TRAPPED (Breaking Free Book 2) Read online

  But then the other side of me is wondering why on earth he would come after me, why my own mother would ensure I was going to listen to what he had to say before judging him. I am so head fucked, and I need to talk to him, to either say goodbye or… I don’t even know, I just need some form of closure.

  “When can I get up and start moving about?” I need to pee, and I also hate being cooped up in bed.

  “You need to rest, the doctor is due back anyway, and Lottie has been blowing up my mobile with message after message insisting I let her up to see you.”

  I stifle a laugh at my persistent friend, I can just imagine she has called him every name under the sun and probably wants to kick his arse for keeping her away.

  “Okay, can you let her up? I bet she’s worrying like crazy.” At least if Lottie is here, I can ask her to help me manoeuvre myself into the toilet and do my business, I’m busting and in no way am I asking Hunter.

  Hunter goes to respond, and from the look on his face I can tell it’s not the way I want so I butt in before he has the opportunity to open his mouth.“If you want me to listen to what you have to say later, then you will my let my friend up here, I kind of need a bit of girl time right now and after everything, you have no right to deny me that.”

  I sound like a spoilt brat, but I honestly don’t care. I want to see Lottie and I need to use her too.

  “Fine.” He grumbles under his breath, his feet dragging as he walks away.

  Not even five minutes pass before the bedroom door barges up, ever so close to bouncing back and hitting Lottie in the face.

  She appears frantic, her eyes locating me in the bed and tearing up immediately. I want to comfort her, but I can’t get out of this poxybed to do that, so instead I settle for telling her.“Hey, what’s with the water works you freak? Dry your eyes and come and help me up.”

  She giggles, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and shaking her head at me.“You gave me a thousand deaths woman, I’ve been going out of mind and that’s all you have to say. Look at you all banged up and useless stuck in bed.” The smirk on her face suggests our banter has worked to calm her some, but I can still see the apprehension written clearly in her eyes, she’s unsure of how to treat me, worried I’ll break.

  “Lottie close the door and get your arse in here, seriously, where’s the love?”

  She closes the door as I’ve asked and promptly rushes to my side, leaning down to hug me ever so gently.

  “I need your help. I am busting for a wee, but there was no way I was letting Hunter take me to the toilet, so can you kindahelp me get there please? As if this isn’t embarrassing enough.”

  She snorts a small laugh, evidently enjoying the awkward position I have found myself in, but moves to my side to do as I’ve requested. After some painful shifting about on the bed, and her finally pulling me up so my legs dangle off the side of the bed, we start to make our way across the room.

  The pain is agonising, and I bite the inside of my lip to stifle crying out. My ribs are throbbing so bad that my initial reaction is to lean down slightly, alleviating the pressure on them, my leg has shooting pains making their way up and down it, and my head is giving me dizzy spells that keep hitting me in waves. Fuck, Dan really did a number on me. Hunter’s right, how on earth am I going to be able to look after Alex and Lily if I can’t even stand up?

  “You okay? You look a bit green, and like you’re gonnafall over at any second.”

  Really? Is it that obvious?

  “Ummmyeah.” Is all I can manage, I just want to get to the toilet and get back to bed. This is too much too soon.

  After what feels like an eternity, we eventually make it to the bathroom and I make Lottie leave the room so I can do my business. I can hear Hunter distantly on the phone, but can’t work out what he’s saying or who he is talking to. Not that It is any of my business anymore I suppose.

  I don’t know why it has taken me so long, but it all of sudden hits me like a ton of bricks, that somehow I have ended up dressed in one of Hunter’s t-shirts and a pair of my dance shorts. It’s mortifying, he had to strip me down to clean me up and dress me. I’m so lost in my own humiliation that my hand absently slips from the sink that I was holding myself up with and I fall to the floor in a heap.

  “Shit..Lottie!!” I screech.

  Oh god that hurts, I have to close my eyes and try to breathe as deep as my ribs will allow me, to prevent myself from screaming out in agony.

  The door flies open, but it’s not Lottie’s soft, friendly filled face I am met with, it’s Hunter’s fury filled one, and he looks just about ready to kill whatever has caused me harm.“What the fuck are you doing? I told you to rest and wait until the doctor had been. For fucks sake woman, don’t scare me like that!”

  My cheeks flush a deep crimson as I try to explain myself.“I, uh, I needed to use the toilet and didn’t want to cause you any hassle. It was easier to get Lottie to help me.” I suddenly feel like a child being reprimanded, not a full grown, totally capable woman using the bathroom facilities.

  “Please just ask me next time. You’re injured enough, you shouldn’t be up and moving about. Not to mention that I bet that leg isn’t even able to carry a fraction of your weight and you have a dripped attached.” His features soften and he makes his way towards me, removing me from the floor gently and lifting me into his arms. He moves to grab the pole for the drip, but Lottie makes her way towards us and takes it before he is able to.

  I feel like a juvenile. I need to get up and moving about and learn what I can do with ease and what causes me pain. It’sbetter I find out now, rather than wait for my kids to get home and find out the hard way. Even though I am feeling thoroughly put out by Hunter, I still can’t help but appreciate just how yummy it feels to be cradled in his arms, against his muscular body. Butterflies flutter their way across my lower tummy, and I close my eyes briefly to fend off any wayward thoughts. Now really isn’t the time.

  I am placed back on the bed, and Lottie picks up on my silent signal to prop my pillows up so I’m able to sit up. Hunter frowns at her, but thankfully refrains from arguing over this.

  Hunter’s phone rings again, and he answers without removing his eyes from me.

  “Yes, come on up.” He steps towards the bedroom door.“That’s the doctor, I’ll be back in a second.” He seems so abrupt towards me, harsh even.

  “Lottie, does Hunter seem off to you? I mean, I know he has been through a bit the last couple of days, but he seems really sharp with me, edgy at times.” I ask on a whisper.

  Lottie is silent for a few moments, before leaning towards me and whispering in my ear.“He is on edge chick, he has honestly been run through the mill. Harry said he didn’t sleep. He tried to stop Dan from taking you but was a few seconds too late, it gutted him. I think he’s more pissed at himself than you, don’t be too hard on him okay. I know what happened between you, and I kindathink you need to brush it under the rug and realise you both had a shit time of it before you found one another.” Seriously, I get the Hunter appeal, trust me, I really do, but how can they all be so forgiving of him? He still kept the fact that he had a wife from me, how did people expect me to react? Cause I can guarantee they would not have been so accepting of the truth, especially if they found out the same way I did.

  The door opens before I can open my mouth to let out a snarky comment and in walks Hunter, followed by a small Asian woman in her late fifties. She has a friendly smile, and I immediately feel at ease in her presence.

  “Hello Miss Curtis. Please call me Audrey. Now, you gave this young man here quite a scare. Do you mind if I check some vitals and see about getting this drip of yours removed, yourcolour is looking a lot better and Hunter has been informing me you are quite desperate to be up and about.”

  I offer her a brief friendly smile,“Yes that would be fine. Thank you.”

  The doctor goes about her business for the next fifteen minutes, checking my blood pressure, asking me t
o pinpoint any areas of pain and finally removes my drip.

  Much to my dismay, the doctor requests I be on bed rest for the next few days, until I can get my strength up I need torest. Of course, Hunter’s smug smile didn’t help the effect her words had, and he was quick to point out I have asked my children to come home tomorrow. It was my turn to offer him a smug smile when she kindly informed him that although she didn’t recommend having young children jump all over me, after what I had been through, my children are a great comfort for me, and as long as I have somebody to help look after them then she didn’t see a problem with it. My comfort and well-being was the important thing, and the added stress of not having them around and letting them down would only add to my stress levels.

  So here we are, I am sat up on the bed with a fresh prescription for pain killers beside me, and Lottie and Hunter are sitting on the bed beside me quietly, unsure of what to say. My head is aching, and the awkward silence and pain is pissing me off.

  “Are you both going to sit here all day and just pick at your finger nails? Or do you think one of you could get me something to eat and, I don’t know, maybe crack a joke or something, the pair of you are so depressing.” I close my eyes and try to calm myself down. This isn’t their fault, I’m in pain, and I’m being a bitch.

  Lottie jumps up, muttering something about food as she runs from the room. It’s like she was seeking any excuse to escape, and I can’t really blame her, it’s bloody awkward in here.

  “I’m sorry baby, I’m tired and worried about you. It’s hard to know what to say to you around your friend at the moment. The last thing I want to do is upset you, and I’ve been a bit of an arse hole today.” He rubs his hand down his face, looking mentally and physically drained.“Do you want anything? Are you comfortable?”

  I sigh,“Yes, I do. I want everyone to stop walking on egg shells around me, I’m fine, a little worse for wear, but fine! And more than anything, I want you to get some rest, you look exhausted.”

  He guffaws, shaking his head at me.“Oh don’t hold anything back now will you? I’ll rest a bit later when you rest, everything is still too fresh in my mind.” He looks like a tortured soul, and I feel guilty, and terrible for what hunter has been through to get me back because of Dan.

  “Why don’t you just lie down? I can’t go anywhere, Lottie is grabbing me some food, and there is nothing else I need other than to see you relax. You being on edge is making me on edge. Please?” I throw him my best puppy dog eyes and pat the bed beside me, I don’t want to give him mixed signals, but I also want him with me, beside me. I’m so screwed.

  “Okay, but the second you want something, or anything is wrong you wake me..okay?”

  “Okay.” I say on a smug smirk.

  Hunter lies beside me and helps lower me in to a lying down position. Although my actions are probably giving him completely mixed signals, when I myself, don’t even know how I am going to react to our little chat, I can’t help but pick up his hand and entwine our fingers across my lower tummy. Hunter in turn, moves on to his side and wraps his arms gently around me.

  We lie like this for several minutes, enjoying each other’s presence and the comfort it brings before we both fall asleep.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Hunter:

  I awake with my girl, our arms and legs entwined and sweating like a s.o.b. For the first time since she was taken, I feel at peace. Watching my angel sleep in my arms is above and beyond the best feeling I have ever felt. After all the years of crap I had thrown my way, I finally have something in my life worth fighting for, and I’m fucked if I’m going to let an ex-wife who screwed me over ruin it for me. Not happening.

  I untangle myself carefully, so as not to wake Connie or hurt her any more than she already is, and go about doing my morning routine of showering, dressing and checking through work correspondence.

  Seven phone calls and twenty one emails later, I conclude that my businesses are being well run for the time being, and if anything comes up my staff can handle it, or call me as and when needed.

  I chase up Harry, feeling deflated when he confirms my suspicions, the bastards hiding and hiding well. Still, Dan has to surface at some point and they will be ready and waiting for when he does. I refused to allow any of Harry’s men to talk to Connie, unless they felt it was necessary to where he may be located at present. She has been under enough stress, and I just want her to forget about Dan and leave him up to the professionals. If they do their job properly there is no need for her to see or hear from ever again. Until then, she is to be watched 24/7.

  I set to work, making Connie a sausage and cheese bagel and a tall glass of fresh orange. She needs to build up her strength if she’s to have her children with her later, not that I plan on leaving her alone, I just know she is going to want to be able to spend as much time as she can with them, without feeling drained.

  I still can’t believe it, that wanker Dan managed to get away. It makes no sense, these are highly trained professionals, the best of the best, howon earth did that woman beating bastard manage to evade them? The good news is that he took a hit, to the lower leg, so it will need medical attention, plus they have a trace going on for the jeep. He ditched it about ten miles from his mum’s residence. All his cards are also being monitored, so if he uses one it will flag up where and when.

  A noise from the bedroom startles me, and I turn to see Connie dressed in a pair of leggings and t-shirt she previously left at mine, come hobbling in to the kitchen. The screwed up expression on her face indicates her level of pain, and I curse myself for not checking on her sooner.“You should have waited for me, I was bringing you breakfast.” She smooth’s her features out, obviously reluctant to show me her level of discomfort. It’s always a brave face with my girl.

  “I’m fine. I couldn’t just lie in bed and watch the world go by. I need to get up and ready to see Alex and Lily later.” She pauses as she reaches the stools at the breakfast bar, and I rush to her side to help her sit.“Don’t suppose you have had a chance to speak to Lottie?”

  I shake my head no and pass Connie my phone to call her friend.“Call her, I’m sure she just wanted to give you some space.”

  I watch Connie type out a text as I place her breakfast before her. Her eyes light up at the food in front of her, and she turns to give me a heart stopping smile. God she’s so beautiful.

  The hardest bit about this is, I have start the conversation I have been dreading having with her, but we have to get this out in the open and put it to bed if I am to have any chance of keeping her with me for a while. It feels like someone has punched me in the lower gut, the dread and anxiety I feel from the thought that she may walk away and decide we are not worth a chance is almost too much to bear.

  “Baby I know this is hard, but I really want a chance to explain the whole Ash mess with you, and I know if we wait any longer we are just going to keep putting it off and never solve a thing. If you still want to walk from me after it has all been said and done, then fine, I’ll let you go, but I won’t do that until it’s all out in the open.” I’m sweating like a bitch as I say this, watching her swallow harshly around a lump in her throat.

  I am absolutely shitting her reaction, but she has to know I am not letting her leave her until we get this sorted.

  “Okay,” Is all she says on a nod.

  Fuck I feel sick, I have never cared about anything as much as I do this woman in front of me, thisis so hard.“Do you want to talk here, or do you want to go sit on the sofa?” I want this to be as comfortable as possible for her, this isn’t the nicest conversation for us to be having, but it has to be done.

  She won’t look at me, just keeps her on eyes on her food and picks at it.“Here’s fine, I’d rather just get it over and done with.”

  I start to become frustrated, I want to see these beautiful eyes. I grasp her chin gently and lift her head towards me.“Baby look at me, I promise it’s not as bad as you think. I never wanted to hurt you, a
nd for that I will always hate myself.”

  She finally looks up at me, her gaze searing through my soul, tears brimming but not falling. I will spend an eternity making it up to this woman, I should have been truthful from day one, thispain she is feeling would have been avoidable if I had just told her about Ash. The woman is a parasite and I didn’t want her ruining what I had going on with Connie, chances are she has done just that anyway.

  “You stop me if this becomes too hard to hear, okay?” She mumbles an okay and I start from the beginning.

  “I met Ash at a function. My company were donating towards a children’s cancer charity. At that time in my life I was simply after a good time, and she clung to me the second she laid her eyes on me. I thought she was a good time girl, simply after a bit of fun, I couldn’t have been more wrong, fuck I can’t believe I got it so wrong.” I pause, thinking back to that night and how stupid I was to not see her for what she is. How could I fall for her crap?“We messed around a few times, and not once did she hint at wanting more from me. I didn’t want more, I was quite content with my life as it was and for the time being she was a part of that. Well, fuck me that didn’t last long. You see, she soon dropped a huge bombshell, she was pregnant and I was the father. I literally felt my heart burst from my chest. My life was over, and I only had myself to blame. I proposed then and there, not out of love or even the smallest bit of affection, but out of duty to my unborn child. My Dad was a deadbeat and there was no way I was going to be the same as him.

  “I never once loved her Connie, not once. She hired the best wedding planners money could buy, and had us married within the month. The only saving grace in all of this was the pre nup I had her sign, without it I can guarantee she would have had me broke within days. As time went on I began to get excited about the baby, the idea of a mini me running around was what got me though the hell of being married to her, and it was hell Connie, utterly awful. From spending my money on lavish shopping sprees and lunch dates, to throwing dinner parties and using my name to reel in the biggest business moguls she could. I just let it all go baby, I tried my best to be a good and supporting husband but it was never enough.