Holly's Awakening(24)

She cringed, trying to pull away. His hands shook, and if he pressed the glass was going into her face and she would be dead.

“Let me go,” she said. Her stomach hurt, and so did her face. His blows had been erratic.

“No. They’ve seen me. You fucking set me up. There is no getting away from this.”

Her mother stood by the door looking over at Matt Dawson, Kade, and Steven. John pulled up seconds later along with the rest of her family. Holly closed her eyes trying to block it all out. They couldn’t see her like this.

“You take my money and my kids. You’re not taking my daughter,” William said.

Opening her eyes she saw Steven and one of the deputies holding Kade back. He looked ready to do murder.

“Do you really think you’re escaping this, William? Put the bottle down and come willingly, or you’ll be making it hard for yourself.”

She felt her father’s eyes on her. Holly tried to turn away. The stench of cigarettes and alcohol was too much. Her stomach turned at the smell.

“Do you think they’ll want you with a scarred face? I could cut you and make you ugly,” he said, laughing.

“I thought you said I was ugly enough.”

John broke through the crowd. “You leave her out of this, Dad.”

She closed her eyes hoping someone would put a stop to it.

“What are you going to do, son? You’re a pussy and let your sister deal with me since you left. You’ve got no dick. You’re a cunt like the rest of them.”

“You’re not like him, John,” Holly said. She knew her brother feared turning out like him.

“I didn’t leave her alone. Holly is with me every day.”

William snarled. “You fucking your boss as well? She’s a slut, and all sluts need to be punished.” The glass pressed to her face.

Holly couldn’t contain the scream. She screamed for help. In that instant she begged, pleaded, and wished to God someone would answer. No one answered her silent prayers, but maybe someone would answer her now.

A shot rang out. The sound echoed, and the arm holding the glass dropped.

She fell to the floor hoping to get out of firing range. Covering her ears she tried to shut it all out.

Arms surrounded her filling her with warmth.

****

Kade held her tightly as she shook. Her hands didn’t drop from her ears. Glancing over at Matt he saw him restraining her father, and he was pleased his arms were around her. If not he’d have killed the bastard. There were a few cuts on her face from the glass, but nothing would leave any permanent damage.

Seeing the danger she was in would stay with him forever. She’d looked so small and fragile caught in her father’s grip. John knelt in front of her.

“Holly, I’m here, sweetie.”

Her eyes opened, and she pulled away from Kade and wrapped her arms around her brother. They stood, and he saw John breathe a sigh of relief.

“I shouldn’t have come here,” she said. “I knew it the moment the taxi was gone.”

“Why did you come here?” John asked.

“I wanted to make sure there were no other problems. He’ll never let it slide. I needed to make sure he wasn’t planning anything. I’m so stupid, John.”

His brother looked at him. Kade’s heart went out to her.

She turned to look at him. “Are you angry with me?” she asked.

Tugging her out of her brother’s arms, Kade inhaled her strawberry scent and hoped to calm his raging emotions. She could have died. When he’d pulled up in the truck to see her father kicking her, anger had filled him. There was no way she would have come away unscathed. Her soul-shattering pleas for help would stay with him forever.

Steven made his way over to where they stood. “They’re arresting her mother as well. Her brothers and sisters are putting in a complaint. My lawyer says if they agree to live with John then he could keep guardianship. He’s working out all the problems with it. My lawyer’s been working on this case for the last year. From the moment I first saw her I knew I wanted Holly. She’s the woman for us. This with her father was the final straw. We’ve got all the witnesses to prove his rash, angry, and violent behaviour.”

Kade nodded and held a shaking Holly against him. Steven reached out, stroking her hair. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“I’m so sorry. I needed to check.”

Matt Dawson walked over to them with a paramedic. “I called an ambulance. I want Holly to go with them. After the beating she took, I want her looked over and the findings put down in evidence. There is no way they’re getting away from this one. I want them both put away.”

Kade recognised the anger in the sheriff. He felt the same kind of anger.