Saved by the Rancher - By Jennifer Ryan Page 0,114
your nature to destroy, but to help. You’ve helped me with my charity projects and strangers. This is the only way you can help yourself. I know you well enough to say, it kills you to do it by destroying a person, even one as evil as David.
“Having said that, I think it’s about time he gets what he deserves. He’s used his money and power to do the things he’s done to you. Taking that away and going public with the abuse is the only way to really pay him back and put an end to this. You’re right, there’s no other way. Besides, I’m tired of going up against his dirty lawyers and losing.”
Jenna reached across the desk and took Ben’s hand, squeezing it to let him know she appreciated his support.
“Will you ask Sam to come in here? I have to set up a few things with him. Catch up with Jack. Have a drink, and we’ll all have dinner together.”
Ben came around the desk and pulled her up from her seat. The bandages on her wrists peaked out from beneath her sweater. “It makes me sick to see you hurt. Even worse to look into your eyes and know I didn’t stop the sadness and heartbreak you’ve suffered. I’ll help you any way I can to stop it now, for good.”
He kissed her forehead above the cut over her eye. “I’m sorry I didn’t do more to protect you.”
“You did everything you could. We both know that. Now we’ll end it together.”
“Yes, we will. I’ll get Sam.”
She waited in the office, picking up the book, which was actually a three-inch leather binder filled to capacity, and held it to her chest. The pages contained every photograph she’d ever taken of herself after David attacked her. It had an accounting in her words of each incident and the few medical records she’d managed to keep. Notes he’d written to her. Some flowery and sweet with an undertone of demand. Others threatened and terrorized, promising retribution. The record of the last two plus years of her life. Her murder book.
She didn’t need to open it to remember what happened. She simply closed her eyes and saw each one, heard David’s ominous voice cruelly cutting her down. David never spent a single day in jail for any of it. She vowed there wouldn’t be another incident to put into the book.
Sam walked into the office, dragging Jenna out of her dark thoughts.
“You wanted to see me?” he asked gently.
“Sam. I need you to do me several favors. If you say no, I’ll understand.”
“Name it. Anything for family.”
She rested her hand protectively on the book afraid to let anyone see it, knowing she didn’t have a choice. “This is my murder book. I want you to contact this man at the paper I own and tell him to print my story. The story I want you to put together should consist of some of these photos and notes and an overview of what happened to me since I married David. Every detail is in this book.”
She handed him the business card for the paper and waited for his response.
“I can do that, but are you sure? The press will hound you for more details and interviews.”
He reached out to take the book from her, but she wasn’t ready to let it go and he pulled his hand away.
“I know I’m putting myself into the public eye by doing this. It’s a sensational story. That’s why I trust you to put together something that will tell the story accurately. I want people to know who David Merrick really is, not just the most eligible bachelor who goes out with starlets and lives the rich life. I want them to see the monster hiding behind the elegant facade.”
“I’ll make sure everyone knows. What else? You’re holding something back.”
“I want you to promise me Jack will never see this book.”
“I promise you, Jenna, I won’t let him see it. Even if he did, he wouldn’t feel any different about you. He loves you.”
“I know he does, but if he sees this, it’ll kill him. He’s seen, twice now, what David has done to me. I don’t want him to see all the ways David’s tortured me over the years. This book should never have existed. I should have put a stop to this when I divorced David. I wish I had been able to. Promise me you’ll use only what is absolutely necessary,