Mine to Keep by Sam Crescent Page A

her. They helped her up from the floor. She glanced over and saw Paul and David holding onto Steven while Dean and William held Gabriel back from him. Steven had a split lip, and his face looked swollen.
    “That’s police brutality,” Steven said.
    “Fuck you. That’s a man protecting his woman. Amy is mine, you fucking bastard. You lay a finger on her, and I’ll take you out. She’s mine.”
    “You can’t have her. She’s my wife.”
    “Ex-wife. She’ll be mine, and I intend to keep her. You’ll never hurt her again.”
    Amy moved away from Laura and Anna and went to Gabriel. Her body ached, but he needed to see her to make sure she was okay. She placed her hand on his shoulder, and he pulled her close.
    “Are you all right?”
    “I’m a little sore.”
    “The ambulance and cops are on their way. I have a feeling they’ll be upping his fucking security around the prison.”
    The commotion had zapped Amy of all her energy. Laura and Anna took care of her two children while a paramedic looked her over. Gabriel stayed by her side while the police apologised for the incident. Gabriel demanded more security for Steven. She learnt her ex-husband was unbalanced and was in a psychiatric unit at the local hospital, which was why he had been able to walk out. The paramedic wanted her to go to hospital for observation, which she refused. There was no way she would be spending any more time in a hospital.
    Anna took her children home with her. Amy was thankful for the space, even though she didn’t think it was necessary. Mia and Billy were happy to go with their friends. William stayed in a spare bedroom.
    Gabriel carried her up the stairs when the police and ambulance service left. The rest of her day had gone to shit because of her ex-asshole-husband.
    “You got me worried there,” he said. He placed her on top of the toilet.
    “I’m sorry. I’m just glad you heard me.”
    “I heard, and I fucking went ballistic. I’m pleased you didn’t see me lose my cool.”
    She chuckled, the tears falling freely down her cheeks.
    “Hey. Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her. His warmth and strength surrounded her. She let loose all of her fear and pain.
    “I wasn’t going to let him take me without a fight. I got so angry. I was the perfect wife to him, and he did nothing but treat me like shit.”
    “He won’t be coming out of there anymore. He’ll be under strict guard, and you’ll never have to lay your eyes on him again.”
    “I love you, Gabriel.”
    “I love you, too.”
    He took her clothes from her body and checked her bruises. Her face was red, and her ribs had a darkening bruise. “Fucking asshole,” she said.
    Gabriel bathed her, being extra careful with her. When he was done, he dried her body and carried her to their bed. He laid her down, and she kissed him deeply, her hand going to his cock. He stopped her. “Tonight, I’ll hold you.”
    She nodded her head and rested her head on his shoulder. With time, her eyes closed, and sleep claimed her. The day’s events were rushed, and she wanted to do nothing else but forget about it all.

Chapter Twelve
    Nothing exciting happened after Steven’s escape. She found out he was in a maximum security prison being medicated for his condition. Anna and Laura helped her to organise her wedding to Gabriel. She had no idea what to do, but the other two women steered her in the right directions. They were both married themselves. Amy felt so close to them, and Gabriel made her fall in love with him more and more. Her children adored him and called him daddy. She’d told them that they didn’t have to. They still called him daddy. William moved to CapeFalls and opened up his gentlemen’s club. She hadn’t been to visit, and Gabriel kept refusing to take her.
    Their scandal died down, to be replaced by William and the tattoo parlour. She found it funny when residents talked to her in the supermarket about the chaos happening in the town. She was