have my way.”
“The day of the wedding I obviously never showed. I was officially a runaway bride. They had no idea I’d run days before. Tony called every hour on the hour and I let it go to voicemail. On the day after the wedding, Pauley called. That one I answered. I didn’t care if Tony had put him up to it or not, his parents had been good to Austin and I. He sounded broken and I started crying. Then I told him everything. He knew I was telling the truth because I’d never lied to him and he knew how much I loved his family and his son. When I was through, he told me that he loved me, he believed me, and he didn’t blame me. He told me that he was ashamed of Anthony and I started crying harder. Then he told me that Tony was a mess. He was angry and he was looking for me. He said that I was ‘his’ and that I’d promised him fidelity for life. He told his parents that he’d find me. Then Pauley told me to stay hidden and watch my back. He’d do the best that he could to protect me. That was three years ago.”
Sean and I looked at one another in shock. He was speechless. I didn’t do speechless.
“He’s found you hasn’t he?”
She nodded her head slowly.
“That’s why Chase came. Pauley is one of his most reliable informants. Tony has no idea. He found the bar but he hasn’t made an appearance yet. He assumes we’re living above it. Chase thinks he’s watching it and waiting for an opportunity to grab me.”
Sean scrunched up his face.
“Grab you? Doesn’t he have someone to beat up somewhere?”
Ayla sighed.
“Sean, have you heard anything about Tony Marconi, Prize Fighter?”
“Come to think of it, no. I’ve only heard of his father.”
Ayla squeezed his hand and released it.
“Chase said that once I left, he lost all of his concentration. He stopped training and started drinking. He was arrested and released on a domestic violence charge when he got rough with a woman he dated briefly, but she refused to press charges. Chase has kept a close eye on him and so far, we’ve been lucky. Until now.”
She looked at me and implored with her eyes.
“That’s why Chase and Austin are so uptight about security. No one knows what he’s thinking or what he might do. He might just take me and run, but he’s got nothing to lose anymore. People could easily become collateral damage. He’s made up his mind that I cost him everything: his reputation, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and his career. He wants revenge.”
She stopped and watched us both carefully. She was waiting for something and I didn’t know what we were supposed to say.
“Tell us how to help you Ayla. We’ve got your back.”
It was as if she started breathing again. I don’t know if she thought we’d have questions, make judgements, or throw her out, but she looked relieved.
“You’ve taken us in and the Sloans have started looking for him. Pierce thinks that if we find him first, they can scare the shit out of him. Chase is skeptical and I’m certain it won’t work. But you know the Sloans. Pierce has turned his place into a fortress. He’s talking about installing a safe room.”
“It’s a good idea Ayla. If asshole finds you and gets through security while Pierce is at work, it might buy you enough time to get help.”
She looked at me with fire in her eyes and shook her head.
“No. I can’t let him alter his home and his life because I’m being stalked by my ex. I took out a restraining order and if he gets close enough, I’ll call the cops.”
Sean threw his hands up in a grand gesture.
“If he gets close enough, he could overpower you before you could dial a phone. Take the safe room and buy a gun. Then learn how to use it. Never go anywhere alone until we know where he is or he goes away. You need to walk around thinking that someone wants to kill you.”
Her eyes grew huge and
“The day of the wedding I obviously never showed. I was officially a runaway bride. They had no idea I’d run days before. Tony called every hour on the hour and I let it go to voicemail. On the day after the wedding, Pauley called. That one I answered. I didn’t care if Tony had put him up to it or not, his parents had been good to Austin and I. He sounded broken and I started crying. Then I told him everything. He knew I was telling the truth because I’d never lied to him and he knew how much I loved his family and his son. When I was through, he told me that he loved me, he believed me, and he didn’t blame me. He told me that he was ashamed of Anthony and I started crying harder. Then he told me that Tony was a mess. He was angry and he was looking for me. He said that I was ‘his’ and that I’d promised him fidelity for life. He told his parents that he’d find me. Then Pauley told me to stay hidden and watch my back. He’d do the best that he could to protect me. That was three years ago.”
Sean and I looked at one another in shock. He was speechless. I didn’t do speechless.
“He’s found you hasn’t he?”
She nodded her head slowly.
“That’s why Chase came. Pauley is one of his most reliable informants. Tony has no idea. He found the bar but he hasn’t made an appearance yet. He assumes we’re living above it. Chase thinks he’s watching it and waiting for an opportunity to grab me.”
Sean scrunched up his face.
“Grab you? Doesn’t he have someone to beat up somewhere?”
Ayla sighed.
“Sean, have you heard anything about Tony Marconi, Prize Fighter?”
“Come to think of it, no. I’ve only heard of his father.”
Ayla squeezed his hand and released it.
“Chase said that once I left, he lost all of his concentration. He stopped training and started drinking. He was arrested and released on a domestic violence charge when he got rough with a woman he dated briefly, but she refused to press charges. Chase has kept a close eye on him and so far, we’ve been lucky. Until now.”
She looked at me and implored with her eyes.
“That’s why Chase and Austin are so uptight about security. No one knows what he’s thinking or what he might do. He might just take me and run, but he’s got nothing to lose anymore. People could easily become collateral damage. He’s made up his mind that I cost him everything: his reputation, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and his career. He wants revenge.”
She stopped and watched us both carefully. She was waiting for something and I didn’t know what we were supposed to say.
“Tell us how to help you Ayla. We’ve got your back.”
It was as if she started breathing again. I don’t know if she thought we’d have questions, make judgements, or throw her out, but she looked relieved.
“You’ve taken us in and the Sloans have started looking for him. Pierce thinks that if we find him first, they can scare the shit out of him. Chase is skeptical and I’m certain it won’t work. But you know the Sloans. Pierce has turned his place into a fortress. He’s talking about installing a safe room.”
“It’s a good idea Ayla. If asshole finds you and gets through security while Pierce is at work, it might buy you enough time to get help.”
She looked at me with fire in her eyes and shook her head.
“No. I can’t let him alter his home and his life because I’m being stalked by my ex. I took out a restraining order and if he gets close enough, I’ll call the cops.”
Sean threw his hands up in a grand gesture.
“If he gets close enough, he could overpower you before you could dial a phone. Take the safe room and buy a gun. Then learn how to use it. Never go anywhere alone until we know where he is or he goes away. You need to walk around thinking that someone wants to kill you.”
Her eyes grew huge and
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