Page 33 of Dusty and Dented
“Mistaken?”she said.There were so many thoughts circling inside her head she didn’t know where to start.She wanted to know who he’d been talking to, what they had said exactly, and why did she feel like questioning wasn’t exactly what had gone on.
Dagger nodded.“Seems they were given your address and description and were there specifically for you.”
She stared at him, confused.There was no one out there who wanted her, other than the men around her, who were only there because of Travis.She was alone in the world.As soon as she thought it, she knew she was wrong.There was one person who did want her.But would he hire someone to kidnap her in order to have her again?
“What?”Dagger asked.She knew she hadn’t been able to keep it off her face when she’d realized that shedidknow someone who would do this.But then, she hadn’t even thought to try.
“Do you know why I’m here?In Craven’s Creek?”Her voice was soft, even to her, as if she was afraid to be too loud or he might find her again.Not Dagger.She wasn’t worried about him.He’d come to save her.No.Theheshe was worried about was Tony.
“Not really, no,” Dagger said.
“Panther told me you’d run into some trouble in Denver.That he brought you here where he could protect you.”Bear spoke for the first time since he’d sat down.His voice was a deep rumble as if most of what he did was grunt and point, not speak actual words.
Andy wanted to laugh at how absurd the thought was but instead turned her gaze to the huge man, wondering how close he’d been to Travis that her brother would share something like that with him.
“That’s true, as far as it goes.But it’s only the basics.”
“So, fill us in on the rest,” Hawkeye said, leaning forward against the back of the chair where his arms were folded.
Andy took a deep breath and tried to decide the best place to start.Where did you begin when admitting to near strangers the biggest mistake you’ve made in your whole life?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dagger watched theemotions play across Andy’s face and he couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking.He held his tongue, though, hoping she would tell them without his having to ask.
“There is someone,” she said, her voice so soft even he wasn’t sure he’d heard her right.“Someone who could have done this, but it’s been so long, I thought he’d moved on.”
“What happened?”he asked.
Andy dropped her gaze to the table.Her voice shook as she began to speak.
“I was stupid.I was foolish.I wanted someone to love me, and I believed the lies of a narcissist who is incapable of caring about anyone or anything but himself and his own comfort and reputation.”
“Is that when Panther brought you here?”Hawkeye asked, his tone gentle.
Andy shook her head.“No.”She fell silent for a moment.When she spoke again, it was with her head still down as if she didn’t want anyone else to see her pain.“I told you I was stupid.I dated him for months, then when he asked, I moved in with him.By the time his abuse became physical instead of just mental, I was already beaten down enough to think I deserved it.I didn’t want to be treated that way.I didn’t want to be hit, but I didn’t know how to get out.”
