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her cold fingers. “Alan wanted to control me and for a long time I allowed it. I was virtually a prisoner in his home. I couldn’t leave unless he gave me permission. I was cut off from any friends. Anyone that could have pointed out what a fucked up relationship we had. For the longest time I thought it was normal.”
    West stopped in front of her, his fingers brushing against her cheek to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. A gentle, caring gesture she’d never known until he’d come into her life.
    “When did you figure out it wasn’t?”
    Just thinking about that day still made her shudder. Her knees weak, she sat down at the small kitchen table. The images still haunted her awake or asleep.
    “Alan’s employees would come over from time to time. I think he liked showing off for them. The house. The cars. That sort of thing. Anyway, one of the young men Stephen was very sweet and he and I talked for a long time that Saturday afternoon.” She swallowed against the lump that had taken up residence in her throat. West must have felt her distress, placing his strong warm hands on her shoulders as if to give comfort. “When Alan found out he was furious. He had two of his employees hold Stephen while Alan punched him over and over until the man was covered in blood and he had to be carried out of the house. It was then I knew what Alan was capable of, and he wanted me to know. He made me stand there and watch a sick, twisted grin on his face when he was done. It was an unspoken threat and I took it seriously.”
    West’s hands cupped her cheeks so she couldn’t look away. “It wasn’t your fault, babe. None of this is your fault.”
    “I shouldn’t have been talking to him. I knew that Alan could be jealous. But it was just so nice talking to someone. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”
    Her voice shook and she blinked back the threatening tears. She was so damn sick of crying. It didn’t change anything and only made her feel like crap.
    “It’s not your fault,” West repeated. “It’s this psycho Alan’s fault. This is all on him. So how did you get away?”
    “It wasn’t easy. He made sure I didn’t have much money. But one day he accidentally left some cash on his desk at home. He got a call and had to leave quickly so I guess he forgot about it in his rush. It was only two thousand dollars but I didn’t hesitate. I shoved a few things in a backpack, grabbed the money, and ran to the nearest bus station. I took the first bus out of there which was headed to Kansas City. I’ve been looking over my shoulder every day since then.”
    West sat on the other kitchen chair, shaking his head. “Son of a bitch. It must have taken guts to leave like that. But I just have one last question.”
    “What’s that?”
    West slammed his fist down on the table making her jump and the surface shake. “Why in the hell didn’t you tell me so I could help you? I’m a goddamn cop, babe. Why didn’t you trust me enough to help you?”
    His face was red with anger, his body practically vibrating as he tried to keep it in check. He was royally pissed off and she was the reason. She didn’t blame him. He had a right to be and then some but it didn’t make it easy to admit why she hadn’t.
    She buried her face in her hands but he wouldn’t allow her to get away with not looking him in the eye. Gently, he tugged her arms away, his fingers tilting up her chin. She had to face how her decisions had made him feel.
    “I couldn’t trust anyone. Not after Alan. I’d trusted him in the beginning and it turned into a nightmare. When I left I decided that I wouldn’t ever do that again and I’ve stuck to that. I know that you’re different but somehow I still couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t. I don’t know why.”
    She waited for his reaction and at first she didn’t think she was going to get one. After a few moments he jumped to his feet and walked to the window as if he didn’t trust himself