Hope for Hayden

By Tria David

He’d heard that voice before. He knew to hear that voice meant he was safe, loved, protected. He was somewhere the bad people couldn’t get to him. The voice was a part of his past; to hear it meant he had hope. HOPE.... Was it her; really her, his Hope?

Unwanted and unloved, Hayden Parksdale’s life began the day Liz Asheberry took him in. She’d given him a home. She’d given him love. She’d given him...Hope. Believing himself unworthy, Hayden joined the military, serving his country faithfully. Now he was back home to claim the life he never had and the only woman he ever loved.

At the age of five Elaine Hope Asheberry fell in love with Hayden Parksdale. At fifteen he broke her heart. Ten years later he took her innocence. Now he was back. What will he do to her now? What will he do when he finds out?

Warning: Dubious consent. On page attempted assault. Discussion of past attempt.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tria David
• Release date: Jun 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215480724

Tria David

Tria David, a retired educator living in South Carolina, has a lifelong passion for romance. Through her love of reading, she discovered M/M romances. She’s a sucker for smiles, laughter, and happily ever afters.

Book preview

Hope for Hayden

By

Tria David

Hope for Hayden

He’d heard that voice before. He knew to hear that voice meant he was safe, loved, protected. He was somewhere the bad people couldn’t get to him. The voice was a part of his past; to hear it meant he had hope. HOPE…. Was it her; really her, his Hope?

Unwanted and unloved, Hayden Parksdale’s life began the day Liz Asheberry took him in. She’d given him a home. She’d given him love. She’d given him…Hope. Believing himself unworthy, Hayden joined the military, serving his country faithfully. Now he was back home to claim the life he never had and the only woman he ever loved.

At the age of five Elaine Hope Asheberry fell in love with Hayden Parksdale. At fifteen he broke her heart. Ten years later he took her innocence. Now he was back. What will he do to her now? What will he do when he finds out?

Warning: Dubious consent. On page attempted assault. Discussion of past attempt.

Hope for Hayden

Copyright © 2020 Tria David

Published by Tria David

Cover Design by Tria David

Cover Photo by @kelbpics/Pinterest

License Notes

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 enjoyment only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The trademark products mentioned in this book are the property of their respective owners and are recognized as such.

Dedication

To DeDe, and Neno Kasanova, for their undying love and support. I couldn’t have done this without you.

Chapter One

Overwhelmed by the horror before her, the woman stared at the broken and crumpled body in the cell below. What…did you do to him?

The woman prayed she’d arrived in time. A shudder threatened to overtake her as she realized how close she’d come to not responding. She’d nearly ignored the notice from the hospital requesting that she come and check on her brother. One: she didn’t have a brother. Two: How did Hayden end up in Virginia? And Three: Why was her name listed as next of kin? Looking down again she realized the all-consuming whys paled in the light of what she was witnessing; the why’s would have to wait.

She was strikingly beautiful in her black. Simple and severe in its design, the suit gave her an air of understated elegance. Her only adornment was a black bow, that struggled valiantly to contain the cinnamon tresses reaching for her waist. Dark shades hid her eyes but once removed, they were revealed to be a soft brown.

Quite pleased if somewhat baffled, Dr. Aubrey Jamison greeted the young lady with genuine concern when she announced that she was E. H. Asheberry and was there answering his request about patient 9-8635, The Soldier as he was haplessly named. Believing she was caught in some strange mix up, Aubrey was somewhat taken aback to find out that not only did she know the man in question but wanted him released into her custody immediately.

The doctor knew he had to tread lightly. He’d profited well over the years caring for patients like The Soldier. It was a lucrative venture housing the unwanted and forgotten while providing medical aid to returning veterans with physical and/or mental problems who could pay or received government assistance. Up until now The Soldier had provided him with a tidy profit; but with the government’s decision to stop paying for his medical care, he’d had no other choice but to seek out the man’s family and convince them that it would be beneficial for them and the patient if the man remained in his custody. He was expecting a little old lady, not the gentle beauty before him.

My dear, stated Aubrey, his tone filled with warmth, as he envisioned himself and his visitor in a tangle of limbs. He was going to enjoy their romantic liaison. It never entered his mind that she wouldn’t be interested. With his curly brown hair and dark brown eyes, Aubrey believed he could charm the clothes off any woman that drew his attention.

We pride ourselves on providing the best medical assistance for those placed in our care. Here, we deal with patients that are considered more difficult than normal for most hospitals to care for. We’re often forced to medicate our patients to maintain control. Unfortunately, your brother was one of the ones in need of strong medical supervision.

The woman looked at the doctor, her voice deceptively soft as she spoke. Dr.—"

Jamison. You may call me Aubrey.

How long has he been like this, Dr. Jamison? Hope glanced down again at the wretched form huddled against the wall of the padded cell.

"I’m sorry to say since he’s been here. If not medicated your brother can become violent and abusive towards whomever is nearby. For some reason he seems to have this obsession with the word hope. He keeps repeating it as if it were a mantra. He’s even attacked our female nurses a time or two when they’ve gotten too close."

A delicate shudder rolled across the woman’s shoulders as she lifted a trembling hand to smooth back her hair. Why didn’t you contact us sooner. We could’ve brought him home long ago.

Ignoring her statement, Jamison stepped closer to the woman, inhaling the tantalizing fragrance she wore. She smelled of honeysuckle.

Deftly the woman moved away. She’d met his kind before. If he couldn’t charm his way into what he wanted; he would resort to bullying and intimidation. So far, he was still working on charm. She didn’t plan to wait around for the rest. Turning, she looked the doctor squarely in the eyes; making her wants known, I would like him released now! Immediately!

Determined to take her brother home, the woman headed down the corridor to the elevator that led to the rooms below. Aubrey followed, trying to dissuade her of the notion that the man in question would be better off in her care than in his. Losing The Soldier was like losing a business deal.

Really my dear, I don’t think—

If I sign papers absolving you and your staff of all liability, can he be released into my custody?

Of course, but—

Then do so. Gather whatever papers I need to sign and give me my brother.

Jamison watched as the woman entered the elevator, her resolve to free his patient visible in her stance. The elevator doors closed, effectively shutting him out.

As the woman stepped onto the floor, she was appalled to see the actual living conditions of the rooms. While the good doctor presented a facade of a pristine living environment to the public, the patients were actually living in squalor. She was more determined now than ever to free Hayden from this place.

The men, who looked more like guards than orderlies, eyed her like rabid dogs drooling over a bone. Ignoring their gaze, she gestured to them to open the door. One of the men looked at the TV monitor in askance. Aubrey, who’d remained above to observe the proceedings, nodded. The Soldier was known to be violent and unpredictable, even with medication. After a bit of being knocked about, he was sure Ms. Asheberry would be more agreeable to his terms…whatever they might be.

He’d heard that voice before. He knew to hear that voice meant he was safe, loved, protected. He was somewhere the bad people couldn’t get to him. The voice was a part of his past; to hear it meant he had hope. HOPE…. Was it her; really her, his Hope? He strained his eyes peering at the figure before him. Worn by stress and time all he could see was a shadowy figure standing across from him.

Who was it? No one knew he was here. He’d buried his tracks well. He didn’t want to be found. He didn’t want his life touching theirs. It was a trick. It had to be. They’d nearly fooled him the last time, but that woman wasn’t real. She could never be his Hope. He would wait until this one got closer, then he’d find out if she was real or not. If not, he would hold her hostage until they let him go.

The room smelled of unwashed flesh and urine. She stared at the man crouched in the corner; bound within the confines of a strait jacket. His once beautiful face nearly bruised and battered beyond recognition; his black hair lay matted and unkempt on his head. Swallowing her rage, she spoke. What happened to him? What did you people do to him? Forget it! Remove the straitjacket!

Lady, I don’t think—

"I said take it off him, now! The woman looked in Aubrey’s direction, Doctor?"

Nodding his consent, Aubrey watched as the orderly freed the woman’s brother from the strait jacket; revealing the once clean hospital uniform that covered his emaciated body was now filthy rags. Ignoring the waste and debris, the woman moved closer until she was near enough to touch him. Tenderly she reached out, filling her hands with his broken face; gently caressing each bruise as if through her fingers she could soothe away each hurt. Hayden sat still, a cornered animal on guard, watching and waiting. When the attack came everyone was taken by surprise. No one expected him to move so quickly; no one that is, except the doctor.

Snaking out a hand, the man snagged the woman by her hair, hauling her against his unwashed body. She remained still, patiently waiting for him to let go. Imperceptibly she nodded to the guard to remain where he was. Leaning forward the soldier sniffed the woman’s hair and shuddered as her delicate fragrance assailed his nostrils. Unable to control himself, he clutched the thick braid in a vice-like grip; dragging the woman closer, desperate to immerse himself in her scent.

Aubrey understood The Soldier’s desire to be close to the woman. He harbored the same feelings. But it was one thing to have her for himself; another to allow her to be