Crash and Burn (Daddy's Girls 0.5) (6 page)

(1 Month later)

Hell. Hell is the place you are supposed to fear. Live your life in the right way so you don’t burn in hell. What happens when your hell is lived daily on Earth?

I’m in hell. I’m worthless, I’m broken, and I don’t even know the woman staring back at me in the mirror. Things have only gotten worse with Michael. Other than going to class, I can’t go anywhere; he’s my priority. Therefore, I should be home waiting on him and doing what he needs me to do. How did I get here? How do I escape? Maggie and I had the worst fight last night about Michael.

“Wake the fuck up D. This isn’t love. This is control, manipulation, and power. Love is patient, love is kind….you know, all that! Where is that with Michael? What you have with Michael is fear, Dina.” Maggie states.

“He loves me in a way you can’t understand. No one can.” I reply, thinking, I don’t even understand it anymore.

“You’re right, Dina. I don’t understand, I can’t understand. You don’t hurt people you love.”

Her words are on continual repeat in my head. Battered. Broken. Discouraged. Lost. Alone. I will not be defeated. Somehow, I will come out of this. I will not crash and burn.

Full of a new found resolve I didn’t know I had, I’m going to talk to Michael. Maggie is staying with Brayden tonight. It’s the perfect opportunity to fix my relationship.

I make dinner, chicken and dumplings like my mom used to make. Oh momma, what have I gotten myself into? If you were here, things would be so different. Shaking away the thoughts of my parents, I prepare for my evening.

Michael and I are eating. The look in his eyes tells me this isn’t the night to discuss anything. The fire is there, the evil glare that is my new warning of what’s to come. He’s void of emotion, hatred for me radiates off of him. Maggie is in my head saying ‘this isn’t love’.

“What the fuck is your problem? I see that look, Dina. Smug bitch aren’t you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Michael.”

“Always playing stupid. Yea, you’re a dumbass, but I’m not stupid. You’re thinking about someone else. You want someone else here and not me. Too bad, I’m all you’ll ever get. Understand that, no one wants you. Not even your precious Maggie wants to be around. She’s always gone because she can’t stand you.”

The tears are freely falling. I’m unable to stop them. This infuriates him further. He grabs me and pulls me out of my chair. For the first time, he doesn’t back hand me. His fist, yes his fist, comes down on my face. I hear the crack of my nose breaking, blood spilling out. He’s pulling me out of my apartment now. That’s the last thing I remember before waking up on the ground floor of my apartment complex, as he’s kicking me in the stomach. I curl into a ball trying to protect myself. My arm is distorted, my body crying out in agony. I’m trembling, sobbing, bleeding, and completely lost. Suddenly, Michael stops, there are noises all around me but I can’t see. At some point, Michael either kicked my head or I busted it on the fall down the stairs; I begin bleeding from my head. Now covering my eyes, I can’t see past the red liquid.

Maggie is beside me, crying. Brayden picks me up, my body screaming in protest at the movement. He carries me to his car. At the hospital, my injuries are treated. I have a mild concussion, a broken nose and arm, two cracked ribs, a twisted ankle, and some abrasions, but for falling three flights of stairs and being beaten, I’m lucky.

I arrive home, to feel sickened by my own apartment. Ryder is there. My heaven sent angel, in the middle of my hell. His hand is swollen, blood stains his clothes. Michael’s blood. Ryder beat the shit out of Michael. He’s waited here to make sure I was okay. He’s a stranger, but every time I’m near him, he feels like my safe haven.

He gently pulls me into him. He whispers, “Never again will he come around or hurt you, this I promise you. He is not going to call or come by. There are no apologies or gifts this time. So be safe, be happy, let him go and start over. You are too beautiful, inside and out, for that bastard.” With that he leaves.

He’s right, I need to start over. This is not the life I deserve. This will not define me. I will pick myself up. I will be restored, I will not crash and burn at the hands of a man.

The End

This is the end of Dina’s chapter in life with Michael. Read on in the Daddy’s Girls series to find out if she can overcome the damage to her heart and the many scars left by Michael. Ryder has his own path to follow. Will it lead him to Dina? Can they come together and be better for each other?
Restore My Heart
holds the answers to these questions and gives you more of Brayden and Maggie, who have their own story to share. The entire series is available in both digital format and paperback.

Restore My
Heart

Book 1 of the Daddy's Girls Series

Bad Boy, Ryder Davenport comes into Dina Fowlers life in the middle of her own personal hell. Still coming to terms with the death of her parents, she pushes everyone away. When she trusts the wrong man, putting her in a bad relationship she felt she couldn’t escape, Ryder comes along.

Enjoying his play boy ways, fast cars, motorcycles and a new woman in his bed nightly, Ryder had no thoughts of settling down. That is, until he sees the damage a man can do when he meets a very broken Dina. He changes in hopes of one day being enough for her.

But, can she ever feel safe with a man again? Ryder has restored hundreds of classic cars can he restore Dina’s heart?

Salvaged

Book 2 of the Daddy's Girls Series

Brayden and Maggie have been dating for four years. Maggie is ready and expecting an engagement ring. Brayden has a past full of weaknesses and mistakes he can’t seem to shake.

As he slowly loses everything, he also loses Maggie.

As his world unravels, can he find the strength to shake his inner demons? Does he have it in him to face the ghosts of his past? Can Maggie overcome his deceptions? Will they find a way to love and trust again? 

Can their love and relationship be salvaged?

Full
Throttle

Book 2.5 of the Daddy's Girls Series

High school sweethearts manage to make it through college into the working world still together and going strong.  From the start of their relationship Jake has made very clear his apprehension to marriage. 

Kenna understood going into this nine years ago that with Jake there would never be a ring or white dress. Now seeing their friends so eager to make such a serious commitment in their own relationships a crack begins to form in Jake and Kenna’s once solid foundation.

Will Kenna ever open up and share her dreams with Jake?  Can Jake overcome his childhood issues?  Is Kenna willing to accept things just as they are forever?  Will her desire for a more serious commitment make her change her feelings for her one love?  Is Jake enough alone or does Kenna demand more than he can give? 

Can they move forward full throttle into their future together?

Beyond
Repair

Book 3 of the Daddy's Girls Series

Harrison and Tiffany have a long history of hooking up.  Harrison decides he wants more.  Tiffany, a spoiled Southern Belle is embarrassed by a working class Harrison.  After over two years apart Tiffany is missing his touch.  She heads to Charlotte to bring some important news.

Harrison is finally settled in Charlotte.  He has a job he loves, his sister close by, great friends, and an awesome agreement going with Sophia.

Can Sophia ever want more from Harrison than just sex?  Has Harrison fallen in love or just lust with Sophia?

After all this time and hurt feelings, is he really meant to be with Tiffany?  Can Harrison manage to let his guard down and find his way back to Tiffany?  Will Tiffany be satisfied with a regular working class mechanic? 

Or is their relationship in the past and beyond repair?

Acknowledgements

T
o my hubbub- misterman, my own heaven sent angel, I love you babe. Thank you for putting up with my craziness.

T
o my parents- I love you and thank you for the rules when I was dating, they’ve made for great parts of my books.

T
o Mom #2- Can you believe it????? Look how far I’ve come. I wouldn’t have ever had the courage to do this without you.

T
o Bobo- to breadsticks and Zima’s and all the fun times. I love you!!!!!

T
o Asli- we make a great team!!!! Thank you for ‘just’ ignoring the lessons I don’t learn and fixing them……one day I won’t overuse the same words……maybe……

T
o Renee- my publicity president, my number one stalker fan girl (that was your exact first post on my fan page after the first book lol), my loyal lookout, my twitter expert, my pimp, and most importantly my dear friend- I’m at a loss for a way to say Thank You for your support from the very beginning. You rock and I love you dearly.

T
o my assistant Jennifer- you have helped me with all the little things and all the big things. Thank you for keeping up with me for me, you know I confuse easily, lol.

T
o Crystal (half of team Jessie Lane and Indie-Vention)- thank you for making some badass covers, first of all. Second of all, thank you for writing some kick ass books with Mel (and I’m still impatiently waiting for more EXOPs baby lol). Thank you for the music shares, the chats, the opinions, and your friendship. You totally rock and see you at Rebels and Readers (can’t freaking wait)

T
o Melissa (half of team Jessie Lane and Indie-Vention)- thank you for the kick ass formatting, the support, the laughs, the memories, and for writing kick ass books with Crystal (and just to make sure the message is clear, I’m impatiently waiting for more EXOPs because you know I love all things Jessie Lane). We’ve known each other forever, here’s to showing the haters back home, what we can do!!!!!! See you at Rebels and Readers!!!!

T
o my girls behind the scenes- Savanna, Suzanne, Jennifer, and Carol- you read this story before anyone, you gave me the courage to press on. You provided the emotional support when I felt gutted and raw. Thank you, ladies, for the laughs, the tears, and all the book recommendations to get my mind off my writing.

T
o the Daddy’s Girls Group- you are the core of why I write. You have taken this series and loved it as much (and sometimes more than) me. Thank you for the laughs as you claim your men and the ideas you inspire within me.

T
o Wendie and Gabbie- thank you for the laughs and the late night chats when my son wouldn’t sleep. You are two amazing women and I’m happy to call you my friends.