A few weeks had passed since David had brought Valleri to that tiny house down the secluded dirt path.
Just as he said they would, they lived comfortably, Valleri felt safe, more at home than she ever had. She sat on the couch with her feet tucked under her, a book open in her lap. She jumped when David took her hand.
"Val?"
She shook her head. "Sorry, what?"
"Are you alright?"
She looked up at him over the back of the couch. "Yeah, I'm fine, you just scared me"
"I yelled for you when I came in"
"You did?"
He nodded. "I just figured you weren't here" he sat down on the couch putting his arm around her. "What are you reading?"
She shrugged. "Just something I found in the bedroom" she tilted the book to show him the cover.
"That's Mum's favourite book"
"It's very good"
"That's fascinating love" he said as he took the book from her throwing it over the back of the couch where it landed with a smack.
"Hey!" Valleri yelled looking over the back of the couch. "I was read-" she stopped mid-sentence when she turned back around realizing how close David had gotten. "Reading that"
"I've got something a little more fun in mind" he whispered against her lips as he climbed in her lap.
"And what might that be?" She asked as she snaked her arms around his neck.
He ducked under her arms before scooping her up in his. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"David! Put me down!"
"Why?" He pouted. "You don't think I'm going to drop you, do you?"
"No, I just like it better when my feet are on the ground"
"Well if that's the case, then no can do Valleri my love, too dangerous to do while climbing the stairs"
"You aren't-" she huffed as he took the first few steps. "David, I can walk you know"
"Yes, but this is more fun"
He gave her a quick kiss before setting her down on the bathroom floor.
"What are you planning Mr Jones?" She asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
There was a knock at the door. Valleri frowned and David smiled back at her. "Looks like it'll have to wait"
Valleri just rolled her eyes and kissed him on the cheek before jogging down the steps to the front door. She pulled it open and froze, the smile fading from her face, her mouth hanging open in shock.
"Hello Valleri"
"Daddy!" She instinctively took a step back. "What are you-"
He pushed his way in the door, she screamed feeling his fingers close around her throat as he slammed her up against the wall
Valleri sat straight up in bed, her body covered in a cold sweat. David was next to her, her face in his hands.
"Valleri, it's okay, it was just a nightmare" he kissed her gently pulling her into his arms.
She pulled away and gasped in horror. It was Daddy. She screamed pulling herself out of her nightmare.
"Valleri" David had her wrapped in his arms, the light was on, and she could feel herself shaking. She could feel his hands running over her back. "Come back to me Val," he whispered in her hair. "I'm right here"
she shook her head not looking at him. He took her face in both his hands. Her eyes were closed.
"Valleri, look at me".
She opened them and his brown eyes were looking back, he actually looked genuinely concerned.
"Your nightmares are back?"
She sighed. "I guess"
"What happened?"
"He found me"
She broke down in tears and he pulled her into a hug rocking her back and forth. "It was just a dream Val, that's all, he doesn't know where you are"
"What if he does find me?"
"He won't"
"Promise?"
"No, I don't make promises I can't keep, he might find you one day, but until then, and every day after I'll be here to protect you. He won't ever lay another hand on you; that I do promise"
David turned out the light sinking back under the sheets with Valleri wrapped tightly in his arms. She slept soundly the rest of the night; he however, didn't sleep at all.
He laid in bed and watched the sun rise through the window, as it crept up the sheets over her form. David loved watching her sleep; she always looked so peaceful, so comfortable. He slipped his arms from around her and sat up carefully, trying not to wake her. He pulled the blankets up around her and stepped out of the room quietly pulling the door closed behind him.
Standing in the kitchen, he held his coffee mug staring out the tiny window. It had been weeks since Val had left, but there was no guarantee that Tom wasn't still looking for her, he knew she was with David, and there was no doubt in David's mind that if he had the chance he'd make sure David never saw the light of day again.
