Chapter 1

“I can't believe it, my little brother is getting married.” I said happy for him.  Jason gave me a quick hug as we set out for the rehearsal dinner. We had just gotten off the plane near Cocoa Beach, Florida and I was happy to get a break from my grueling work schedule. We had made it to our hotel and got dressed for rehearsal dinner. I wore a green suit tonight because green accentuates my best features.

"You know Brian you will find someone when you do, you'll know it. I remember the first time I met Emily I knew I didn't want to spend a day without her.", he said as we got on the elevator.  "I know, I just can't help but feel like I'm running out of time."

As we rode down to the lobby the elevator stopped on the eighteenth floor and a nice looking brunette girl got in. She wore a red v neck top that accentuated her dark hair. Her legs looked  perfect in her skinny jeans.

"Hello.", I said, intrigued by her.

She looked at me and smiled and then quietly stayed to herself as we finished riding down to the lobby. This made her more interesting to me and I had to talk to her. When the elevator stopped  we all got out and started to go our separate ways.

I reached out to the girl,"Hey. My name is..."

"Faith!” I heard a male voice scream from across the lobby. What the hell do you think you're doing! Get over here!"

" I..I'm sorry I can't. "Maybe later.” she whispered before taking off to a stocky built man who I assumed was her father.

I had a sense that she was scared by the way her eyes grew wide and how she stammered when  the man across the room spoke. I didn’t like it. Men should never make women feel like that.  Women are fragile creatures that need love and affection and although they can take a lot of shit and hold their own they can bruise easily. I believe man was put on the earth to protect and love women. Women were put on the earth to love and nurture a man.

Jason asked," what was that about?", as we walked towards the exit.

He already knew I was bothered by what I saw, but I also knew that it bothered him just as bad. I could see his jaw tense up as Faith was being yelled at. We both watched as the whole scene unfolded before us. She walked towards the fountain where it looked like the rest of her family  was waiting for her.

"I have no idea, but the situation is interesting and I would like to get to know her. I think we would bond on an emotional level."

I could hear her father yelling across the lobby. He looked like a big buff man that wouldn't take shit from anyone including his kids. He had his chest puffed out for intimidation and it was working. I could see Faith's eyes were wide with terror and her hands were trembling as she tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"Faith, are you this late for your college classes? When I say five o'clock sharp I mean five o'clock.  Not five before five or five after.” he snapped.

"Sorry daddy, it won't happen again.” she mumbled looking down at her shoes.  My fists had been clenched as I hadn't realized how much the situation enraged me. She looked  innocent and he had berated her in front of the entire lobby. I felt a tap on my shoulder bringing me back.

"Are you coming bro?” Jason said with an irritated look.

I brushed his hand away and felt annoyed because he knew why I was in a trance. He just didn’t want to get into it right now because Emily would kick his ass if he was late. He was just as equally as bothered by this entire thing as I was.

"Yeah, let's go."

As I drove us I sat and thought about Faith. Something about her made me want to protect her. She was an adult, but still was treated like a child by her father as her mother and siblings stood by and  watched the abuse. I'm sure the younger siblings had no choice, but the older ones did. They  couldn't all still live under his roof and could do something about it.

Brian!” I heard Jason yelling."The restaurant is right here you are going to miss it."

He gave me an annoyed look as I made a quick turn into the parking lot. I pulled up to the valet and we got out in front of the restaurant. It was some fancy gourmet place I wouldn’t have ever chosen in my life, but Jason wanted everything to be perfect for Emily which I understood. Before walking through the doors Jason put his hand on my shoulder stopping me from opening the doors.

"Tell me.", he said, his attitude turning from annoyed to concerned," are you okay?"

"I'm fine.” I lied because I was not fine. I couldn't get Faith and her situation out of my mind.

"No you're not. You're thinking of that girl."

“Yes  maybe, but mostly I'm just trying to prepare my best man speech for tomorrow."

Jason chuckled, “I’m sure it will be great whatever you come up with."

"Thanks bro.", I said as we headed inside.

Dinner went off without a hitch and everyone decided to go back to their hotel rooms for sleep. No  time for a bachelor party because the wedding began at ten the next day and everyone needed their beauty sleep. Jason rode back with Emily. I just hope I wasn't boring most of the night because I mentioned Faith and got some weird looks because nobody knew her. Hell I didn’t even know her,  but I wanted to.

Once back at the hotel I decided to go to the bar for a drink and try to get Faith out of my head so I could actually prepare my best man speech. As I sat at the bar mentally trying to remember every  word I was going to say I felt someone sit next to me. I got a whiff of some very intoxicating  perfume and heard a female voice order a shot of Jack. I turned to see none other than Faith  herself. I smiled softly.“Are you okay?"

"I'm fine.” she snapped.

“Are you sure? Any woman I've ever seen order the drink you just ordered was not fine."

Her face softened, “I’m so sorry. I must have sounded like a complete bitch. I'm on vacation here with my family and my dad is kind of an ass. He is military and expects things to go a certain way and his way. If they don't he gets all bent out of shape. I came down here to hide from him."

"You're not a bitch. You're human.” I said sympathetically.

I paid for her drink and noticed her father walking out of the elevator. I took her hand and nodded  my head towards him. He looked pissed and on a mission as he began searching for her.  "Let's get out of here."

She didn't have to ask where we should go because she was pulling me away from the bar. She didn't even know that she could trust me. We were just living in the moment and that was something I could rarely do these days. She led me down the sidewalk to the beach where she began to take off her clothes to reveal a hot pink bikini and threw her flip flops in the sand. She was beautiful. Her hair fell around her shoulders captivating her breathtaking features. Her eyes shone like stars in the sky as they twinkled in mischievousness. Her lips were so full and luscious and I wanted to know what it would be like to taste them. I must have been  standing there like an idiot because she turned around.

"Well..."

I began stripping myself of my suit and got down to my boxers and chased after her into the ocean.  The water was perfect for it being dusk and I swam out to her. She was beautiful as her long dark  hair floated around her in the water. Her large chocolate eyes were mesmerizing. I could look into  them all night and never get tired of it.

"You know.” she said." I usually don't do this. The random guy thing, but for some reason I feel like I can trust you. I've had the same boyfriend off and on for six years and I finally cut him out of my life. He was too much like my dad. He tried to control every aspect of my life. I was walking  eggshells. For some reason when I saw you tense up this afternoon when my dad embarrassed me I had to meet you."

"I just don't think that someone should be treated the way he treated you.” I said honestly.  "He's abusing you and your mother lets him do it."

“No it's not like that. My mother is afraid too. My dad wasn't always this way. I remember before he enlisted I'm the marines that he was a kind hearted person and never acted the way he does now. My mom still believes he's in there somewhere and tries ever so often to appeal to that side of him to make him remember who he once was."

“I understand that, but she should protect you from him.” I said.

Her face saddened and I knew she wished that too. It was completely dark now and the beach was being patrolled."We had better get out.” she said nervously.

"No, let's wait."

"What for?” she asked hesitantly.

"This.", I said as the fireworks lit up the sky.  She swam over to me and cleaned up against my chest resting her head against my shoulder. I slid  my arms down hers and wrapped her up in my arms. This was the most romantic thing I had ever done. Not that I didn't like romance, it was just I hadn't ever found anyone who I felt like I could  share my emotional side with. The fireworks made an incredible splash of color that radiated off the water.

"This is amazing.” she whispered as her arms tightened around mine.

We watched the fireworks for a better part of an hour and when it was over we walked hand in  hand back to the hotel. When we reached the front doors she hesitated to go in. I pulled her to me and looked deeply in her eyes. When I did this her eyes dilated and she took a sharp breath.  "You can always come back to my room and watch a movie. You don’t have to go back there."

"I have to go back... he's gonna kill me as it is.”, she said, almost pleading with me.

“I’m in town for my brother Jason Merrimack’s wedding. I made a vacation of it so I'll be here until Sunday afternoon. If you need anything, here is my number and room number.” I said as I scribbled my information down on the back of my hotel card."If I'm not in, tell them you're my  wife and came in late. They will give you a key. I'll tell them to be expecting you. I really don’t like the idea of you going back to your room if you are scared he will hurt you. If you think this is what you need to do then you can, but you can come to me for anything."

She took the card with a shaky hand and looked at it. I tilted her chin so her eyes met mine and she could tell that I was sincere in everything that I said. She blushed and tried to look away, but I wouldn't let her. I couldn't because she had to know I was serious.

"Thank you.” she said, still blushing."What does your wife call you?” she said, blushing even  deeper.

"Well.", I said leaning into her, our lips nearly touching," my wife calls me Brian." She stopped  breathing for a moment and I could tell she wanted me as bad as wanted her. I knew it was too  soon so I slowly pulled away. I took her hand as the elevator doors opened and we rode it up to  our designated floors. Just before we parted ways I took her other hand in mine to make her look at me once more with her beautiful brown eyes. I had to look in them one more time before I let her go just to see down in her soul. She had so much pain and hurt that I wanted to steal her away and  let her feel what it's like to be loved. She smiled in embarrassment and turned to walk out the elevator.Just before the elevator door closed between us I said," Faith don’t ever be embarrassed  for being you. See you tomorrow?"

"She blushed and waved a small wave,” I don’t know... I'll have to see."