Kitchen Promises (Riverside Trilogy, #3) (The Riverside Trilogy)

by Brooke Cumberland

  “Dan?” I yelled

  “He said if I told you, he’d tell everyone about Stanley,” she continued.

  I was more confused than ever now. “He knows?”

  “Yeah, I guess my parents must’ve told him before the incident.”

  “So wait. How is this possible? How is he contacting you? I mean, I literally have no proof or evidence that Dan is Denny or anyone else for that matter?” I felt like such an ass.

  “He’s been texting me under a blocked number. He threatened you, Stella, and me—he wants me to tell you that I can’t marry you. He doesn’t want me to have my happily ever after because I supposedly took it from him.”

  “That’s absurd!”

  “There’s more,” she whispered.

  “Tell me. Molly, tell me everything,” I begged, cupping her hand with both of mine.

  “He said he made his identity disappear…just like Liam.” She closed her eyes as Liam’s named rolled off her tongue, but I could still see the tear slipping out.

  “God dammit! How could you not tell me! When did this happen?” I hadn’t meant to yell, but I was furious. Not at her, but at this Denny fucker.

  “The first messages were on the day of my baby shower. He knew Stanley was here. That’s when he said he’d tell. Then another set came Christmas Eve.”

  “Holy shit, Molly.” I rose off the bed and started pacing the bedroom. I brushed a hand through my hair several times, thinking of what I could do. The fact that she even told me puts her in jeopardy.

  “I didn’t know what else to do but to give in to his demands. He said things like ‘he wouldn’t even touch your pretty face’ and ‘he wouldn’t even put a finger on Stella’ and it scared the hell out of me.”

  “How could you not tell me? What happened to us being completely honest with each other?”

  “I know, I know. I’m so sorry,” she cried out. “I was scared. I was scared that he’d hurt you.” I could hear the sincerity in her voice.

  “When are you going to understand that you do not have to take care of everything by yourself? You tell me. You tell me everything, especially when it’s something serious and life threatening like this.” My tone was dark and serious. I was beyond frustrated.

  “I know!” she screamed back. “I was scared! The last time someone threatened me, and I got you and everyone else involved, someone died and you were shot! Can’t you understand that I was trying to handle this myself to protect you? To protect everyone?” she cried. I felt like the biggest jackass in the world. She was right. The last time there was a threat, I shipped her all the way up to Wisconsin where Travis found her.

  “Alright, I get it. I’m sorry for yelling. But Molly,” I looked deep into her eyes, showing her how sincere I was trying to be, “that was not your fault. You understand? You do not have to protect me. I should be protecting you. You’re pregnant, for God’s sake.”

  “Okay, I’m sorry. I really am. But the whole thing he said about Liam just threw me off. It scared me where I thought he’d actually do something to you. And,” she paused, wiping away her tears, “I’d be lost without you. Just the thought makes me sick inside,” she confessed.

  “Sweetheart, I understand. It’s okay. We’re going to figure this out,” I assured her.

  “How?”

  The more I thought about Denny, the more furious I became. “Let’s go.” It wasn’t a statement or question. It was a demand. I was getting all of us out of here. There was no way I was letting that bastard win. He wants to threaten me or my company fine, but the second he threatened my family, it was now war.

  “You believe me? You don’t think I’m a crazy hormonal lady?” she asked stunned.

  “Yes. And I’m so sorry I ever doubted you. I believe you. I promise to always believe you.” I kissed her gently.

  “Where are we going?” she asked nervously.

  “We’ll take the chopper up to my house in Canada,” I responded, grabbing the suitcases out of the closet. I had to call my driver and a few business associates before we could leave.

  “You have a house in Canada?” she squealed. “Isn’t this something a fiancé should know about?”

  “No, not when it was meant to be a wedding surprise.”

  “You bought me a house in Canada for a wedding present?” she asked stunned. She sat up in bed watching me race around the room.

  “Too much?” I asked.

  “Well, considering most people swap pictures or poems or china, but a house?”

  “Okay, you can pick out the china. How’s that?” I smirked.

  “Now’s not the time to be joking, funny man,” she growled.

  “Sorry,” I said out of breath. “Get dressed,” I ordered. I started throwing items in the suitcases. We didn’t have much time. If Denny were keeping tabs on her, he’d soon find out.

  “What about Michael and Stella?” she asked concerned.

  “Don’t worry. You get dressed.” I threw a couple things on the bed for her to change into. “I’ll grab them.”

  I raced down the hall and woke Stella up. I grabbed a handful of her clothes and carried her into our bedroom. She was half-asleep still, so I threw her clothes in our suitcase. She snuggled up to Molly as I went and woke Michael.

  “Get out,” he mumbled in his sleep.

  I flicked the lights on. “Get up. We have to go. Code White.”

  “Code White? I dunno what that means, dude. Isn’t the point of having a code is to know them all first?” he snorted.

  I whipped the covers off his body. “Shit, you sleep naked?” I turned my head. “Code White means evacuation. We’re leaving via chopper. Now. Pack some things, and for the love of God, get dressed first.” I threw his blanket back over him. “We leave in ten.”

  I didn’t stay around for him to bombard me with questions. I’d catch him up on our way there.

  “Ready to go?” I called out ten minutes later. Molly and Stella were standing next to me in the doorway as we waited for Michael. He finally trailed in with his suitcase, looking sleepy and pissed off that I woke him.

  “Someone want to tell me what this is about? I’m losing beauty sleep.”

  “Dan is Denny and he’s after Molly,” I blurted out.

  “In a nut shell,” Molly added.

  “Now let’s go.”

  * * *

  “Hope you packed your passport,” I yelled into the headphones as we made way over Wisconsin.

  “Yeah, keep it in my back pocket all the time.” Michael rolled his eyes.

  “I’ll take care of it,” I muttered.

  It was after two AM before we entered Canada. Stella passed out on Molly’s lap. Molly was holding her belly for dear life. I could tell she was nervous and stressing out. I had to keep her stress free as much as possible, considering I just flew her hundreds of miles away from her doctor.

  “Everything’s going to be alright,” I whispered into the headphones. “I promise.” I took her hand in mine and squeezed it. She gave a weak smile back…not that I blamed her.

  “We should just tell him,” she said. “Stanley,” she confirmed. “Just get it out there and over with.”

  “You shouldn’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I’ll take care of this mess. I don’t want you to worry about it. You just rest and keep those babies inside until we take care of this. Okay?”

  She nodded. I had called my assistant before taking off and told her I’d be MIA for a while. I wasn’t telling her or anyone where we would be, besides our pilot. I called and made sure the house was ready, stocked with supplies and food. It’s amazing how much you can have done for the right price—even in the middle of the night.

  After landing, I carried Stella inside while Michael brought in the luggage. The house was in a secluded area, just the way I wanted it for Molly and I. Chicago was amazing, and it would always be my home, but sometimes, it’s just nice to get away from all the city craziness that comes with it.

  “Can s
he sleep with us?” Molly asked. “I don’t want her out of my sight,” she pleaded.

  “Of course. It’s a king, we’ll all squeeze in.” I smiled back, hoping to reassure her that everything would be okay.

  Michael and Molly followed me upstairs. I pointed to where Michael’s room was and then headed to our master suite.

  “I still can’t believe you bought this for me.” She looked around, admiring the view. One of the reasons I bought it was because it reminded me of Molly. It was definitely her style—modern and edgy.

  “Get used to it, babe. Being with me means lavish gifts and big surprises.” I grinned. I kicked the door open with my foot. Molly flicked a lamp on, giving me just enough light to tuck Stella in one side of the bed.

  “Whatever happened to flowers and candy?” she mused.

  “That’s for sissies.”

  She laughed quietly, careful not to wake Stella. I wrapped my arms around Molly, holding her in close to me. “Get some rest. I’m going to make some calls and get this handled.”

  “What’s the plan? I mean, what are we going to do?” she asked, pulling back slightly.

  “You are doing nothing, but going to bed and resting. You’ve already been on your feet too much. I will handle everything.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” she muttered.

  “Just trust me, okay? I will protect you and Stella. I’ll make sure he’s taken care of.”

  I knew it made her uneasy to hear, but I didn’t want her knowing or worrying about what I was going to do.

  -----<>-----

  15

  Molly

  We’ve been on lockdown for three days now. Stella was having a blast watching TV and skipping school. Liam stayed with Stanley and Violet, and Michael was going crazy not having his laptop or cell phone service.

  “How much longer?” Michael whined, letting his body fall loosely on the bed.

  “You’re annoying when you’re without technology.”

  “Now you know how I felt these past few months with your annoying ass,” he quipped.

  “Ha! I wasn’t this bad. No way.”

  “I hate to break it to you, baby girl, but you were worse. Much worse.”

  “You mean I didn’t have that motherly glow?” I smirked.

  “Yeah, you glowed alright.”

  “If you’re so bored, paint my toenails for me. Make them pretty for childbirth.”

  “Are you serious?” Michael’s upper lip curled up.

  “Hey, if I could reach my toes, or even see my toes, I’d do them myself, but I can’t. And since you’re down there, shave my legs, too.”

  He pondered it, leaning up on his elbow. “Fine, but only because I’m bored as hell.”

  A few minutes later, Michael came back with my travel bag. He set up the nail polish, razor, and nail file. “You’re not giving me much to work with here. No nail-finish, no shaving gel, nadda,” he whined in a disgusted tone.

  “Oh shit. Must’ve grabbed the wrong bag. Next time I’ll grab my Code White bag for you filled with all commodities,” I snorted.

  “You’re a sassy shit when you’re pregnant. This is your last one, right? Otherwise, I’m moving up here permanently.”

  “You can’t move away from me, Uncle Michael,” Stella interrupted, giving him her best pouty lip.

  “I’m never leaving you! You’re my best girl.” He smiled. Stella turned back around to the TV satisfied with his response.

  “Looks like your stuck with me,” I teased. I stretched my legs out across his lap. “Now, make my toes pretty.”

  After Michael’s initial shock over the news about Denny, he was eerily calm about it. Either he didn’t see him as much of a threat, or he didn’t understand how serious my secret was and how crucial it was to keep it a secret.

  “So, catch me up on the latest of you and Trey. What’s going on? Serious now? Wedding bells?”

  “Good god, you wanna give me a stroke? We’re semi-serious,” he clarified, focusing on my pinky toe as he stroked the polish over it.

  “Okay, what in the hell does semi-serious mean in relationship terms? Exclusive? Seeing other people? Swinging?” He laughed. “Oh wait, does it mean, like threesomes and orgies?”

  He choked. “What in the hell kind of sick porn have you been reading lately?”

  “Smut is not porn,” I defended. “It’s no different than the sick magazines you read.”

  “I read for educational purposes,” he defended.

  “I bet you do,” I snickered.

  “Done!” he announced. “What do you think?”

  I lifted my feet up in the air so I could see them. “Bright pink?” I exclaimed. “Holy brightness.”

  “You’ll glow in the dark, like one of those glow worms.” He laughed. “And…I’ll be able to find you no matter where you are. Just look for those bright pink toes!” He laughed again.

  “So are we gonna talk about the elephant in the room?” he asked, raising his eyebrows up at me.

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  “Any ideas what Drake’s doing about this problem?”

  “No clue.”

  “Are you going to ask him?”

  “Nope. Ignorance is bliss.”

  “Molly…”

  “What? I don’t wanna know, Michael. I haven’t a clue what Drake would do, or could do. As long as it’s over, that’s all I want to know.”

  “Okay…but I’m not testifying in court for either of you.”

  “Glad to know our friendship has a line,” I quipped.

  “Whatever. Like you’d waddle your ass in a court room and testify for me?”

  “Sure I would. Except porn. I won’t testify anything to do with porn,” I snipped.

  “What is it with you and porn? It’s like you’re obsessed.”

  “How can I be obsessed with something I’ve never seen before,” I snapped back.

  “Wait, what? You’ve seen porn,” he fired back.

  “No.”

  “Everyone has watched porn at sometime during their lives.”

  “Not me.” My cheeks heated. He was making me self-conscious.

  “Alright, time to change that.” He hopped off the bed. “Stella, time for your bath.”

  “Ugh, man,” she pouted.

  Once she left and shut the bathroom door, Michael grabbed the remote and plugged in some numbers.

  “Porn on demand. This is what I’m talking about.”

  “Oh god, please don’t make me watch porn,” I cried.

  “Time to pop that porn cherry, baby girl.” He chuckled.

  “I hate you right now,” I muttered. I grabbed a pillow and set it in my lap, ready to cover my eyes any minute.

  “Oh god…fuck…” a girl’s squeamish voice echoed through the room. “Fuck, fuck, yeah!”

  “Oh my god, Michael! Turn the volume off!” I smacked his arm. He laughed as he muted it.

  “There better, prude?” He rolled his eyes.

  “What the hell is she doing to him?” I squealed. Damn, the didn’t look comfortable. How can that feel good?

  “What did you think porn was?” He giggled.

  “I’m glad you find this amusing. This is gross.”

  “It’s the circle of life, sweetie.”

  “That!” I pointed a finger at the flat screen. “Is not the circle of life. You can’t get pregnant like that!”

  “I don’t even want to know why you’re watching this,” Drake’s voice came from the doorway. His arms and ankles crossed as he leaned against the frame.

  “It’s an experiment,” Michael lied.

  “Yeah right…to see how long it takes before I vomit from watching this.”

  I noticed Drake’s eyes were no longer focused on me. “Should I leave you two alone?” I snapped at Drake, motioning to the TV. “Need a little alone time?”

  Michael laughed as I busted Drake. “Hey, I don’t promote porn cheating.”

  “Porn cheating?” Drake and I as
ked in unison.

  “I’m gonna leave you two alone now. Night.” Michael squirmed off the bed and left, shutting the door behind him.

  I reached for the remote and shut it off. “Men really get off on that?”

  He shrugged, not giving me a direct answer.

  “Gross,” I snorted.

  Drake sat on the bed next to me. “You look beautiful.” He brushed the hair out of my face, his eyes intense.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, sensing his mood change.

  “Why does something have to be wrong? I can’t tell you how beautiful you are?”

  “Well, sure you can. I prefer you say it naked though,” I teased.

  “I don’t think so, sweetheart.” He winked. “It’s too cold up here for me.”

  I laughed. “How much longer do we need to stay up here?”

  “Few more days. Not too much longer, I promise, okay?”

  “Alright.”

  * * *

  This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

  The pain…the pain is too much.

  Make it stop.

  Fuck…it’s…it’s time.

  “Molly! Wake up!”

  I woke up drenched in sweat and pain. What the hell?

  I’ve been on bed rest for weeks now. I was uncomfortable and haven’t been sleeping well, but this—this was a different feeling.

  I jumped up, startled, but well aware of the pain I was feeling.

  “It’s time. Drake, it’s time.” I rubbed both hands over my contracting belly. The pain was everywhere—my back, my feet, my head, my damn uterus.

  “What do you mean it’s time? Like time-time?”

  “I don’t know. I just woke up in a lot of pain and I’m sweating. There’s a lot of pressure,” I explained, pointing below my belly to show him where the pressure was. “I think my water broke. Or I peed myself. Either way, it’s happening.” I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to breathe through the pain that was shooting down my body. “Something’s wrong.”

  “I’ll grab you some ice and a cold towel.” Drake hurried.

  The pain was knocking the air out of me, unable to speak. I leaned back on my hands, hoping to breathe out the pain. It wasn’t working. I was about to scream out in pain just as Drake walked back in with a cup of ice.