by Stella James
“Ya, well at least I have someone who wants me, your own mother didn’t even want you.” She spat.
Trace stepped between the two women just as Mona was about to charge forward. The anger in his voice palpable. “Get out of here Melissa.” He ground out between clenched teeth.
“But Trace, she started it.” She stuck out her lip in a pout and I was seriously beginning to question Trace’s taste in women.
“I said get lost. Us fucking is one thing but you won’t disrespect my friends like that. Because that’s all we do is fuck. Nothing more.” His voice was cold and calm. She shoved at his shoulder before turning on her heel and stalking back in the same direction she came.
Mona hadn’t moved an inch, her eyes staring blankly at the sand. I placed my hand on her shoulder, jarring her from her thoughts. “Are you okay?”
“Of course!” She laughed. “As if I’d let that psycho ruin my day, Trace you really need to find somewhere else to stick it.” He looked at her thoughtfully and opened his mouth to speak.
“Don’t.” She cut him off. “It doesn’t matter, let’s just forget about it, okay?”
He nodded but didn’t say anything. Kate spoke up next. “Sooooo, let’s get those paddle boards back out there and I can show you losers how it’s really done.”
“You’re dreaming little sister, you have the coordination of a drunk ape.” Cole snorted.
The subject now securely changed, we spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the water. The momentary rift between Mona and Trace was completely forgotten within the hour and they went back to their usual sibling like rivalry. Kate proved to be, in fact, very uncoordinated and spent more time climbing back on the board then actually standing on it. It was a perfect day, which should have been my first hint. I ignored the voice in my head that reminded me that when something seems too perfect, it usually is.
*
Just before supper time, Cole got a call from one of his mechanics needing him to come and sign off on some equipment repairs. Mona had gone straight home after the lake and Trace was taking a partial shift for one of the other highway officers. Kate offered to make us something to eat, I quickly declined but suggested we head to Mac’s for a burger instead. We found a table in the crowded pub and split a small pitcher of beer while we waited for our food.
“So what’s the deal between Mona and Melissa?” I’d never seen Trace be so serious before and I couldn’t get the hurt look on Mona’s face off my mind.
“Ugh, Melissa’s the worst. Personally, I think her skanky ass has always been jealous of Mona, especially of her friendship with Trace.”
“Ya, what’s up with that? Am I seriously the only one who’s ever thought they’d actually make a great couple?”
“Ha! They’d be terrible together. Sure, they look hot together, all those tattoos and whatnot but they’d never go there. Shortly after Mona’s mom took off, Trace’s parents split up and his mom moved away to live with some dude she met online. Mona was pretty much the only person who really knew what he was going through so they formed this weirdo bond over their vanishing mothers. Neither one of them would talk to anyone else about it, just each other. They’ve been like brother and sister ever since. I asked her once if she honestly never had feelings for him that were more than friendly and she said absolutely not. She said that in order for both of them to be happy, they’d need to find people that were completely different from the two of them. According to her, he feels the same way. They need each other’s friendship too much to do something stupid like sleep together.”
“Huh. Well I guess that makes sense. Is that why Trace refuses to settle down? Because of his parents?”
“Bingo. He won’t admit it, of course. But his mom leaving like that really fucked him up. His dad never did remarry and spends most of his time drunk as a skunk. I have faith though, just wait. One day, some girl is going to come along and bring him to his knees and he won’t know what the hell to do with himself. Melissa is an easy lay and nothing more, she’s been after him for years, begging for more. It would actually be sad if she wasn’t such an awful bitch.”
We ate our burgers and finished our pitcher. Kate left her car parked at Mac’s and called a cab while I walked the couple blocks back to the library. One thing I was grateful for was the fact that everything was pretty much within walking distance of my apartment. I didn’t drive much when I lived in the city and since it wasn’t necessary here, I didn’t bother risking the chance that Kevin could be using his badge to try and find me only to end up leaving a paper trail right to my front door. I knew that he would never go through any legal channels to find me. I found paperwork buried in one of the kitchen drawers about two months before I left. He’d taken out a rather substantial life insurance policy on me shortly after we got married. If I vanished, whether by my will or his own, he’d likely play the concerned, mourning husband for however long it took for me to be assumed dead. He’d collect his money and move on. But I’d still always be careful. I’d keep my old identity dead and buried. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
My phone signaled that I’d received a text message. I looked at the screen and smiled.
Cole: Hey babe, running a bit late. I’ll swing by your place as soon as I’m done here and we can sleep there tonight.
Me: Are you sure? I don’t mind if you just want to head home, we can have a sleepover tomorrow night.
Cole: I’m not spending the night without you baby, I’ll be there.
Me: I’ll be waiting xo
Cole: Love you babe.
Chapter 18
Cole
A quick meeting to sign some repair slips turned into a complete cluster fuck when Joe, my main mechanic found there was more to be fixed on one of our pieces of heavy equipment than we originally thought. I was elbow deep in grease and scattered parts when all I wanted to do was get home to Lily. Seeing her in that tiny pink bikini today gave me all kinds of ideas as to how I could remove it from her body. Instead I’m stuck here with a broken down piece of machinery and a steady stream of sexist jokes, courtesy of Joe.
This last month with Lily has been nothing short of fucking amazing. Falling asleep with her every night and waking up with her warm body next to mine has only intensified my addiction. I want her to move in with me, I’ve told her as much in about fifty different ways. I know her independence is important to her right now and I won’t push her for something that she isn’t ready for but I’ve become an impatient bastard and I don’t know how much more I can take. Everything in me craves her with a ferocity I’ve never felt. It’s selfish and unreasonable but when it comes to her, I just plain can’t help myself. I shoved my phone back in my pocket after reading her response to my last text. Just in time to catch the punch line of Joe’s last joke.
Fuck.
*
Joe and I managed to wrap up less than an hour later. I left him to clean up the mess and headed to my truck. I sent Lily a message letting her know that I was on my way. I kept my phone resting on the middle console, expecting her to reply but she didn’t. It isn’t too late, but we got a lot of sun today, maybe she fell asleep reading. The last time I found her asleep mid-book, I glanced at the page she left off on and was pleasantly surprised to find myself reading a very graphic sex scene between the two main characters. She woke with a start and snatched her Kindle from my hands, her face flushed with embarrassment. We didn’t even make it to the bed before we were clawing at each other’s clothes and I had her pinned against the wall, her legs over my shoulders while I devoured her pussy. I adjusted my now swollen cock and prayed to the powers that be that Lily was currently passed out with a book.
I pulled up to the library and parked on the quiet street out front. My cock led the way to the back door as I replayed my original plans for Lily’s pink bikini in my head. I reached for the extra key Lily had given me when I heard a crunch under my boots and realized I was stepping on broken glass. A closer look at the back door showed that i
t was intact. I looked up at the window to the left and saw the jagged edges of the broken window. My heart pounded in my chest, a feeling of uneasiness in my gut. I took my phone out and quickly typed a message to Trace telling him something was up and to meet me at the library with the town sheriff just in case. My phone chimed with his reply that he was on his way. I carefully unlocked the door and quietly stepped through. I heard a crash come from upstairs. The sound of Lily’s scream echoed all the way down the staircase. My blood ran cold and all I saw was red as I took the stairs two at a time to get to the woman I loved.
Chapter 19
Lily
I put my cell back in my purse and fished my keys out of the small side pocket. I unlocked the back door and flipped on the porch light. I didn’t bother with the main light switch, the street lamps from the back alley lit my way up the stairs. I threw my purse and keys on the end table by the door to my apartment and decided to tackle the dishes and throw in some laundry before booting up my laptop to pay some bills. I could still feel the sunscreen on my skin from earlier in the day so I made my way to the bathroom to take a shower before Cole arrived. I was undressed and just turning on the faucet when I heard a noise coming from downstairs. He must have finished up sooner than he thought, perfect timing I thought with a smile. I fetched my robe off the back of the door and slipped it on while I made my way into the small living room. I opened my door and peeked down the stairs but I couldn’t see anything.
“Cole? You’re just in time, I was about to get in the shower.”
I didn’t get a response, the only sound was my voice echoing off the walls of the narrow hallway. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I was suddenly overcome with a feeling of dread. I turned back to the safety of my apartment when I heard a creak at the bottom of the stairs. I am Lily Jensen and I am safe. I am safe. I took a deep breath in and roughly exhaled when I heard my past clear as day.
“Hello Annie, aren’t you going to invite me in?”
And just like that, my new life fell out from under my feet and I was left floundering in the dark abyss of a past I thought I’d escaped. I slammed the door to my apartment and managed to flip the deadbolt with shaking hands. I grabbed my purse and frantically began searching for my phone. I turned for the bathroom just as my door was shattered off its hinges, the click of a gun stopped me dead in my tracks.
“Don’t you fucking move or I’ll put a bullet in that stupid little head of yours. Turn around Annie, slowly.”
His voice was just as cold and devoid of emotion as I remembered. I clutched my phone to my chest and slowly turned to face the man I had once loved.
“Well well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. Here I thought something terrible had happened to my loving wife when in fact you’ve been getting along just fine haven’t you?”
I pulled my shoulders back and stood tall. “How did you find me?”
He sauntered casually into the living room, his gun still pointing at my chest.
“Oh it was quite by accident I assure you. Sara and I, you remember Sara don’t you? From downstairs? Of course you do. Anyways, we decided to plan ourselves a little getaway. She does all this research online and tells me that we simply have to visit the charming town of Blue Falls, located right smack dab in the middle of the rocky mountains.” He picks up a picture of me and Cole that I had framed on the bookshelf and smashes it into the hardwood floor.
“Being the generous man that I am, I visit the town webpage and what do I come across but a picture of my wife, standing in this very library.”
A picture of me online? The BBQ. Brandon must have posted the picture he took of Kate and me.
“I won’t go anywhere with you.” I speak firmly.
“Yes you will Annie. You see, technically you’re dead. I’ve already collected your life insurance and there is no way in fucking hell that I am going to give that money back because of a pesky technicality. So you’re going to come with me and we’re going to take a little drive through the mountains and if you try to fight me, I’ll track down every single person you’ve had contact with since you’ve been here and I’ll put a fucking bullet in each and every one of them. Starting with that boyfriend of yours.”
I needed to think. Kevin had completely lost his mind and I had no doubt that he’d make good on his threat. If I could just distract him, I could run for the door.
“I see those wheels turning Annie, tsk tsk, this is going one way and one way only. Now put down the phone and get your ass moving.”
I glanced at the side table beside the couch, specifically at the heavy ceramic lamp that sat on top of it. I slowly stepped forward and stretched my hand out to put the phone down. A faint noise from downstairs had Kevin turning his back for a split second, long enough for me to grab the lamp and heave it with all my might towards him. It narrowly missed his shoulder and smashed to the floor behind him. I screamed as loud as I could and made my run for the door. I reached the busted frame just as my head was jerked back, his hand gripping my hair tightly. I kicked my legs and rammed my elbow behind me, lodging it into his ribs. He threw me to the ground and charged towards me. I braced myself, my arms covering my head when I heard a loud grunt and the sound of flesh and bone connecting. I uncovered my face to see that Cole had Kevin by the collar and was feeding him blow after blow to his already bleeding face. Footsteps pounded up the stairs and Trace came barreling through the door, the Sheriff right behind him. It took both of them to rip Cole’s body off of Kevin, who slid to the ground in one limp thud. Anger radiated from Cole’s body as Trace held him back and talked him down. I stood on shaky legs and went to him as the sheriff checked to make sure Kevin still had a pulse.
“Cole?” His eyes met mine, the tension in his strong features beginning to fade. He brushed past Trace and had his arms around me before I could wipe away the first wave of tears that streamed down my face.
“Shh, baby, I got you, you’re safe now.” I melted into him, taking every ounce of comfort he had to give.
The room filled with more people. Kevin was dragged out in handcuffs. At some point, an ambulance had been called. They checked me over before moving on to Cole, cleaning and bandaging his swollen knuckles. Mona and Kate shoved their way past the officer at the door only to be stopped short by Trace. He spoke quietly, but judging by the look on Kate’s face, I assumed he was filling her in on how Kevin managed to track me down. She came straight to me and wrapped me up in a fierce hug.
“Oh my God Lily, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know they were going to put those pictures on the website. I never would have let them, please forgive me.” Her last words came out on a sob. Of course I didn’t blame her, it wasn’t her fault. Mona joined us and the three of us stood with our arms tightly around each other.
*
Cole was giving his statement to the officer in charge. I was worried he would be taken into custody but Trace assured me that wasn’t likely to happen since I had already given my statement and there was no discrepancies between the two. Things didn’t look too good for Kevin. After the Sheriff put a call into his precinct, he found out that not only had Kevin been suspended several months ago but he was currently under investigation for accepting bribes and treating the evidence locker like it was his own personal candy store. Turns out, in the time I’d been gone three women had come forward and pressed charges against him for assault. One of them being Sara. After hearing my story, his Sergeant assured me that the officers who had neglected my initial complaint would be dealt with and that I wouldn’t have to worry about Kevin as he would likely be serving hard time for his long list of crimes. Kate and Mona had long since gone home, at Trace’s insistence. Kate had phoned her parents and told them what happened but managed to convince them to stay put. I was grateful for their concern but I was barely hanging on by this point. Cole finished up with his statement and stayed close while I packed a bag. They were still taking pictures for evidence when we left so we’d have to come back i
n the morning to get everything cleaned up. The sun was already starting to come up when we pulled into the garage. Cole’s arm remained firmly around my waist as we made our way to the bedroom. He headed for the bathroom while I undressed and got into bed. My body sank into the warmth of the mattress beneath me. I pulled the covers around me tightly and closed my eyes but sleep wouldn’t come. It wasn’t until the bed dipped down and Cole’s hard body pressed against mine that I felt my eyelids grow heavy.
“Sleep baby, I’ve got you.”
And I did.
*
Lily
2 months later
I chucked the last of the empty boxes into the garage and got back to the kitchen just as the timer on the oven began beeping. The scent of chocolate filled the room. It was Cole’s birthday and his requests were simple. Finish unpacking my things, and make him a chocolate cake. Done and done. I moved in with him shortly after the Kevin debacle. Life is too short for what ifs and didn’t want to waste another minute waiting for the other shoe to drop. I loved Cole and he loved me, simple as that. I was still seeing my counselor on a monthly basis with his full support. The deepest of my scars were fading every day and I’d managed to overcome that little voice in my head that questioned every decision I made. I was capable of making choices and learned to trust myself again.
The Sheriff paid us a visit last week and informed us that Kevin would be serving time in prison for much of the foreseeable future. Cole and I took a trip back to the city shortly after he was formally charged so I could hire a lawyer and file for divorce. Given the circumstances and the fact that I didn’t want anything of his that I might have been entitled too, the process went quickly and I’d gotten a phone call from my lawyer the other day to tell me that the divorce was now final and I was a free woman. It felt as if the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I was free to be Annemarie again and the thought did cross my mind. In the end I chose to legally change my name and stick with Lily. Annemarie belonged in the past.
