Page 63 of Encircled in Darkness
Epilogue
Amaya
6 Months Later
“Are you sure you wantto walk back? You can take the golf cart and bring it back tomorrow for the cookout.” Preston offered and I shook my head.
I had been spending time with him every week since Natalia’s funeral, and a few months ago I met other members of my family. Uncles, aunts, cousins, and my grandmother Eleanor had all made me feel welcome and a part of their family. Preston had told them about me and for years, they had eagerly awaited my arrival to the clan.
I had never known affection and care like they had shown me, and some days, it was just too much. I was still learning to have such a large group of people who cared about me, and Preston was understanding of my anxiety. I didn’t want them to reject me, so I constantly felt on edge. Not so much that anyone would know it, but enough that James had spoken with him about it.
“James is going to meet me at the gate and take me for Italian. I could use the walk to build up at appetite.” I chuckled and he pulled me into a gentle hug.
Stepping back, I let my hand drop from his as I started the walk around Pierce Lake. He watched me until I disappeared around the bend past Eleanor’s house and I exhaled. I had grown used to the walk back and used that time to let the overwhelming feelings - from being around that much money - bleed from me.
Having grown up poor, depending on free lunches and the kindness of others just to survive, I was still uncomfortable and never wanted the family to think I was looking for anything other than their love.
Eleanor had set up a trust fund for me, listed me as an unnamed child of Preston Pierce, when her husband died. I never wanted the money and tried to turn it down. Preston and James explained how I could use it to help others if I was uncomfortable with spending it, and I set the Natalia Foundation up.
We were still working on the details, but I knew my sister’s legacy would live on with the kids we could help. I was thinking about her a lot, and the pain of missing her was growing a little less every day. I visited her grave every week and took fresh flowers to her. Twice I found roses on the grave with no note, and I wondered who was visiting her.
James set up a remote camera and we found a young man came to pay his respects. It turns out he was the guy Natalia had a crush on and when he heard about her passing; he came out to talk to her from time to time. He was a cook at the lakeside restaurant, and they had just started dating when she was attacked. From what James said, he was a nice guy who really liked my sister. I smiled, knowing she was cared for beyond me when she was still alive.
I pushed Greg, Victor, and the rest of the men out of my mind, knowing James sent them to hell like he had promised. They never deserved to have a single moment of my life again, and I refused to waste time thinking about them or what they did to us.
James had a meeting with Devlin in Atlanta, and he texted me he was home about an hour ago. Two nights without him was two nights too many and hopefully, he wouldn’t have to travel again for a while. I didn’t like when he was too far away from me. I had grown dependent on him when things became overwhelming, and he made sure to always talk about how I was feeling when he recognized life was becoming too much.
I could see the gate off in the distance and picked up my pace, hearing the soft sounds of the water lapping on the shore and looking at the thick dense trees on the other side of the path. The whole place was monitored, and I knew I was safe on this side of the fence as I walked down the tree-covered path.
I was lost in thought, my feet moving forward when I heard a branch snap behind me. I stopped and glanced over my shoulder as a chill ran up my spine. My breathing grew rapid and my heart raced as I turned back to the path and quickened my pace. There was still a couple of hundred yards until I was off the isolated path and my brain was screaming to run.
The sound of footsteps behind me on the path sounded and I took off in a run, not knowing who was behind me. Their steps grew faster, and I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist and haul me off my feet. I tried to scream when a hand smacked over my mouth, muffling my pleas.
He inhaled deeply against my neck and his thick length pressed against my ass as I struggled in his arms. Walking off the path, he carried me into the thick trees as I tried to scratch and claw at him. The man’s breathing was growing rapid against my back as he carried me into a clearing. There was a huge blanket spread out on the ground and I fought as he laid me down face first, his hand pressing against the back of my neck, forcing my face into the soft blanket.
“You don’t want to do this.” I pleaded and he straddled my ass.
Leaning over me, he purred in my ear. “Why wouldn’t I want to claim what’s mine,naughty girl.”
