This is what I didn’t want. I didn’t want this to happen, it’s why I fought this attraction between Chloe and I so bad. I knew the moment I had a small taste of her, I was a goner. She owned me from that night in her apartment, her beautiful eyes piercing my soul.
I knew the moment we crossed the line, I was going to be so obsessed over her. But I wanted to ease her into my life. I wanted to make this smoother, easier somehow. So that it wouldn’t be a burden to be with me.
Because I will be damned if I lose her when I just got her.
“Why did you kill him?” She asks, her voice composed and steady, making me turn back to the bed looking down at her sexy, alluring body. She looks at me as if to understand, but I know she is judging me right now, wanting to escape.
“When we were younger, Max and I were really into wrestling and all this fighting. I was surprisingly really good at boxing and even had thoughts of wanting to do it professionally. If not that, then illegal boxing was the way forward. Point being, I was addicted to it.
Max was the grandson of our nanny and she used to bring him over so we could play together. Found out we had a lot in common, and he was an alright kid. He has been my best friend since, forever.
At that time, we hadn’t bought all that land that you saw today, so next door there was a house that was empty. One day, a family moved in.” I explain, I need to get this out there, set the scene for her.
“The Spencer’s moved in. This financier, his wife and son, as well as his step-daughter. Max and I went over to help them carry boxes inside, but I remember I convinced Max because he didn’t want to go but we did it anyway. At that point, I was around sixteen or so.”
I walk over to the floor to ceiling length windows and stand there, blindly looking outside.
“We helped them move in, but I remember Max didn’t like the boy. Like really, he said there was something off about him. Something sick and sinister. I just thought Max was just saying that you know, because he didn’t want to lift boxes, so, in true ignorant fashion, I ignored him.
Time passed, and I began hanging out with Tabitha and her step-brother Craig, much to Max’s annoyance. My sister, Alice also joined us.”
I should have seen it then, the signs were right there, so obvious but still, I ignored them, busy sneaking around with Tabitha to care.
“I snuck Tabitha into the theater room, the one in the basement one day. I mean, we were being stupid kids, fooling around. Being vain and self-possessed.” I explain, seeing everything as clear as day right out the window. It’s as if I’m having an out of body experience, watching the day my life collapsed on its head.
“While we were down there, Craig tied up my sister in her room upstairs.”
I notice a vase by one of the armoires, I grab it and haul it to the wall, watching it break and splinter into billions of fragments. But that doesn’t quench the anger in me.
“He tied her up to her bed!” I shout, feeling the emptiness clawing at me. It was all my fault, none of that would have happened if only I had just stayed in my room with my studies and watch over her like Grandfather had told me to do before. I was supposed to just study my ass off and stay out of trouble.
“Gideon.” Her sweet melodic voice breaks my thoughts and I turn around to look at her. I know my eyes are wild, her story set me off, I can’t and I won’t ever forgive myself.
“What happened, baby?” She questions. There is no emotion or judgement in her eyes. No sadness for me or sympathy. She wants the full story.
“Max was in my room and so he heard the noise from my sister’s room which was across from mine. Max was smart enough to go and check on my sister, thinking that she might need help reaching for a book from the highest shelf.” I explain wildly. I don’t want to pace, I’m trying to keep control, but it’s fraying.
“I heard the screams, and the commotion from all the way down in the basement. And that bitch had the audacity to try and tell me it was nothing!” And I almost believed her, but no one in my family ever liked noise so I had to go investigate.
“I rushed upstairs and followed the noise, only to find my sister crying, her clothes torn and Craig beating up Max, calling him every racial slur in the book.”
My hands ball into fists that I don’t remember forming. I don’t know why I first thought that Max was going to rape my sister, maybe because Craig was shouting it out. Trying to convince me that my own best friend since we were toddlers was about to . . . no way.
“I looked at my sister, there was no way Max could have done that. I remember questioning for a split second why Craig was up here in the first place and that’s when everything connected.”
I beat him up and wouldn’t stop until the police came. Even then, it took five officers to pull me away from his bloody, filthy excuse of a being. Craig was taken to the hospital but by then, he was already dead.
“He died at my hands. My best friend was beaten to an inch of his own life. The girl I thought loved me later accused me of trying to rape her and my sister composed herself enough to call the cops.” I round up the entire situation.
I’m drained. Every time I try to sleep, I see that scene and each time I go back to that house, the memories are as clear as day.
Small, slender arms wrap around me from the back. I feel her pressing her tear stained face into my back, her gloriously naked body melding into my back, like she belongs there.
It’s only then that I take a deep breath.
“They organized it all. The Spencer’s set out to destroy my family.”
They wanted money, some kind of settlement. Initially, Tabitha was instructed to sleep with me, then later scream rape, but each time Max always interrupted. But Craig, that asshole had his own agenda.
It’s my Grandfather that pulled me out of my funk, pushing responsibilities into my hand. The files were sealed but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. People have been out to get my family since forever ago.
“So, now you know. I killed a man. Do you think your life is messed up?” I ask her.
“I have no allusions as to who you are, Gideon. I just need you to show me.” She says, her voice thick with arousal, moving her naked body seductively behind me.
And that’s what I do, all night long. I let go, with her. Accepting and chasing her own demons that haunt her.
Chapter 23
Chloe
“SAM, PLEASE.” I BEG my best friend.
It’s Saturday, a day after Gideon’s birthday dinner. A day after I learnt about a Grandfather I didn’t know existed. A day after I gave myself, my body, mind and emotions to Gideon. A day after he completely shattered my life and then delicately pieced it back together.
And now, it’s gala night and I need my best friend. If she will hear me out to begin with.
“No, no way. You can’t just spring this on me last minute.” She huffs, folding her arms.
“I know and I said I’m sorry.” I plead once more.
You see, Doctor Sam is brilliant, she is highly intelligent and knows her stuff. She is street wise and beautiful, a lethal combination that I have witnessed do damage on the male populace. But then, she is also a hard person to please.
And she doesn’t forgive easily.
“No, you didn’t.” She says
“I did.” I point out, gasping at her audacity.
“A two second apology doesn’t cut it Chloe. You weren’t answering my calls, didn’t respond to the countless texts I sent you and forget about answering your door when I visit.” She huffs, not looking at me.
“You what?” I almost screech. Please no, please tell me she didn’t go to my apartment.
“Is that so hard to believe that I stopped by your apartment to see my best friend?” She demands, turning to look at me.
“No, that’s not what I said.” This is going to be a long day. “I meant I didn’t know you stopped by.” I try to explain.
“I did. And I even made sure that I came by at a time I absol
utely knew you would be home. But no, you weren’t. Where were you, Chloe?” She demands as we come to a halt in the crowded street.
People behind us shout and curse at us, but this is New York baby, cuss words are without heat. Unless they really are.
“Where was I?” I repeat like a stupid parrot, scrambling to look for an explanation. I always knew that withholding a huge part of my life from Sam would come back to bite me in the ass one day. I feel a sinking feeling that that day is here.
“Don’t act dumb. Where were you two nights ago? Your neighbor, Frank, he said he hasn’t seen you or heard any movement from your apartment for days now.” She explains, looking at me suspiciously.
“I have been working late, you know I told you about the damn gala that we are working on. . .”
“Don’t lie to me, Chloe. You have been acting differently since the dinner at Mama’s place. You even look different for Christ’s sake!” She cries out.
“Sam. . .” I start
“I have thought of a lot of reasons as to why you have abandoned me like this. I thought maybe yeah, she is busy. But then I realized that even at your busiest, you always make time for me because you hate your freaking job! Then I thought, oh maybe she is still angry at me about how I outed her at the dinner about her wanting to change jobs.”
She looks at me again, and I’m shocked to see the pain there.
“I was over here, trying to figure out if you are mad at me. You have never been mad at me Chloe but I have witnessed how you act when you are mad at someone.” She pauses for a beat. “You cut them off. Completely!”
“Sam, that’s not it. . .” I try again.
“You are a lot of things Chloe. I have known that about you since we met but I still wanted to be your friend because I thought you got me you know.” She says, the hurt grating at my insides, making me feel nauseous at the pain in her voice.
“I do get you.”
“No, you are lying to me.” She accuses.
“I’m not lying!” I cry out. “For God’s sake Sam do you need me to cut open my chest, reach in and take my heart to show you that you mean the world to me? That you are my family?” I demand, having heard enough.
“No. You wouldn’t have to do such a dramatic thing. All you have to do is tell me the truth.” She says quietly and then starts walking once again.
I stand there flabbergasted and wondering what she meant. Okay, so she knows I’m lying about something but there is no need to behave the way she is behaving.
“Sam, wait!” I call after as I rush to catch up. “I know you are mad and a lot has been going on. But I promise, I can tell you everything. . .”
“Including everything about Gideon Black?” She questions
“What?” I whisper, brokenly
“Oh, come on Chloe. Did you really think the rumor mill in the ‘elite social circles’ wouldn’t make their rounds?” She questions me dubiously. “And I had to hear it from Mama, of all people. Imagine my surprise hearing that a certain Chloe Smith graced the arm of the business mogul and prodigy that is Gideon Black?”
I remain mute, my blood freezing over. What can I say anyway?
“Oh, now you can’t say anything?” She shakes her head. “What I want to know is why they said you had grey eyes. I mean, they said this certain Chloe was drop dead gorgeous, of which you are; they said she is mixed race, which you are. They also said she had a very voluptuous, sexy body and has a light sprinkling of freckles on her nose. Well newsflash, Chloe, so do you!”
Gray eyes? My heart stops. After everything that has happened between Gideon and I, the last thing I was thinking of was my contact lenses the night we went for his birthday. I don’t even want to talk about what happened after.
“Are your natural eyes gray, Chloe?” Sam demands quietly.
It’s that moment of truth and it’s happening in freaking public. I can’t lie to her. She is looking at me with scrutiny, as if she has never seen me before, and she is right. I’ve lied to her our whole friendship, including mundane things like my eye color.
“Sam.” I start but what can I say.
“I suspected for a while. I mean, I’m a doctor, I can tell when people wear lenses and all. But here I was, dumb as ever, waiting and hoping for the day my own best friend, my sister, would tell me herself.” She informs, her voice breaking with hurt.
“Sam, I’m not like you, okay. I didn’t have a ‘fabulous’ life like you did. I have so much pain and grief behind my whole life. Why did you think I couldn’t play with others properly?” I question brokenly.
This is not the best place I wanted to have this conversation. This come to Jesus moment; but it’s already happening.
“How did you want me to bear my soul when I myself don’t know my own soul?” I ask
“I didn’t want you to be like me. I never asked you for that. All I have ever wanted from you, is you.” Sam starts.
“Don’t you think I could see all that pain and grief back there in Penn when we first met? Did you really think that I was such a self-absorbed bitch that couldn’t see the suffering her friend was going through? You think I don’t see you, Chloe?” She questions, bringing tears to my eyes, to both of our eyes.
“I could see all of you! But I didn’t want to push you. I knew you were defensive, damn you really kept yourself closed off.”
“Sam, I didn’t mean it that way.” I try to explain.
“I know you didn’t. But you made a decision to give me a fraud, when all I wanted was the real thing. The real person full of love and sincerity that I know you are.” She explains her hand gestures going haywire.
“I’m still that person.” I rush to explain, I don’t know what else to say. “You are still my best friend and I love you.”
“You might love me, and I know you do. I just didn’t expect you to lie to me. Ever.”
Silence. Heart pounding. Sweaty palms. Tears.
I don’t know what to say.
“I was over at my place thinking over the entire course of our friendship. I thought over our college days and the way you would research extensively about Stefan Demetri.”
No, she can’t have.
“I remember you had this box in which you kept all the information you gathered over the years. You would search everything about the man. And its only last night that I realized, you were obsessed with this man.
But then, I thought nothing of it, I mean I remember asking you about it and you clearly said that you wanted to work for him one day. I thought that was weird, even for you. But then as I thought about it, I remember the look in your eyes that day. I remember that day you didn’t carry that haunted look you always had. No. You carried death and revenge together.”
We stare at each other for a beat and as I look into her soulful eyes, I know. The sinking feeling in my gut opens a gaping hole there that I know, I won’t ever be able to close.
“Sam, you don’t understand.”
“I didn’t. Not fully. I had to dig a little further than that and guess what I found in the storage? I found that journal of yours. You remember, the purple one with pots and pans on it? The one you would write down recipes on?”
I remember the journal but what does that stupid thing have to do with anything?
Well I found it and there is a page close to the back. And on it you wrote Demetri’s name and then below that you wrote the word MURDERER on it.”
Oh God, no.
“I was so shocked, I threw the thing a few feet away, but then I ran back for it and grabbed it. I remembered then what you said about your parents, how they were murdered and that the police never found who did it. But I always had the sense that you knew who did, because your voice even then would harden and your eyes, God your eyes would chill me to the bone.
Stefan Demetri killed your parents, didn’t he? And you are after revenge, aren’t you?”
Chapter 24
Gideon
“Houston, we have a problem.” Max annou
nces as soon as I answer the phone.
I’m in my office, working on the schematics of Demetri’s gala. I think I have a way I can get what the FBI want.
“You know, if you wanted to be an astronaut, you could have just gone to NASA.”
And Lord knows he is the man they need there. Max is the kind of man that will do something and become the master at it.
The man could choose to be an artist and he would be freaking Picasso. He’s just that good.
“Nah, I’m not so fond of my pee floating around.” He says but his voice is till distracted.
“Of course, because floating isn’t your jam.”
“Listen man, you need to come get Chloe.” Max quietly informs.
I sit up straight, my body tensing.
“Is she alright?” I demand, my voice terse
“She is doing her best, but she is falling apart at the seams and man, I know this is not something I can deal with.” Max explains.
Chloe emotional? Max must be playing a trick on me. The Chloe I know would never be found, much less in public. Losing her shit.
“I thought she is at lunch with the doctor?” I question.
“Oh, they are together with the good, good, doctor.” Max says, his voice getting deeper as he talks about Chloe’s friend. But I shake it off, that’s not my prerogative at the moment.
“Where are they exactly? Which restaurant?” I demand, getting up.
“That’s the thing, they are not indoors.” He responds with a wince.
“They are on the street?!” I seethe. I can’t believe this is happening, now of all times. She is too exposed.
“Are you sure you are watching the correct Chloe?”
My Chloe?
“Aye man, you took me out of my lair where I’m comfortable might I add, and told me to watch your woman. I am watching her and I’m telling you to get your ass over here.” He states.
“She needs you man.” Max informs quietly.
“On my way.”
I hang up the phone and quickly grab my suit jacket with one hand, stuffing the plans and schematics in the briefcase with the other hand. It’s mid afternoon, I know I have several meetings but they can all go hang themselves somewhere, I don’t have time for them anyway.
A Billion Broken Pieces (Incongruity Series Book 2) Page 16
