Relentless Hope (Resilient Hearts) by Ashley Cassidy Read Free Book Online Page B

sprinting?
    “This is dangerous. Please let me help you climb over to this side.”
    I turn around completely to see who he is and when I do a feeling of déjà vu hits me. It was only a week ago that I was standing in this exact position under similar circumstances. I can’t help to think there is a connection between these events, and when I turn my head to the side to get a better look at the guy, my jaw drops.
    A black Bentley is parked across the curb with the passenger door hanging open and David is slowly making his way towards me. I take another look at the guy talking to me to try to figure out the connection. He’s a large towering man, tall with broad shoulders and a strong physical built. He looks like a bodyguard, someone in his thirties. I look down and notice that he is still holding my hand. I try to pull my hand away, but he only tightens his hold.
    “Please, Miss. Please climb over to this side of the railing and I promise to let go of your hand.” Since it doesn’t look like he is going to give up easily, I decide to listen to him. Once I am safely on the other side, he lets go of my hand. By then David catches up to us. He looks closely at me and I can tell he instantly recognizes me.
    “I thought that it was you. I can’t see too well from a distance, and I was really hoping that it wasn’t you, but I had a feeling it was you.” He pauses to take a breath before asking, “Why are you here again? Has it even been a week since we had that conversation?”
    I look up and move my eyes between the younger guy and David. I do want to answer David, but I really don’t feel comfortable talking about my situation in front of another stranger. David seems to sense my hesitation. He turns toward the other guy. “Nick. Thanks for your help. I think I got it from here. Can you please wait in the car? I’ll let you know when I need you.” Nick nods his head and quickly walks toward the car and away from us.
    After he’s sure Nick is out of earshot, David turns to me, “So tell me why you are here again. Why did we find you on the edge of the cliffs again so soon?”
    I hesitate for a moment, thinking about what to tell him, and decide being honest and open right now is the best course of action. I tell him the whole story, starting with how my mom told me I had to leave our house immediately. I tell him about what happened at Mia’s apartment, and how I’ve been desperately attempting ever since to find a job and a place to stay at with no luck.
    I also tell him that I called him and when I didn’t hear back, I spent the last of my money to come here to try to find him as a last resort. When I mention that I called him, his wrinkly face turns pale, as he quickly asks, “Which phone number did I give you?”
    “You gave me your business card. I called the number on the card,” I respond.
    He looks sincerely remorseful as he turns his head to look over the water. “That was the wrong number to give you. That’s my business cell phone number. I only check that occasionally these days. My brain isn’t functioning well anymore… I’m sorry. I’m so glad you decided to come here and we drove by when we did. If something had happened to you, I would have been responsible.”
    I gasp at his words, shocked that he would think such a thing. “How would you have been responsible? My family is the one that put me in this position. If anyone would be responsible, it would be them and all the friends who abandoned me. You have no responsibility towards me... I mean, don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate that you’ve offered to help, but to think that you’re responsible for me is too big of a stretch.”
    He is quiet for a few moments, seemingly lost in his thoughts before he responds. “You’re wrong. I would have been responsible. Not as a source of your problems, but for having the ability to help and not doing anything about it. There is a reason for everything, and it’s not accidental that