"No! Please!" I heard Lynn cry out."You're going to pay for this!" Melissa screamed next.Handcuffs were secured tightly around my wrists before they roughly sat me up. I saw Lynn try to get to me but an officer held her back."You're under arrest for assault," the officer told me."Micky!" I turned my head and saw Lynn's dad walking toward us before he slapped the officer on the back. "There was no assault done by this man," he stated as he pointed at me.Relief filled me but my confusion was stronger. This guy seemed to fucking hate me and now he was stopping me from getting arrested."Gene, I have to arrest him," the officer stated.Lynn's dad sighed. "The only one who should be arrested here is him," he pointed down at Jason as I moved my eyes over to him. Jason was unconscious and covered in blood. "He punched Lynn."The officer cursed beneath his breath before he walked over to Lynn and grabbed her chin as he turned her face this way and that. I didn't like his hands on her and
DRAKE'S POV My head pounded and I knew I would have a killer fucking migraine tomorrow morning, but I didn't care. There were so many foreign emotions running through me and not one of them made sense. I was angry that her family did nothing and allowed that piece of shit to be here. I was furious that I was cuffed and belittled by that prick with a badge. And I was fucking livid and jealous over how he looked at and spoke to Lynn.I hated these emotions and I didn't know how to shut them off. How do people do relationships?! This is a fucking nightmare! I've literally just started my first one ever and I already missed just fucking.No. No, I didn't.I would rather have these unwanted emotions than the lonely ones that kept me up all night. Meeting lynn has been the best thing to ever happen to me, I just need to figure my shit out.After climbing the stairs to the second story, I opened the first door on the left and was relieved to find a bedroom. I needed to take a breather and t
"I may or may not have read some of that..." I ran a hand over my face as I blew out a breath. "Jesus, lynn... Did that shit really happen to you?!"She wrapped her arms around herself and looked I didn't like that. Jason was out of her life and I would never let him near her again. As long as there's a breath in my lungs, he will never harm her again... even if we aren't together anymore."I can't follow that," I stated."What?" Her brow furrowed.I laughed and shook my head as I grabbed her journal. "I would give anything to time travel back to these dates and ring that fuckers neck. But I'm not the guy for you, lynn."She rushed up to me and grabbed my shirt."What the hell are you talking about, Drake?"Tears burned my eyes again as I tore my gaze from hers."Isn't it obvious? I'm all kinds of fucked up and don't know the first thing about having a serious relationship with a woman. You should run fast and far from me, lynn. You've been through hell and back and need a stable guy
LYNN'S POV Entering the familiar family kitchen, I slid out the wooden farm table chair and sat down in front of my parents. Drake took the seat next to me as I stole a nervous glance at him and then focused on my parents. They looked stressed and tired and I knew they were going to give me an ear full about ruining their BBQ. I honestly didn't mean to, but I wasn't going to let Melissa and Jason stay here. They didn't belong here."How is your hand?" Mom asked Drake.He looked at it and then just shrugged before he hid it beneath the table. It was as if he was ashamed of what he had done. I wasn't ashamed. I was proud. Seeing Jason get pummeled like that was the greatest thing I've ever seen. There were times during our marriage that I wished someone would punch him out for me, but nobody came to my rescue. Until now."What is it that you want to discuss?" I asked. They called us down here for a reason and I wasn't leaving until I knew.The scowl on Dad's face made me a bit nervous
Dad scoffed and shook his head. "You know that Melissa will never go for that. She's too independent and thinks nothing is wrong with her."I shook my own head and sat back. They were defending her again. There was probably nothing I could say to change their minds. Then I looked at my mom."Who is Melissa's father?"She looked down at her hands and replied, "His name was Mack and he was very abusive. I ended up in the hospital right before I gave birth to Melissa... that's when I left him for good.""What?!" Deja vu punched me in the gut! How do I seem to know nothing about my family?! Then a realization slapped me in the face. "Is that why you freaked out when I told you what Jason was doing to me?" This question was directed at my mom. "I cried to you on several occasions and you always told me to just stop making him angry and he wouldn't hurt me anymore. You knew about the bad stuff and still let me suffer."It wasn't until he almost killed me that you offered me a way out." My h
DRAKE'S POV "Something doesn't feel right," I mentioned to Lynn as we stepped into our private elevator to head back up to our suite. There was a tightness in my chest and my instincts were usually spot on."What do you mean?", She askedI shrugged as I stared straight ahead. I didn't know what to say as I couldn't pinpoint the problem. There was something much deeper going on. I could feel it."Half a million just seems like so much money for the debts they mentioned. How much money did your lawyer cost? It just doesn't seem to be adding up." I ran a hand over my face as I blew out a breath.My head was pounding and I had long ago lost my buzz. A hangover took its place and all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep, but there was no way I could fall asleep with my mind going as fast as it was."I didn't think he cost that much and when the divorce was finalized, Jason was supposed to cover his costs. I wanted nothing to do with him once it was finalized and I was so lost that
DRAKE'S POV After I got off the phone with luis, he quickly texted me and said that he got a flight and would be here in six hours. It was perfect timing for me to get as much sleep as I could and be up to meet with him before lynn woke up.I was so afraid to tell her everything because what I was about to tell her would change her whole world. I couldn't help but wonder if she'd stay with me through all of it. That's why I called her best friend. Luis helped her through the divorce and got her away from Jason. I was hoping he could do that again.I slipped into bed next to Lynn and stared at her perfectly sleeping form before I drifted into a deep sleep. My phone was in my pocket, ready to vibrate when my alarm went off.And when it did, the sun was just barely peeking over the horizon. We needed to move fast before lynn woke. I needed to give Luis all the details and go through the emails that buzzed me awake a few times through the night. To say I was nervous was a huge understate
LYNN'S POV Drake's soothing, deep voice woke me out of my slumber as I smiled and stretched. He was clearly in the other room talking to someone on the phone. Who was he talking to? His boss? Dakota? But then I heard another voice; a familiar one.I jumped out of bed and ran into the living room to find Luis standing there with Drake. My heart leaped with excitement as I lunged forward and threw my arms around his neck."Luis!! What are you doing here?!"He hugged me back and grinned when I looked at him. "Oh, ya know, I missed you too much."I giggled. "We were only going to be gone for a few days, but I'm glad you're here. I missed you, too." I winked.Then I looked over at Drake and sauntered up to him next, giving him a good morning kiss. His lips were soft but I noticed how the kiss was different. He kept his mouth closed and simply gave me a small peck before he leaned back and smiled down at me.My eyes moved between them and my heart sank. Something was wrong."Tell me," I de