Deadly Inheritance (completed)

Chapter 30

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Chapter 30

Natalie

I'm not handling any of this well. I thought I was strong growing up. Working on a ranch with a bunch of men, no one once made me feel unsafe or uncomfortable to be around them. I worked side by side with some of the orneriest men I've known and never once did I feel this way. I have this empty pit in my stomach that keeps flipping and flopping. I'm nervous and scared and sick over everything that's happened. The worst part of it all, I feel completely alone in my fears.

I'm afraid to sleep. I see his face every time I close my eyes. He haunts me, his words, his voice, his touch. I shiver thinking about it and all he's put me through. It's not been good since we got back from New York. I only sleep out of pure exhaustion and then I wake drenched in sweat and tears from my nightmares. I don't know if I'll ever sleep right again.

I'm afraid of the realities of staying awake. I'm alone and that scares me. Baxter doesn't want me. I think after New York he realized how broken I am. I think he saw it and couldn't handle it. He saw what I went through, what Charlie went through and he saw she was stronger and better than me. She is, I can't deny that. I'm glad Ryan has her, but Baxter wants her too. That broke me more.

In the realities of staying awake, I see my brother moving on making Charlie his wife and having a baby. I see everything I want but won't have because I'm damaged now. Everywhere I go people look at me the same way. I don't want anyone to look at me with pity and they do. Everyone but Charlie, she's the only one that understands this.

I'm curled up on Charlie's bed both of us laying on our sides staring at each other. I know what she did was to protect me and her baby. I'm just sorry I wasn't brave enough to do it myself. Now Charlie has to worry about going to prison for a long time if they press charges against her. What she did was completely justified in my eyes. I'm not sure the police will see it that way. Charlie went to the hotel with the intent to hurt her father. She killed him, knowing exactly what she was doing. They don't look kindly at that.

"Are you okay?" Charlie whispers taking my hand in hers. Her hand is so small and cold. I can feel her hand shaking in mine. She's not handling this well either. "My father is gone, Nat. For good this time. He can't hurt you again, I made sure of it. I'm so sorry you got dragged into my world. It's a very dark place and I never meant for any of this to happen to you."

I swallowed hard. The lump in my throat is so big I feel like I can't breathe. I want to cry, I want to curl up and just disappear to get rid of this pain in my heart. "I know, you aren't responsible for this. I don't blame you, Charlie. But I'm so scared. What will happen to you and the baby? You could go to prison for what you did."

"The baby will have Ryan and you, Pops and Baxter. You'll be the baby's family if I'm gone. I know Ryan will be a great father. He has a very nurturing side. I know he doesn't like to show it, but I see it. I love him and you all so much. I couldn't stand by and watch my father destroy you too." Charlie brushes the hair from my face and stares off for a long moment. She's lost in her thoughts. I understand her that way now. Charlie still sees herself as damaged. "What did he do to you, Nat? It could help keep me out of prison if you can tell them." Charlie changes the subject on to me.

I know if I'm going to tell anyone about this, it's Charlie. She's the one who can understand me and not judge me over what happened or the things I went through. She's asking for my help in keeping her out of jail. She wants me to open up to the police, to our family. I don't know if can face them.

"You know he hit me. I have some pretty bad marks on my body. It's getting better, I'm healing physically but I don't want anyone to touch me. Steven, he was worse... Charlie he..." I couldn't finish and broke down into tears.