Page 67 of Skid
Rhys began to laugh and shook his head as he stood. Walking to me, he kneeled and took my hands into his. “I promise I’ll get to the bottom of everything. Why don’t we head over to the gym and get some mat time in before Regan finds us for lunch.”
“I . . . I guess.” Standing, I followed him out of the room and down the long hallway leading to the gym.
His sudden attitude change gave me whiplash as I followed him into the familiar gym. This was the room where Rhys taught me to channel my feelings into actions, ensuring no one ever took advantage of me again. Not knowing or even understanding why he was suddenly okay with everything that caused me to run, I picked up a pair of sparing gloves and looked at him.
“Let’s get started. I have a feeling we will be interrupted very soon.” His voice had a lilt to it, and I looked at him with confusion as I slipped the gloves on.
For the next two hours, we worked through the stances and katas that he taught me, and when I started throwing punches into the heavy bag, I began to feel like myself. I was in control again, no longer spiraling and the longer I punched, the worse I felt about abandoning Dalton without giving him the chance to explain.
Rhys had left me alone half an hour ago, and when I threw the last swing into the bag, I felt the fatigue in my arms. Flinging the gloves onto the floor, I sat down on the mat, fighting to catch my breath. A noise from over my shoulder drew my attention, and standing in the doorway was a man I’d never seen before.
He was intimidating and sexy in a way that scared me. Black hair and beard, dark eyes, and a devious smile graced his handsome face as he walked into the gym. He was wearing black military pants with a tight-fitting shirt and an empty weapons holster on his hip. If he was here, Rhys was aware and didn’t think I was in danger, so I stood from the floor and pushed my sweaty hair off my face as he approached.
Stopping ten feet from me, he smiled and spoke, his voice deep and refined. “It’s nice to finally put a face to the name, Grace. I’m Devlin Callahan.”
Those were the last words I remember before my world turned dark, but the last thing I remember was the floor quickly approaching as I let the darkness drag me under.
“Welcome to my home, Grace,” the tall man with black hair and dark brown eyes said as I walked into the house.
Kelly made all the arrangements for me to stay here, but I was still confused about where here was and who this man was. As I followed him, I hugged my small duffle to my chest and glanced left and right, looking to see if anyone else was around. A woman in a uniform pushed a cleaning cart and smiled warmly at me as we walked past her. The man nodded to her, and I forced a smile as we passed.
I ran away yesterday, leaving behind everything I was taught to want and now realized was a lie. A sick manipulation for another’s sick desire, and with every step I took, I felt more stupid and naïve than the last.
“How could I have been so stupid?” I muttered, almost to myself, and the tall man turned to me with kindness in his eyes.
“You weren’t stupid, you were young, and someone exploited you. There’s nothing to be ashamed about. By coming here, you’ve already proven you’re strong, and if you trust me to guide you through the next phase, I promise, I’ll give you all the weapons you need never to fall prey to someone again.” I looked up at him through tears. “Do you trust me, Grace?”
I didn’t know him, but Kelly trusted him, so I would too. She’s the only person who knew what happened and she’s the only person who ever liked me, for me. Not for what I could do for them.
“I guess,” I replied, and he nodded.
“That’s all I need for now. Follow me.”
There was a woman waiting when we got to a small bedroom on the second floor. She appeared to be in her late fifties or older, and she walked up to me with a smile. “I’m Mariella, and I’m going to help you get comfortable.”
The man waited at the doorway and explained. “Mariella will take care of all your needs until you feel ready to talk. You’re safe now, Grace. Please make yourself at home.”
With those words, he left, and I looked at the kind woman for guidance. She took me by the hand and walked me to the bed. I sat down, and she took my duffle from me, setting it on the bed beside me.
“Who is he?” I asked, not expecting an answer.
“His name is Rhys Weston, and he’s going to help you,” she explained.
“How do you know he can help me?” I asked, and she stood from the bed.
Just as she reached the doorway, she turned to look at me. “He’s a good man. Trust him, Grace.”
She left me alone, and for the next three days, I had meals and snacks delivered to my room, but I didn’t step foot out of it. I felt safe inside, but on the morning of the fourth day, Rhys knocked on the door.
“Are you ready to get started?”
Those words were my redemption, my salvation, and my future rolled together, and I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity he was offering.
I blinked, seeing Rhys’s familiar office as I woke up. Not sure what happened, I tried to push up from my position on the couch, only to have Rhys enter my field of vision. “Are you okay, Grace?”
Nodding, I sat up and felt my head swimming as I tried to remember what made me pass out. Visions of a dark man dressed in black flooded my brain, and I swung my gaze around the room, seeing we were alone.
“I must have imagined him,” I said. “How did I get here?”
