“I’ll do that now,” I say, lifting my hand where I’m already holding my phone.
Me: I’m heading out to get groceries with my dad.We won’t be long.I’m also going to stop at the bank to grab some cash so I have some on hand.
My dad and I walk out of the house with him leading me.The second I’m on the porch, I immediately start looking around for any sign of someone waiting to jump out and attack me.My eyes are immediately drawn to the spot on the porch where everything was left.I can’t stop my body from shaking in fear as my dad steps closer to me and I faintly feel the vibration of my phone.
“You got this, Sweetheart.No one will get close to you when I’m here.You have nothing to worry about when it comes to someone else getting on the compound.Guys are walking around twenty-four hours a day.Matt will have guys follow us to the store so we won’t be alone,” my dad says, his voice soft and gentle as he pulls me from overthinking and letting the fear threatening to consume me win.
With a nod of my head, I lift my phone and see Matt messaged me back.
Matt: Okay, Tutor.I love you.Please be safe and call if you need me.
Me: I love you, too.I’ll be safe and my dad won’t let me out of his sight for any reason.
With my dad by my side, we make our way down the steps of the porch to the SUV Matt wants me to ride in.My dad helps me in the passenger seat and shuts the door before making his way over to the driver’s side to get in and be my chauffeur for the day.The music starts playing as soon as the SUV is started and I can’t help but laugh as my dad and I both jump in our seats.Matt was the last one to drive this and he was definitely enjoying his time in the SUV.The music is so damn loud I can feel the vibrations of the base in my seat.Even the windows are vibrating.I reach forward and quickly turn the music down as my dad shakes his head and I try to find a station we’ll both like listening to.We have varied taste in music while Matt prefers to listen to certain playlists when he’s alone driving in a vehicle.At least when he’s not on his bike.
“Okay.Now that we’re all awake, let’s head out,” my dad finally says as he pulls away from the house and we make our way through the compound.
“Matt is something else when he’s in a cage on his own.He prefers to be on his bike and this is what happens when he takes the kids somewhere or has to go pick something up,” I inform my dad as we pull through the gates of the compound and I can feel my fear skyrocketing from deep in my soul.
“You’ve got this, Peyton.This is your first trip of many leaving the compound as you slowly take back your life.Don’t let this stupid fuck win and take everything from you.You deserve to be able to enjoy the freedom to come and go as you please while being happy with your family and this pregnancy,” my dad states, his voice slightly harder than it normally is when he’s talking to me.
“I don’t want to let him win, but how can I defeat someone who’s a shadow?I have no clue who I’m supposed to be looking for or when their next attack will come.Matt and Brick, with the rest of the club, have been trying to figure out who we’re looking for and they can’t find anything.Brick’s the best at digging stuff up on the computer and even he’s at a loss.Hell, somehow the bastard even knew where all the cameras were when they stepped foot on Matt’s porch to leave everything,” I say, my voice trembling as the fear continues to flood my body.
“I know.This is going to take time for you to be able to go out and not worry something will happen.That’s a natural reaction, Sweetheart.What’s important is that you’re taking the first step and not letting this get to you.I can see you’re scared and want me to turn around, you haven’t asked me to though.So, we’re gonna have a good day out and maybe stop for some ice cream before we head back to the house.I think you deserve a sundae,” he says, making me laugh because this is what he used to do when Jennifer and I were little and did something good.Some things won’t ever change and I’m glad this is one of them.
“You’re right.I’m done letting this asshole take more from me than what he’s already taken.He won’t have the power to control my emotions, actions, and what I do on a daily basis.He won’t make me lock myself behind closed doors and hide from the world while everyone else lives and goes on,” I state, taking a deep breath and trying to steady my nerves.
“That’s my girl.Always stronger than you ever realize,” my dad says, his voice barely above a whisper as I look out my window and watch the scenery pass us by.
It doesn’t take long for us to pull into the parking lot of the grocery store.That’s one of the good things about living here—everything is close by and doesn’t take an hour to get to.The worst part is the crowd because no one wants to go anywhere else to shop.I guess it’s the tradeoff we have to deal with because I can literally walk anywhere in this town and get what I need.
My dad parks in a spot close to the front door and shuts the engine off before helping me out of the front.The second my feet hit the ground, I instantly start looking around for any signs of trouble.All I see are older couples doing their weekly shopping and laughing together, frantic moms chasing after their children, and college kids home on break getting ready for a party.Everyone I should see at the grocery store.As I move my eyes back toward the front door of the store, I swear I see Clark disappearing inside.
The man is wearing a baseball hat pulled down low over his face, a black jacket covering his upper body despite the heat of the day, and a pair of loose jeans.This is all stuff my husband would never wear.Even when he was at the house and doing nothing, Clark never wore anything less than a pair of dress pants, an ironed button-down shirt, and loafers.There was never a time he truly relaxed in what he wore.
My entire body locks up seeing the asshole and my dad comes to a stop next to me.
“What’s wrong, Sweetheart?”he asks me, looking around while placing his hand on my shoulder.
“I-I-I t-t-think I just saw Clark,” I tell him honestly as I look toward the door and nowhere else.
“Okay.We’ve got this Peyton.There are plenty of people here so he can’t get to you if it was him.I’m not gonna stand here and say he died or anything else because we have no clue what’s going on,” my dad says, taking my words as truth regardless of him being at the funeral for Clark after the accident on the highway.
In seconds I’m surrounded by people.Prospects from the club are close enough no one can get near me.Tears fill my eyes and I blink rapidly so they don’t spill over and roll down my face.This stupid fucker doesn’t get another tear from me and he’s done taking everything from me.
“What do you wanna do, Peyton?”Seth asks me, giving me the chance to get back in the SUV and go home or head in the store.
“I’m getting groceries, Seth.I’m not about to let this stupid fuck take one more second from me,” I state emphatically because this is what I feel right now.
“Good.Matt will be here soon.He’s leavin’ work now,” Seth informs me as I take another slow, deep breath and start walking toward the door of the store.
“He doesn’t need to come watch over me like a baby,” I say, feeling absolutely embarrassed because this is the last thing I want him to do.
“You know Matt better than anyone else,” Brick starts, walking up toward me from the front so he doesn’t scare me.“He won’t let anyone else watch over you when he can be here in a few minutes.Not even me, his best friend, is good enough to protect you.Hell, he knows your dad is with you and that’s not good enough for him.Matt will be here and you’re gonna have to deal with his shit.”
“I know.He won’t let this go until we’re back home and he knows no one can get close to me.It’s how he’s been the entire time I’ve known him and we weren’t together back then,” I say with a small smile on my face.“Since the entourage is here, let’s get this shopping done.”
Together our small group moves in the store and I grab everything we’ve been without for longer than normal.I don’t want to overwhelm the Prospects when they shop for us so I’ve been leaving a lot of things off the list.Now, I can gather what I want in the house and take a few minutes to inspect the items before actually grabbing them.Even though I hate it, I do like to ensure certain items I get are perfect and not just grabbed in a rush.Especially the produce I bring in for the kids.
