Page 42 of Clara's Secure Hideaway

“Oh my God.” Clara pressed a shaking hand to her mouth. Sally had been so sweet and accommodating. She hated to think of her injured or scared, all alone in a hospital bed. “You need to go see her.”

A tortured expression twisted the features on his face. “I don’t want to leave you and the kids.”

She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him. “The kids and I are fine. Pizza’s on the way, a cartoon’s on the television, and I’m still hoping they’ll fall asleep once their bellies are full. If not, they’ll be terrors later.”

He rested his chin on the top of her head and wrapped her up tight. “Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

He kissed her forehead then pulled back to stare down at her. “I won’t be long. I promise. I just need to see with my own eyes she’s okay.”

Going up on her tip toes, she kissed him, ignoring the burst of excitement licking up her belly as she stepped out of his embrace. “Go. We’re safe here.”

He yanked his jacket off the hook and shrugged into it. “I’ll call Owen. See if he has a deputy he can station outside the house just in case.”

“I appreciate it. Now go. Give love to your mom and Mila.”

“Lock up as soon as I close the door.” He pressed another kiss to her lips before heading outside and jogging to his cruiser.

She waved then did as he said by turning the deadbolt. Drawing in a large breath, she leaned against the hard wood door. She’d hoped to grab a few peaceful minutes with Heath after the chaos of the morning.

Maybe even steal a few more kisses.

Rubbing her hand over her heart, she sighed. Lord almighty the things that man did to her. No one had made her feel this way in years, no man had ever shown her children so much love and kindness. She was falling hard and fast and a little trickle of fear wedged itself inside the joy. If things didn’t work out, if she jumped in headfirst and got burned, she wasn’t the only one who’d get hurt.

Her kids had suffered too much—been inflicted with too much pain in their short little lives. Before she took a nosedive off this cliff, she needed to slow down and make sure she and Heath were on the same page. Make sure they both understood everything that was at stake.

A knock at the door took her out of her head and made her stomach growl. Coffee had sounded amazing before, but now the thought of gooey cheese and spicy pepperoni was calling her name. A quick peek out the window showed a delivery car parked on the side of the road. “Pizza’s here!” she shouted and swung open the door.

Mitch stood in the doorway, a sneer twisting his face. “Hello, Clara.”

She tried to close the door, but Mitch charged inside, slamming it shut behind him.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find you?” he asked, grabbing her by the back of her neck. His meaty palm pinched her skin and yanked at her hair. “I told you this wasn’t over. You dumb bitch, thinking you can take my kids away. That you could toss my ass to the cops, leave me to the wolves, then skip happily away with some dipshit deputy. He’s just trying to get into your pants, Clara. But that’s all you’re good for anyway.”

He shoved her aside, slamming her into the wall. “Now where are my children?”

Fear pitched so high in her throat she thought she’d vomit. A part of her wanted to curl into a ball and cry, to scream, to bemoan stupid fate who’d created this life for her.

But she couldn’t do any of those things. Adrenaline surged through her system, pushing her back to her feet. She lunged for him, hands balled into fists, and attacked his back with full force. “No! Leave them alone!”

Snickering, he pivoted and backhanded her across her face.

Pain erupted up her cheekbone and she stumbled backward.

He stalked over to her. “You want to play this game again? I thought you’d learned your lesson. That you’d realized there’s no way you can possibly beat me. No way that you can win.” Threading her long strands in his fingers, he yanked her toward him and pressed his face inches from hers. “I. Always. Win.”

All the anger and terror and shame he’d heaped on her shoulders for years combined in the pit of her stomach. She wouldn’t let him beat her, wouldn’t let him intimidate her and take control of her life.

Take her children.

With all the force she could muster, she hiked up her knee and connected it with his groin.

“Sonofabitch!” His grip on her hair loosened.

She lunged away from him and fumbled to get her phone from her pocket. Heath couldn’t be too far.

A roar of rage tore from Mitch. He stomped forward, grabbing her wrist and forcing the phone from her hand. “Big mistake.”

---