Laid Bear by Eve Vaughn (e books for reading .TXT) 📕

Besides, Dale had family connections and money. No one would believe me if I told them that he abused me. I even contemplated suicide for a while, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“I think my moment of clarity came when I walked in on Dale having sex with another woman and he laughed at me.

Told me I was pathetic and to get out until he was ready to talk to me again. He and the girl treated me as if I were less than nothing. He’d cheated before, but I’d never caught him in the act so blatantly. This time around, something in me just snapped. I literally couldn’t take it anymore. I told him we were done for good. He stopped laughing at me then, in fact his demeanor changed with a snap and he got really nasty. I walked away, but he followed me. When he tried to grab me, for the first time I fought back. I pushed him away with all my might and ran. I didn’t look back.

“I was really through with him and meant it. I wouldn’t let him sweet talk or bully me into getting back with him. By now, I realized I didn’t want to remain at college, but I wasn’t sure where I could go. I’d had a little money saved away from my work study job. I figured I could get a job somewhere and find a room to rent. Dale apparently wasn’t through with me yet. He stalked me and made obscene phone calls. He showed up at my job and sent me harassing emails. Finally, I’d had enough. I agreed to meet him to talk. I was hoping if I told him to leave me alone, he would.

“I know it sounds crazy, but I was tired of being scared of him, and I wanted to face him and tell him to leave me alone.

We’d agreed to meet at a coffee shop. I arrived there first and waited for him at a table by the window. I saw him when he approached the shop, and immediately I knew something was up. Now mind you, he’s a guy who takes pride in his appearance, but he looked unkempt. His clothes were askew and his eyes were bloodshot. He walked into the shop, spotted me and stopped. He just stared at me for several seconds and I could feel my heart sink because my gut was telling me he didn’t come to listen. He was up to something. I don’t know if it was divine intervention or what, but the barista dropped some dishes. I was so startled, I slid from my chair and that’s when Dale pulled out a gun and opened fire.

A bullet whooshed by my head. And I know with absolute certainty had that person behind me not dropped those dishes, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Logan suddenly pushed away from the table, knocking his chair over. “Mother fucker! Where the hell is he now? I’m going to fucking kill him.”

Zora could see the bear in his eyes. With a quick glance, she noted Gavin and Heath, though not as vocal as their cousin about what she’d just shared, were every bit as angry as he was.

“Please.” Zora stood and placed her hand on Logan’s shoulder to calm him down. “Let me finish. There’s still a little bit left I need to tell you. You guys have to understand where I’m coming from. I promise I’ll answer all your questions when I’m finished.”

Logan’s nostrils flared and Zora could feel his pulse racing beneath her touch. Finally, he nodded and sat back down with crossed arms.

Zora took her seat and continued. “Even though he missed me, he hit another patron, a woman coming out of the bathroom. Thank goodness she made it, but pandemonium broke out in the shop. I think Dale probably would have taken more shots at me had it not been for a couple of rugby players who tackled him to the ground. And the whole time he was on the ground struggling as the men tried to restrain him, he yelled at me that I’d never be rid of him. He said no matter how far I go, he’d find me. I was horrified. The incident was in the papers and made the news. Even as the