amelia. Be quiet. I swear, you’re annoying the shit out of me.”

I huffed as I braced my hand on the middle console of the car and clutched the handle of the ceiling as I stared wide eyed at the road.

“Well, then, if I’m so annoying, I’ll leave at the next stop. We’re through, Wayne. I can’t take this anymore. I’ll figure something out.” I had no clue what I’d figure out, but I’d find my way because any way was better than this.

Wayne’s head snapped toward me and off the road. I swallowed hard. What did I do?

“Wayne!” I screamed, as the car didn't turn fast enough.

Pain, panic, and fear consumed me as I battled to hold on to anything.

My chest pounds as the car accident flashes to my mind and the memories of my life invade my mind at rapid speed, and then confusion as I wake up in the car with nobody else in sight and I stumble my way to Dale.

7

DALE

Undoingthe chains from around the tree, I’m relieved that I’m able to get the road cleared away so I can get Bella to the hospital. I’m hoping the delay in care won’t cause any permanent damage, but we’ll handle whatever happens together. Just because I slowed us down and protected the both of us from getting too involved with each other doesn’t mean it will last long. The more time I spend with her, the more my resolve will crumble because it takes all the strength I have now to stop myself from kissing her or touching her, and even then, it’s barely tolerable.

I glance over at Bella and give her a smile as she frowns at me for not letting her help, which is the cutest thing. Everything she does is the cutest. Her curvy body, with wide hips and voluptuous chest with her sweet angel face and kind smile. She’s the complete package, and it kills me not to touch her.

A shuffling of feet with the crunch of snow has me lifting my head to pinpoint where the sound comes from. I glance over at one of the dunes that lines the road from the beach, and a man with torn muddy clothes and dried blood stumbles out before me. I observe him because something seems off about him. Ican’t say what exactly. It’s a feeling I get, and I’ve learned to trust my instincts. Plus, with Bella around, I’m extra cautious of everybody.

“Hey, oh thank God. I’ve been trying to find anybody in this godforsaken place, but with the storm I had to shelter in the trees. Can you believe that shit?”

I eye him warily and stand guard, ready to strike at any moment. “Yeah, the storm was nasty last night. It’s been all over the news and radio though to shelter in place. What happened?”

The man rolls his eyes. “I got stuck on the road and when the storm hit, I got in an accident.”

I nod, but there’s more to his story. He’s not giving me many details. “You alone?”

“Yeah. I was trying to get home, but I’m an idiot and should’ve stopped at the motel I saw a few miles back, but eager to get home to the wife and kids, you know?”

I nod, and there’s no way I’m buying what this guy is saying about wanting to get home to the wife and kids. He’s battered and beat up which appears to come from an accident, but the open skin marks on his knuckles and his overall appearance with the dark rings under his eyes and greasy hair tells me there are no children, or at least any he’s concerned about. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s an addict.

“Could I bum a ride off you into town?” He rubs his hand behind his neck and tries to come off as humble, but I don’t trust him. Even more so, I’m more inclined to believe this man is the reason my Bella is hurt and has no memory of what happened to her.

I glance over at Bella to check on her. I freeze as her face is white as a ghost. Her eyes are wide and she’s breathing erratically.

Anger whips through me like a wave and I clench the chain in my hands tighter, ready to protect Bella with everything Ihave. We don’t know her story, but her reaction proves she knows this guy.

The man takes a soft step back when he spots the tension straining my body and what must’ve come over my face. He turns toward the truck, then glances back at me but swivels his head again and a rage takes him over as he shifts with a one eighty and makes a beeline for Bella.

It amazes me how he doesn’t even put on a front. He screams, “You fucking bitch. Where the hell have you been? Get out of the truck, Amelia.”

Nothing phases me. I chase after him, but he’s closer to the truck than I am. Bella gets her head together and locks the truck and I’m relieved, she thought quickly.

The guy pulls on the handle, and when it doesn’t budge, he screams into the window. “Open the fucking door now.”

With every word and action, I see red. I grab hold of his arm as he slams his hand into the window again and I yank him back.

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