Chapter 63 Keep Coming Back
"You're wrong. I'm not good enough for her, but I just don't give a damn. I've wanted her for ages, and now she's going to be mine, even if I have to cut myself off from you and Mom," Rick states. "Now leave. Not that it would be the first time you were behind bars," he smirks.
A strange guttural noise emanates from Dean's chest like a caged animal, before he stomps out the front door, just as flashing blue lights appear before the flower shop.
"You called the cops?" I ask, a little shocked.
"Of course. Dean Kingston is bad news, dear. He thinks he owns the world, but he doesn't!" Hailey announces standing tall with her chin lifted in the air, glaring at Dean while he's being placed into the back of a cops car.
I watch as he sends me a deadly glare, baring is teeth. My stomach drops. This man needs to be put away for life.
"What did I ever do to him?" I whisper absently.
"Nothing, little dancer. My dad has a God complex. He thinks everything should go the way he wants it to. But I don't give a shit about what he wasn't any more. I've tried to be a good son... sort of. But I'm done with that life," Rick grounds out. "Thanks for coming out," he says directly to Hailey.
"Of course dear, your father has a temper, and I remember the last time he was in my shop! He cost me hundreds of dollars on new flowers and vases!" Hailey grumbled.
"You've met him before?" I ask, a little shocked.
"Yes, dear. He was coming in for a bouquet for his mistress, when his wife walked in with your mother. There was an argument. Your mother took Rose home, and for some reason, Dean blamed me for the whole thing!" Hailey rolls her eyes in annoyance. "The man really should learn to take responsibility for his own actions!"
"I'm sorry about that," Rick says, pulling me back into his arms.
"Don't you worry about it! You were just a young thing back then. There was nothing you could've done to stop it. And I made him repay me too! Since then I've had a restraining order on him... But maybe he forgot," Hailey shrugs, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
"Josie, I'm so sorry about what he said. I can't believe he'd-"
"It's okay Rick," I mumble, not wanting to get into it. I don't know what to do with all my emotions right now, but right now... it's just too much!
"IT'S NOT! That man deserves to be put in his place. And if he ever comes after you, I'll make sure he understands what pain actually is," He growls, looking in my eyes with equally tangled emotions.
I reach up and cup his cheek. "I'm okay, Rick. He didn't touch me... Really," I sniff, blinking my tears from my face. Why the hell do I feel like I'm gonna start crying now? This is just pathetic!
"Not physically, no. If he had, he would have some major problems! Namely, he'd be in the hospital with a concussion!" he grumbles. "But, little dancer, don't listen to a damn word he just said. None of it is true... Other than the fact he kept me from you. You can go ahead and blame him for that please," he teases with a little smirk.
I chuckle and roll my eyes. "Okay, I'll blame him for that."
Then he leans down and kisses my brow. "I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't know he would follow me here.I didn't know he would start something in a flower shop, of all places. And I didn't know he's got some damn grudge against you. But I swear I'm not giving up on you. The moment you kick James' ass out of your life, I'm claiming what's mine!" he murmured against my skin.
I give him a wobbly smile and nod my head. "Okay," I respond. I believe him. Now I just have to find the courage to confront James.
All those pictures of him and those girls... The videos replay like a nightmare on repeat. I just don't want to deal with him ever again.
To be honest, I feel disgusted. How did I end up with someone like him in the first place? I don't even know! He just showed up in school one day and decided he wanted me.
Am I really unworthy of someones love? Is that why Dean tried to poison Rick with his ideas I'm not good enough for him.
I want to break down and cry, but I can't do it here. I can't do it while Rick is looking at me with those sorrowful eyes, like he can see right to my soul.
"I will be back soon little dancer. And I will keep coming back until you admit you are mine... And then I'm going to keep you," He smirks and makes his way out the door.