Page 72 of Skid
“You saved her,” I remarked, but he shook his head.
“I didn’t, but that’s not my story to tell. What none of us knew was Aubrey made a copy of what Tiffany, the whore, was recording, hoping to use it for leverage. To whom and for what, we’ll never know, but I tried to save Aubrey from any more pain.”
“You did,” James remarked and cleared his throat.
“She fell in love with my friend, Hayden, and when she finally told us what happened, she gave us the thumb drive.” Dalton picked up the story, and I turned to him, catching Rhys’s eyes as Dalton spoke. “I didn’t want Devlin or James to watch it, knowing it would cause them pain. So, I did, and then I discovered that . . . he and his wife were dead.” Dalton glanced up at Rhys before looking at me. “I never intended to hurt you, but I felt in my soul he had hurt another girl. I looked everywhere for you, needing to see you were okay with my own eyes, and when I saw you, I fell head over heels for you.”
“Why keep it a secret?” I asked with pain bleeding through my words. I never wanted anyone to know, and now a table full of people are aware of what I let happen.
“They didn’t want to hurt you by asking, I’m sure. How did you figure out your gut was right, Dalton?” Rhys asked, and I wanted to strangle him with my bare hands for pushing the issue.
“Your nightmare,” he whispered, and I looked down at my lap, feeling the heat creep up my face, knowing he certainly knew.
I stood from the chair and began to pace as the four men watched me with worried expressions. Swinging my gaze to them all, I inquired, “So, every one of you thinks you know what happened to me because of what Aubrey dealt with? No offense to your sister, James.”
James, Dalton, and Devlin all nodded, and I shook my head in disgust. Looking at Rhys, he raised his eyebrows and nodded, giving me the go-ahead to let the anger free.
“What a bunch of egotistical assholes. You think she and I lived through the same thing? You have no fucking clue what I lived with,” I spat and pointed at them all. “You want all the juicy details? Fine. I’ll tell you everything, and you can run along, knowing you saved your sister from the monster all those years ago.”
“Grace,” Dalton started to say as he went to stand, and I walked to him and pushed him into the chair.
His worried eyes met mine, but I couldn’t acknowledge his pain when mine was too raw. I felt exposed and was letting my anger guide me. Walking to the head of the table, I kept my gaze on Rhys briefly, and he closed his eyes, knowing what was about to be said. When his dark orbs met my watery ones, I let the truth fall from my lips.
“All I ever wanted was someone to love me.” I looked at Dalton and shook my head with a sad laugh. “When I was twelve years old, Kevin Ringman took me camping. It was something that we did as ‘a family’ a few times a year, and this trip, Connie was sick and didn’t go. During the trip, he played on my vulnerability, on my need for love, and twisted my emotions into his fantasy. He drugged me and asked if I wanted him to be my daddy. I was young, stupid, and naïve, so I said yes.”
Devlin went to speak, and I held up my hand. “You wanted to know, so sit still and shut up while I tell you.” I was pissed, more pissed than I’d ever been, and I was letting every painful word, every lie, every manipulation out. “A few weeks later, he took me to a party where I was the guest of honor. A nice woman told me how special I was to Kevin and how he could be my daddy, if I was willing to make a promise. I did, and that night, he raped me in front of five men, taking my innocence from me while I thanked him for loving me.”
Scoffing, I began to pace at the head of the table while the memories fell from my lips. “For four years, he made me feel special, promising this was what daddies did to teach their daughters to be good wives and mothers. He was showing his love to me and getting me ready for my life. I was grateful he cared enough to teach me and kept his secret, always looking for stolen moments with him.” Shaking my head, I tried to dislodge the memories, and I could see the worry on all the men’s faces as I pushed ahead. “A month before my sixteenth birthday, he started to distance himself more from me, and I heard him talk about your sister, in passing. I assumed, like he had explained, that I was getting ready to make my final commitment to The Community, and he was going to help another little girl find a daddy.”
Dalton’s eyes stayed locked on me, and I could see love looking back. I hoped he still felt the same when it was all said and done, but for now, I had to trust. James held his head in his hands, listening to my painful tale, Devlin was grinding his teeth as he listened, and Rhys was showing pride at my strength.
“Kelly saw something that I never wanted her to see, and she explained how it was wrong. I didn’t know, and the shame filled me, still fills me, knowing how dumb I was. I willingly let a predator take advantage of me, just for some scraps of his perceived love. Jesus, I was stupid.”
Dalton stood from the chair and met me at the head of the table. Taking my hands into his, he looked me in the eyes and spoke. “You’re not stupid, Grace. You’re braver than you can imagine, and you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
“Keep believing that, Dalton,” I replied and took my hands from him, wrapping them around my waist. “I told the people who should have been able to help, but they didn’t believe me, so I ran. Kelly helped me find Rhys, and he facilitated me finding my way.”
Dalton gently grasped my shoulders and said, “Grace, you had the strength to start over. Alone at sixteen with no guidance or network to fall back on. You alone, pushed those demons to the side and found a life that made you happy. I can’t imagine what you lived through, but I know this for sure. You beat him. You’re still standing, and he’s gone, never to hurt another person again.”
“But did I beat him? I don’t even understand how real love is supposed to look. I’m pathetic,” I muttered, turning away, and felt Dalton grip lightly onto my shoulders, bringing my gaze up to his.
“You want to know what real love looks like? Look at me. At us. We’re as real as love gets and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let that fucker take up any more space in your head. I love you, Grace. Please give me the chance to show up, not with words, but with actions how much you mean to me and how I treasure every second with you.” His voice was hard, and I could see the pain in his blue eyes.
Pain for me. Pain for us. I stared up at him and wanted to believe him. I looked at my shoulders where his hands still rested and raised my eyebrow at him, silently requesting him to remove them. Hurt lashed across his face as he released me, and I turned to the table, needing to finish this once and for all.
I knew Dalton loved me, but it would take time for my heart and brain to catch up. Eddie always told me when I found someone who loved me completely, I would be able to tell them the whole truth. Dalton was that person, I just wished I could have been the one to tell him, instead of him knowing before he met me.
He sat down, and I joined him, taking his hand into mine and smiling at him. He returned the smile and kissed the back of my hand before I turned to the table.
“What else do you want to know? Because once I say this, I’ll never talk about it again.” Turning to James, I explained, “Except privately with Aubrey, if she wants to, that is.” My voice lowered, unsure of the sudden offer.
“I think she may appreciate that, but know, none of us, or our wives either, will ever judge you for what you survived. The women in our lives are fighters and have survived some of the worst life can throw at them. When Skid said, you’re strong, believe him, Grace. You are the bravest woman I’ve ever met.”
I wiped a tear from my cheek and replied, “Thank you. Even if I don’t feel strong.”
“Then I’ll be strong for you until you’re able to be strong for yourself. That’s what a man does for his old lady,” Dalton explained, and I met his watery gaze.
Rhys spoke, and I looked at my friend. “Grace, let’s finish this so you can get started living your life. I think you have a good man by your side who, correct me if I’m wrong, will kill anyone who ever tries to hurt you again.”
