I screamed for Greyson to stand but he dodged easily and got back up landing a punch right on David’s temple.
The two of them grappled one another landing body blows into each other over and over again. I wanted to throw myself at David, but I knew it was foolish. Especially with the precious life in my tummy, one that I had to fight to protect.
David was strong, but Greyson was stronger, his rage-filled strength held no match. He slammed David onto the ground over and over again, his head hitting the concrete.
David’s wide-eyed surprised betrayed him, but he fought back until his eyes closed and unconsciousness subdued him.
I could see Greyson raise his hand for the final blow and I screamed out, “no!”
It was all I could do to keep him from murdering in front of me.
He pulled up that fist and then threw David’s unconscious form away from him.
It was like I’d broken a spell over him and he stood and turned towards me, walking slowly as he took me in.
“Greyson-” I said as tears streamed down my face.
“Don’t you ever f*ck
ing refuse me again, Joanna.” He grabbed me and pulled me into him, the blood on his hands coming off on my clothing. I didn’t care. I didn’t care that it was streaming from a cut on his brow or his busted nose.
“You threw me away,” I wailed.
“I’m a f*ck
ing fool, but you aren’t.” He kissed me, his passion so strong that I had to fight to be let go. To catch my breath. “You, you give me my humanity. You remind me exactly why I am living. Without you I’ve been wasting away. Look at me, Jo. Look at what I’ve become.”
I did. I saw the ragged, broken man he was. The rabid dog that took out David. I knew that was him. Part of him, but it had taken over. It had taken everything away.
And now he was standing there begging me to bring him back to reality. Back to his humanity.
I couldn’t say no. I loved him too much. So I just grabbed him and kissed him again. Long moments passed before I looked over to the lifeless form on the floor. He wasn’t getting up, I couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.
“Is he?” I asked, David wasn’t moving.
“No. You saved him, but he will have to answer my father.”
I winced. I knew that wasn’t going to end well for him. It was what he deserved though.
“Good.”
“And you, you are coming home with me. I’m not going to f*ck
ing take no for an answer. You’re mine. All of you. And that baby too.”
I nodded. “As long as you promise never to throw me away again.”
“You have permission to shoot me in the head if I try.”
Epilogue
Joanna
I don’t know how long I’d been sitting out on the balcony rubbing my belly, but when Greyson came out I breathed a little easier.
“How was work?” I asked.
“It went. My father decided to sentence David today.”
James had been holding David for a month.
“What happened?”
Since that night we’d promised not to keep secrets from one another, even when it wasn’t something we wanted to hear.
“I thought he would kill him, but he didn’t.”
“No?” I asked.
“No, he banished him. Actually told him to leave the state and never come back. My father has never been soft about anyone. Never in his entire life.” He shook his head and sat down across from me, grabbing my hands and pulling me over on to his lap.
“I dunno about that, Greyson. He loves you. Without his approval it would’ve made our situation very difficult.” I wanted to be fair about his father, but my instinct was to hate him. He’d pushed me away from Greyson, made life very difficult. I didn’t forget or forgive that kind of pain easily.
“How is the little one today?” he asked as he put his hand over my belly. He was rewarded with a little kick.
“I’ll never get used to that,” he said as he kissed my cheek.
“How are relations with my uncle?” I hated to ask. I didn’t want to ask. I’d promised I wouldn’t, but I couldn’t help it. Since the day I was rescued I hadn’t heard from my father, my uncle, anyone.
“Tense, Joanna. We’re in the middle of a war, with no sign of stopping.”
It was what I expected. I’d never wanted to bring a baby into something like this. I’d never wanted to love a man like him. But I did.
“It will all work itself out, Jo. It won’t be easy, but I promise you it will.” He kissed me softly and pulled me closer. “I love you. I won’t let anything take away my family.”
I’d never felt so secure anywhere as I did in his arms. I knew whatever we came up against he would protect me, and I would pull him back into his humanity.
We belonged together.