The Cowboy and the Orphan: Riding into Love, #3

CHAPTER 1

Marie

My eyes were locked on his. He smiled, kissed my hand, and I, in a foolish way, started to relax. We talked, exchanged laughs and funny stories.

He seemed so trustworthy.

But I was wrong.

He was not trustworthy.

Take off your clothes, was what he said when we were alone, hours later.

What? Drunk, I smiled. I had a few shots of tequila, encouraged by him as we played. Stop, at least take me out a few more times, I said, laughing innocently.

The slap came quickly. I felt my skin burn, and then the burning turned into throbbing. My ear was clogged for a few seconds, and only moments later I began to hear the noise of the dark alley again.

He said he was going to smoke and wanted my company. I followed him here. God, how stupid I was.

Take off your clothes! he yelled again.

Then I realized he was not joking. His dark eyes made me back up to the nearest wall. He stepped towards me, I could still feel my face hurt until his hand grabbed my hair. I've always had blonde hair, but it was so thin that it lost its beauty. He lifted me off the ground by it. I screamed, but he was quick to cover my mouth.

I'll do it for you, he announced, staring into my eyes disgustingly. His rough tongue ran across my neck and cheek, making me sob.

The alcohol was out of my system, and fear took root. I heard a noise when a knife went through my blouse and he tore it in half. My lace bra also quickly came apart. My breasts stiffened as they came into contact with the night's cold while my legs writhed, wanting to hit him.

With my movement trying to hurt him, the sharp object hit my breast and wounded my skin.

My screams were muffled by his hand, and I began to realize I wouldn't leave there alive. What was I doing there? Why was this happening? These were the questions that circled my thoughts.

Look what you made me do. He smiled coldly and licked my blood off the small knife. I've been watching you for so long, Marie. I was so crazy about you. He leaned in and licked my blood directly from the throbbing cut.

I wanted to beg, to ask him to let me go, but it was already hard to breathe. My scalp hurt, and I could bet I was bleeding.

I'm going to fuck you all night. I'll mark your entire body, you bitch. He bit the wound with immense force, tearing the flesh even more.

I screamed, managing to free my lips for a moment, and sank my teeth into his hand, feeling the flesh part. His hand left my hair, giving me temporary relief, but then my neck was squeezed, making the air escape from my lungs. Tears filled my eyes as he sucked on the injury I made on his hand.

The bitch knows how to bite too...

Please, let me go. I won't report... just let me go... I forced myself to speak, feeling my life slipping through my fingers, but the man silenced me with a precise punch to my left eye.

Still dizzy from the blow, I felt my head collide against the wall several times. My eyes grew heavy and pain took over. My whole body throbbed. I turned my head, disoriented, knowing that man would kill me.

Bitch. He brought his face close to mine.

Let me go. Please, I asked, stuttering, feeling my throat burn and my head hurt more and more.

I had never seen such darkness and evil in someone. The life that I saw while we were talking at Axel's bar was not there, it never was. He pretended.

He came closer, laughing. That's when I heard distant voices, but one of them stood out. It was his. Cody.

Help! CODY! I screamed, even terrified, for the man I loved, facing the psychopath I met a few hours ago, but who had enough time to ruin my life forever. Help! Help! I clung to the hope of living and kept screaming.

I'll be back, he said, furious, and ran towards the door that led to Axel's bar.

My vision was blurred, but I saw Cody come to me. I would forever remember the look of pure panic in his eyes that day.

I read the passage twice while lying in my sheets. It was three in the morning, five days after that fateful night. It was one hundred and twenty hours without sleep, unable to relax my body.

I couldn't sleep. I swear I tried. Sleep just wouldn't come.

Ever since I was little, my greatest pleasure was horseback riding at night. It relaxed me, made my body and soul find peace, but now I couldn't look at the dark sky because I feared going into absolute panic. I didn't tell anyone what happened, didn't open my mouth to talk to anyone about that night. They surrounded me, asked questions, but I stayed silent. I was terrified at the mere possibility of someone taking me out of the house after the sun had set.

I associated the time of day I loved most with that night. With my torment.

May I come in? I heard Hank's voice through the door, after knocking.

I swallowed hard. What was he doing awake at this hour? I stared at my cellphone, knowing how late it was.

Sure. Come in, I asked softly, soon I saw his face.

Hank took me into his home when I was just a girl. My mother worked here but died, leaving just me and my sister, Michelle. Hank gave us jobs, a home, and food. I loved him like my older brother.

His tired face betrayed his concern. I was a burden to him. I had been in his house these days, but I lived on a property where his workers slept, a few minutes away. I used to ride a horse home after a day's work, but now I go nowhere.

Marie, can't you sleep? He approached slowly and sat on the chair next to my bed, while he closed my diary, hiding it under the covers immediately after.

I was about to, I lied, forcing a smile. I didn't want to worry him more than enough. Hank had his family to look after, he didn't need me to add to his concerns.

I know you're not sleeping. I hear your sighs and see your light on when I pass in front of your door. Hank closed his eyes, and I felt my heart start to hurt. I'm terrified, he said with a humorless laugh, making me blink. You're my little sister, understand? I want to understand what happened. Who did this... He suddenly fell silent and hid his face in his hands. When I saw his shoulders tremble, I rose from the bed, kneeling in front of him.

You don't have to be like this, Hank... I said, trying in vain to calm my almost brother.

Marie, you haven't left this room for days. I'm worried. What that man did...

Hank, I'm fine. Tomorrow I'll go out, take a walk around the farm... I tried to imagine myself leaving the room and couldn't see how.

No, you're not. I'll kill the man who did this to you if Cody doesn't find him first, obviously. His name echoing made me pull away from Hank, gasping.

What do you mean? Cody... My eyes widened as my blood ran completely cold.

He's hunting the man. He saw you with him, Cody can recognize the guy, Hank spoke in a calm manner.

I shivered, hugging my body. If Cody found him... and if he made the man I'm in love with suffer as much as he made me? I couldn't bear the thought of losing that man.

I had thought Cody arrived at the bar at the moment he found me. I was wrong. He watched me being a fool all night long. Laughing and flirting with a psychopath because of our fight. Maybe planning to spank my ass for being in the presence of another man.

He was so jealous.

I see. I took a deep breath and forced myself to smile, setting aside my fear. I would have to talk to Cody. We talked during the week, but he was cautious all the time. Perhaps thinking I would fall apart.

I was one step away, I confess.

Hank, I'm going to sleep, can we talk at dawn? I tried to say convincingly, then he rose, leaning in toward me.

I'm here, Marie, he won't get in here. I'll never allow it. His lips touched my forehead, and I sighed, realizing yes, I believed him.

THE NEXT MORNING, I took a long shower. I stared at myself completely naked in front of the mirror and bit my lip seeing the scar on my breast. The doctors tried to make it imperceptible, but I could see it. The six-centimeter deformed skin made me feel disgusted with myself.

Marie? The soft voice of Larissa sounded.

I swallowed hard, dressing in jeans shorts and a button-up blouse. I buttoned it up to nearly my neck, fearing someone would see the nearly healed wound.

I was going to leave the room today. I needed to alleviate my friends' worries. I knew they expected that of me, especially after last night.

Just a moment! I yelled to Hank's wife, wanting her to wait for me.

When I came out of the bathroom, I saw Kian in her arms, biting a rubber duck. At three months, Larissa's son was adorable. His cheeks were chubby and his eyes sparkled beautifully.

Hey!

Sorry to bother. How are you? She smiled, not making me feel uncomfortable with the question, and that was exactly what I liked most about her when Hank brought her from a trip to Las Vegas.

It's no bother. I'm good, thank you.

"Can you watch Kian for a minute? Hank is