Escape From Obsession (13 page)

“Okay. Thank you.”

He waited until he heard her voice and his heart ached for her. She sounded so tired and upset. He knew that she was crying as she spoke to him. She was trying to explain what happened. He got the gist of it. Some asshole at work who harassed women had set his eyes on her. She was attacked outside of her hotel room.

Fuck!

“Please don’t worry. My boss is here. He’s going to take me back to the hotel and we’ll be heading home.”

“I can fly out there tonight.”

“No, Teddy, don’t be crazy. It doesn’t make any sense. I’m handling it fine. Just please don’t tell the guys.”

He thought about that a moment. Garrett, Wes, and Gunny missed her terribly. They were going to flip out.

“I can’t not tell them, honey. They miss you.”

“Then explain that I’ll be back tomorrow. Really, I can handle this. The police are involved, and there are witnesses and a video from the cameras in the hotel. Please, Teddy.”

“Okay. I’ll take care of it.”

He spoke to her for another few minutes and then she put the detective back on. He couldn’t believe that this had happened to Gia. As he got off the phone he slammed his fist against the wall.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

He turned to see Wes standing there, a look of concern on his face. If it was Deanna, he’d want to know. He had to tell Wes and Garrett.

“There’s been a situation in Dallas. It’s Gia.”

* * * *

Dale and Teddy picked her up from the airport. Both of them looked angrier than she had ever seen them before. She knew she looked battered. Her cheek was black and blue across the entire right side and her hand was bandaged up, completely cut to the knuckles. She’d needed stitches. Aside from a lump on her head, no concussion, and a badly bruised shoulder blade, she was in pretty good shape. They hugged her and she nearly cried.

“I love you so much. I would have flown out there to get you and see you through this.”

“I know, Teddy. I was running on adrenaline and trying to be strong and independent. I couldn’t show fear or weakness afterward.”

He held her shoulders. “Still, Gia, I’m your family. I told you when you first came here from New York that I would always be here for you. I mean it. To think that some asshole from work did this.”

He shook his head. She had explained about the accusations against Robert to Jim and Teddy over the phone. She’d told them about the note and the rose and ignoring his advances at work.

“The good thing is that I had spoken to Robert like fifteen minutes before the assault. Robert fired him on the spot. It was coming anyway and who would have thought so many women would come forward like they have been.”

“Well, that won’t be the only punishment that asshole gets. The DA is involved now. He’s been doing this shit for years, Gia. You’re the first woman he didn’t succeed in raping. Everyone is talking about it and how he raped and harassed those women so they wouldn’t press charges.”

“Yeah. All the guys in school were really upset. They can’t wait to see you, Gia. You look like a boxer with the bruises and the wrapped hand. You really kicked his ass, huh? Pretty cool, Cuz,” Dale teased her, interrupting the conversation and she hugged him next.

“I’m tired, I’m hungry, and I just want to rest,” she said as they exited the airport with her travel bag in hand.

They got out to the unmarked police cruiser.

“Taking advantage of your badge, huh, Cuz?” she teased.

“Better than dealing with parking,” he replied as Dale opened the door for her to get in.

As they began to head out of the airport her cell phone rang. She glanced down and saw that it was Gunny.

“I held off telling them when your flight arrived as you asked, but word traveled pretty damn fast considering your case made the news. I’m surprised that they aren’t here.”

“I’m afraid of their reaction, Teddy. I’ve only known them for a short period of time. We haven’t even gone out on a date or anything. When they called, I was so exhausted and had those pain killers in me. I don’t even remember what I babbled on about.”

“They adore you and think of you as their woman. Who needs dates and shit like that. You need them, Gia. They’re good men and they can take care of you and protect you. I won’t lie to you though. They’re pissed off, especially Garrett.”

“I didn’t want them to worry.”

“Well don’t be surprised if the three of them are waiting at your apartment. They were upset since they heard the news. It was difficult to talk them out of flying out there to meet you. Talking to them and letting them hear your voice helped them.”

“Don’t you like them, Gia? They’re great guys and very cool. Everyone looks up to them, literally,” Dale said with a smile. She glanced over the seat at him and cringed from the movement. She smiled.

“I do care about them. This is just different for me, Dale. I had a bad relationship back in New York,” she said and her heart ached. She couldn’t stop thinking about Antonio and how she had gotten away before things got really out of hand. There was no doubt in her mind that he would have beaten her if he caught her perhaps even killed her. She saw how he’d beaten that man to near death with his bare hands. How many chances in life did a woman get to find real love and real men who didn’t hit or hurt?
Is the third time the charm? Does the fact that the McCallisters come in three mean something?
She felt so confused, yet she missed them and thought about them, too. Her life was a fucking mess again.

“I know. I heard the dads talking to mom about it,” Dale said, indicating that he knew about New York. She looked at Teddy and he shrugged his shoulders. Now he was being funny. She hoped that he didn’t tell Gunner, Garrett, and Wes. That was her past, her secret, and something she didn’t want to face again.

“You didn’t tell them, did you?”

“Shit no. The kid eavesdrops and he shouldn’t,” Teddy stated then gave an apologetic look at Gia. She shook her head at Teddy as if saying no big deal.

“You were hurt once before, Gia? Back in New York and you don’t want the McCallisters to know?” Dale asked. She felt guilty. Of course the high school kid had to make her feel like she was cheating or doing something wrong. Dale had both his fathers’ values and respect for women. He would make a great boyfriend and even better husband one day. She released a long breath.

“It was bad, Dale. So bad that I really have a hard time trusting people and especially men.”

“Well, throw in that asshole at work who attacked you and that’s understandable,” Dale replied and she chuckled.

“I’ve also just learned about ménage relationships since moving out here to Houston. I knew about Teddy, Jim, and your mom, but not how common it is. Just imagine trying to get used to the fact that relationships like this exist and they work and then add in my fear of men. Now times that fear by three. And three very big, muscular, dominating, ex-military commandoes like Wes, Gunny, and Garrett.”

“Geesh, Gia, I get it now. Don’t feel pressured. They were so worried about you. Dad is right. He really had a hard time telling them about what happened. They adore you already. Who wouldn’t? You’re the best.” He squeezed her shoulder.

She smiled as the tears hit her eyes. This was her family and she needed them, too. Gia straightened back into her seat and closed her eyes. She released a sigh. She wanted to see them. She thought about them constantly but then came the concern over relying on them. If she gave them her heart and allowed them to care for her, then things didn’t work out, she would be brokenhearted and destroyed once again.

* * * *

“She’s on her way here. She just texted me,” Gunny said as he placed his cell phone back into the holder on his hip. Garrett was standing near the window and Wes was leaning against the counter. He should have been at school, but when he saw that Dale wasn’t there either he knew they were going to pick Gia up at the airport.

“The whole team is worried about her. The players want to see her,” Wes said then ran his fingers through his hair.

“We should have flown out there ourselves. She’s our woman and she shouldn’t have had to travel on her own after being attacked like that,” Garrett stated then banged his hand on the table.

“You need to calm down. The last thing she needs is us acting like a bunch of barbaric assholes. We’re all upset, Garrett, but as soon as we see her and hold her in our arms, we’ll feel better.”

“Wes is right, Garrett.”

Wes’s cell phone beeped and he glanced down at the screen.

“She’s here. They just pulled up. That was Dale.”

The waiting was killing them and then they heard the voices by the door. Wes pulled it opened. His mouth dropped and anger filled his gut. “Son of a bitch, baby.”

Garrett and Gunny made similar comments as Wes pulled her into his arms and held her.

“I’m okay. Just watch my shoulder. It’s bruised pretty good,” she whispered. She sounded so sad and tired. But the feel of her in his arms seemed to calm his anxiety.

Dale and Teddy walked in behind her and they shook hands with Gunny and Garrett.

Wes pulled back and shook his head at the sight of the bruise on her cheek and her bandaged hand. She looked exhausted.

“I’m okay,” she said and he felt her trying to pull away. He didn’t want to release her. He wanted to hold her in his arms until his heart rate slowed and his worry ceased entirely. But he wasn’t the only one who needed to touch her. This incident caused his brothers and him to take a clearer look at their future and what they wanted together with Gia. Now, if they could just convince her to give them a chance.

“Let me see,” Gunny said then placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her face so he could see the shiner. “Jesus, baby, that looks bad. Have you been icing it?”

She nodded her head. When Gia turned to look at Garrett his fists were by his side and he wasn’t facing her. She looked at the others. Wes felt his stomach muscles clench. Garrett had no tolerance for abuse against women. Their parents had raised them well, and being exposed to such in-depth violence in the military, it seemed that Garrett had had more than enough. He adored Gia already, but since finding out that she was alone and attacked by some asshole, he had been ready to explode. Wes hoped he could keep it together for Gia. He might scare her.

“You said you were hungry, would you like me to run out and get something for you?” Teddy asked.

“No, don’t worry about it. The dads and Mom sent over some food,” Wes said. He watched as Gia stared at Garrett. She turned to look at Teddy and Dale.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“Hey, I got out of last two periods,” Dale said then hugged her.

“You missed football practice,” Wes stated firmly.

“So did you, Coach,” he replied and they chuckled.

“Are you going to be okay?” Teddy asked Gia.

“She’s in good hands. Don’t worry,” Wes said in a low voice.

Teddy hugged her then he and Dale said good-bye and left. Wes walked over toward the counter.

“Mom sent over some chicken and potato salad and even plain salad. What would you like?” he asked.

She slowly took a seat then stretched her back before rubbing her shoulder.

“Just a little something. I’m very tired. I haven’t had much sleep.” She said the words but stared at Garrett’s back.

“We’ll take care of you, baby,” Gunny said very firmly then turned away. Wes realized that his brothers were really having a difficult time looking at Gia with the bruise on her gorgeous face and her bandages. They had wanted to get to her and be with her in Dallas but she’d refused, saying to Teddy that it wasn’t their responsibility and that she wasn’t their girlfriend and she could handle it. That pissed them off, especially Garrett and Gunny. Wes knew that she was somewhat right, because they weren’t dating. They wanted her and that was the bottom line. They were all used to being in control, and taking charge. They were filled with anger, and so was he, but now wasn’t the time to share their upset over the situation. They needed to help Gia forget it.

She looked at Garrett and seemed angry herself despite her exhaustion.

“Forget about the food, I’m too tired.” She slowly stood up.

“You should eat something. You don’t want to get sick now, too. Your body is in recovery mode as is,” Garrett snapped at her. Wes saw them lock gazes. Garrett was in one of his moods. There would be no reasoning with him. He hoped that Gia just accepted it. But as Gia looked at him and then Gunny he knew that the matter wasn’t dropped and Wes prepared himself for the battle.

It was in that moment that Gia slowly walked over to Garrett. He tensed as she wrapped her arm around him from behind.

“I’m a lot stronger than I look, Garrett. Please don’t be angry with me,” she stated loud enough for them to hear.

Garrett turned in her arms, lifted her up in the air, and hugged her tight.

“Angry with you? No way, baby, I’m fucking fuming at that asshole who did this to you. I’m filled with rage.” He easily held her in his arms with her legs straddling his waist. He moved her closer to the small island in the kitchen and to where Wes and Gunny stood.