Because Daisy is mine, even if she can’t admit it yet.
CHAPTER 24
Daisy
My nerves are shot.It’s been a long day and after having gone over everything that happened back home, I want to go lay down and have a good cry. Since I opened my mouth and asked Hutch to stay the night, that’s not happening. Maybe I’ll take a shower and cry. I need to get all of the icky emotions out. Crying usually helps me do that.
Why is Joseph calling me? What does he want? His uncle promised he’d keep him away from me. I said I wouldn’t press charges as long as he kept him far, far away. I still have the photos. Photos the hospital can verify if I have to use them.
I always thought of myself as a strong person, someone not given to letting fear control their every move. That changed when I was beaten to within an inch of my life for breaking up with someone. When his name flashed across my phone, it’s like time froze and teleported me back to that day in my house. Every word echoed in my head. Every hit, every kick, I remembered and felt it again in that moment. Muscle memory. My bodyremembers what he did to me even if my mind blocks it out on most days.
Picking up my phone, I text his uncle asking why he’s calling me and remind him I still have the hospital photos to back up my story. Joe needs to leave me the hell alone.
But what if he doesn’t? What if he finds out where I am? He did tell me that I belonged to him. Which is utter nonsense, but he might truly believe that. What if Hutch answering my phone sets him off and he tracks me down? What if…
Stop it, I tell myself forcefully. I told no one where I was going. Only Lucy knows and she swore to keep it to herself. Not even her parents or her brother knows I’m in Minnesota.
Please don’t let him find me.
My phone rings and I jump. Dammit. I hate feeling like this.
The name flashing on the screen makes bile rise in my throat, but I have to speak with him.
“Sheriff.”
“Daisy, I was surprised to get your call. Joe called?”
“Yes. The second time he called my boyfriend answered the phone and told him to lose my number.”
“You have a boyfriend?” He sounds pleased. Probably hoping that’ll deter Joseph more than anything else.
“Yes, but the question is why is he calling me? You promised he’d leave me alone.”
“He swore to me he would.”
“Then you’d better talk to him. I still have the photos.”
“Don’t go and do anything rash, girl. He just went and declared for the draft. He doesn’t need that kind of attention.”
He did not. I pull the phone away from my ear and look at it. He did not just tell me not to do anything rash.
“Daisy?”
Hutch is staring at me from the doorway to my room.
I shake my head and look dubiously at the phone.
“Is that asshat?” Anger vibrates through him as he strides into the room and reaches for my phone.
“No, it’s his uncle.”
“His uncle who let him get away with beating the shit out of you?” Rage coats his words and I’m afraid to let him have the phone.
“I called him to see why Joseph called.”
“May I?” He holds out his hand and I hesitate for a moment, but he waits patiently.
I put my hand over the mouthpiece. “You can’t say anything stupid. Your contract’s not signed yet.”
