Saving Angel

By Brenda Kennedy

Angel Perez had a second chance at a new beginning. After the death of her Aunt Rosie, Angel followed the instructions of her aunt and packed up only a few of her belongings and headed to Florida. After moving into her Aunt Rosie’s small cottage on Siesta Key Beach, she was quickly adjusting to her new life.
After finding a job at an insurance company, Angel became friends with the two owners, Sara Roberts and Brea Kinsley. Sara and Brea made it their mission to fix Angel up on a blind date with their very handsome and single friend Mason Myles.
Afraid that her past would catch up with her, Angel lived a very private life. When she met the tall, dark, and handsome Dr. Mason Myles, she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist him. He swept her off her feet with his sexy, dimpled smile and charm.

Living on the run from a very abusive boyfriend, Jim Davis, Angel lived in fear that Jim would somehow find her. After she revealed her abusive past and fears to Mason, Mason vowed to protect her.

When Angel heard that Jim had been fired from his job as an L.A. Police Detective, she feared he would come and find her.
Angel started noticing noises outside her bedroom window and lights in her house would mysteriously turn on and off. She started getting hang-up calls at work and would often see a dark SUV parked along her cul-de-sac road and around her workplace. Angel realized her worst fears had come true when she heard that Jim hadn’t been seen in two months. She knew he had found her and it was only a matter of time before he made his presence known.
While driving to the store to get items to cook Mason a home-cooked meal, Angel was the victim of a hit-and-run accident on Midnight Pass Road and sustained life-threatening injuries.

Mason’s father, Bruce, and Angel’s Uncle Raùl hired their own detectives to try to find Jim before he had a chance to strike again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brenda Kennedy
• Release date: Jun 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311884435

Brenda Kennedy

Brenda Kennedy, an award winning and Amazon bestselling author, is a true believer of romance. Her stories are based on the relationships that define our lives - compassionate, emotionally gripping, and uplifting novels with true to life characters, that stay with her readers long after the last page is turned.Her varied, not always pleasant background has given her the personal experience to take her readers on an emotional, sometimes heart wrenching, journey through her stories.Brenda has been a struggling single mom, a survivor of domestic abuse, waitress, corrections officer, hostage negotiator and a corrections nurse. She is also a wife, mom, and grandmother. Even though her life was not always rainbows and butterflies, she is a survivor and believes her struggles have made her the person she is today.Brenda is the author of the award winning book, Forever Country (The Rose Farm Trilogy Book 1). She has been dubbed "The Queen of Cliffhangers" by her adoring readers because books one and two always have a cliffhanger ending. In Brenda's own words, "I write series that end in cliffhangers, because I love them. I always give away the first book in each series so you have nothing to lose by reading it."She was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio and moved to SW Florida in 2006 with her husband Rex. They have a combined family, and she often jokes about not remembering what child belongs to who.

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Saving Angel

By Brenda Kennedy

•••

SMASHWORDS EDITION

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Copyright 2014

By Brenda Kennedy

•••

Dedicated to Rex: I Love You, More

•••

Cover Photo Copyright by Vita Khorzhevska

Agency: Shutterstock

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PREFACE

Angel Perez had a second chance at a new beginning. After the death of her Aunt Rosie, Angel followed the instructions of her aunt and packed up only a few of her belongings and headed to Florida. After moving into her Aunt Rosie’s small cottage on Siesta Key Beach, she was quickly adjusting to her new life.

After finding a job at an insurance company, Angel became friends with the two owners, Sara Roberts and Brea Kinsley. Sara and Brea made it their mission to fix Angel up on a blind date with their very handsome and single friend Mason Myles.

Afraid that her past would catch up with her, Angel lived a very private life. When she met the tall, dark, and handsome Dr. Mason Myles, she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist him. He swept her off her feet with his sexy, dimpled smile and charm.

Living on the run from a very abusive boyfriend, Jim Davis, Angel lived in fear that Jim would somehow find her. After she revealed her abusive past and fears to Mason, Mason vowed to protect her. 

When Angel heard that Jim had been fired from his job as an L.A. Police Detective, she feared he would come and find her. 

Angel started noticing noises outside her bedroom window and lights in her house would mysteriously turn on and off. She started getting hang-up calls at work and would often see a dark SUV parked along her cul-de-sac road and around her workplace. Angel realized her worst fears had come true when she heard that Jim hadn’t been seen in two months. She knew he had found her and it was only a matter of time before he made his presence known. 

While driving to the store to get items to cook Mason a home-cooked meal, Angel was the victim of a hit-and-run accident on Midnight Pass Road and sustained life-threatening injuries.

Mason’s father, Bruce, and Angel’s Uncle Raúl hired their own detectives to try to find Jim before he had a chance to strike again.

CHAPTER ONE: Protecting Angel

I wake up, breathing heavily. My arm, leg, and head are killing me. I look around, and Mason isn’t here. The bathroom light is on, so he must be in there. Why am I having nightmares? I can’t remember them, but they feel so real. The hallway door opens, and I think it’s the nurse. It must be time for my pain medication. In the doorway is a silhouette of a man. I blink as I try to focus in on him. He stands there without moving.

Mason, is that you?

This figure is shorter than Mason. Am I dreaming? My breathing picks up and I can’t breathe. I watch carefully. The figure who steps into the muted light, holding a yellow rose, is Jim.

Hello, Ang, Jim says, walking over to me and holding out the yellow rose for me.

I try to scoot away from him in the bed, but I can’t move. My leg is in traction, and I am completely immobile. What do you want? I try to say, but the words get caught in my throat.

Is that anyway to talk to the love of your life? Jim says as he bends down and kisses me on my lips. He holds my face still by squeezing my chin with his hand.

I turn my head to try to get away from him and close my eyes as tight as I can. I will myself to wake up. This can’t be real, please be a dream, I beg.

Ang, what’s wrong? You seem upset — you’re not glad to see me? Jim says, placing the rose on my chest and straightening up from the bed.

Mason walks out of the bathroom, steps into the view of me and Jim, and stops dead in his tracks. Jim steps away from the bed slightly, looking at Mason. I lie there, wiping the remnants of Jim’s kiss off my lips.

Mason, not entering the room any further, asks, Jim? 

I nod. I look out into the hallway behind Mason to see if a nurse is coming. The hallway door is still open from when Jim entered, and the muted light is coming from the bathroom next to the hallway to Mason’s left.

Angel, are you hurt? 

I shake my head.

Angel, I want you to call for the nurse. Everything will be ok, Mason says in his calm, low, in-control voice. I reach for the call button, pushing the button repeatedly. I try to move, but I can’t. I have tears in my eyes, and my vision becomes blurry. 

And who the fuck are you? Jim says sternly, while taking a step closer to Mason.

Mason turns his attention towards Jim and smiles. I’m your worst motherfucking nightmare!

Jim lunges at Mason, while Mason backs up, and Jim hits him in his left eye. Mason starts hitting as his only defense. They are throwing punches while Mason keeps backing up towards the hallway behind him. I start screaming and crying. I see a nurse in the hallway backing away from Jim and Mason, who are already in the doorway. 

Crying and shaking, I grab Mason’s phone from the bedside table and search his contacts. My hands are shaking, and I can barely see the names on the screen through the tears. I come across Bruce’s name first and call him. I can hear yelling and fighting coming from the hallway, but I can’t see anyone. 

Hi, son, Bruce says calmly into the phone.

Bruce, Mason is in the hallway fighting with Jim. I can hear them, but I can’t see them. Can you please hurry, please? I say, crying into the phone. I am sobbing so hard I can barely understand or recognize my own voice.

Angel, who is there with you right now? 

I hear more yelling and banging. I close my eyes and cry harder. Please stop, I yell, but no one hears me.

Angel, I’m on my way. Do you hear me? Bruce yells into the phone at me. 

I forgot all about him: Please hurry, I can’t see them.

The phone drops from my hand onto the floor and I push the nurse’s call button over and over. It’s the only thing I can do. I can’t move. I can’t get up. The only thing I can do is yell and scream as loud as I can. I throw my pillows at the door. I pick up the vase of flowers on the bedside table and throw it at the door, too. I don’t know what else to do. 

Vincent barges into the room and almost falls from the water on the floor. He steps over the broken glass and runs to me. He sits on the edge of the bed and hugs me. I am screaming and crying hysterically. I hug him back and cry into his shirt as he strokes my hair over and over. 

Mason — is Mason ok? 

Shhh, he’s all right, Angel. Don’t cry, he says while rocking me back and forth. Mason’s fine, he says, trying to reassure me. 

The nurse walks in and takes my blood pressure and vital signs. She leaves the room and returns with a pain pill and something for anxiety. I ask her where Mason is, but she says she doesn’t know anything, but will check for me.

I can hear someone else in the room, then water running in the bathroom.

Mason will be here in a moment, Vincent continues to rock me and shhhs me in my ear. He’s in the bathroom washing up.

I raise my head and see that a maintenance employee is here with a mop and bucket. I wipe my eyes and nose with my sheet. I look around and see that Bruce and Raúl are also in the room.

Mason — where’s Mason? I cry. Is he ok? I ask while looking around the room. 

Mason walks out of the bathroom and smiles at me. He has blood on his shirt and his face is red. His eyes don’t reveal the smile on his lips. He eagerly walks over to me, avoiding the glass and puddle of water on the floor.

Vincent stands, and I begin to cry harder.

Mason sits on the bed and holds me gingerly. He kisses my head while my face is buried in his chest. I wrap my left arm around his back and inhale him deeply. His masculine scent of spice and sandalwood calms me. He rocks me and talks softly into my ear. Shhh, Angel, it’s ok, you’re safe now. Don’t cry, baby.

I pull away and look into his eyes.

Oh, my God, your nose. Your nose is bleeding — you’re hurt. 

I’m fine, Beauty. I’m fine, he says as he pulls me back into his chest. 

I don’t believe him, but I rest my head on his chest and breathe in his scent. 

I’m sorry I broke that, I heard all that yelling in the hall, I didn’t know what else to do, I say, talking about the vase of flowers near the door.

Raúl comes over by the bed, and Mason stands so Raúl can sit beside me. Bruce calls for Mason, and he reluctantly walks away from me towards Bruce.

Raúl sits and hugs me. He whispers in my ear, "Angel, ¿ estas bien, te ha hecho daño ese hijo de puta? [Angel, are you all right? Did that bastard hurt you?]

"No, él no me hizo daño, sólo me asustó. ¿Cómo me ha encontrado?" [No, he didn’t hurt me, he just scared me. How did he find me?]

Uncle Raúl strokes my hair and says, "No lo se mi niña, lo siento mucho. No te preocupes por él, lo atraparemos. [I don’t know, Pumpkin, I’m sorry. Don’t worry about him, we’ll get him."]

I look over at Vincent, Donovan, Mason, and Bruce, who are all talking near the hallway door. My vision is starting to get blurry. I tell Uncle Raúl I need to lie down.

He stands and I lie my head down. Mason comes over with a new pillow and lays it behind my head. He dims the lights and gives me a drink of cranberry juice, before sitting beside me. He leans in and kisses me on my lips and whispers something into my ear. I am so tired I can’t make out what he is saying. He strokes my cheek and I drift off to sleep.

Mason

I sit there beside Angel and just look at my beautiful, strong girl. I just sit there in my own personal thoughts, stroking her cheek. I feel like I let her down. I was supposed to be here to protect her and look what happened.

Mason, we need to go. Your mother is here and will sit with Angel. Dr. Collins is getting Angel a new room and is going to register her under an alias. He won’t be able to get to her.

I look up at my father. I don’t want to leave her.

The doctor said they gave her something for pain and something to help her sleep. We need to have a quick meeting and you’ll be right back. Come on, son.

My Mom walks over to me and lays her small hand on my shoulder. Go with your Dad, Mason. I’ll watch her. She cups my cheek into her hands and looks my face over.

Oh, my Lord, you’re hurt, she says as she rubs her hands over my left eyelid, nose, and mouth. She is starting to cry.

No, Mom, I’m fine, I say, standing up to hug her. I hate when my mother cries. It is the saddest thing I have ever seen. I kiss the top of her head and hug her.

Dad walks over and tells me we need to go. I let go of my mother and go change my bloody shirt. It’s my last clean shirt I have with me.

Dad cups her face and wipes her tears from her cheek with his thumbs.

Baby, don’t cry. Mason is a strong man. He was doing exactly what we taught him to do.

I know, but he’s still my boy and I don’t want to see him hurt.

I know, Sweetheart, but he’s ok, my Dad says while rubbing my mother’s back.

Lilly, the doctor is right on the other side of the door. My father leans in and kisses my mother’s quivering lips.

We’ll be right back. He waits for her to answer. Ok, Lilly, 15 minutes?

She nods. Be careful, she says, looking him in his eyes.

We will, I love you.

I love you, too. She sits beside Angel before placing Angel’s hand in hers. I can tell she is saying a silent prayer.

We walk into the same room we were in before. Vincent, Donovan, Detective George Walters, and the Private Investigator Frank Medley are also present. Raùl is at the head of the table. I sit beside Donovan and make my right hand into a fist. It hurts like hell, but it opens and closes freely. Nothing’s broken.

Mason, can you tell us what happened? Raúl asks.

I stand and clear my throat.

Angel’s nurse came into the room to take Angel’s vital signs. After she left, I walked into the restroom. I was in there only for a minute or two. When I came out, I saw a man standing beside Angel’s bed and a yellow rose lying on her chest.

I clear my throat and flex my right hand again.

I asked Angel was she all right and if that was Jim. When she confirmed my suspicions, Jim came at me throwing punches. I deliberately retreated in order to back us out of the room and away from Angel. We fought in the hallway before he fled down the stairwell exit when Angel’s doctor showed up. I chased after him, but he entered another floor so I came back, not wanting to alarm other staff or patients.

I walk to the front of the room, taking a deep breath.

I returned to Angel’s floor and notified hospital security, although the nurse had already taken care of it, and that’s when you showed up.

I look over at Dad and say, And you know the rest.

Thank you, Mason. How’s your hand?

I flex my hand several times and say, It’s fine, and it’s not broken. I walk back over to Donovan.

That’s good news about your hand, Mason. Well, it seems the scumbag has eluded the police again. Dr. Collins is having Angel moved to a different room and is placing her under an alias. We’re going to be asking the head of the hospital security to assist us until after Angel’s surgery and then we can get her moved out of here. Dad clears his throat and walks around the table.

I called the Sarasota Police Department after I hung up from Angel, and they will be here to speak with you. We’ll see if they have any new leads as well. Vincent, get with Mason tomorrow about the privacy fence and security gate for his beach house. We still want that up and ready before she gets released from here.

I’ll check first thing in the morning and will call him right away.

Thank you, all. Now go home and try to get some sleep. Mason, text everyone when you get Angel’s new room number.

I nod.

Raúl, do you have anything to add?

Raúl stands and says, I think you covered everything. Mason, do you want me to stay here with Angel tonight? Maybe you can go home and sleep in a real bed.

No, I don’t want to leave her. I’m fine, but thank you. We are truly dealing with a nut job. Dad, please try to bring those things from the condo for me tomorrow if you have time.

I will, Mason, and you are right, he is truly a dangerous man. I need to get Lilly home, so please be careful and I’ll see everyone tomorrow evening.

We walk back to Angel’s room, which is empty. I go to the nurse’s station and they inform me they moved her to the 7th floor, room 736. Dad, Raúl, and I take the elevators up to her floor. Her doctor is in the hallway when we arrive. He walks over to us and tells us she slept through the move and that Lilly is in there with her. He asks what name we want Angel’s alias under. I look at Raúl and he looks at me.

Wow, this is a hard one, I say, looking stunned.

Raúl laughs and says, Well, she likes daisies.

And she likes to read, Dad laughs. "I noticed all her books on