Forever Man

A new novella, Forever Man. When Jolene Custer comes to work with black and blue marks, Luke Garza knows exactly what it's about, and he sets out to help her. Luke had been raised with a drunken abusive father, he knew all the signs. He'd taken a liking to Jolene when she first came to work there, but now he was ready to intensify the relationship. He related to her. When Luke asked her if he could come over and meet her family, Jolene was hesitant.

Jolene knew her father wouldn't like her having a man over. But Luke insisted. It didn't take him long to like her family either. All but her father, whom he still hadn't seen.

After gaining her brother's confidence Luke told Randy to call him if Jolene was ever in harms way. So Randy did. That night Jolene got beaten good and Randy took a kitchen knife out to keep his father at bay. Problem was, Randy wanted to use the knife. When Luke arrived, he took charge.

But Jolene feared she'd never have a serious relationship with Luke because she had to be there to take the abuse so her siblings didn't get beaten.
Luke was persistent, and determined to get Jolene away from her destructive father.