him. “Think about that, you asshole, the next time you lay hands on a woman.”
Sirens sounded in the distance and got louder, thank God.
Tristian towered over Stuart as he berated him for assaulting me. Two police cars came to a screeching halt in the driveway, and four officers jumped out of the cars as soon as they came to a stop. One of the officers tried to put Tristian in a hold, but I stopped him.
“No!” I tugged on the cop’s arm. “Officer, this man saved me.” I pointed to Stuart, saying, “That one tried to kill me. That gun over there is his and I’m sure you’ll find his prints on it.”
Another officer picked it up in a baggy and took it. Then they questioned me, while Stuart screamed about his dad working for the governor.
One of the officers said, “I don’t care who you are. Nothing puts you above the law.” They read him his rights and put him in the car. My parents arrived during this scene and Dad had to be restrained. The situation was such a mess, chaos reigned in my front yard.
Dad struggled to get free, shouting, “This man has a history of beating my daughter. He should go to prison for this.”
“Dad, calm down,” I tried to yell, but I was so hoarse, it sounded more like a whisper.
Dad stared at me, then pulled me into his arms. “Jesus, English. He could’ve killed you.”
When his words sank in, my body viciously trembled and I crumpled in Dad’s arms. He had to hold me up as horror over what had just transpired ripped through me. I latched onto his shirt as beads of sweat broke out all over my body. My heart pounded in my ears like a thousand hooves of horses running through a field.
“My daughter needs an ambulance,” Dad shouted. He touched my face and I winced. “That motherfucker.”
Then the tears came as I thought of my poor baby girl. What had I done? Tristian stood and watched. If it hadn’t been for him, I would’ve died. Our eyes connected and I held out an arm. He came forward.
“How did you know?” I rasped. My raw throat still burned from where Stuart had choked me.
“I didn’t. I came over to try to talk to you.”
“You saved my life.”
Dad handed me off to him and he held me close. “It’s going to be okay now. He’s going to jail and I’ll testify.”
Emotions clogged my throat. Words couldn’t get past them.
“English, I’ll watch Easton while you go to the hospital,” Mom said. The ambulance had arrived and Tristian walked me over.
Dad and Tristian rode together while I was in the ambulance. The EMTs started an IV on the way and gave me something to calm me down. When I got to the hospital, the doctor ordered X-rays of my face, neck and chest and determined there were no fractures. A nurse came in and took plenty of pictures in order for the police to file the assault and battery report.
Stuart was also in the emergency room with a broken nose, courtesy of Tristian. He deserved worse than that, but it would have to do for now. As we were leaving, his father strode in surrounded by an entourage of men in suits. I glanced up when I saw them. He walked in my direction, and I cowered. Every muscle in my body tensed as he approached me, but when he moved closer, the police officer stopped him. “I wouldn’t advise that, sir.”
“I wouldn’t either,” Dad said, his eyes like ice chips.
Stuart’s father had always liked me but that had changed. Cold eyes pierced mine and a chill sent me shivering. I knew I’d made a lifelong enemy tonight.
Chapter Thirteen
Tristian—One Hour Earlier
This impasse between English and me had to end and it would tonight. When I arrived at her house, the door stood cracked open and I heard a man shouting. I raced inside to see his hands around her neck.
No man had a right to lay hands on a woman, ever. I dragged that fucker outside and threw several jabs at him. One landed on his nose and I heard the crack.
“You broke my nose.” His hand covered the protrusion as blood dripped between his fingers.
“That’s not all I’m going to break.” I landed another punch to his ribs. That was when he fell. He was on his stomach and I noticed him reach in his pants. When I saw the gun, he didn’t