Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances (44 page)

Our eyes lock as he says that last part and I smile, nuzzling my nose against his. “Of course, babe, I’d do anything for you…and your son.”

His eyes light up and his grin gets even bigger as he nods. “Our son, Mia. Toby is
our
son.”

My heart soars as he says that and Toby runs back into the room, announcing that he’s ready to go. Tate scoops him up, his shoulder is mostly healed a month after the wreck. He carries
our
son to the Expedition we recently purchased to replace Tate’s Corvette. Not to mention, kindergarteners don’t fit very well in Corvettes and I refuse to drive Tate’s truck.

Toby buckled in, Tate leans in my window and gives me a kiss. I sigh as I feel his tongue roll over mine and my eyes lazily close. Tate presses on with intensity, my body buzzing and wanting him with every fiber of my being. My eyes flutter open as Tate pulls away, grinning.

“Have a good day,” he taunts.

I shake my head. “You too. Don’t forget, today is the closing for my house so Colie will pick Toby up from school, but I should be home by five.”

Tate’s eyes narrow. “Do you need me there?”

Ever since I told him the truth about Asher, he’s become overprotective. I’ve never had a man be protective of me, much less overly. I’ve done everything I can to avoid Asher in the past month and make sure we weren’t alone at the office together. So far, it’s worked out well and after we sign the official papers today, I plan on telling Asher next week that I’m leaving the company for good…with Tate by my side.

I shake my head and give him a quick kiss. “I’ll be fine. There will be lots of people there. After we celebrate tonight, we’ll figure out our game plan for next week.”

He nods apprehensively. “Alright, babe, but text me as soon as it’s done.”

Agreeing, I back out of the driveway as Tate waves to both of us. My heart swells with love as Toby’s squeaky little voice tries to belt out the words coming through the radio. Today is going to be a good day. It’s the start of the rest of my life with Tate and Toby and the finale of it with Asher.

After I drop Toby off at school, I get to work and submerge myself in contracts and listings trying to keep myself busy. The day flies by and it isn’t until I hear Asher clear his throat that I glance at the clock and realize it’s time for the closing. Nervously, I follow him to the conference room where everyone is waiting for us.

Under the table, my leg bounces. I feel Asher’s hand move to my thigh as he gives me a small smile. Leaning over, he whispers in my ear, “Relax, Amelia.”

I nod. I’ve come this far, I don’t need to ruin it now.
Play it cool, Mia, play it cool.
It only takes thirty minutes for all the I’s to be dotted and the T’s to be crossed and then the house is officially sold. Gathering the paperwork, I head back to my office, not realizing Asher is right behind me until I hear the door click. I spin around and see his cocky grin.

“The buyers don’t sign for another hour, let’s run by the house and do one final walk through,” he says as though it’s a suggestion, but I know good and well it’s a demand. One of the last he’ll ever give me, I think to myself.

I nod and pick up my purse. As I walk by him, he pinches my backside making me jump. He laughs and leads us out to his Ferrari. On the drive to the house, I find my phone in my purse and text Tate that the closing is over. Asher notices my phone and reaches over, taking it and tossing it in the backseat.

He pulls into the driveway and I rush ahead of him, trying to get this over with as quickly as possible. When I return to the kitchen, he’s leaning against the counter, his hands in his pocket, coat tucked behind them. I force a smile as I tell him all looks good.

In two quick steps, he’s across the room, hand in my hair. “I’m so glad you’re coming home, Amelia,” he says softly, looking at my lips before he brushes his along them.

“Asher, I’m not coming home,” I tell him and brace myself.

He yanks a handful of my hair, jerking my head up. “What do you mean?”

I take a deep breath. “I told you I was thinking about a condo or townhouse. Until I find something, I’ll stay at a hotel,” I lie and hope he buys it.

His free hand roams over my chest and he lets go of my hair. His lips find my neck, pushing me against the fridge. Suddenly, both his hands rip my shirt open and fondle my breasts. I let out a gasp of shock, which he takes as excitement and moves his lips to my bra. I struggle underneath him, trying to get away, and begin begging, knowing it’ll do no good.

“Asher, stop. Please. Don’t do this,” I plead.

His hand moves from my chest and he backhands me across the cheek. Hot pain sprints across my face and I taste blood trickling into my mouth, but I don’t react. I’ve been through this enough that I know less reaction means less pain.

“I’m not an idiot, Amelia. I know you’ve been fucking Tate James since the moment you two met.” He laughs his evil laugh, which sends chills over my body. “You’re the foolish one. Thinking you were hiding it, thinking I’d let you move on.”

I shake my head, ready to deny it when I feel cool metal on my neck. I try to glance down but feel the pressure of a butcher knife against my throat. Fear rushes over my body. Asher’s only ever used his body as a weapon against me, this is a whole new territory.

Asher grins as one hand squeezes my breast again. “You’ll never be with anyone other than me,” he declares. I can’t stop the tears from falling down my cheeks, because I believe him.

Tate

I hum along with
The Happy Song
as I cruise down the highway headed home. Mia texted and said the closing was over. Toby’s adjusting great to life in L.A. and I’m supposed to return to the active players’ list next week. Life is
really
good right now.

When the season ends next month, I plan on proposing to Mia so that we can hopefully be married before spring training starts. Plans are also in the works to have Mia adopt Toby so she can officially have parental rights with him, but she doesn’t know that yet. Her heart was broken because she couldn’t have kids and I love that I’m able to let her be a mother to my son. She deserves it, but more importantly, Toby deserves a loving mother like Mia.

Turning into my driveway, I see Colie and Grant’s cars.
Hmm, Mia must’ve invited them over for dinner because she was supposed to be home an hour ago.
The garage door opens and my stomach drops. Mia’s car isn’t there.

I don’t even pull into the garage, just stop her ‘Vette halfway in and throw the car in park. I run inside, looking around frantically for a sign that Mia’s home. Toby’s laughter hits my ears and I run into the living room, but it’s not Mia he’s laughing with.

Colie looks up, worry all over her face. Before either of us speak, Grant appears from the hallway and nods to the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, I follow him and grab the counter to steady my hands. Hearing Toby laugh again, I look at Grant. “Where is Mia?”

Grant shakes his head. “I don’t know, man. Colie called me at 5:30 after she couldn’t get a hold of her. I went by her office before coming over, but no one has seen her since she got out of a meeting at four.”

“Was Asher there?”

Grant shakes his head again. “I didn’t see him, but I didn’t ask about him either.”

Turning on my heel, I head back to the garage. Grant’s right behind me. “Where ‘ya going, James?”

“He has her; she’s in trouble. She should be home by now or she would have called.”

Opening the driver’s side door, Grant grabs my arm. “Give me the keys, man. Tell me where to go, I’ll drive.”

As much as I’d like to race down the streets at top speed to calm my nerves, Grant’s right, I’m in no condition to drive. My mind is racing, filled with images of Asher hurting Mia and the aftermath of the things that prick of a boyfriend did to my sister.

Think, Tate, think! She needs you.
Both of us now inside the car, Grant looks at me with questioning eyes. It hits me. “Get me to Mia’s house.”

He nods and floors it. My leg bounces quickly as nerves take over. Mia has to be okay, if he hurts her…

“Call the cops,” Grant says without taking his eyes off the road.

“What? No, I want to deal with him myself.”

Grant shakes his head. “Get the cops there, make sure this is the last time.”

He has a point so I pull out my phone and with shaking hands, I dial 9-1-1. After informing them of the situation, they think I’m crazy as I have no proof. Finally, it takes a lot of convincing, but they agree to send an officer over.

After I hang up, we pull into Mia’s driveway. Sitting beside us is Asher’s Ferrari. “That son of a bitch…” I mutter and am out of the car before Grant even turns off the engine.

CHAPTER 29

Mia

“Asher, what are you doing?” I squeak around the knife blade, almost afraid to move any muscle in my throat.

He grins. “What’s it look like I’m doing, Amelia? I’m ensuring that you’ll be mine forever.”

I swallow slowly. “What do you want?”

The knife moves away from my neck and I can feel droplets of blood roll down my skin where the knife broke the surface. He trails the blade down my cheek with a devilish grin on his face.

“That’s more like it, Amelia. You know what I want.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath now that I don’t have to worry about making a wrong move that’ll puncture an artery.

“Money?”

He laughs and pulls my hair hard, yanking it and hitting my head on the fridge behind me. “I always want money and I’ll always have it…both yours and mine. You know I hate to share.”

I nod, knowing where this is going. Tears spring to my eyes, but not because of the fear of the situation. No, they’re because I’m about to lose Tate.

My words are barely audible when I whisper, “I know…”

He grins and nods, the blade now between my chest as he drags it down my torso and back and forth across my stomach.

“So why did you think I would share with Tate James?” He laughs and shakes his head. “Of all men, Amelia, seriously? He might have money, but he’s a completely unsophisticated, redneck boy. The kind you were trying to escape when you found me.”

He puts pressure behind the knife and the tip digs into my stomach. I gasp as the searing pain shoots throughout my body and he presses it deeper.  A smile full of pride takes over his face as he pulls the knife out and my fingers move to the puncture wound, blood pouring from it. My vision starts to blur as the pain blinds me.

“Wh…what are you doing, Asher? I’ll leave him, I’ll move home, just please, please don’t do this,” I beg. I have no other choice. If he kills me, I won’t be able to protect Tate and Toby.

He sets the knife on the counter; the smallest sense of relief goes through my body. His hands move to my stomach where he smears the sticky red mess over my chest and his hand moves around my neck. He grins as he forcefully kisses me then shoves my head into the refrigerator behind me.

“That’s exactly what you’ll do, but I need to make sure you understand you can’t get away from me, Amelia.”

And with those words, he punches me in the stomach with a left hook as his right hand flies across my jaw. My eyes blink and I can only see white as I crumble and fall to the ground in a heap of agony, but the torture doesn’t stop.

His foot makes contact with my stomach as he pulls my head up by my hair and spews words of anger at me. My ears are ringing and I can’t hear a thing he says. His hand moves to my throat, grasping it tightly, forcing air from coming or going.

I blink, trying to keep my eyes focused as I fade in and out of consciousness, my breathing getting more and more shallow. The memory of him holding me down in our bed, slapping me back and forth with no end in sight reminds me that Asher never takes the news of me leaving him very well.

As I start to give in to the darkness, the weight of his body on top of me is lighter and I can breathe again. I gulp in air, unable to get enough as my chest heaves up and down.
It’s over, Asher is done…for now.
That’s all I recall before everything goes black.

Tate

Flinging the door open, I race into Mia’s house, crying out for her. I can faintly hear someone gasping and it sounds like it’s coming from the kitchen. Making a mad dash in that direction, I run in and see Asher choking my girlfriend who has no fight left in her. At full speed, I fling my body at him, tackling him to the ground. The pain in my shoulder flares up, but I don’t even notice.

“You asshole!” I scream as I punch him in the face.

With strength I didn’t know he possessed, he grabs my hand and flips me on my back, getting in a good punch himself.

“I’m the asshole? You’re the one sleeping with my wife!”

I see his arm raise and I grasp his hand, fighting with all my might and then decking him with a right hook when he doesn’t expect it. He falls to my side and we begin to move in circles, hitting each other in between insults and accusations. Finally, he loses his footing and I’m able to pin him to the floor. My fists begin unleashing the fury they’ve been holding in since Mia told me the truth.