by Lis, Heidi
Hearing one female voice I instantly grit my teeth. This bitch is here. Again? She spends more time with Braxton than I do these days. I slump down by the wall near the door where I hear the voices. Yes, I am curious and jealous. I decide to get my phone and once I mute it, I shakily text Kara- shit if I ever needed advice, it’s now. My anxiety is at an all-time high as I’m dizzy, and my stomach is churning I feel sick.
Izzy: Okay, at the shop hiding outside his office door. Tiffany is here WITH HIM. I can hear her sick voice all sweet and cunning. WHAT THE HELL DO I DO?
Seconds later:
Kara: Slap the BITCH silly. No, seriously, barge in there and put her in her place. She is messing with YOUR MAN.
Shit, Kara....
Izzy: What the hell am I doing, I am spying on him like some school girl. He will be pissed if he finds me here hiding out like some jealous bitch.”
Kara: Come get me, I will kick her ASS...Please ;-)
Izzy: Funny. LOL. I’ll let you know. I should leave and call him later. Seems he is too busy with her to call me or come and see me. Sucks!
Kara: KICK HIS ASS. Better yet. I WILL KICK HIS ASS.
Seems like Kara wants to kick someone’s ass. Laughing I put my phone back in my purse and decide I am going to leave, but not before I hear soft moaning. What the Fuck? My heart and my mind conflicted as to what is going on. I need to see for myself, so I decide to lean in closer and try to peak through the slight opening of Braxton’s office door that is slightly ajar.
What I can see makes me instantly sick. I see Tiffany sitting on his desk with her legs spread open while Braxton is sitting in his chair. I can’t see his face. I can hear her talking sexy to my man. She is whispering what she wants to do to him. She unbuttons her shirt to expose, I am sure, her larger than life chest. Gag.
I can’t hear him, not sure if he is saying anything. I can hear her though. She is moaning.
“I mean it, I know all about her. She is sad news; my daddy helped me find out about her past. She fucking killed her brother. The guy she was with, he wants her back like fucking yesterday. He owns her ass from what I heard, into some real sick shit. She wants the wicked things he does to her. He keeps up with her drug habit and gives into her sick fetishes. Sad thing though, she got pregnant and didn’t want it. A fucking girl, can you believe her. A fucking daughter; she never wanted, and she calls me a worthless mother. Looks like the pot calling the kettle black.”
Her twisting and spitting out lies about me sound so vile and disgusting, shit, if I didn't know who she was talking about me, wouldn’t like me either. But listening to her lie about me, twist the truth just about kills me. I’m finding it hard to breathe, my chest feels like it is caving in. What would Braxton think about me? Would he believe her? Would he listen to me so I could set the story straight? Would it even matter, anymore! I’m gasping needing the air as tears stream down my face. I can’t hear any words anymore, his voice is muffled and breaking up. Tiffany just keeps talking as I clamp my hand over my mouth, so I don’t alert them I’m listening.
“Dominic the man that claims her or what the fuck ever it is, he had to take the baby so she wouldn’t hurt her; had to find another family to raise her. He has his hands full with Izzy, but he keeps close tabs on his little girl. The worst of it, she killed her brother. He wanted to get her help; her whole family along with Dominic tried to get her help, she just refused. Family won’t have a thing to do with her; told Dominic to take her. What a royal mess.”
It’s the clearing of Braxton’s throat that causes my heart to stop.
“How the fuck did you find all of this out? Do you know you can trust this dick? For all we know, he is telling you this to make me think badly of her.” Braxton’s voice is void of any emotion.
Tiffany tries to hush him. “Baby I talked to my daddy. He knows of this Dominic guy, told me straight up. If Dominic is saying this shit about her, then she is just bad news, and you should steer clear. I did this for you Brax.”
Feeling more confident with her words as if piercing my heart with a dagger, she was ready to deliver another blow, I could just sense it. When she starts talking again, I brace myself for whatever else is to come.
“He’s done so much to help her. Makes it sound like he is some saint. She escaped the help he was providing for her at his house. She had a mental breakdown.”
That’s all I need to hear. What the fuck, lies? All lies. She fucking found Dominic and he brainwashed the bitch into believing I am some sick twisted druggie. How the hell?
Wait. Willow; she knew about Willow, my daughter. My daughter was taken from me by a man who is the fucking devil in disguise. He took her from me when I refused to sleep with him. He made me pay, the ultimate sacrifice. I lost my sweet little girl. Now this bitch is saying I am the one fucked up; the same shit; first my family and now Braxton. Oh god, too much. I can’t live through this shit again; he always wins. Fucker made sure I can never have any more kids. Whatever he had that doctor do to me, I’ll never know. The truth is, in itself, some distorted lie. I’m drowning once again, my chest aches. I can’t breathe; the walls are collapsing down on me. What the fuck? I need to get the hell out of here.
Tears are falling down my face, I can’t believe the train wreck of my past has collided with my present. I should have known Dominic would find me. He has ruined me, forever.
I brush my legs off, once I am able to stand up straight. I stumble down the hall toward the door to my car. My mind; I have no answer for what my mind is thinking. The one thing, I did catch, my daughter was still alive. How the hell? I never knew if she was alive or not. Dominic was the ultimate game player messing with my mind too many times to count, it was just better to die on the inside. No feelings meant I could no longer feel hurt. My heart has been broken so many times at the hands of Dominic that it’s a wonder I am sane.
My sobs give way to more tears as I stumble to my car like a zombie. I’m so distraught I don’t even register Liam, who is running my way.
“Wow, what the hell is going on sweetheart?” Looking at my face and body for any signs or clues as to what the hell is going on with me.
Shaking my head, my fingers touch my parted lips. “It’s over. It’s over. It’s over.” I just keep saying it over and again. My gaze in nowhere land; I can’t even concentrate on Liam’s worried expression.
“Honey, you're scaring me.” Pulling me in for a much-needed hug, he rubs my back as if to comfort me.
My uncontrolled shivering has my body silently begging for help. In an attempt to hold back my whimpers, my fingernails grip his back tighter as I have difficulty thinking rationally. “Liam I need to go, I have to get out of here.” My words are barely audible as I begin to hyperventilate. If he only knew, these words meant more than just leave the parking lot, they say I need to move away from here.
Liam is looking at me blinking his eyes quickly as if confused. “Izzy, slowly tell me what is going on? Are you okay? Is Kara okay? Where the fuck is Brax?” Looking around the parking lot, like he expects Braxton to appear.
Weak in the legs, I have a sudden need to sit down. I’m mentally numb, indecisiveness takes over my mind. “Don’t know, don’t care; doesn’t matter, not now. Not ever again.” Keeping my arms limp, I don’t have the strength to hang on to him anymore. My heart is aching for me to fix this. Fix what damage Tiffany has created. To tell Braxton the truth, but the truth comes at a price. I could do all of this but Dominic is still coming for me. I’m sure of this. Tiffany is still going to be around, and with Dominic and Tiffany around, there will never be an Izzy and Braxton.
“Lies. She told Braxton all the lies that Dominic wanted her to say. The bastard found me, used your sister to spread the knockout punch to Braxton. How fucking dumb am I? Did I honestly believe I could live any life away from Dominic? Maybe? And maybe I just hoped I would be able to live a life on MY OWN. Find a path that I could be proud of, MY life - the last several years did not leave me much to be p
roud. But being here, I found friends and a purpose. I felt the best I had felt in years and found a man worth fighting for.” Leaning over with my hands on my knees I shake my head repeatedly. My fate revolves around a bunch of lies.
“Talk to me Izzy, what the hell happened?” Liam is spouting inane and irrational thoughts about his sister. Backing away with raised hands, he keeps looking over his shoulder like he is looking for Braxton to come running.
Trying to forget my past and the feeling I deserve to be judged my voice loses its courage. “Somehow Tiffany found Dominic. I just got to listen in to her rejoicing in telling Braxton all about it; her version of course or should I say, Dominic’s version. He won’t talk to me after that load of crap.” The knot in my belly makes me nauseous and my eyes feel like a swollen mess.
Liam sighs swearing under his breath. “Izzy, he will not believe what my sister tells him sweetheart. He knows better.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I know Liam is only trying to console me, I just don’t buy it. “Doesn’t matter.” I pull my gaze to his concerned eyes, “Not anymore.”
“The hell if it doesn’t. You are not letting this Fucker and my sister do this to the two of you. You hear me Izzy, I’m serious.”
Pulling out his phone, I assume Liam is calling Braxton. I grab for it, but it’s no use.
“Liam put the phone away. I already lost him, from the scene I just walked in on; I can see the writing on the wall. He is most likely balls deep in her by now. She won and got what she wanted. Let it go.” I tell him as I unlock my car door. Trying to escape, he pulls me and stands in between me and the door; effectively stopping me from closing it.
He then leans down nose flaring with anger. “Izzy, you listen to me and hear me well. I fucking know my sister, and I also know my best friend. Braxton does not want the bitch. She is trying her damnedest to get her claws into him, but honey, she won't, do it.” The struggle, I see in him, makes this even harder after all we are talking about his sister.
“Sweet Liam, too much shit to set straight. You take care of him for me, take care of your niece. God help her with a moth…, never mind.” I was going to say mother, but shit she is still his sister after all.
Trying to start my car, Liam is not moving. Fumbling with his phone, I should have known what he was doing. Not two seconds later, who comes strolling out of the door is Braxton with a half-dressed Tiffany. My stomach rolled at the sight, sure enough I could not contain it, and I lean over the door and toss my cookies. This day just gets better and better.
“Izzy, what the hell are you doing here?”
I snap at the venom coming from Braxton, shit the bitch got to him. She must be so fucking proud of herself.
Liam’s body goes rigid verbalizing his disappointment toward an infuriated looking Braxton. “What the fuck buddy? Watch your mouth. Jesus, I found her coming out of the goddamn shop white as a fucking ghost and by the looks of you two I can see why. Are you this God Damn stupid? Listening to Tiff’s bullshit?” He yells, pointing a finger at his evil smiling sister.
“Shut the hell up brother, Brax needed to know the truth about his low-life whore.” Running up behind Braxton, just the sight of them, two side-by-side hurts like a fucking bee sting. They look good together if I had to be honest. Great. I did not need to fucking agree with that fact.
I keep throwing up instead I look up to see Braxton eyeing me with such an intense look, it makes me gag yet again.
With a strong hand pressed across Braxton’s chest, Liam is stopping him from advancing to me.
“Liam, get away from Izzy, I need a word with her.” Braxton’s words are so cold, not one ounce of empathy.
“Why don’t you tell me FIRST, what the fuck you think you're doing with my sister?”
“Not your concern Liam, why are you with Izzy?” They are both chest to chest, like two pissing bulls.
“Are you fucking serious right now, you let that bitch get her claws into you while your girl is listening outside your damn door. It seems my sister was telling you all sorts of bullshit to make your girl look bad.” Puffing out his chest toward Braxton, I have no idea who would win a showdown between these two. Liam may be slightly taller, but Braxton is more muscular.
“Pfft, you have no idea what you are saying. Izzy was never inside.” Braxton sounds so sure of himself. Oh my God, does he think I have no idea what he was doing with her.
I hold my head up and try to stand, my protector Liam is not moving a muscle. Struggling to stand next to him, I dare a pained look at Braxton.
In an emotional-chocked voice, I say, “I was in there and was about to come into your office when I heard you both. I happened to see her sitting on your desk facing you. Saw you tucked nicely in-between her legs, so forgive me if I find it hard to believe you were not neck deep in her. Oh, then I got blessed with a rundown of my-screwed up life.” I’m wildly shaking my head side to side. “The fucking icing on the cake was how messed up she had my story. Got to tell you, this is not my fucking day.” I’m rocking in place, trembling facing them with tears that refuse to stop. I have nothing else to lose so I have to know.
“How did you do it, how did you find Dominic?” I don’t yell or scream at her, I just only ask her.
Always one for being dramatic she has one hand on her hip and the other resting on Braxton’s shoulder now. I want to poke her eyeballs out.
“Oh, little Izzabella…”
Oh hell no! “NO ONE CALLS ME IZZABELLA – not anymore,” I yell, cutting her off.
“Seems like your man does, Dominic.” She is enjoying this, it’s in her voice.
I look over at Braxton, who has a face made of stone, no tell in him what so ever. Liam has his arms crossed over his chest. All of a sudden Liam hooks his arm and pulls me closer to him as he notices my body shaking. I look at him almost shocked. I’m speechless, taking in the scene before me. The man with a sister who is ruining my life has his arm around me, protecting me. My Braxton, or so, I thought was my man, is standing next to the other man’s sister, her arm around his shoulder, like she is protecting him. Yep, this is so backwards.
I shake my head at her knowing what she has done. “You have no fucking clue what you have done what life sentence you gave me. Answer my question first, how did you find him?” I ask this time with more intensity.
“Lost Souls, yeah, ring a bell?” Tiffany says.
Of course, it does.
“The fuck you say?” Braxton says puzzled looking at her disgustedly.
Liam’s hold on me turns into some pain hold. Ouch!
“Fucking hell Tiffany, what have you done?” Liam barely gets the words out before he is seething mad, as his body starts to shake uncontrollably.
“Uncle Marty is a member of the Lost Souls. I asked daddy to help me, and he turned to Uncle Marty and come to find out it didn’t take much to find some things out about Little Miss Happy Pants. It was just luck this Dominic happened to be a ‘Lost Soul’ himself. Looks like I did you all a favor, this girl is all kinds of messed up.” Her witty comments match her mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
I say nothing; I am just connecting all of the dots. Braxton’s watching me with a close and uncomfortable eye. He has yet to say anything.
I have nothing left, so I let her know what she has done to me. “Do you understand he will most likely kill me? The shit you said earlier, it was all lies. All twisted up, some of what you said, had some merit, but it was the other way around. Dominic hurt me so many times I lost count years ago. Yes, I have a daughter. He took her out of my God damned arms to teach me a fucking lesson about what would happen to me if I tried to leave him again. He killed my brother in front of me to prove another point.” I am hoarse, exhausted and just want to disappear. If going to the authorities would help me, I would have years ago, but there is no escaping Dominic. I realize that now more than ever.
I look over at the silent Braxton and yet, nothing. It pisses me off.
“SAY SOM
ETHING; don’t stand there just looking at me like you don’t know me. YOU FUCKING KNOW ME.”
Braxton just closes his eyes shutting out the world. He pauses taking several deep breaths. Opening his eyes brimming they are filled with tears. “I’m not sure if I do, do I know you?”
Oh my God, that cut me so deep I doubled over with grief. I let out such a loud cry just because I have nothing left.
Weeping, I struggle to find the right words. “You bastard, never took you for a coward or so damn gullible you would believe her over me. Guess I never knew you either.” My gaze leaves his eyes, they tell me nothing. I wanted to see fear, or hurt or something. The only thing, I see, is cold, piercing brown, lifeless eyes.
Not being able to stay quiet any longer, Liam loses it shouting, “Braxton don’t be a dick. Izzy told you about this guy.”
“Did she? She seems to have left out an important part of the story, the part where she had a daughter. If I knew her, I would have known about a little girl as well.” His words are cunning and void of any emotion as they pierce my heart.
Gasping for an ounce of courage, I’m wallowing in hurt and despair. “What in God’s name would you have wanted me to say? We were just getting to know each other. She is a part of me buried down deep, in time I would have told you, but not while we were just getting to know one another.” Feeling defeated and rejected, I say, “Have you forgotten we have been knee deep in all things Tiffany lately?”
“Izzy, she is the mother of my God damn daughter.”
Is he fucking defending her to me? Well, this pretty much says it all. “I see.” Rubbing at my eyes, hiding the continued tears I have no fight left in me. Nodding, I say, “It’s a good thing she is here with you, good thing you are getting away from me.” Gasping out an agonizing cry, I cover my mouth, and simply say, “Goodbye Braxton.”
I struggle against Liam to get in my car. He is shouting at Braxton, asking if he has lost his fucking mind. Blonde Barbie, known as Tiffany the bitch is smiling from ear to ear trying to console a conflicted looking Braxton. The awkward way, he is standing, makes me sad. It’s not stance you would typically see. His shoulders slouched forward, and his arms are drawn back as if protecting himself. Seeing him like this, it’s a split second I suspend my breathing. His confusion only terrifies me more to a point I should be angry. He should have believed ME. He should be pissed off at HER. Instead, here I am standing here watching Liam defend me all the while I’m on the outside.
