Page 28 of Hawk
When I first arrived at Adrik’s house after leaving Stella’s family home, I could see a broken woman, barely hanging on by a thread. She had a haunted look in her eyes and carried bruises and healed scars on her body that told a story she’d probably never tell. Her ‘husband’ used her as a punching bag, a scapegoat, and apparently, a brood mare. All I wanted to do was whisk her away from the pain and madness that was her life, but it took months to devise a plan for her escape.
Adrik was always monitored by his other guards, but somehow, I was given access to parts of his world that few got to see. There were things I’d witnessed that I wished I’d never seen, and with each depraved act, my need to save her grew.
Shaking off the memories, I grabbed the bag of tacos and walked back to the vehicle, handing it to her as I got behind the wheel. She opened the bag and inhaled deeply before closing it back with a smile.
“Is there a park around here somewhere? I thought we could have a picnic and enjoy our lunch.”
She pointed to a road up on the right. “Take that road and it dead ends into a park by a little lake.”
I followed her simple directions and, within a few minutes, I pulled into a gravel lot and parked the Jeep under a large shade tree. Turning to her, I offered a smile and hopped out from behind the wheel. Jogging around the vehicle, I opened the door for her before she got the chance to, and she gave me a smile as she exited.
“Come on, Zeus,” she encouraged the dog, and he leaped from the back to the front and then onto the ground.
“Zeus, huh? It’s a fitting name,” I remarked as we walked the small path around the lake and found a table under a large oak tree.
It wasn’t too hot outside, and as she pulled out our food, I couldn’t help but think how beautiful she was. From the first moment I laid eyes on her all those years ago, there was something about Stella that seemed to click with me. Back then, there was no way to tell her. Now, I feared she would reject me either out of fear or some other misguided reason.
She opened the wrap and took a bite of the taco, emanating a groan from her pouty lips. My cock twitched inside its denim prison, and I willed it to behave as I took a bite of my lunch. We silently ate as Zeus rested under the table at her feet. I could feel his large body pressed against my boot and as I finished my first taco and balled up the wrapper, I had to ask.
“How did you get Zeus? He seems to read your emotions pretty well.”
“A few years back, I came across a litter of puppies abandoned on the side of the road. I’d just come back from . . . taking care of some business, and I couldn’t leave them there all alone. I found homes for every one but him, and he’s been my shadow ever since.”
“Has he been trained? Because he seems well tempered,” I observed, and she offered a smile.
“I knew someone who could train him in defense and emotional support, so I put him through the classes. It was the best decision I ever made,” she returned. “He used to be a little crazy. Now, he’s my best friend.”
She opened a can of soda I’d picked up with lunch and took a swallow before digging into her second taco. Her eyes were bright blue in the afternoon sun and all I could think was how amazing she was.
She could have crawled into a hole and hid away for the rest of her life. Hell, if I lived through what she had, that’s what I’d do. But here she sat, seemingly happy, living her life, and functioning as well as anyone I knew. Having been around some of the old ladies and knowing their stories of survival, I imagined Stella with them, supporting each other and helping each other through the tough moments.
Now, I just had to convince her to come back with me. I knew if she met Hailey, she wouldn’t ever want to leave her again.
“Do you have any more questions for me?” I asked as I started on my third and final taco.
She wiped her mouth and tossed her trash into the bag as she pondered my question. I could see the wheels turning in her head, and I wished I could read her mind. There must be a million things she wanted to know, but her hesitation was causing me concern. She could decide that things are fine the way they are, and she and Hailey would both miss out on the chance to make up the missed years.
“Are . . . are you sure Hailey doesn’t blame me for what happened to her?” she asked with vulnerability filling her voice.
Zeus shuffled under the table, and she reached down to pet his head.
“When I first met Hailey, she was reserved and uncertain about a lot of things. Over the last seven or eight months, I’ve seen her blossom into an amazing young woman. And during that time, she and I became good friends. She listened when I was going through the divorce and needed someone to talk to, and I’ve listened to her as she imagines what became of you.” Tossing the empty wrapper into the bag, I reached across and placed my hands onto the table, leaving my palms up. She moved her hands into mine, and I released some of the worry as I continued. “I know, because she’s told me herself, that she holds no animosity toward you. Devlin told her the parts of the story he knew, and she knows you would never willingly leave her behind.”
Stella’s eyes fluttered down to the wooden table, and I released one of her hands and gently lifted her chin with my finger until she was looking at me again. Her blue eyes glistened and slowly, I brushed a random tear from her cheek as I gathered my thoughts. Seeing her in pain was hard to witness.
“I can’t imagine what’s running through your head, but don’t allow that monster to hold your life hostage any more than he already has. You and Hailey missed too many years, and now, you have the chance to make up for lost time. Please, don’t waste this opportunity. Give yourself a break and give yourself the chance to be part of her life.” I hesitated briefly before adding, “You deserve to be happy, Stella. Let me help you find that happiness.”
“And what if you’re wrong? I don’t think I can take losing her all over again.”
“I’m not wrong, but if you need a few days to think about it, then take the few days. There’s no rush, darlin’.”
I could see her reaction to the name, and when she placed both hands into mine again, I felt like I was ten feet tall. No one, not even my ex, could make me feel as strong and powerful as Stella did. A noise from over my shoulder drew her attention, and I turned to see a large bus pulling into the gravel lot.
Forty or fifty kids, probably ten to twelve years old, poured from the open door and the noise level suddenly grew. They were doing typical kid stuff, but from Stella’s demeanor, I knew it was time to leave.
“Are you ready to head back to your house?” I asked and stood from my side of the table.
“Are . . . are you leaving?”
