by Elle Klass
Prison of the Past
Baby Girl Book VII
Copyright © 2017 by Elle Klass
ISBN 978-0-9982709-9-9
All rights reserved
Cover art created by Manuela Cardiga
Editor Dawn Lewis Bookmarks Editing
For more information go to http://elleklass.weebly.com/
Blog: http://thetroubledoyster.blogspot.com
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Twitter- @elleklass
Author’s Disclaimer
This book is entirely fictional. Any characters or events are purely figments of the author’s imagination. Many city and business names are fictional as well. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or redistributed either in its entirety or in part without the author’s express written consent.
Table of Contents
Three and a half years later
Farewell Baby Girl
About the Author
Other Young Adult Books by Elle Klass
Chapters
Baby Girl Books
In the Beginning - Free!
Moonlighting in Paris
City by the Bay
Bite the Big Apple
Baby Girl Box Set - includes books I - IV
Caribbean Heat
Return to the Bay
Prison of the Past
My Sweet Hibiscus
The moon danced across the top of the water as the tide rolled in, humming in our ears. Raul caught me in his arms, our mouths parted and I willingly allowed his tongue inside. My hands sliding the band holding his ponytail out of his hair and combing through his dark curls. We stepped backwards towards the lounger until it hit my knees and I dropped onto it, lifting my legs onto the soft cushion.
Raul lifted one leg onto the lounger and straddled me, guiding his finger around my belly button just above my bikini bottom then sliding his finger up my arm where it caressed the area where my arm bends sending tingles throughout me. He found the strangest places on my body that brought sensations I hadn’t known existed.
He moved his lips to my ear, caressing my lobes, and whispered, “I can’t wait to spend my life with you.”
The past couple years had been filled with a surreal happiness suspended in love. The drama in my life ended and my new life with the beautiful man whose arms were wrapped tight around me began. The wind caught a chunk of his hair, blowing it against my face. I ran my hand over his hair, pushing it back into place, and gazed into his eyes. “I love you.”
“My lovely hibiscus,” he said in his sexy Latin accent as he stood and lifted me off the ground and carried me into the house, laying me on the couch beneath him. Hibiscus was his lover’s nickname for me since the first time we kissed on the beach in Puerto Rico.
I giggled, “What is this power you have over me?” I couldn’t resist him, since allowing him in there was no leaving and he showered me with affection.
A smile took over his lower face and his adorable dimple poked at his cheek. “I’ll use it every day for the rest of our lives.” His lips sent tingles of pleasure over my body as he dropped tiny kisses over my stomach and chest, making his way to my lips.
Our tongues curled together as our bodies pressed flesh to flesh. We slept swathed in each other’s arms. I’d finally given in and let a man into my life and he was perfect in every way; gorgeous, hard-working, romantic and gentle.
“I’ll be there,” echoed in my ears as I opened my lids one by one welcoming the morning sun. Raul strolled into the room, wearing nothing but a towel that clung to his hips. Every curve of his muscular abs displayed to me.
He kissed my forehead. “You’re not going anywhere,” I purred, pulling the towel off him.
“I have a few things that need my attention before we leave. All day I’ll be thinking of your sweet nectar,” he said between kisses.
He and his brother own and run a deep-sea fishing business and because of their hard work and dedication it was really thriving. However, today wasn’t the day for him to work. I couldn’t complain, even though I knew he wouldn’t be back until the evening. My St. Thomas home was a good two hour boat ride from Puerto Rico and their headquarters. I let out an exaggerated sigh, “Hurry back.”
With a couple more intense, toe-curling kisses he disappeared. The rich aroma of Yaucono coffee seized my nostrils. I padded into the kitchen and filled my mug, then spent the next couple hours double checking that I had everything ready for the trip. No, more like triple checking since we both double checked the list yesterday. It kept my anxiety at bay while I waited for his return.
I booted up my computer and in a brief moment was staring at an email from Mrs. Childrone. We ran the Einstein Foundation together. My life story as a girl growing up on the streets brought in plenty of sales and that, mixed with the excessive donations, the Einstein Foundation saved thousands of street children every year. I’d visited all the homes and met many of the children. In some cases I was there when the child was reunited with a parent or family member. Most of the time I worked, with La Tige’s help, to find the whereabouts of their families.
La Tige, now retired and living in St. Thomas, was a restless man. Starting his career as a San Francisco police officer until a shooting that caused permanent damage to his leg and landed him a desk job. He retired early and opened up a P.I. office. That’s how I met him. Now, together we investigated and reunited families through the Einstein Foundation. The reasons these youngsters landed on the streets were so many and heart breaking. Mrs. Childrone wanted my face in the public, to display me as a survivor, in hopes of reaching more people.
The reward of seeing a child given a warm bed and hearty meal prickled me with warm fuzzies and brought back memories of my own childhood with a fierceness that drove me to spend countless hours helping these children.
I didn’t respond to her email, as I’d see her tomorrow for the wedding—my wedding. Proud to marry Raul, yet filled with an anxiety I blamed on my past, I dressed in a pair of body-hugging running shorts and sports top, then shoved my feet into a pair of beach running shoes and headed out the door. Over the past couple years I’d taken up running as a way to calm my body. Once the endorphins kicked in anxiety and stress disappeared, taken over by an overwhelming feeling of peace.
At nine o’clock in the morning the bright sun beat against my head and bare skin. Near the equator there was no escaping the star’s radiant energy. Sweat drippled across my forehead and rolled down my face, splashing onto my shoulders. It beaded on my bare belly and beneath my light clothing. A gentle ocean breeze swept across me, squelching the sweat for a minute or so. The sand beneath my pounding steps flying into the air and hitting my lower legs.
My fitness meter beeped, telling me I’d reached a mile and a half, so I slowed to a walk and turned around to head home. This was my routine as the walk allowed my heart rate to return to normal by the time I reached my house.
Inside the house, I grabbed a water bottle and nearly chugged the whole thing at once. I then dropped my clothes and stood below the shower allowing the lukewarm water to massage my body. The anxiety of earlier was gone.
I’d sat down with a plate of fresh fruit and yogurt as my mind again wandered to Raul, when my phone rang and cut off my daydream. A hard knot clutched my gut and squeezed when I recognized the number as Julia’s, Raul’s brother and business partner’s wife. She never called me, so why now?
An Unlikely Guest
“Nooooo!” I screamed into the phone then dropped it to the floor. Its crash distant in my mind. My scream echoing through my distressed soul. The loss gouging into my heart and shredding it until it’s pulp i
n my blood. The emptiness consumed me as I shrunk to a heap on the floor.
Two weeks later
I wiggled my toes in the sand as I sat on a beach lounger watching the waves gently rock our yacht. The yacht we purchased to sail the world for our honeymoon. He’d been taken from me just when my life had reached stasis.
I stood and padded through the sand, hot as fire beneath my feet. I barely noticed the pain as the yacht drew closer with each step until I was standing on its deck. The decorations still hung in white and silver. I grazed my hand over one, soft against my palm. Tears threatened to burst and explode onto my cheeks. My nose moistened inside as I fought the urge, my mind on Raul when a strong arm wrapped around my shoulder. The scent of aftershave and Dial soap drifted into my nostrils; La Tige, far more than a past employer and current business partner, he was my surrogate father. I buried my head into his chest and allowed the security of his arms.
When my tears dried we sat on the deck and watched the tide roll in and out. The surf playing a melody in my ears. Behind my eyes I see the white and silver decorations hung on the bow ready for Raul and me to take our vows.
All my life I’ve sought the answers but have come to realize sometimes there aren’t any. The universe is random and we are but tiny specks of energy.
I asked him not to go. To trust that his brother had everything under control. He assured me he trusted him but had a few things to tidy up before we left on our honeymoon. The plan was to marry and have the reception on the yacht then sail around the world, just the two of us. Like everything else good in my life, it wasn’t meant to be. The heavy arm around my neck reminded me that wasn’t true. I had him, one of the best things that ever happened to me. The random universe decided marriage wasn’t for me, nor was being in love.
Raul went to work and promised to be gone only a couple hours. Their secretary called, frantic. Her mother had a large stroke and was in the ICU. Raul, being the business owner he was, picked up the slack so they wouldn’t fall behind in the office while she was out.
He took a short break to grab lunch for all the workers. That wasn’t unusual. If he was in the office he was buying them all food. Usually he was out on a boat. On his way back, another vehicle smashed into the back end of his and sent his car flying into a pole. The seatbelt didn’t save him and the airbag didn’t deploy. My mind replayed the police report like a recurring nightmare. The only good news was that it happened so quickly they said he wouldn’t have felt much pain.
The woman who hit him walked away. The thought made me cringe. She walked away unharmed! I reminded myself daily not to hate her. My stomach turned and I rushed from the chair. Sticking my head over the side of the boat I dry heaved, since there was nothing left in my belly.
I hadn’t eaten for days; everything I tried to eat came back up. Kacy and La Tige hadn’t left my side and tried their best to console me.
Time passed with little meaning as I drifted in and out of sanity. “Honey, I know it’s hard,” Kacy said as she lifted my hair while I heaved again. Finally done, I leaned my back against the wall. She wrapped her arms around me as I sobbed onto her shoulder.
It had been over two weeks now. She took the first flight out and was here from San Francisco in less than twenty-four hours. It was two years since Kacy came to stay with me. She’d spent three months, then returned to Javier and the Bay. They’d since gotten married and rebuilt the bar. Javier declined the job and threw his energy into opening a chain of Happy Trails bars. Currently they had two in the Bay that were making money so they invested in a third. Its grand opening was Tuesday. Two days from now and Kacy needed to be there. She begged me to come with her.
I hadn’t made a decision yet. I knew better than to wallow in my own self-pity but couldn’t rip myself away from my house and the view of our yacht. Watching it sent my mind on a journey and I imagined Raul and I sailing the world.
La Tige was also leaving. He and Aaliyah, or Ashla, were slowly becoming a thing. I preferred Ashla. That’s who she was when I met her and it reminded me less that she was my aunt. They were building trust and friendship. He offered to stay, but I couldn’t force my friends to stop their lives for me. After two weeks, they needed to return to them and I needed time alone. Time to sort things out.
Monday came and La Tige and I put Kacy on the plane. She informed me she’d be in contact every day and I better answer or she’d be on the next plane back. Later that evening La Tige left, promising to return in a couple days.
Finally, alone with my thoughts and the ghost of my husband-to-be, I watched the yacht through the rain pouring hard against the glass door and sunk into my own little world of happiness. Raul and I were making love and it was so real I felt his touch on my skin and his tongue in my mouth.
A loud banging on the front door startled me awake. It happened again. Slowly, I trudged to the door, assuming it was probably La Tige with Aaliyah. When I opened the door the most unlikely person was on the other side. His round face, balding head, and dress shirt neatly tucked into his belt holding in his large gut. My jaw dropped and anger boiled inside me as I slammed the door shut in his face.
Fire and Brimstone
My emotions went from sad to fuming in a matter of seconds. I took a deep breath then stomped to my bedroom. How the heck did he find me?
“Cleo,” he called as he knocked on the door again.
I pulled a pillow over my head and wished the downpour would wash him into the ocean. The knocking stopped and after it’d been quiet for several minutes I assumed he’d left. Lifting the pillow and tossing it aside, I dragged myself into the living room. The curtain of the sliding door was open and standing in my private space, my own little peace of heaven, was my bio-dad, soaking wet. Never assume anything.
Anger’s red tendrils climbed up my body. How dare he?! This is my house! I slid the door open and gave him the evil eye. If I had magical powers I would have disintegrated him.
He turned his fat-roll-filled face towards me, what hair he had lay flat against his head. The top completely bald and shiny from the water rolling down it. “I need to speak with you.”
“There’s nothing to say!” I shot at him. I looked around. Where was his posse? He came here alone? Something strange and more destructive than the storm was brewing.
“Can I come inside?” he asked, swiping water from his eyes.
A billion nasty replies sorted through my head before I said, “You’re alone and standing like a wet dog in the rain. Did you lose everything, including an umbrella?” It was a weak poke at his wealth as he was one of the richest men in the U.S.
He cleared his throat and his cheeks puffed out like plump little wrinkled pillows turning his green eyes into little slits as his lips curved upwards into a smile.
“First, I’m sorry about your fiancé,” he said, his smile disappearing as he completely ignored my question.
“Don’t come closer. You’re not here to share your condolences.” The jerk had no business talking about my precious Raul. He’d tried to destroy my life and me. What the heck did he have to say to me? My curiosity was piqued but he’d have to talk from a distance.
He followed my request and stayed put. “You’re right, under the circumstances I had to change my original flight plans.” The rain let up to a slight drizzle that pattered against his head. I had to admit I was enjoying watching him grovel.
Was I supposed to be mournful because he wasted a few extra hundred, equivalent to pennies in a bucket to him, on airfare? Still standing inside my house at the doorway, I wrapped my arms around my chest and glared at him.
He cleared his throat. “This would be much easier if I could come inside.”
Obviously, he wasn’t going away and wasn’t acting extra cruel but remorseful—maybe—or there was something much darker brewing. I relented and begrudgingly slid the door open and walked away from it, straddling the stool behind my bar.
He stepped inside, leaving a trail of wet sand behind him.
That was the downside of living on the beach – sand, sand, and more sand. It was a never-ending battle to keep the floors clean but the tile made it easy to sweep. He saddled onto a bar stool, droplets of water splattering against the shiny top, and cupped his hands on the bar. “I’m sorry for everything. I’ve done many things in life I’m not proud of. What I put you through is the worst. I wasn’t a very good man.”
That was the understatement of the year, but I didn’t interrupt. I enjoyed watching him wallow and grovel. “Here,” I tossed him a beach towel from the stack I kept behind the bar. “You’re dripping all over my clean floor.”
“You’ve grown into a strong woman and I’m proud of you,” he paused and the room became eerily quiet.
“I don’t have much longer,” he stated, his glare matching mine before softening.
“You can leave anytime. In fact now isn’t too soon,” I seethed. I didn’t hear his words for what they were. I heard them for what I wanted them to be.
“Cleo, I’m dying.”
“So you want my sympathy?” Hah! The man who had me kidnapped at birth and chased down by a ruthless yet luckily idiotic man.
“No, I have one favor to ask of you,” he said in a shaky voice as he continued patting his head with the towel. It wasn’t like him to show weakness.
The entire self-pity thing wasn’t like him. His ego was the size of Saturn. To keep my nervous hands busy, I grabbed the shaker. “Want a drink?”
“Bourbon, please,” he responded.
I knew what was coming so I busied myself and took my time, then pushed the drink towards him. It slid easily across the shiny top. I slammed the shaker down. “You have no business finding my house, stalking me then asking for something – anything. You don’t deserve it!”
“You’re right. I don’t.” He lifted the glass, swirled it, and took a sip.
“How did you find me?”
“I have many resources and can find most anything.” He placed the half-filled glass of bourbon on the bar top.
