Freed by You (9 page)

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.” He raked his hand roughly through his hair as he stood up and faced away from me. As he turned back to me his eyes were vulnerable, desperate. “I wasn’t lying when I said this was new to me, Emily. I want to be honest with you from the very beginning.” He walked towards me, pressing his palms against his eyes before he spoke again. “I don’t do dating and romance and all the trimmings, Emily. I never have done. But there’s something about you, about
us
. I’ve never been drawn to a woman the way I’ve been drawn to you.”

“So, you do actually like me, then? So why the mood swings and theatrics? Why not just ask me out like any normal person would do?”

“Maybe I’m not any normal person. I’ve been confused by my feelings for you. I have no idea how it’s even possible for me to feel
anything
for someone I barely know but I feel like I know you! I felt it the first time I touched you, Emily, the day I caught you on the stairs.”

“I know how you feel,” I replied, fixing my eyes on my feet.

“Hey, look at me.” He placed a single finger under my chin and raised my head until my eyes met with his. “Let’s not fight this, Emily.” He placed his firm hand behind my back and pulled me closely against him, our bodies flush, as he kissed me a second time.

Julian hesitated as his mobile began to buzz in his trouser pocket. “Sorry, I’d better get that,” he apologised, his eyes searching mine, gauging their reaction. I could only manage a nod. He glanced at the screen and walked away from me as he held it up to his ear. “Ryan?” he asked in his best authoritative tone.

I heard a few mumbled exchanges but didn’t catch their content. His eyes were cautious as he addressed me again. “That was Ryan. It seems there has been a delivery for you down at the bar.”

What? What delivery? I wasn’t expecting anything, especially at work.

“What kind of delivery?”

“Let’s go and find out shall we?” he asked as he bent his arm and offered his elbow to me. I took it and we made our way down the stairs.

I caught a glimpse of Natalie’s gaunt expression and gaping mouth as we walked arm in arm toward the bar where she stood. I stared back momentarily before deciding I wasn’t going to bother analysing
that
expression and turning my attention to Ryan. When I reached the bar Ryan greeted me before he disappeared around to the opposite side of the bar. When he re-appeared he was holding a very large bouquet of flowers. I felt my forehead tense into a frown as I glanced at Julian beside me, my confusion no doubt evident in my expression, as it was in his. Well if Julian wasn’t sending me flowers, then who was? Maybe Adrian, I thought.

As I held my hands forward to accept the bouquet I froze. My stomach twisted painfully and the air left my lungs, deflating me. My mouth dropped open as the feeling of immense dread spread over my body, leaving goose bumps in its wake.

“Emily? What’s the matter?” Julian asked as he no doubt recognised what must have been horror on my face.

The bouquet before me was made up mainly of vivid red roses – deep, bloody coloured roses. This could surely only mean one thing?
He
knew I despised these flowers, he had brought them for me once before when we had first started dating and I had openly admitted my hatred for them, for the fact they reminded me so much of blood, and death, and all things that were depressing to me. Or was I over reacting again?

“Julian, did you send me these flowers?” I choked, my voice barely audible as I struggled to inhale, my eyes still unblinking on the roses in Ryan’s hands.

“No, I’m afraid I didn’t.” I could feel his eyes all over my face.

“Ryan, do you know who left them?” I asked, still frozen to my spot.

“They were delivered by a courier, Miss,” he explained. “Ah, here you go, there was a card.” He held the small rectangular card between his two fingers and extended his hand to mine.

I didn’t need to take the card to read the single letter that was inscribed in the middle, followed by a kiss.

“
J x
”

As the sight of the single initial – written in thick black marker – registered, my brain seemed to leap into action again. My thoughts raced as I wondered how he had possibly managed to find me. Then, the sudden realisation sliced through my gut.

“Maia!” I screamed as I sprinted towards the door. As I raced across the street, Julian was shouting for me to stop, for me to slow down, for me to tell him what the hell was going on. But I couldn’t, I couldn’t stop, I had to get to Maia and fast.

“Emily, please!” he panted as he caught up with me and grasped my wrist. I stopped abruptly and spun around to face him.

“Julian, let go of me!” I screeched.

“What’s going on, Emily? What’s wrong?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about my life, Julian and I will explain, but right now I need to get to my daughter, she may be in danger. Now let go of my arm!” I roared, my face burning with sheer anger and panic. I saw the confusion cross behind his eyes as he released his clutch on me.

“Daughter?” But I was too busy turning to run to answer him.

I pounded on my front door, realising I had left my bag, containing the flat keys, on the bar. “Adrian!” I screamed. “Samantha!”

The door flew open to reveal a very bewildered Adrian standing inside. I pushed passed him and ran straight up the stairs to Maia’s bedroom, not pausing to explain my dramatic entrance.

“Emily? What the fuck?” Adrian called as he bolted up the stairs behind me.

I flew into Maia’s room and whipped the duvet off my sleeping angel. I scooped her up in my arms and held her tightly against me as I slumped down on her tiny bed. Tears streamed down my flustered face as pure relief washed over me. She was safe. My baby was safe.

“Emily? What the hell is going on?” Adrian was crouched on his knees beside me, his face twisted with emotion and wonder.

“He’s here; he’s found me, Adrian.” His deep eyes widened as his mouth dropped open.

“Who’s here, Emily?” I startled as Julian’s stern voice sounded from the doorway of my daughter’s bedroom. I just gawped at him, unable to find the words, unable to hear his name aloud coming from my own mouth. “Who has found you, Emily? What the fuck is going on?” he shouted, his jaw tense and his eyes menacing. I had seen this same look before. Before I had the chance to answer, Adrian was on his feet and had crossed the room in a flash and now had his face dangerously close to Julian’s.

“Who the fuck are you?” Adrian almost whispered through his gritted teeth. “And how about you watch your language in front of innocent ears!”

I jumped to my feet, still clutching Maia close to my chest. “Adrian, it’s okay. This is Julian Scott, my boss.”

I had to get out of here. If he knew where I worked then the chances were he knew where I lived, where Maia lived. He must have been watching us, watching Maia as she had played in the park. The mere thought turned my stomach.

Maia stayed silent. She wrapped her tiny arms around my shoulders as her face snuggled into the crook of my neck. Although it pained me to release her, I had things I had to do and things I had to say, all of which I didn’t want Maia to witness. I couldn’t bear the thought of frightening her and seeing her mother so torn was certain to do that so I placed her gently on her bed and tucked the duvet around her delicate body.

I could hear muffled voices coming from the other side of Maia’s bedroom door; I hadn’t even noticed Julian and Adrian’s departure. I kissed Maia’s hair as I whispered my goodnight and exited the room, pulling the door closed behind me. Adrian and Julian stood on the landing. Adrian was leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest as Julian leaned lightly on the wooden banister directly opposite him. The men glared at each other wildly but they were silent now as they acknowledged my approach. As I walked between them silently and made my way down the stairs they both followed close behind me. When I entered the kitchen Samantha was on the phone. She glanced up at me and left the room, pausing as she passed me to give my shoulder a gentle reassuring squeeze.

“I need to get some stuff together for Maia. Can you give me a hand, Adrian?” I asked as I retrieved a small suitcase from the storage cupboard on the rear wall.

“What stuff? What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving. I need to take her some place safe; we can’t stay here, Adrian!” Adrian nodded, his eyes full of pain as he left the kitchen and began up the stairs. It destroyed me to hurt the people I loved but I had to keep Maia safe, she was my only priority now. A wave of gut wrenching agony washed over me as I watched Adrian’s exit, his shoulders slumped low as he skulked up the stairs to gather some of Maia’s clothes, I assumed.

“You need to tell me what’s going on, Emily.”

Shit,
I had forgotten Julian was still here. What was I going to tell him? How could I explain it? I lowered my head as I closed my eyes, tightly, wondering where to possibly begin.

“So, I’ve gathered that Maia is your daughter. Is Adrian her father?” A deep furrow creased his brows as confusion took over his face.

“No, Adrian is my friend.”

“So why is he at your home at this hour? I thought you didn’t have a boyfriend.”

“Is this really important right now?” I snapped back and I saw the vulnerability reappear behind his confused eyes. “With all due respect, Julian, your insecurities and jealousy are the very least of my worries right now. Adrian is a friend, like I said. I asked him to come and keep an eye out for Maia while I worked tonight, just in case.” I trailed off.

“Just in case what? Fuck, Emily, you need to give me some answers!” he shouted, shaking his head and inhaling deeply. “We shared a very pleasant evening, someone brings you flowers and then you behave like, no offence intended, but like a fucking lunatic. What’s going on, Emily? And who the fuck is the
he
that you keep referring to?”

“I can’t explain all that right now, Julian.
He
is my ex-boyfriend. Maia’s father, and somehow he knows where me and Maia are. I can’t let him hurt us, Julian, I won’t!” A loud sob burst from my chest and my hands reached forward and clutched the edge of the dining table to stable myself. Julian was at my side in an instant, his arm firmly around my waist as he lightly kissed my temple.

“You don’t need to explain right now, as long as you promise to let me help you. I won’t let anyone near you, Emily.” He wrapped his second arm around my waist, turning me to face him. He held me securely as I sobbed heavily into his chest.

“What’s going on in here?” Adrian’s snarl startled me as the door whacked into the wall beside it. Julian stepped away, releasing me as he glared at Adrian. “Answer me! What the fuck is this? You see a vulnerable girl so clearly distraught and decide that now is an ideal time to take advantage, is that it?” Adrian’s face was glowing with anger, his voice was raised and full of aggression. I glanced from one man to the other trying to form some words to say and I noticed as Julian’s entire body stiffened.

“I can see that you’re Emily’s friend so I won’t take offence by your comments. But, I’m warning you, Adrian, stay the fuck out of my way!”

I couldn’t speak. I knew I needed to, and fast, but my mind just wouldn’t comply.

“Guys, please!” I pleaded. It was all I could manage.

Both men ignored me. Adrian prowled closer to Julian, far too close and I saw Julian’s jaw set tight as his eyes burned, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled. I knew this wasn’t a good sign – Julian’s posture, his expression, the wild look in his eyes.

“Just who the fuck do you think you are?” Adrian snarled.

“I don’t want to fight with you, Adrian. Emily is in trouble right now and I am here to help her, the same as you are. Now move away from me before I lose my temper.”

I could see that Julian was trying so desperately to calm himself. His fists were clenched tightly by his sides; his breathing was very slow and very controlled as he appeared to be chewing on his own tongue.

Adrian snapped his attention from Julian and glanced protectively at me. “Emily, you trust this guy?”

“Yes, Adrian, I do.”

I packed the small case with some of my own clothes but mostly with Maia’s. I gathered a few of her favourite toys and shoved them into an old shoulder bag that I had found in the cupboard. Samantha paused in the doorway as her eyes scanned the man in front of her.

“Samantha, this is Julian, from work, you know,” I introduced. Of course, Samantha had heard every detail about Julian but I was hoping she wasn’t going to give away that secret.

“Hi, I’m Samantha, Emily’s cousin,” she said as she reached her arm out and shook his hand. “Sorry about that, I was on the phone to the police, I thought I’d better let them know what happened. I told them about the park incident that I’m now assuming you didn’t imagine, I’m sorry for doubting you, Emily, I should have called them as soon as you told me. And I told them…”

“Whoa! Stop a minute. What park incident?” Julian interrupted.

I quickly told him what had happened at the park, how I’d been sure that someone had been behind me, how I hadn’t had the guts to turn around and check.

“So, if that was him, he was sneaking up on you from behind? He was coming for you?” Julian looked completely stunned. “And whilst you had an innocent child in your care? His own innocent child?” His frown deepened as he shook his head. “Well, that changes things. You’re both coming with me, Emily. Now!” he declared as he picked up the shoulder bag from the table.

“They sure as hell are not!” Adrian fumed. “You’ve known her all of five minutes and you think I’d let them go anywhere with you under the circumstances?”

“That isn’t really your decision to make, is it, Adrian? I can take them to my place, there’s no way he could know where she is, and she’ll be safe there until I figure out how to find this bastard. Isn’t that what we all want?”

As much as it killed him to do so, Adrian agreed to Julian’s plan. If
he
had been watching me from afar he would have seen Adrian here, he may know who he is or where he lives, it would be safer for us to go to Julian’s.