Hero Next Door (Next Door Romance Book 2) Read online

  But his voice is drowned out by the awful accusations being thrown my way by Mr. Jones. He’s stripping the life away from me, trying to finish me off, wanting me dead, while also telling me how much he hates me. I can’t stand it, I can’t get him off, I can’t force him to let me go. It might be time for me to give up.

  “I don’t want the business,” he growls. “I don’t want any of it. I just want you. I don’t need a company that is losing me money all the time and getting in the way of me and you. That’s why I pull your hair in the playground, because I want to be with you. That’s why I yell and hurt you, because you are mine.”

  Matches. He waves them around in front of me but I’m still pinned down and unable to escape. Gas.

  Oh my God… the electrical fault. There was no electrical fault, it was Mr. Jones and he’s going to do it to me again. Again and again until I finally give in and give him what he wants. He won’t give up, he refuses to.

  “You will be mine.” Flames are everywhere, licking all over my already injured skin. “If not mine, then no ones. I won’t let you leave me, I refuse to accept it, I can’t take it. I need you to be mine or dead. I need to collect the insurance check and walk away from this business. I can’t be here any longer. I won’t, I refuse to…”

  “Think… think of the staff,” I gasp out as the black smoke billows in to my lungs. “All the people who are relying on you, needing you, wanting you to support them. None of them deserve this. Don’t do it to them.”

  His face twists up in to an almost inhuman smile. “I didn’t do this. You did. It was you. All of this is your fault. You don’t get to look at me like that, wanting to get away with it because this is all because of you.”

  He’s gone. He takes off running, and even though I need to get through the molten hot lava to get to him, I do. I will do anything to get my hands on that man and to choke the life out of him. If I kill him, rid the business of him, then maybe everything else can survive. Mr. Jones is the catalyst, he is the one who needs to go. Without him, the world can blossom and grow. Except him, nothing else needs to die. I just need to… to get him, but he’s just out of reach. Every damn time I lean forwards he slips out of my grasp, like gossamer thin bits of thread, I can’t get hold of him, I can’t grip him, I can’t save anyone. This is all my fault. I am unable to be the hero that I so desperately want to be. I won’t be able to look Delia in the eye anymore, or anyone else that I work with, because they will all know that I had Mr. Jones, that I could have taken him out and that I was too weak to do anything decent…

  “No!” I scream as he vanishes, bolting up right in my bed, as sweat covers the entirety of my face. “No, no, Mr. Jones, no. Don’t… don’t do this… don’t do this to… to anyone… to anyone else because…”

  The words fall apart on my lips as I realize that I am panting and becoming desperate, unable to really grab on to Mr. Jones because he’s nowhere to be found. I’m not in that burning building anymore, the office is gone, burned down to the ground. I was lucky enough to somehow get out, although what happened to him I don’t know.

  “He… he…” I shiver, the cold now creeping through me. “He forced himself on me. Or he tried to…”

  “Esme?” At first, I think that I must be sleeping again because there is no way in hell that my hero is here for real… only, he is. Theo pulls himself up from a very uncomfortable looking bed on the floor and stares at me in shock. “What’s going on? Are you having a nightmare because of the shock, or is that real?”

  “Both,” I admit with a gulp as I wrap my arms tightly around myself. “It’s both. I was dreaming about it, but it helped me to remember things. I think that my brain tried to block it out or something because it’s so horrible but… that did happen. Or he tried to anyway. He forced a kiss on me and wanted more.”

  “That’s horrible.” Theo sits beside me on the bed. “I really want to hug you right now, just to comfort you. Can I?”

  I ponder this for a second wondering if it’s a good idea for anyone to touch me right now, but I soon decide that I need some human connection from him. I need Theo to hold me because he might well be able to hold me together when I’m desperately close to losing my mind and falling apart. “Yes, please do.”

  In his arms, I can feel myself start to rebuild once more, piece by piece. Just the knowledge that I’m not alone is wonderful, and to be with someone who clearly cares so much about me… well that just makes it incredible.

  “He started the fire, Theo,” I admit in to his chest. “The details are a bit sketchy but I was in his office, he kept me behind after work as usual and he was being his normal crazy self. Yelling at me because the company isn’t doing as well as he wants, the typical thing.” He tuts, which nearly makes me smile. “And then he blocked the exit so I couldn’t leave. I told him that I wanted to quit my job because I can’t handle it any longer, which I think is the moment that he started screaming at me about wanting to be with me and stuff. Just like you said.” I lift my arm up and see the finger bruises there. I might be injured all over, but I know where that came from. “That’s when he grabbed me and he pinned me against the door. He kissed me. I didn’t want him to but he held me in place and did what he wanted.” I suck in a shaky breath, trying to steady myself before I get all mixed up. “I saw on his desk stuff that was weird. I didn’t think too much of it at the time because I just wanted to get out, but it was a kit to start a fire.”

  “Are you certain about that?” Despite this question, I can already tell that Theo immediately believes me which brings up my own confidence levels in what I’m saying here. “Because we can get him locked up for a crime if so.”

  “I’m sure. There were things there to start a fire and he was saying about being done with the business. He wanted me not the company as if he thought us working together was the issue standing in our way. He…” Urgh, I hate having to admit this aloud but it’s important. “He tried to rip my clothes off and got all mad when I didn’t want anything to do with him in that way. Then he started the fire. He poured gasoline everywhere and started the fire.” I pull back to stare at Theo. “I know you said that the police will pick anything up in the investigation, but don’t you think that I should tell them what I know? It might help them, don’t you think?”

  “It would definitely help them,” he reassures me kindly. “I’m sure they are desperate for any evidence and eye witness accounts that they can get. If you need me to, I will come with you to the fire station. You know, if that will help? I don’t want to be in the way or anything, or force you to do anything you aren’t ready for…”

  “I would love to have you with me.” I nod eagerly. “I’m scared to do it by myself.”

  I’m also terrified that Mr. Jones will break free and get me if I am ever by myself which is why I need to do this. If I can get him locked up in prison for any amount of time, then I will be able to live a bit freer for a while without constantly having to look over my shoulder, wondering, waiting, preparing myself for something that may or may not happen. And with Theo by my side supporting me through it all, I feel like I can get through anything.

  Perhaps that’s the reason why I don’t let him go. Why I hug him closer to me in bed and lie my head on his chest, because with him next to me, supporting me all the way I don’t feel like anything can go wrong.

  To think, I didn’t know this man only a short while ago and now he is super important to me. Who would have thought it?

  Chapter 16 – Theo

  “You did really well.” I hold Esme under my arm, doing what I can to reassure her. “You were incredible in there. You definitely helped the investigation along a lot. They were really grateful, I could see it.”

  She nods her head but shudders beside me. I can tell that she is still shell shocked from the whole experience and I can hardly blame her. I have spoken to the police a number of times and know that they are always doing their best work even if it doesn’t always seem like it on the outsid
e. But I’m sure that it can be an intimidating experience for someone who isn’t used to it. There is no way in hell that Esme is used to talking to police officers.

  “Come on, let me get you back in to the car.” I lead her the way because I don’t know if she’s even aware of where she is right now. “Then I can take you back home. We can talk about it then if you want… or we don’t have to. I don’t know what’s better for you. Erm, whatever. Yes.” Am I talking too much? “Here we are.”

  I guide Esme in to the car and close the door behind her before I let out a deep breath. That was stressful, even for me and I didn’t need to say anything. It was hard work, but thankfully now it’s over. The police are going to be all over Mr. Jones like a rash, they are going to arrest him for sure, so at least we don’t need to worry about him until the court case. If there will be a court case that is. He might plead guilty and all of this will be over.

  I search inside myself as I drive since Esme wants to do so in silence, to see if I am pleased to be proven right. But I really don’t think it’s that. I think I’m just happy for the whole thing to be over. I’m more pleased that Esme is safe and Callum can’t get to her. The last thing I want is for anything else to happen to her. She has been through enough.

  “We’re nearly there now,” I say quietly the closer we get to home, more to remind Esme that something is happening now, that she needs to snap out of the fear she’s in just for long enough for us to go inside. “Are you okay? Do you want to stop off anywhere along the way? The shops, maybe? Or your friend?”

  “Delia,” she whispers as she thinks about her friend. “I do want to see Delia, yes, but not right now. I’m too drained after all of this. I’m too emotionally exhausted. But I will call her when I get back home.”

  “Okay, good.” I nod slowly. “So, you want me to just take you straight back there? Would that be for the best?”

  “Thank you, yes. Home is the only place I can be right now. I need to rest and have a moment to myself.”

  I send her a side eyed glance and watch her staring wistfully out the window. I can practically see the cogs ticking in her brain but I have no idea what she’s thinking. I wonder if she’s wishing that none of this ever happened. If I could do anything to take this pain away from her I would, but this is really out of my control.

  As I pull the car up to park, I don’t know what to say or do. This could be our parting moment now. Esme could go back in to her house and I won’t see her again for a very long time. I mean, she has a lot of her life to sort out now, doesn’t she? There will be a lot of changes for her and it’s bound to consume her for a while. I’ll miss her during that time, but if this is what she wants then I will have to respect that. I can’t protect her if she doesn’t want me to.

  “Okay, so here we are.” I smile thinly. “Do you need a hand inside or anything like that?”

  She turns to look at me, to stare at me dead on, and I can see something darting behind her eyes. “You’re my hero, Theo,” she suddenly blurts out. “You have saved me over and over again. I don’t know if I have said that to you yet, but you are. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. I appreciate every single thing that you have done for me.”

  I can’t stop myself from beaming ear to ear. I have always wanted to be a hero which is why the work of a fire fighter appealed to me, but hearing those words come out of Esme’s mouth… well, they really mean something to me. I can feel them swimming through my system until they cling to my heart and that’s where they will stay.

  “You are more than welcome, Esme. It hasn’t been any trouble at all. Anything that I can do to help you, I will.”

  “I know and that’s what makes you such a good person, Theo. You are a really good man.” She reaches out and takes my hands in hers which bolts electricity to my core. “Thank you so much. You are truly wonderful.”

  Our eyes lock for a while and all of the unsaid things swim between us. I hope that she can sense the adoration bursting from me, because she really has opened my eyes to a lot. I thought that I needed to lock myself away because of the way that Jane and me imploded, I thought that romance would be bad for me, but now… well now things are different. Esme has made me see that I don’t need to block everyone off to be happy. In fact, I know for sure now that being more open is the key to my happiness. I need to just see what could happen…

  “You know what, I owe you dinner.” Esme nods and grins. “After everything that you have done for me, I need to make you something to eat. Plus, you cooked for me not so long ago so it’s time for me to repay the favor.”

  “But you are exhausted.” I’m pleased that she wants me to stay, that she doesn’t seem ready to be without me as well, but I know that this has all drained her. “We can do that any time. You don’t need to worry about this now.”

  “I want to.” She grabs on to my arm and tugs me hard. “I want to cook for you. You’re my hero.”

  I can see from the way that Esme lights up that she isn’t going to let me get away with this. There isn’t much fight inside of me because I want to see her as well. So, I let Esme drag me inside her home, happy to go with her. Once I’m inside the building, I realize that this is the first time she has invited me in to eat with her. I’m given a glimpse in to Esme that I haven’t had before, but to be honest her house is an extension of her. I can see Esme’s personality bursting through the building. The stress of her job, the way she rushes around all the time, but her sweet side as well. It’s all here.

  “I like your place,” I tell her warmly. “It’s nice. You have it looking really great.”

  “Oh, it’s a state.” She waves her hand dismissively. “But I haven’t had a time to do anything in the house because of work. I guess that isn’t going to be an issue now, is it? Now that I am unemployed.” She laughs again but the chuckling soon fades away. “God, I’m really unemployed now. This is insane. I have to start hunting for a job. And what do I say when they ask why I left my last position? That’s going to be one hell of a story…”

  “You can just say that the last company folded.” I shrug my shoulders. “There’s no need to tell the full tale.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s true. Then it will also show a good reason why I don’t have a reference. But if this goes to trial then it might end up on the news. People might know my face then and I’ll struggle…”

  “That will be a while.” I shrug my shoulders. “I’m sure you will have a job by then and once you are in the door and feeling more comfortable about everything then you can share your story. But he might plead guilty.”

  “I can’t imagine that,” she tells me darkly. “I don’t think Mr. Jones thinks he’s guilty about anything. He has always turned things around and made me feel like I am the guilty one. He’s good at manipulation.”

  “I won’t let him manipulate you ever again,” I growl in anger. “No way. He doesn’t have anything hanging over you now anyway, so there is no way for him to win. He had the job before, but he burned that to the ground.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She nods slowly. “I will be the one in control at long last.”

  I can see that this pleases her and I understand in a way. The situation might be different but I got the same sensation when Jane walked away from me at long last and I felt like I had taken some of the control back. I don’t think that she will try and bother me at work again and she can’t call me, nor can she come to my house. I have that freedom and control over myself with what happens next and now Esme does as well. I just hope that she learns her lesson and she picks her next job more carefully, just as I have to choose the next person that I get in to a relationship.

  I don’t know if I ever really went with my gut when it came to Jane. Not enough anyway and that’s why it all went wrong. Whereas with Esme… well, my gut is telling me that she can be good for me. If she lets me in. She might be giving me that look right now but it doesn’t mean that she wants me sticking around for good. We’ll see.

&nbs
p; We head in to the kitchen and Esme gets some food items out of the fridge, but I can already see that this is too much for her. She’s tired, dizzy, probably overwhelmed as well, so I do the obvious thing. The thing that I wanted to do in the first place. I take the food from her and start cooking, batting off any argument from her. There’s no way that I can sit back and watch her struggle whether she wants to thank me for being her hero or not.

  “Just sit down,” I tell her with a chuckle. “I am doing this no matter what you want.”

  “But I invited you here for a treat and now…” She gives up, knowing that she can’t argue with me anymore. There’s no point, it won’t get her anywhere because I have already started. “Thank you, Theo.”

  She sits back and leans in to her chair, smiling at me like I’m really important to her as I cook, and I find my heart beating much quicker with every passing second. She has me, a big part of me, and while I’m not sure what way this is going to go next I’m excited to see. I haven’t been this thrilled about a person for as long as I can remember. Maybe not even ever. I don’t think that I have ever had butterflies this big.

  Something is happening here between me and Esme, something huge. I don’t know if either of us are ready for it, but it doesn’t matter. It’s happening regardless. All that we can do is go along for the ride.

  Chapter 17 – Esme

  “That was delicious,” I declare happily as I flop down on the couch beside Theo. I angle myself towards him, my knees graze against his, and I’m shocked to find that I don’t feel shy or self-conscious at all. There is something comforting about being around the man who has seen me at my worst and rescued me from that moment. I don’t feel like I need to hide anything from Theo anymore, he is too big a part of my life… which actually is crazy because I have always tried to hide myself, I haven’t ever felt good enough for anyone. “You are a great cook. But one day, you really do need to let me make something for you to eat because this was supposed to be me thanking you.”