Page 18 of Wounded Hearts

Lauren nodded her head. “Yes, a few years ago and he’s dead now but yes. He hurt me badly and I blamed myself for a long time. Until one day my best friend helped me to see that it was his shame not mine. I survived because I’m strong and he was weak. You’ll survive too, because you are strong, and you are good, and you are a survivor.” Lauren moved forward and wiped a tear from her face she didn’t know was falling. “Hold your head high, like the queen you are. The hardest step is leaving. Now let those around you that care help you through. Drew cares, I care. You have a big support system that will be there any time you need them.”

“Why? How?”

“I saw it in your eyes. I recognised myself in you.”

“But you’re so confident and sure of yourself.”

“And you will be too.”

“Why are you all being so kind to me? I stowed away in Drew’s car. I brought this to your door and Brayden won’t let me go, he’ll fight dirty.”

“We’re helping because Drew cares for you and by extension that makes you family. Fortis is family. We help each other and when one of us is threatened we band tightly together, and nobody fights better than family.”

“Thank you.”

“Let’s get you changed and make sure those two haven’t got stuck watching Peppa Pig again. Although I think they like it really. I caught Dane watching it the other day. Both kids had been asleep on him for a half-hour and he was still watching.”

Mara chuckled and this time the feeling felt a little less alien.

Back in the living area she automatically moved towards Drew, sitting next to him as the four of them sat at the dining table. She looked at the faces of the people who’d taken her in and protected her and began. “Brayden Wells is a cruel, sick, and evil man. He believes he’s untouchable and sees me as a possession to be owned and treated as he sees fit. He hurt me, so many times.” Her lips began to wobble as she spoke, and she felt Drew slide his hand into hers offering support. The flexing of Dane’s jaw told of his emotions and the way Lauren leaned into him and eased it slightly, spoke volumes about the relationship they had and what good people they truly were.

“The first time I thought it was a one-off, that he’d made a mistake. He was so sorry, so contrite, and he made me feel as if I’d made him do it. The next time was worse, he broke my ribs, detached my retina, and fractured my jaw. By then I was completely isolated. I had no friends, my family thought I was too up myself, and I was never allowed out alone except to work. He made me give that up, so I ran away to St Kitts. It was my last hurrah. I knew he’d find me and bring me back, that’s why I never said anything. That, and I still believed he’d change.” Lauren reached across and gripped her other hand as Drew moved closer, and she could feel the waves of suppressed anger around him.

She should probably stop, telling them everything wouldn’t help and would only make them angrier but now she’d started she couldn’t stop. “While I was in St Kitts, I realised I was pregnant.” Mara heard Drew’s indrawn breath and squeezed his hand. “He beat me in the car on the way to the airfield and I lost my baby. Brayden never knew. The second time was six months ago, and I was a little under five months pregnant with a little girl. He didn’t know then either. He doesn’t deserve to know and the thing that breaks my heart is that my little girl is probably better off in heaven than being born into that kind of hell.” A sob tore from her throat and she tried to stifle it but found her face in Drew’s chest as he held her.

“I’m so sorry, baby. I never should’ve let you go.”

“I feel so guilty for thinking that. I loved my babies and a piece of me died when they did, but what sort of life would they have had with him as a father?”

“Don’t feel bad about wanting the best for your children. You were in an impossible situation and they were loved by you and mourned by you. He’s the monster that deserves all the blame, not anyone else. How did you hide it?”

Mara lifted her head. “He thought it was part of my injuries from the beating. He’d often avoid me for days after, until I recovered. Some sort of guilt perhaps. I don’t know but I was glad he did. I buried my baby in the garden under an apple tree. I wrapped her in cloth, and I buried her.” She cried then and Drew held her. She heard the chair scrape back and knew Dane and Lauren had moved away and still she cried. It was the first time she’d openly mourned her babies and Mara fell apart.

She heard murmured voices and then the door close. Looking up she saw the room empty but for the two of them. Swiping at her wet cheeks she sniffed. “I’m sorry.”

“No, do not apologise. You haven’t done a single thing to be sorry for. Lauren and Dane are going to meet us at Fortis in a little while.” He tipped her chin up again and dropped a light, tender kiss on her lips. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Mara. Words will never be enough to express the sorrow I feel for what you went through, but I’m in awe of your strength. You’re a warrior and I’m so proud of how you handled this. You tell me what you need, and I’ll do it.”

“I just need you to hold me.”

He opened his big arms and Mara crawled onto his lap and buried her head in his neck as he enveloped her in his strength.

“We’ll make him pay, Mara. I’ll personally make sure he never hurts anyone else again.” The steel in his voice was unmoving and hard, and she finally felt safe.