Wanting More (Mitchell Family #5)(7)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I knew that pulling her out of the car would have been too violent after what she’d been through, so I extended my hand out toward her. “I promise you will be safe and I won’t take you to the farm. Just trust me.”

She covered her face with her hands. “You’re the last person that I’ll trust.”

“God. Damn. It. woman, get out of the car. This has nothin’ to do with me. You need to go somewhere and get yourself cleaned up where you can be safe. Just come with me. I promise I won’t touch you. I just can’t leave you here like this. It ain’t f**kin’ right.”

I think she knew I wasn’t going to leave. With no more arguing, she climbed out of the car and grabbed her purse. I heard her hit the lock button on her car before following me to my truck. Once I got Amy in, I noticed the bartender giving me a dirty look as she headed to her own car. There goes that piece of ass.

Amy didn’t waste any time asking where we were going. “Tell me where you’re taking me?”

I pulled off the main road and headed out of town. “Someplace safe for the night. Don’t argue with me about it.” She started to cry again and for some damn reason I reached over and covered the back of her hand with my own. “You’re safe now.” I moved my hand away before she could say anything. Her cries finally started to calm a little and she didn’t argue when I pulled into a motel. “Stay here and keep the doors locked. I’m goin’ to get us a couple of rooms to stay in for the night.”

She grabbed my hand before I could climb out. Her faced looked so bad against the florescent light of the vacancy sign. “Conner, I’ll pay you back for this.”

Maybe one day you can pay me back with your body.

“That ain’t necessary. Be right back.”

The little pervert at the front desk said there was only one available room, so I paid him and got the key. Amy wasn’t going to be thrilled, but there was no way I was going to leave her alone all night. She climbed out of the truck to meet me and we walked to the door with the number four on it. “Don’t get mad, but he only had one room to rent. I swear I ain’t goin’ to touch you, but I can’t leave you here all alone. Is this goin’ to be a problem?”

She walked into the room and dropped her bag. I saw what she was looking at.

One bed.

“I’ll sleep on the floor.”

She smiled and sat down on the bed, while I walked toward the bathroom to grab some rags and the ice bucket. Once she got situated, I went back to the truck and grabbed my overnight bag I still had in the back. For a while, I didn’t know whether I’d be spending the night with Brina in some random place. I knew there was at least one clean shirt in there that Amy could put on. When I got back with the bag and the ice, she was laying on a pillow crying again. I sat down beside her and watched as she turned around. I gently touched my fingers to her eye and then handed her a towel with ice wrapped in it. “Put this on your eye to keep it from swelling any worse. I had this bag in the truck. Help yourself to some clothes to sleep in. I don’t know if you noticed, but your shirt is ripped in the back and I know you don’t want to sleep in those jeans.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“I was taught to never lay a hand on a female. I don’t know your so called husband, but in my opinion, he’s a real piece of shit. I’d hate myself for not helpin’ you. My sister loves you and I know she would want me to do this.”

And I still want the chance to f**k you some day.

Chapter 4

Amy

How had I let myself get to where I was? Just when I had the slightest bit of hope that things were going to be okay, Rick walked into the house and started tossing me around like I was a ragdoll. Apparently, he had gotten a fine for not resting in between drives. I have no idea how it had become my fault, but he claimed that he was so worried about my cheating ways that he was trying to finish sooner and get home to catch me in the act.

I tried to defend myself, but he was so much bigger than me. Before I knew it, I was crashing down to the floor in terrible pain. He continued to kick me in my side and stomach until walking away and turning on the television like he’d never done anything wrong.

I don’t know how long I laid balled up in that corner, but when I heard him snoring, I grabbed my keys and never looked back. I was sure that I would never be discovered behind that building. I considered going to the salon, but that would be the first place he came looking for me.

The last person I expected to see was that ass**le Conner and more so was the fact that he was offering to keep me safe. Since I’d just gotten the shit beat out of me, it wasn’t hard for him to convince me to go with him. I was more upset with Miranda finding out than Conner seeing what Rick had done.

The motel had one bed and it was the last place I’d ever want to be, but made me feel the safest once Conner was sitting there next to me. I couldn’t help but let the tears fall. If I wanted to get away from Rick, I knew I’d have to leave my whole life and career behind me. I had to go somewhere that he couldn’t find me and to do that I needed money, which I didn’t have enough of.

I finally got my sobs down to a few sniffles. “Thank you for this Conner.”

He pulled the ice rag away from my face. “Don’t mention it. Is there anything I can do? I think I have some Tylenol in the truck. Why don’t you get yourself cleaned up while I go get it?” He held his hands up like he was surrendering then crossed his heart with one hand. “I promise that I won’t try anything. All pun aside; this ain’t the place for anything like that. Just try to relax now that you’re safe.”

I watched Conner walk out of the motel room before I got up and walked into the bathroom. Nothing could have prepared me for the way my face looked. Rick didn’t aim low and the proof was apparent. There was no concealing these injuries. I went through Conner’s bag and noticed that he even had toiletries, not that I needed his toothbrush or men’s deodorant.

I jumped when I heard the door opening and peeked around the corner to see Conner. He had two cans of soda and a bottle of medicine. “You alright?”

“Yeah, just making sure it was you.” I moved back in the bathroom and closed the door to change my shirt. I grabbed the first t-shirt that I could find and slipped it over my head. My arms hurt so much, but not more than my sides. I was taken aback by the smell of the shirt. Although it was freshly laundered, it still had a hint of some kind of cologne. I recognized it immediately from being around him before. I picked up the collar and smelled it again, just as Conner walked in front of the door.