OverPowered

by Camaron, Chelsea

  “There’s nothing to explain, Garrett.” Nothing he could say would change any of this. He used me, plain and simple.

  “You know there is.” He reached over, and I flinched like his touch would hurt. His eyes flashed with hurt from my withdrawal. “Don’t you get it? You’re free now.”

  “Free? From Beacon, but now not from you. You own me, right? I’m just a possession to get pushed back and forth like a chess piece on a board. I can’t tell you how great it feels to be an object.”

  “You’re not an object,” he challenged, and I wanted to laugh out loud at his ridiculousness.

  “Save it,” I cut him off, not wanting to hear any of his shit. He knew what he did, and there was no reason to bring it up once again. He didn’t get to tell me what I felt wasn’t right. He treated me like an object, a thing to pass around. Now that the truth was out, he didn’t get to tell me what to feel about any of it.

  “I know I hurt you. I should tell you I never meant for that to happen, but I’m not going to lie to you … I figured there would be some collateral damage in my plan.”

  “And I’m the collateral damage,” I muttered, fighting back the tears threatening to spill.

  “Yes.”

  At the moment, something inside of me almost wished he would lie and tell me he never meant for me to be caught up in this mess. His brutal honesty only cut me deeper.

  “You’re an arrogant and pompous asshole. You used my mother’s health, my mother’s life as leverage to best Beacon.”

  “Yes.”

  I stood and paced the space. His candid agreement only infuriated me further. “I should be thankful you got me out of Beacon’s thumb,” I yelled. “You probably think I should be grateful to you … but reality is all I can do is feel used and pissed off at you. So no matter what you think, I don’t owe you a damn thing.” I pulled myself together. “You know what, Garrett Monroe, none of this matters. How you feel. How I feel. The motivation behind what you’ve done. I knew this whole thing would hurt me. I knew it would scar me, but I did it for my mom. In the end she got her treatments. That was the reason for doing it all. So you know what, you don’t get to have power over me anymore. No one does.”

  His eyes blazed with an emotion I couldn’t read. I didn’t care. I meant it—no one got to hold the power over me. Not Beacon, not Garrett, and not even the bad luck looming over my family. I was done giving up control.

  I rolled my shoulders back and swallowed down all the feelings I had developed for the man in front of me. He wasn’t who I thought he was. This wasn’t what I thought it was. None of this was real. Compartmentalizing my emotions, I pulled myself together. “Bye, Garrett.”

  I turned and walked out the door. I wasn’t going to stay in the space and give him any chance to bring me additional pain.

  Yes, this hurt more than I ever imagined. No, this was not at all what I expected when I made the agreement with Beacon. But I meant what I said, nothing mattered but my mother and her treatment.

  I’d walk through fire for her. I’d carry any pain for the rest of my days if it gave me more time with my mom.

  I had that power, that love, that devotion, and Garrett Monroe didn’t get to take that away.

  22

  Garrett

  Three Months Later

  I stood on my balcony overlooking the city. Winter was here, the snow coming down, but the hustle and bustle of the city never slowing. The cold did little to wake me up.

  I should leave and go to my home in the Virgin Islands. Normally, at the first snow, I would take a weekend trip. The house no longer had the same appeal anymore. I wanted to be there, but only with Enissa. The power she had over me even in her absence was something I couldn’t get a handle on.

  Three months ago, I put her on a plane back to life with her family. She had the power to stay or to leave, and she chose to leave. Unlike the man who was my father, I wouldn’t ever manipulate or force a woman to be with me. I only wanted Enissa with me because she chose to be here, not because she had no other options. In fact, since our return, I provided for her in a way that gave her many options. I made sure she had enough money in her account to enjoy this second chance with her parents.

  She hadn’t touched a dime of it.

  As if the time we spent together never happened, she went back to her job and her life. I didn’t know what I really expected from her, but I had this hope she would see beyond what I did. Being forgotten, well, that hurt deeper than I ever anticipated.

  Yes, I used her. I wouldn’t discredit her emotions and the pain I caused by even trying to justify it. I hurt her by not telling her the truth about anything. I let her think the worst things and even told her I would break her. There was a saying, if you speak it, you give life to it. Well, I spoke life into breaking her … only I didn’t just break her, I broke me too.

  The feelings I had for her, they were real. I craved touching her. I craved seeing her smile. I longed to ease every burden in her life.

  My grandmother always said, “When you know, you just know. And when you know you’ll move Heaven and Earth just to make ‘em smile.”

  With Enissa I just fucking knew.

  My cell phone rang. Looking to the caller ID, I paused. Well, this was unexpected. Stepping inside my penthouse apartment, I answered the call.

  “Monroe,” I greeted.

  “Hello,” her voice was soft. “Mr. Monroe, this is Evelyn Mitchell. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for the flowers today.”

  “My pleasure. I’m glad you’re in remission, and I wish you the very best, Mrs. Mitchell.”

  Yes, I kept tabs on Enissa, her mother, her father, her aunt; fuck, I even have notes on her ex-boyfriend on the off-chance he wanted to rekindle something. Therefore, I knew her mother was getting the all clear today that she was in remission. So I sent flowers because I figured if I sent more money that would be over-the-top.

  “Don’t give up on her, Garrett,” she whispered. I felt like there was something on her mind, so I waited. “Alright, well, I wish you well, Mr. Monroe.” I had many things I wanted to say to Evelyn Mitchell, but at the moment, the words didn’t come to me.

  The call ended as quickly as it began. I closed my eyes and daydreamed.

  If things were different, I would be taking the entire Mitchell family to a nice dinner to celebrate. I would bring Enissa home to my place where I would lay her on my bed and remind her exactly what it was to feel truly alive.

  Instead, I had her mother’s sincerest gratitude and a phone call that had me longing for something I would never have.

  The call made one thing clear. They still had no clue.

  I would keep it that way.

  Enissa had no obligation to me. I would not manipulate her further with what I had done. I didn’t do that shit for recognition. I did it because Evelyn Mitchell was the kind of mom I thought everyone should have. Enissa and her parents had loyalty and love in a way most people dreamed of. Evelyn Mitchell was a good woman who deserved a longer life. I was in a position to give it to her, so I did.

  No strings attached there.

  While I ached to touch Enissa, hold her, see her smile once again, I knew I had no rights to expect anything.

  I used her. I betrayed her trust. I could have saved her pain. I could have told her the truth. I should have trusted her with it, but I didn’t. And this was where we were.

  When I looked into Charles Beacon and found out he was my father, I didn’t think of the impact on anyone else. My tunnel vision was focused on destroying him and his empire. I built my plan to take him down, and I used Enissa’s situation for my gain.

  Her pain. Her fear. Her heartbreak. Her emptiness in being away from her mother, I used it all to get back at Beacon.

  It made me more fucked in the head than I cared to admit.

  Regret.

  It was an emotion foreign to me.

  I didn’t like this feeling.

  Only, knowing what Beacon did
to my mother and so many others, I couldn’t let it go on. But my reasoning for stopping him was not because of some moral compass guiding me to do the right thing. Rather my own need for power and vengeance sent me down the path I was on.

  Was I wrong?

  To some degree.

  Did I care?

  Not where Beacon was concerned.

  He had a pattern, a cycle that had to be broken.

  In researching his transactions, there was always a money trail. That was how my mother’s name came into focus. One of his earlier transactions was to her. What sixteen-year-old lands a twenty-five-thousand-dollar lump sum payout?

  That led me to Juanita Ortiz who also received a similar payout in the same year. Ms. Ortiz had a lot to share. From the love she once had for her employer, to the many women, including my mother, and the stories they shared. After meeting the elderly woman, I was given a journal my mother once kept. A piece of my past that did nothing to soothe my soul. In the pages of this book were the details of the sick shit Beacon put her through.

  All for a dollar bill.

  My grandfather had passed away the year before. She was a young teen missing her dad when Charles Beacon came around promising her a good life. She didn’t know Grandpa had an insurance policy that left her with a trust fund when she turned twenty-one.

  My grams tried to shelter me from the shit that was Stephanie Conway’s life. She gave me her maiden name of Monroe and told me my mom ran off. Rather than letting me grow up with the knowledge that my father was a sick fuck who manipulated young girls to ride his cock, she felt no man was better as a father than telling me the truth. I was created in a power play. I still struggled with my grandmother keeping so much from me but bottom line, she wasn’t here for me to question. She did what she could to raise me and give me a good life. I wouldn’t taint her memory with Beacon’s ugly.

  As for the here and now, the things I could control and face … Charles Beacon had no place in my life. In fact, the fucker was lucky I let him live. Some days I regretted that decision; however, I left the islands firm in the knowledge that I destroyed everything he built.

  While he was scrambling with the news I was his son, I had leaked some information to his board that showed him embezzling funds. Given the companies stockholders were critical to keeping operations running, I managed to persuade them through a board member not to press charges against Beacon because the company couldn’t afford the bad press.

  Instead, he was voted out of the company he created. Since, he lived a life of luxury, he had a high overhead in general. Piece by piece he was losing everything, and I was watching it all happen.

  Like a puppet master I held all the strings.

  It was a matter of months and he would be on the street living off Medicaid and Social Security. I expected to feel a twinge of remorse since the man was in no position to retaliate, but I didn’t. Nope, I found myself more at peace with every dollar I cost him.

  I rolled the Zippo lighter around in my hand. It felt heavier than usual. I had done more than my share of wrongs in life. I had been dealt one bad hand after another. Except I had a unique family.

  Onyx and Torryn were happy building their life together. They recently got married. If someone would have asked me five years ago if I saw that happening, I would have bet them my penthouse it wouldn’t. And I would have been wrong. Torryn brought color into Onyx’s life. She softened the man who could be as hard as steel.

  Paxton and Laurel were raising kids like any normal couple would. Did I ever think Paxton would be a dad? No, but push came to shove and Laurel needed to step in for her family. Paxton stood by her side, never backing down from any challenges.

  Dane and Aspen traveled constantly with him blending work life in regularly. Aspen centered Dane who always had a restless spirit.

  Looking at the love each of my brother’s had found, I couldn’t help but be happy for them all. We had been scarred as kids. Each of us walking a different path in life. But dammit, they deserved a tiny taste of goodness in their lives.

  Stupidly, I allowed myself to think for just the briefest of moments that I might come out of this with Enissa and a future together. I knew better, but hope was like that; it took hold in the unlikeliest of places and let you believe maybe, just maybe.

  I had money. I had a thriving practice. Together, we all had Ellen Sue.

  My only happiness in life was whittled down to a few memories in the kitchen with my grandmother and a few weeks of bliss on a beach. I would hold onto those feelings. They would carry me through the rest of my days. They would have to because now they were gone.

  I still had plenty of money. Even paying so much for the Mitchells only put a small dent in my accounts. I would return to my work, dive right in, and build it all back up like I’d never spent a dime on anyone other than myself. I had multiple homes, luxury cars, and I would always have my brothers and Ellen Sue. Life could be worse.

  I should have felt like a man on top of the world. But I didn’t.

  Something was missing.

  Enissa.

  23

  Enissa

  A loud banging came to the door, making my mom and I jump on the couch.

  “Who on earth?” my mom said, grasping her chest. It was nice to be home and spend time with her. Day after day, her health kept improving. The road to recovery was still the path we were on, but every moment she regained a little more strength.

  “I’ll get it,” I explained, getting up for the door.

  I’d learned several things from my time with Garrett.

  One: always check my surroundings, and never open the door unless you know who’s on the other end. My mom felt great, but she wasn’t in the condition to go through anything like Ellen Sue and I did.

  Two: trust no one. Don’t ever let that shit slip.

  Therefore, I would face whoever was on the other side, prepared for the worst. That way when all went well, it would be a relief.

  “Enissa,” my mother warned.

  “I know.” Even though she was weak from all the treatments, she was my mom, so of course she worried.

  Looking out the peephole, my body locked. “What the …” I turned to my mom. “Were you expecting Lisa?”

  Technically she was my aunt, but she didn’t get the respect of a title from me. She had treated my mother very badly, and that did not fly with me. Therefore, she was like any other random person off the street to us. I was a wild she-cat when it came to Mom. No one hurt her. Especially not her sister who was supposed to love her and be by her side. Why she was here? I had no idea.

  My mother was the best thing on this planet, and if anyone was mean to her, I took that as a personal affront. Knowing how close I came to losing her, I found myself more overprotective than before which was saying something.

  “My dear, no way.” My mother rose from her seat on the couch and came closer. Her expression showed as much shock as my own.

  I held out my hand. “Wait a sec, Mom. Let me see what her deal is.”

  She swatted my hand down. “I’m a grown woman, Enissa, and Lisa is just a pain in the patoot.”

  Mom hated what I had to do to get her treatment, but somehow it all got paid for. We didn’t talk about it often because it bothered her, and I hated to see her in any kind of pain. I didn’t ask many questions because I didn’t want or need to know. The debt was washed away, and all the medical bills were covered as well. Whether it was Beacon or not, shit was handled, and I would take it all for the gift it was, a second chance at life for my mom. I just wanted to get out of that beach house and back home. Therefore, I left it all at that.

  “Mom, please.”

  She huffed, reminding me of when I was younger and did the same exact thing, but she stopped. It made me smile. We did a lot of laughing since I’d been home.

  Another lesson I’d learned, always make the most of every moment. Life was too short not to. No one knew when their time would be up. Love those you hold
dear and live.

  I unlocked the door and swung it open. “What are you doing here?” My tone was a bit clipped. I never had been one to hold back when I felt something was wrong. This woman treated my mother horribly, and I couldn’t and wouldn’t get past that.

  “Money,” she snipped.

  “Too bad on that front. We have none for ya,” I responded, starting to shut the door, but her hand came out and stopped it.

  It was laughable for her to think we had money to give her. Yes, I had seen my bank account since returning. I knew someone had made a large deposit, and every day I got up and went to work, purposely not using a dime of that. If for some reason my mother or father needed it, then maybe I would use it, but for myself … no way. And damn sure not for Lisa.

  “I want more money, Enissa. You know him. Get it for me. Now.”

  I felt my brows scrunch up as my stomach turned over. How did she know about Charles Beacon? “What in the world are you talking about?”

  Lisa tried to push her way into the house, but I blocked, stepping in her path. “Let me in,” she barked.

  “Tell me what’s going on.”

  Lisa crossed her arms over her chest and started tapping her foot. “Money. Get that guy on the phone and tell him I want more.”

  “Money for what?” my mother asked, coming closer. “And what guy?”

  Lisa’s lip curled at my mother, and it pissed me off. The woman had just battled for her life, stripping her body and filling it with poison to get rid of the toxin that took over her. Then only to turn around and have chemo again and a transplant. And this woman showed up at our door ordering us to get money. Who the hell did she think she was?

  “The bone marrow, Evelyn,” Lisa said, staring my mother down.

  “What?” My mother gasped, and I felt the same. No way. There was no freaking way Lisa donated it.

  “That guy came to me and paid me a sum to give my bone marrow to you. I want more.”