Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

VIOLET

My arms and legs struggle against the straps holding me to a chair. Zane is across from me. He’s bloody and beaten, held up by two faceless people. They begin to drag him away. The straps rub my skin, burning and spilling blood. He’s going to disappear from sight and once he does, my heart screams I’ll never see him again.

“No!” I scream. “Zane!”

“ V iolet!”

The shout startles me awake and I attempt to bolt upright, but crash into Zane.

“Shit,” I mumble, holding a hand to my face as I watch him do the same.

“Are you okay?” he asks, reaching out to cup my face. “You seemed like you were having a nightmare.”

Embarrassment flushes my cheeks. “I’m fine,” I croak, the despair and heartbreak from my dream still coursing through me. Zane tsks in disbelief, but he gathers me in his arms. “This is humiliating,” I mumble against his chest. “You’re here and now I have nightmares about you being taken away.”

“Not going anywhere, Violet,” he replies with a kiss to the top of my head.

If only my brain would realize that.

“Get some sleep.”

I try, I really do. But all I’m able to do is toss and turn in a restless sleep. I’m glad Zane is here. I’m glad he reassured me, but the irrational part of my brain still worries something will happen. Still pushes me to run away and never look back. I don’t want to miss out on something just because I’m scared. My mind is trying to trick me into believing otherwise, but I know my grandma wouldn’t be happy if I walked away and lost him because I’m scared of that very thing.

Six o’clock rolls around and I slide out of bed to make a cup of coffee and watch the news. Why I do this, I don’t know. Grandma did it. I woke up early sick once and found her watching the news with a cup of coffee. That time I spent with her was so nice and peaceful. We chatted about anything and everything. I loved and cherished it so much I woke up on my own to watch with her. By the time she passed, the habit was firmly in place. Doing it now reminds me of her. Sometimes, I swear she’s still sitting next to me. Never would have thought the news would bring comfort.

By eight, I take a shower to get ready for my day. When I step out of the en-suite bathroom, Zane sits on the edge of the bed.

“Morning, babe. What do you have to do today?”

“Meeting Kayla to get my kit ready to ship. Going to be a long day.” Weariness makes my bones heavy and with an injured wrist, I’m sure to be slow. I already texted Kayla about my injury and that I may need her help more than expected this week.

“Can I come with you?”

Although I’m surprised, I nod. As soon as Zane is ready, we head to my office. He offers to help, for which I’m grateful. Kayla arrives shortly after with a woman.

“Hey. I brought help; hope that’s okay. This is my dad’s wife, Jamie. Jamie, Violet and her…boyfriend, Zane.”

I reach out and shake her hand. Jamie looks pretty close in age to Kayla. Seems like an awkward situation and I’m glad I’m not involved.

“I’m happy to be here to volunteer my services,” Jamie says after we exchange pleasantries. “Just tell me what you want me to do.”

“I appreciate the thought, but are you sure? I don’t want to take you away from work or whatever.”

Jamie laughs. “My boss is my husband; I’m still getting paid and he won’t mind I’m not there. So, how can I help?”

Deciding to simply accept the help Kayla brought with her, I give them the tasks of putting the kits together while Zane and I work on packaging them for shipment. It doesn’t take long before I realize I should’ve hired more help. Even with the four of us, we’re going to be here a while and I’m set to ship them in two days. We may not make it.

When we break for lunch, which we had delivered, I confess my fear to Zane about not finishing in time. Before he has a chance to respond, there is a knock at the front door. Zane grins.

“Be right back.”

He stands and I watch with confusion as he lets a group of women inside.

“Violet, you may remember everyone, but Jamie, meet Sylvia, Lizzy, Julie, Raelynn, and Sydney. They’re here to help.”

For a moment, I’m flabbergasted. All I can do is stare with surprise as the ladies say hello. He called in reinforcements? And they actually showed? Wow.

Zane sidles up next to me and whispers with a kiss to my neck, just below my ear, “Family helps family.”

I shove my emotions down and accept their help. It makes all the difference in the world. By the end of the day, all kits have been assembled, packaged, and are ready to ship out.

“I don’t know how to repay you and thank y’all enough,” I say as the ladies get ready to leave.

Sylvia hooks an arm through mine. “Come hang out with us more often and that is payment enough.”

Zane does the same on the other side of me, but tugs me out of her hold. “Don’t even think about trying to scare her away, Sylvia.” To me, he adds, “She’s nosy as hell.”

Sylvia gasps as if she’s shocked he said such a thing. “Forgive me for trying to get to know the other spouses.” To me, she says, “Don’t listen to what anyone tells you about me. And if you ever don’t want to answer something I’ve asked, you can tell me to mind my own business.”

Lizzy snorts. “Not that she will.”

Sylvia rolls her eyes and I smile. The camaraderie between them is nice. I will definitely have to do more with them since they were so nice to come out and help me.

Zane stays by my side for the next few days, helping with anything I need, and reassuring me with his presence. We’re only separated for a brief hour when I run out on an errand for a little surprise I’m working on for Zane. I sure hope I don’t regret what I’m doing, but at the same time, it feels right.

Tonight, though, I meet Graham’s girlfriend. Nervous doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. We’re meeting them at a restaurant and Zane drives us there now.

He finds a parking space and I take a deep breath, not prepared for this at all.

Zane takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Are you ready?”

I shake my head and Zane gives me that boyish grin of his I love so much.

“It’ll be okay; let’s go.”

Within a couple of minutes, we’re seated at a table across from Graham and his girlfriend, Carrie. He introduces us and I’m a little relieved that she seems nervous too. But it’s all for nothing. We spend the next hour having nice conversation, learning about one another. She seems like a nice girl and Graham is almost a different person around her. A better one. He acts like the person I’ve been hoping he’d grow up to be.

But as our dinner winds down, Graham clears his throat, glances at me, and then turns toward Carrie.

“It’s good that you’ve met my sister; I want you two to get along and stuff, especially since I leave for basic training next week.”

My heart falls to the pit of my stomach. This is really happening. A sob erupts from Carrie as she throws her arms around him. Zane rests a hand on my knee and gives it a little squeeze. It’s clear from watching them that they care for one another and I’m glad my brother has someone in his corner.

“If you need anything while he’s gone, I’m here,” I manage to say.

Carrie gives me a grateful smile.

“It was nice to finally meet you,” I add. “We’ll go so you two can spend more time together.”

Within minutes, we’re back in Zane’s car and on the way to his house, where I’ve been since he’s been home. Silence fills the air until we’re snuggled together on his couch.

“I know your emotions are probably all over the place, but I want you to think about us living together.”

Maybe it’s because I’m an idiot, or maybe it’s because he’s right, my emotions are in overdrive right now, but I ask, “Why do you want to live together now? Because you know I’m about to be a wreck?”

“Because we’re married and that’s what married people do.”

A snort comes from me before I can help myself and it causes Zane to tense next to me.

He hooks a finger underneath my chin and forces me to look at him.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt. “I don’t know why I did that.”

He ignores me. “I love you.” I gasp, not expecting that at all despite the fact he’s already told me once. “I want to be with you and I don’t want any more of this back and forth between our houses. I thought you would be happy about this,” he finishes quietly as tears begin to fall from my eyes. “This is what you told me you wanted; do you…do you just not want it with me?” The confusion with a touch of hurt is clear in his tone.

I scramble to straddle him. “I love you too. If you want to move in with me, I would love that. You are probably the best thing to ever happen to me and I’m just?—”

“Scared,” he finishes for me. I nod. He reaches for my right hand, takes my rings off, and slides them on my left ring finger. “You aren’t alone anymore, Violet. And I’ll do whatever I can to make you happy.”

I absolutely hate myself that deep down I war over the fact if that’s even possible. I love being with Zane, but he seems too good to be true. For now, I take the comfort he gives and focus on nothing but that.