“Get out,” he said. “I don’t know who you are, or what kind of trouble you’re in, but I’m not letting you drag my familyintoit.”
Tears formed in her eyes. What happened to the sweet, gentle man she’d given herself to last night? The man standing before her exuded a level of rage the she didn’t think Drew couldpossess.
Her bottom lip trembled as she stared at him through a thin sheen of tears. She’d made a mess of everything. She should have left all the IDs inthecar.
“I’m not leaving until all of your stuff is gone,” hesaid. “Move.”
“Please, let me explain,”shesaid.
“There’s literally nothing you could tell me that would makethisokay.”
“I had to run. I had toprotecther.”
“Who?” heasked.
“Brooke. Mydaughter.”
He blanched. “You have adaughter?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?” heasked.
“Staying with my parents where she’ll be safe,”shesaid.
“Fromwhat?”
“Herfather.”
“Why would a father want to hurt his daughter?” heasked.
“To hurt me. He lives tohurtme.”
“I saw your back,” he said. “Did he do thattoyou?”
“Yes.” She bowed her head as shame crept into herheart.
“What happened?” The anger in his tone had dissipated a bit, but it still heldanedge.
“I tried toleavehim.”
“It’s an old scar,”hesaid.
“It’s been a year since ithappened.”
“Did you go to the police?” heasked.
“Yes.” She laughed bitterly. “A lot of goodthatdid.”
“Whathappened?”
“They messed up the chain of evidence and the judge threw out the assault charges. The day he walked, he found me. I didn’t know he was out. No one called to warn me.” She stopped as her voice began towaver.
Drew picked the blanket up off the floor and tossed it to her. She wrapped it around her body, grateful for thewarmth.
“I was at my parents’ home. My mom had left to pick Brooke up from school. I was…I was having a hard time.” She looked away. There was no need to confess the number of days she’d spent in total despair. If only she’d known then that the pain in her heart was nothing compared to what wastocome.
“So, your mom was gone...” heprompted.
