Cherry looked toward the screen, frozen to the spot.
“We’re here reporting live…” The reporter faded into the background as the headline played along the screen. A gym teacher had handed himself over to the police after admitting he abused the girls and boys that he taught. That wasn’t what surprised Cherry. No, what surprised Cherry was the man she hadn’t seen in over six years. When she was fourteen she had been moved to his parents’ home.
“Damn, I’m so pleased I don’t have to put up with that crap at school,” Mindy said.
“Yes, it sucks.”
The front door opened, and Elijah called out to them. Her hands were shaking as he appeared in the kitchen. Mindy ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Dad, did you hear the news about the gym teacher?”
“Yes, it was a shock.”
Cherry stared into his eyes, and he was looking directly at her. This wasn’t a coincidence. Elijah had gone after him.
Cherry finished with the pot pies, putting them in the oven. Washing her hands, she excused herself while Mindy was talking with him. Running upstairs, she went to close her door but found herself stopped by Elijah’s foot.
“Don’t run away,” Elijah said.
“You’re the one who went and found him, didn’t you? You’re the one who made him confess to those crimes?”
She took a step back. There was no point in trying to keep him away. Elijah was stronger than she was. He entered her bedroom, closing the door behind him.
In the distance she heard Mindy turn the music channel up.
“They were not fake crimes, baby. That asshole was using his power as a teacher. He needed to be stopped. The asshole is lucky that the only thing he’s getting is jail time.”
“What could be worse than jail time?”
“Torture and death, which was what I was going to do to him.”
His answer shocked her.
“What?”
“You heard me. I was willing to fucking kill him for hurting you or even putting his hands on you.” Elijah took a step closer. “Jacob Jones didn’t get the same outcome.”
“What?”
“He’s dead, honey. He’s never going to hurt you again.”
“You killed him.”
“You were the first woman he raped, and he’s lived the last fucking seven years doing more. He had to die.”
“You’ve got to stop doing this,” Cherry said. Tears filled her eyes. No one could get away with murder. Something was going to blow back and land on him.
“Doing what? Sticking up for you? I don’t see anyone else giving a shit about you.”
“You’ve have got to stop.” She cried out the words, whimpering. “This is dangerous.”
“I’m not going to stop.”
Her tears spilled down her cheeks. “And what am I supposed to do when you’re caught? Who will protect me then? What about Mindy? You’re the only one who has ever given two shits about me and you could take that all away from me.” The truth spilled from her lips. The truth and the fear of being alone without him. Elijah was the first man she’d felt anything for. “You don’t get it.”
“Talk to me, Cherry. Don’t turn away.”
She wiped at her tears as he wrapped his arms around her. He was so strong, a killer by nature. Cherry closed her eyes. She should be afraid of him, but she wasn’t. “You were my first kiss. You were the first man I’ve ever wanted to be with, Elijah. You gave me my first orgasm. I don’t want to leave, and it scares me. I’m used to being told to leave, to moving on, to being alone. You make me want to have something that I thought was beyond me.”
“What do I make you want?” he asked. His voice was soothing to her.
Glancing up into his eyes, she dropped her gaze to stare at the firm line of his lips.
“You make me want to have a family. I care about Mindy. She’s such a charming girl. If you continue with this vendetta or whatever you’ve got going on, it’s going to end badly, and that scares me.”
He cupped her face. Her heart pounded inside her chest.
“Those men hurt you. They’re hurting other people.”
“They’re not hurting me now.”
“I’m not going to stop unless I know they’re not a danger to anyone.” She went to argue, but he silenced her with his lips.
Moaning, her body awakened at his kiss. She wanted more than his kiss. Cherry wanted everything he had to offer. Pushing his shirt off his shoulders, she ran her fingers down his chest, teasing open the buttons on his thick shirt. She caressed his chest as he brought up over her head the shirt he’d put on her that morning.