After the truth all came out, I made it clear to Heather just how much I hated her. I told her to stay away from my family. Maybe she didn’t understand that Amy was included in that threat. By that time, Heather was already involved with Rick and I was sure she soon found out that Amy was involved with me. I don’t know how she figured things out. Maybe Rick was just using her for some sick master plan? We may never know, and I really didn’t care, either. If both of them were to get hit by trucks, it wouldn’t have bothered me in the least.
Even if what she was claiming to Amy was the truth, I still didn’t want to reach my hand out and do something nice for the girl. Maybe I was an asshole in Amy’s eyes. I didn’t really give a damn. She needed to understand that you can’t dance with the devil for free. There are always consequences. It wasn’t a coincidence that as soon as she went to see Amy, the salon was being vandalized. Either she was in on it, or Rick was following her too.
Secrets were coming out about the man and the more people learned, the more danger Amy was putting herself in. It was my job to protect her and that was just what I planned on doing. After I waited long enough, I pulled back around front and made my way back to our room. I knocked and waited for Amy to let me inside. I saw her checking out the window before I heard the door opening. She didn’t even wait for me to get all the way inside when she threw her arms around me. I could tell that she had been crying and immediately I felt like a dick.
“I am so sorry, Conner.”
I wrapped my arms tightly around her. “Nah, I’m the one who should be sorry. I lost my temper. I just didn’t want to argue with you, so I walked away. If it means anything, I parked out back and sat in my truck. I couldn’t just leave you like that.”
She backed away and smacked me on my chest. “Jerk! I thought you really left me here.”
I laughed. “Seriously? You think I would do that?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that you got mad and you left. Do you have any idea how bad my marriage was? It was so bad for so long. Do you know I couldn’t have my own money? I couldn’t go anywhere without permission. I wasn’t allowed to ask what Rick was doing or who he was doing it with. I was his little slave. As far as what you’re capable of, well, you will have to forgive me, because I have no idea what you could be capable of. I clearly have terrible character judgment when it comes to men. I just want this all to be over with. I’m tired of feeling this way.”
Her phone started to ring and we both turned in its direction.
Amy walked over and answered it with the speaker option. Her worst fear was on the other end.
Hello?
Do I have you scared yet, bitch?
I walked over and grabbed the phone out of her hand. Listen here you mother fucker. The police are lookin’ for you. They know what you did to the salon.
No! You listen here, kid. I will find Amy and when I’m done with her, they won’t be able to identify her body. She took everything from me and she is going to pay. All she had to do was listen, but no, she had to run out and get herself knocked up by some little redneck.
This redneck is a better man than you could ever be. You won’t get near her. You hear me? I will kill you with my bare hands if you even try to come near her.
Enjoy your time together. It isn’t going to last.
A loud dial tone was the next thing I heard. The bastard had hung up. Amy sat down on the bed and started crying. I reached over and touched her shoulder. “Get your shit together. We ain’t stayin’ here tonight. I need to get you home to Kentucky. My aunt has the best security system money can buy. You will be safe at the ranch. Besides, I need to get my hands on my rifle.”
“Conner, I don’t want you walking around with a gun. My God, what in the hell is our life turning into?”
Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned the gun. “I am just tryin’ to keep you safe. I ain’t goin’ to use it, not unless I have to.”
I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and called Ty.
Hey man, you alright?
Yeah, we stopped at a hotel, but I just decided we are going to just head to the ranch tonight. I just got a call from Rick. He’s still threatenin’ her. I was just callin’ to make sure ya’ll are safe.
Yeah, yeah. We’re fine, dude. Your sister is still in a bitchy mood, but we are all fine. I pulled Amy’s car into the barn so it looks like neither of you are here anymore. I’ll call and check on my parents, but I’m sure they’re fine too. I guess you guys didn’t catch the news?
No. Why?
They did a story on the salon. You believe that shit? They had photos of the scene and even listed a picture of Rick, asking anyone that knew his whereabouts to come forward.