Truth Meets Love Read online

  "Honey, you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. You look smoking hot… turquoise is my favorite color!" Cody chided as he shrugged and winked at her.

  I was going to FUCK HIM UP… how did he get that picture? Why was he doing this to me after everything I had done for him--sacrificed for him? I gave up everything that I had worked for so I could give him a better quality of life. I had given up my college basketball scholarship to work and go to school so he could focus on his music… his dreams.

  Why was he trying to hurt me? Worse, why was he trying to hurt her?

  I make to grab that traitorous asshat and beat some sense into his stupid lying ass when she bolts out the front door. Was she crying?

  The door slams and I turn my lasers back to Cody. He is smiling hugely… does he have any idea what he has just done?

  I can't let her think that about me. Wait… what the FUCK does it really matter what she thinks anymore? I don't care what she thinks of me anyway…

  He is reading every fucking thought that crosses my mind… he has always been able to do that, and it sucks royally. He plays me. He knows my buttons. Then it all comes clear and he sees it register on my face.

  He got me.

  To confirm, I ask, "You did that on purpose didn't you?"

  Cody chuckles. "What do you think, dude? You were going fuck it up and I couldn't let you. I can see the way you look at her, stripper or not… I mean, it is like this with those girls; I would know. Either they are just girls that have stripped or they are 'strippers'… there is a big difference. I think we both know which one you just let walk out that door."

  "You were baiting me to get me angry and blow on her so we would get it out in the open? Both of us?" I say more as an admission of understanding than question.

  He nods, adding, "When you stubborn asses wouldn't budge, I had to go for the jugular… you would never hurt her intentionally and I know you could never let her live thinking you ever could."

  I don't know whether to hit him or hug him. Why is he so convinced she is even worth a second thought? He's usually a pretty good judge of character, especially women, and can see a con from two paces back.

  There is nothing she can say that will change what I saw between her and Ben when I thought she was mine. I don't think Cody gets how hard it is to even have to be in the same room, to smell her… FUCK… to see her. He has never even felt deeply for any one girl; I am sure he has never been in love with a woman. He's a player as solid as they come.

  "You better go talk to her. I think you both have some explaining to do now!" Cody chuckles as he dashes for the door.

  He has Loosey in tow, calling for Emily and Mace from the front porch, "Girls, ready to take Loosey on that walk now?"

  Chapter SIXTEEN

  Til' Death Do Us Part

  Hadley -

  I am standing in my entryway doing what I think is a mix between a giggle and a sob. My faith is slipping and for some reason, my level of stupidity is so sad it is funny to me. I wish Dez were here but she's not. Nobody is. Why does that story never get a happy ending?

  What did he mean by Tralen invading homes and suffering from "Peeping Tom" whatever? Cody accused Tralen of taking naked pictures of me and sending them around to his friends… they are probably all over the Internet too! I saw the proof; he must have taken that when he undressed me after our "perfect" first date.

  I thought it was something special. I can't believe I was worried about hurting HIM! I am such a fucking stupid bitch for thinking he actually had feelings for me. Nope, just like always, I am another C-cup with a pert little ass. Another AJ, another Luke, another Tralen--they are all the same. He didn't care about me; he was just pissed off that he thought he had lost me to Ben, like I was the perfect prize--the trophy that he lost to an unworthy opponent in a match of wills. It was just a bruised ego that was causing him distress. What a self-absorbed ASSHAT!

  This is why I choose the career thing. Dez was right again: "Things are not always what you see on the outside."

  I gather my thoughts and quickly think of options to slow my pounding heart. It is blown to shreds. I am more than surprised it is still beating… it should have bled out by now.

  I hear a voice coming from behind me at the door. Why can I never remember to shut the door? Tyler is always scolding me for just leaving it hanging open all the time. He says I am too comfortable here. It is my home; of course I am comfortable here.

  Well, I used to be, anyway. I was happy not long ago. What happened? This happened…

  I turn to unleash all the fury I have been holding in. No more playing the game, dressing the part, worrying about my shoes or being ashamed of myself or what made me what I am.

  I am not her.

  I have stood my ground. Outside of the lap dance incident with this stupid ass, I have been true to myself. I can almost feel the words of the ink on my back holding my heart up: TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE. She is here. Dez is with me. She said she always would be. I never should have doubted her.

  I have got to hold onto what faith I have in myself, or I fail them. I can't let Mace see me give up. Look at what her mother sacrificed for her. She is worth it. I am worth it.

  "You are not welcome here, Ben, get the fuck out of my home! You have tried to ruin everything I have ever worked for and hurt the only person I have ever truly loved. I am not sure what you said to get Tralen to believe that I would ever even consider the revolting notion of marrying you, but the last time I checked… HELL HAD YET TO FREEZE OVER!"

  With that he lunges for me and he is on top of me. I am pinned to the couch and he has maneuvered us so that he is between my legs. I will have no hope of witnessing his balls come out his nose if I can't get my knee on the inside position. I squirm with everything I have and try knock him off balance. I get one hand loose and punch him hard in the throat. He flinches and draws back, and I roll.

  We fall to the floor and he lands on me hard. I let out a humph and I see stars. He gets me pinned on my back and he crawls on top of me. He sits up and gathers both my wrists in one of his hands and sits firmly on my hips so I can't move. He is heavy and I don't have much strength left to hold him off.

  "I thought you were just giving favors to get ahead, probably turning tricks," he pants out, still catching his breath from the exertion of holding me down. He takes a deep breath and continues, "I mean, when he told me to create the documents to turn it all over to you, I started doing some research on my competition and then asked to work with you on this Mathis deal. I could work you over and keep my hands out of the New York government naval contracts. Let Greyson take the fall for that one."

  He shakes his head and chuckles, "When I realized the old bastard wasn't fucking ya, I knew there had to be more to it. I mean, he always told me I was like a son to him. He and his wife could never have children. I was it, I thought. I built up his trust and it was all going to be mine."

  Oh great, now this cry ass has Daddy issues? He couldn't earn the role fair and square or see that I had on my own merit? Now he is turning this into something personal. Like by Greyson choosing me to succeed him, I took his father's love from him or something. This guy is whack! I thought I had issues…

  While I am stilling thinking of an out, he continues, "I fucked up, though. I let you swing your sweet ass in my face and giggle at my jokes. Once I spent some time with you, I just wanted more of you, but you wanted him."

  My eyes go wide as he pulls the knife from the back of his pants and brings it up to inspect…he has my full attention now. I freeze beneath him.

  "Oh, I finally got through, huh? I underestimated you, I'll give you that. I thought you were a weak, self-loathing creature who would crater and be putty in my hands once I threatened your career. I saw how hard you worked… and he would never shut up about it. Singing your fucking praises right and left. I should have just killed you then," Ben snarls and the nightmare of what is happening becomes too real.

  Just as he reache
s back, blade gleaming, I close my eyes and brace myself for the blow I know is coming to my body. I see so many faces: Dez, Mace, Tyler, Shelby, Pugs… Tralen!

  But it never comes…

  Tralen-

  I need to go after her. Cody is right about one thing. I could never belittle what I feel for her or sink to the level of not owning up to my feelings… even if it hurts.

  I may not have meant anything to her, but she meant something to me. I am not afraid to admit that, even though I may be a fool. It doesn't change how she makes me feel. You can't pick who you love.

  When I picture her now… I don't see her straddling him anymore… she was crying; her guard was down and her emotions were there, etched all over her face.

  I see the image of her and the hurt I caused on her face when she hadn't heard from me and then thought I used her. I now know from personal experience the only way you can feel that kind of hurt is if you truly loved someone. She gave me that.

  Any anger I had for what she may have had with Ben doesn't matter now that I know she loves me. I will fight for us.

  We are worth fighting for. She is worth fighting for. Nicole wasn't. Hadley will always be. I want her. She is my dream come true. We need to give ourselves a chance. I can make her happy.

  I need to start by telling her about the reception…tell her what watching her dance in the loft did to me… need to tell her why I took that picture. I don't recall sending it to Cody, but that wouldn't be the first thing about that night I can't remember!

  I am thinking of all the words to tell her this when I see his car parked in front of her house.

  Then I see red. I am up the steps of her porch and bursting through her door before I can stop myself. Again.

  I am scanning the room when I hear his angry voice lashing out from the floor, just on the other side of the couch.

  When the words "I should have killed you then" register, with the sight of him holding her to the floor, pinned beneath him… I know he is going to kill her.

  I launch myself at him just as the knife in his hand comes up over his head. We smash into the glass of the coffee table and it shatters. I feel shards scraping against my back and a painful burning in my side. I am trying to get the upper hand but for some reason I can't catch my breath. Then I taste the metallic taste of blood as I hear her scream pierce through my ears.

  Chapter SEVENTEEN

  I Just Found Him

  Hadley-

  Tralen is here. He's here to save me? This shouldn't surprise me, really; he may not love me but he would never let me die.

  He may be a creeper. He could just be a horny man whore who disrespects and uses women for pleasure, but that could be half of the male population. However, a cold blooded delusional like Ben he is not. I am starting see the difference pretty clearly.

  The glass from the broken table is raining all around me. I am scrambling back like I am in the Olympics, going for gold in the crab crawling race.

  I would giggle but this is really not the time. I was briefly thinking that if I survived that might be one of my only future career options now.

  Tralen is on the bottom and Ben twisted and landed on top when they hit.

  Ben is stumbling to his feet with the bloody blade still in his grasp. Blood is pooling on Tralen's shirt and he is having a hard time catching his breath as he tries to get up.

  Ben must have stabbed him during the fight. His lung must be punctured. Ben is getting his balance and is sneering down at Tralen.

  "This is perfect--better than my plan I was just going to kill her and frame you, the scorned ex-lover. Now I get to kill you and the whore and claim I walked into a lovers' quarrel gone bad and I was too late to save either of you!"

  I see him adjust his grip on the knife as he makes to bring it down on Tralen, who has blood pouring from his mouth.

  I don't think about it; I just act. I can't lose him. I can't let him die for me after everything I have already put him through. It would ruin everything. My life would be empty without him.

  I just found him… I want a chance at love… I want the dream come true.

  I launch myself at Tralen to shield him. I am bracing myself above him and he is holding my gaze. He is starting to gasp like he's trying to say something and struggling beneath me to get up.

  Ben grabs the back of my hair and hauls me up my back to his chest. He places his arm tight under my breasts, effectively trapping my arms beneath his arm bar around me.

  This will keep him away from Tralen. Cody has to be home by now. If someone doesn't come soon, Tralen will be dead.

  Ben starts to laugh through his huffing breath. "Why would you risk dying for this piece of trash, Tralen? I had you pegged for a smarter guy than that. What, is her pussy paved in gold or something? I am going to have to confirm that one on my own once you pass out from the blood loss. I don't think you have much time left…"

  He is going to rape me. Tralen is fading out and pale as he keeps his eyes locked on mine. There is so much worry, admiration and love there.

  Tears start to run down my cheeks and Ben tightens his hold over my arms painfully and leans slightly down toward Tralen, on his side on the floor. "You don't have to die, you know? Destiny can save you. I like games and when I win this one, you will finally see what a whore this bitch really is. Bros before Ho's, man!"

  He drags the tip of the knife that was below my jaw down the front of my shirt. The force of the blade scrapes my skin. My breath hitches and there are a series of holes in my shirt and my bra is cut. My breasts pour out over his arm, and he harshly pokes the end of my exposed nipple with the tip of his knife.

  Tralen gasps; his eyes are still locked on mine and he is trying to roll to his hands and knees… blood is pooling on the ground underneath him.

  Ben leans into my ear while looking down at Tralen, and he hisses, "Fuck me in front of your boyfriend and I will let him live."

  Tralen tries to stand and Ben laughs an eerie chuckle.

  OH NO! What do I do?

  How do I know he is telling the truth? He will kill us; I know he will. If I have a chance to save him, then I will do whatever I have to do. Even that!

  I can't let Tralen die for me. What if he dies anyway and that is the last thing he sees?

  All I do know is that I am going to lose him if I don't do something. Tralen is staring me down, holding his side tightly. His eyes are wide and he is wheezing out the word "NO" repeatedly.

  I was going for shock value to throw Ben off his game and give me a moment for distraction to execute my plan. I have got one chance. Resolutely, I conclude that nothing distracts a man more than a woman saying the word "fuck" in the form of an invitation.

  I embrace my resolve and resign to my fate by shooting out a response to his proposition--the only option he is offering to keep Tralen alive. "Call the ambulance now. Then you'll have about eight minutes to get it up and use it. Let's FUCK, Ben."

  I am channeling Dez and drawing strength from her presence. I can feel her near me.

  Ben loosens his grip just slightly to begin to speak. I know I have surprised him and my statement wasn't what he was expecting. His lower brain just took over; I can feel it pressing up against my ass behind me.

  It is now or never. I know I couldn't fuck Ben. I couldn't do that to Tralen or let Ben use me; he already had gotten more than his fair share of my dignity. Seeing me with Ben could have been a memory Tralen would never get rid of and he would blame himself. I still have nightmares about AJ and what he did to my mom. They are like a bad movie--scenes that just come up without warning. Then the visuals invade you and you are right back there. It may be over now but the pain is still real. I couldn't stop him from hurting her any more than Tralen can stop Ben from hurting me.

  I don't need saving, DAMN IT! I need to save myself and Tralen. I need to take the stand she never did for me or herself!

  I feel warmth fill my eyes and heat rise from my chest. I plant my feet and thrust my head b
ack hard into Ben's face behind me. A pain shoots through my head, and I see spots of black and feel myself being pulled down toward the floor.

  Tralen-

  "NO." I have to stop her. She can't do this. I could never let her do this, even if my life literally depended on it.

  If I could just get some fucking air. I am fighting to stay conscious. I am trying to keep my eyes locked and focused on hers. I fear if I close them she will be gone to me forever.

  Why didn't I protect her from him? She doesn't want Ben. She tried to tell me and I shut her out.

  Now I will never get the chance to tell her how much I want to be with her. How much I love her giggle, her grace, even her clumsiness--all of her contradictions. Everything that makes her "Hadley-Made."

  I can't help her, and watching him terrorize her is the worst agony I have ever known. She has her guard up and I can tell she is scared but determined. It feels like I did for three years, watching my mom die in fast forward all over again.

  Just then her eyes almost appear to go coal black and dark. Then Hadley brings her head and eyes to the floor slightly before planting her feet strong to the ground and then throws her head back into Ben's face, hard.

  I take all the air in through my nose as slow and hard as I can and hold it. I roll to take his legs out from under him. I reach up and pull her over me to the ground beside me. Then I roll back against her, pinning her against the front of the couch behind me.