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By the time Pax returned from his mission, Deanna was gone. She couldn’t stand to just sit around any longer, and she needed time to think about her life. Her parents had inadvertently left her a mess to figure out on her own that had nearly cost the pageant girls their lives and almost took her own life. She was angry, hurt, and confused by it all.

What really hurt was looking in the mirror. The once pretty face she’d grown up with was gone. Replaced by a misshapen nose, a jaw that seemed swollen and puffy, her left eye looking lower than the right.

“Hunchback,” she whispered, staring into the water of the fountain. When Faith asked how she could help, Deanna knew what she needed. She needed to get away. She needed to be in another place, away from everything that was familiar yet still safe.

So, Faith sent her to the house on Coronado. It was safe, monitored, and close enough that they could get to her if they needed to. But no one told Pax. They wanted him to either figure it out for himself or let Deanna call him on her own.

They were surprised that it took weeks for him to figure it out. It was late at night, but he ran to the cottage where his brother was guarding one of the new women on the property and knocked, praying he would be up.

“What’s wrong?”

“Deanna. I think she’s at the house in Coronado,” said Pax.

“Why do you think that?” asked Brax, knowing the answer.

“Because I’m not a complete idiot, just a slow one. Faith is the one who arranged for her to get away. Where else would she send her but to the house in Coronado?”

“So, are you going out there?”

“Yes. No. I mean, yes.”

It wasn’t a conversation he could have with his brother in a few minutes or even a few hours. Truthfully, he wasn’t even sure why he was going. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but his gut and heart were telling him to go.

So, he was going.

The first few nights at the mansion on Coronado were difficult for Deanna. Every sound made her jump, every breeze sending chills up her spine. She’d wake later in the morning, exhausted and still hurting.

Trips to the grocery store were done either very early in the morning or very late at night with a hoodie or ball cap over her head, ensuring that her face was shadowed.

But the truth was that the residents of Coronado were not the kind of people who would stare or ask questions. They saw men and women returning from deployment with injuries all the time. That’s probably exactly what they believed happened to Deanna.

Except that’s not what happened. She was attacked. Brutally, unjustly attacked for something that wasn’t her fault. She hated herself for feeling afraid, for being lonely, for wanting.

“Wanting,” she whispered to herself.

Grateful every day for this peaceful oasis that Faith had allowed her to enjoy, she tried to pull herself out of the funk she was in. The home was enormous, too big for one person, but it was immaculately kept, expertly decorated, and perfectly situated on the ocean.

In the mornings, she would rise early, take a walk on the beach with her hood up, her face mostly covered, and then return to have her coffee on the front porch. Occasionally, someone would walk by and wave, wishing her a good morning. But for the most part, they were staying to themselves, and she liked it that way.

Faith had called a few times to be sure she was alright. When the phone rang the first time, Deanna jumped a mile. Who had a house phone any longer? Obviously, the team at Belle Fleur still believed in some kinds of old-fashioned technology. She knew that they were probably worried about her and wanted to be sure she didn’t need anything.

“You could come back here,” said Faith. “We can help you, honey. You know we can. Our entire team can get you back to normal faster than you think.”

“I’ll think about it, Faith. I just need a little more time.” That was four days ago, and she hadn’t heard from her since.

Hearing the knock on the door, she figured it was some kid selling candy or magazines or something. She pulled the hat low over her face and opened the door to see four bags of groceries sitting at her feet.

“What in the world,” she whispered.

“I figured you’d be hungry,” said Pax. “I know I am.”

“Pax,” she gasped. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

“You left without saying goodbye. You didn’t tell me where you were going. You didn’t call to tell me you were alright. And you damn sure didn’t give me the chance to ask you to stay or to go on that date we never had.”

“A-ask…”

“Look, I get that you want to be alone right now, and that’s okay. I’ll sleep in the porch swing or on the damn grass if I have to. It’s not a big deal. But I am not leaving here without you, Deanna. You can’t make me.”

She stared at him, unable to comprehend why he would be there, why he would be acting this way.

“You should get those groceries inside. There’s ice cream in one and fish in the other. I like a good piece of fish.”

“I’m not a very good cook,” she said softly.

“I am. Will you let me come in, Deanna?” He walked slowly toward her, reaching for the bags in her hands, then grasping the other two with little effort. He leaned closer to her face, turning his head to see beneath the ball cap.

“Please, Deanna. Will you let me come in and fix you dinner?”

Deanna was stunned by his appearance and even more so by his behavior. This was a Pax like she’d never seen before. Seductive, caring, overpowering, overbearing, over everything!

“Deanna? May I come in?” he asked again politely.

“Uh. Yes. Yes, of course. The house belongs to all of you,” she said, shaking her head. Pax shook his own head back and forth.

“No. No, that’s not how this works. The house technically belongs to Faith and Ian. I’m here for you. Not the house. May I come in, Deanna?” She couldn’t say anything at first, then stepped back and nodded.

“Yes.”