Salt Water Wounds (Oyster Cove #1) (17 page)

He laughs at this. “You’ve had enough? Alice has had enough. Do you have any idea how much you’ve ruined my life? I had potential until you flashed your little island pussy in my direction. You trapped me to get away from your family. You knew if you got pregnant you’d have a way out of this town you hated so much. You ruined my life. Everything that happens from here on is your doing, Alice. You did this to yourself.” He starts to walk away, but stops and comes back, standing way too close for comfort. “You deserved every single beating you ever got from me. You’re trash. You’ll never be anything more.” Then he leans forward while I’m rendered speechless, and crippled by his hateful words and kisses me on the cheek. “You think I didn’t see you sneak into the bathroom with your friend at the restaurant? Do you peg me for a fool?”

“No. We were talking. He asked me if I was okay. I told him I was having dinner as a family.”

“Lies. They pour out of your mouth like a broken faucet.”

“It’s true. I’m not seeing Buck anymore. He just likes to look out for people. I told him I was fine.”

“Remember what I told you about seeing him, Alice. I’d hate for something to happen to that little blonde he was with tonight.”

“Peter, no. Leave them out of this.” I’m petrified of this man and now he’s threatening to harm Bristol.

“I’ll see you soon, my love.” He winks before going.

I run in the house and lock the door behind me, praying he won’t say anything more. My body trembles, I’m weak and disgraced. I fall to the floor and sob because I can’t get away from this. I’ll never be rid of this terrible person unless I face my own demons.

I pull out my phone, shaking profusely and dial Buck’s number, praying I’m not interrupting his time with his family. He answers on the second ring. “Hey, sweetness. You okay?”

“I can’t see you tonight,” I manage to get out through my tears.

“Where are you?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m fine. We can’t do this right now.”

“Did he hurt you?”

I shake my head, though he’s unable to see. “Not physically.”

“Come to me. Come to my house, Perry.”

“I can’t involve you, Buck. Please stay away.”

“You’re asking the impossible.”

I’m barely able to speak words at this point. “Stay away from me, Buck. Promise you will.”

The line goes dead. I’m not sure if he’s angry, but I can’t worry about it. His safety is a priority to me.

Because I’m still concerned about Peter’s threats, I decide to do the unthinkable in order to protect anyone else from his wrath. He answers on the first ring. “Hello, dear. Are you calling to thank me for dinner again?”

I close my eyes as I respond. “If that’s what you want.” My teeth grit together as I fight the urge to wish his immediate death.

“Oh, you know what I want, love.”

My mind is telling me not to do it. Even the idea of doing it makes me want to commit suicide, but it’s not about me. “If you want me you can have me, as long as you leave Buck and his family alone.”

“Does that mean you’ll be moving into the new place with us?”

Of course this is the end game. He wants to torture me, break me down until I’m nothing but broken bones and shattered dreams. I keep my eyes closed, snot is running down against my lips,  and my teeth chatter as I attempt to speak. I’m disgusted with myself. “Yes.”

“Good. We’ll chat about it tomorrow. Everything is going to work out, Alice. You’ll see. We’ll be happy again.”

I hang up from the call and let the phone fall from my hand. Nothing has ever hurt me this badly before, not even the damage of my past.

My phone is ringing again, but I refuse to pick it up. Peter has what he came for. He’s threatened someone I care about, so I’ll have no choice but to obey.

Before I know what I’m doing, I’m on my moped driving as fast and out of control as possible. I can’t get away from the abuse. No matter where I go it follows me like a curse. I want to be free and feel there’s no other way to make it happen.

The trailer park at the furthest end of the island has a an old broken down pier. I’ve envisioned this happening since I was a teenager. So many times I’ve considered this ending to my suffering.

I accelerate as the moped begins it’s trail over the decimated wooden planks until there aren’t any left. Then I close my eyes and fly, recalling every beautiful memory, my son, my tavern, my grandmother’s laugh, and lastly Buck.

Chapter 19

I’ve been scouring the island for nearly an hour, going to every single place I can think she’d go to hide.
Perry wasn’t in any condition to drive when we last spoke. I’ve never heard her so distraught. Something freaked her out, or more like someone. I don’t know what he said, but I’m determined to find her and help her calm down.

I’m getting more worried by the second. She’s nowhere to be found. I’ve even started visiting each of her regular customer’s houses thinking she might be hiding there. Her parent’s place is empty. The tavern is crowded with people, but not her moped. I check motels, the firehouse, and even other bars she might go to. I drive to the park, and bribe one of the rangers to let me check out Assateague Island to see if she snuck over there on her moped.

Nothing. No sign of Perry.

Hoping I’ll find her at Oyster Cove, I head there as a final resort. When her moped isn’t sitting in the driveway I know I’m out of options. I have to start over and hope she’ll turn up.

Three hours pass. Her phone has now died and goes right to voicemail. Her house is vacant. I head to the marina in hopes that maybe she went aboard the Layla or one of my other boats, but find no signs of her there either.

I’m about to lose my mind when I see one of my neighbors pulling his boat into the slip next to mine. I help him attach his lines and greet him as he steps off the watercraft. “How’s the water tonight,” I ask, Wren Jameson.

“The water is rough. Storm coming in. Did you hear what happened over at Inlet View earlier?”

“No. Anything good?”

“I was out in my honey hole and watched the whole damn thing take place. Some crazy person drove their motorbike off the pier. At first I thought it was a local drunk, but when the coast guard pulled her from the water I saw it was Alice Perry.”

My heart gets punched. “Come again?” He has to be mistaken.

“Yeah, that crazy broad went full speed off the pier. If you ask me, she was trying to off herself. She always seemed like a nice lady. I guess we don’t really know everyone’s secrets in this town. It must be something major to want to end your life.”

I’m already running in the direction of my truck. The nearest hospital is close to forty minutes away by ambulance. God only knows what could happen in that amount of time. I don’t stick around to ask if they flew her out, if she was still breathing, or worse.

The drive to the hospital is grueling. I’m worried, my nerves are shot, and I’m angry. I’m hurt she couldn’t come to me. I’ve always known she’s been hiding something, but this doesn’t seem like something Perry would do.

When I arrive at the hospital I’m told unless I’m family can’t get any information on the patient, so I lie and tell them she’s my fiancé. They take me to a waiting room, where I’m asked to sit, but refuse. I pace, waiting for someone to come in and tell me something. I need news. The last time I was at this place Weston had broken his arm playing football. The time before it, Brant fell out of a tree and gave himself a concussion. It’s been years ago, for which I’m thankful, but all hospitals remind me of Layla. I’m sick to my stomach as someone comes out to find me.

I’m lead back in the secured area to a private room. That’s when relief washes over me. Perry is alive. She’s sleeping, but I can tell she’s going to make it. The nurse points to a chair for me to take. “Ms. Perry is resting. The doctor gave her something to calm her down.”

I glance over and see that she’s strapped to the bed. “Is that necessary?”

“It’s protocol when patients come in after a suicide attempt. We want to ensure that they’re no harm to themselves or others.”

“She wouldn’t.” As I say it I realize all she’s been going through.

“The doctor has ordered a seventy two hour evaluation.”

The last woman I watched lay helplessly in a hospital bed was my dying wife. I can’t begin to explain what it feels like to sit across from Perry and not be able to promise that everything will be okay. I know we haven’t been involved long, but we’ve been friends for years, and played cat and mouse with our attraction for nearly the same amount of time. Lately something has changed between us. I want to be around her. She’s special, and she makes me want to be a better man. I can’t sit and watch her struggle and not feel obligated to stay by her side. I’m not equipped to walk away from someone in need, someone I’m not ready to admit I might have actual feelings for.

Perry starts to awaken, only to realize she’s strapped to the bed. She sits up and looks around the room, finding me sitting there at her side. “What the…Oh God, Buck I’m so sorry,” she cries out. “I just wanted the pain to stop. I wanted everyone to be safe, and knew if I was out of the picture you would be.”

I stand and lace my hand with hers, even though it can’t move. “Please don’t cry.” I drag my hand over her hair and move it from her face. Even in this condition she’s still beautiful. “Do you have any idea how pissed I am at you? You thought you couldn’t come to me. Why? I’ve been searching for you for hours. When I heard,” I can’t finish. “When I learned what happened I thought I might lose you. You can’t give up, sweetness. We’re only just beginning. I need you.”

“You don’t need me, Buck. I’m broken. Nothing can fix me. I’m damaged goods. Run while you still have the sense to do it.”

“Why would I run? You think I give a rats ass about your past, or your ex husband? None of that could make me want you any less.”

“It’s just the sex talking, Buck. You don’t mean that.”

“I enjoy being with you, even if it’s across the room while you’re working, or when I’m celebrating the anniversary of a sad memory and you take extra care to make sure I eat and know you’re always around to talk. You think I wasn’t paying attention but I was. Have mercy on me and promise you’re never going to try something so unimaginable again, Perry.”

Her face shrivels as another bout of tears wash over her. “I promise, but I don’t deserve you, Buck.”

I lean forward and kiss her on the head. “You don’t get to make that call, sweetness. A man wants what he wants. I don’t see the person you think you are, Perry. I see someone who has figured out how to take a broken man and make him feel whole again. I see a woman who would make the ultimate sacrifice in order for the people she cares about to be safe. I see strength and determination, but above all a person who makes me feel alive again after years of feeling like I was lost forever. It’s not the sex, woman. It’s you. It’s all of you - the good, the bad, and the horrible. I know you’re scared to trust someone, but …”

She stops me. “I’m not scared to trust you, Buck. I’m scared that if you know my secret you’ll never be able to look at me the same way again.”

“Then you don’t know me at all.” I don’t say it like I’m being rude or calling her out. I say it like she needs to stop being afraid.

“How long do I have to stay like this?” She asks while shaking the hand that’s not laced with mine.

“They say you’ll be evaluated, whatever that means.”

Perry shakes her head. “It mostly means I won’t be allowed to leave for several days while the shrink comes in to determine whether I’m insane.”

“My personal assessment would be that you’re definitely insane. Insanely beautiful, especially in that gown.” We both smile at the same time as I lean forward and kiss her softly. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“I know.”

“I want you to be able to confide in me, Perry. You feel like you’re alone, but you don’t have to be.”

“You’ll leave me if you know. That’s why it’s better to keep your distance, no matter how much I wish we could be together.”

“I have nowhere else I need to be.”

She’s quiet, but still crying softly in the bed as I stand over her. “I want you to know everything, Buck. I do. I’m just afraid that when I tell you, you’ll never look at me the same again, and I couldn’t live with that. You look at me like I’m the answer. You put me on a pedestal I’ve never deserved. I’ve been obsessed with seducing you into my bed for years, and now that it’s happened, I can’t fathom the thought of it being merely a casual fling between two consenting adults. You make me want more, and I will never be good enough.”

“What the hell happened, Perry?”

“Tonight, or when I was a kid?”

“Start with the easiest.”

“Peter threatened your children’s safety if I didn’t stop seeing you.” Her admission doesn’t surprise me. “He saw you at the restaurant. I promised I’d break things off and move in with him and Nick. He left me no choice.” She’s pleading, but she doesn’t need to. I already know he’s been holding things over her head. “I couldn’t let him threaten you and your family.”

“As much as I appreciate that, I’m upset you couldn’t come to me. I’m not afraid of him.”

“He threatened Bristol, Buck.”

Then she tells me that.

I’m hotheaded by nature, but when someone threatens my own flesh and blood there will be hell to pay. “When?”

“Tonight. After dinner,” she struggles.

I’m pulling my hand away from hers and headed for the door, determined to hunt him down and make sure he doesn’t have any means to harm another living soul.

Perry is behind me, trying desperately to get my attention, or break free. “Buck, wait! Please.”

I stop in the doorway and turn to face her. “I’ll handle this.” My jaw clenches as I consider how bad I want to hurt him.

“No. Please stay with me. I don’t want to be alone.” The way she squirms when she says it gets my attention.

“Are you injured?”

She struggles doing it with her wrists restrained, but removes the blanket. Her legs are covered in bandages. Then she lifts the hospital gown and I see she’s got stitches across her abdomen. “I landed on an old pier that was under the water. It’s from the metal braces. It wasn’t that deep, but they stitched it anyway.”

I take a deep breath and pace around the room. “I need to check on the kids.”

“I know.”

I kiss her quickly. “I’ll come back. I promise.”

“Buck, I’m begging you. Don’t go after Peter. This is what he wants to happen. Don’t play into his hand.”

“I’ve got this. Get some rest. I’ll be back before you know it.”

I pass by the doctor as I leave the secured area in the direction of the parking lot. Once I’m back in my truck I make a few quick calls to make sure all of my kids haven’t had any run ins with Perry’s ex. The last one of my children I contact is Brant Jr. If I can count of anyone to have my back it’s my oldest.

“Dad, what’s up?”

“You still have that pistol?”

“Yeah, why? You got bats in the attic again?”

“Perry tried to kill herself tonight, son. It seems her ex-husband made threats that got her so scared she thought the only way out was to end her life.”

“Damn. Is she at the hospital?”

“Yeah. She’s stable. I’m leaving there now to head back.”

“What do you need from me?”

“Go to the house and keep an eye on your sister until I get there.”

“With the pistol? Is she in some kind of danger?”

“I don’t want to wait and find out.”

He’s quick to reply. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Let the dogs out. They’ll bark if anyone comes up the driveway. If you feel like something is off call me. I’ll see you when I get back. We’ll talk then.”

During the drive home to Oyster Cove there’s a list of worries running through my mind. Mostly I’m having doubts that a confrontation is going to stop Peter. He’s too proud to give up easily. What I do know is that right now my main concern is my family. I have to ensure they’re safe and sound before I can begin to focus on Perry and her recovery.

I manage to make it home without hitting a stray deer on the road. I missed three by mere inches. Relief rushes over me when I pull into the driveway and see that all of my kids are in one place. By the time I’m inside, Brant has given them a rundown.

“How’s Perry?” Weston asks right away.

“Yeah, we heard what happened. Anything we can do to help?” Cooper offers.

“Perry’s okay. She’s in pain from the accident and considerably upset for trying to take her own life, but she’s going to be all right.” It’s nice to have them asking about her.