“You’ll need a job,” Kent hinted.
“I know,” I sighed. I knew I had to get myself in order to search for a job, a place to stay, and everything else I needed.
“Taylor will help you out,” Kent went on. “Do you know who he is to you?”
“Since she’s been in the bedroom pretty much the entire time she’s been here, not really. We haven’t really talked,” Taylor answered. “She knows that we are related.”
“Eavesdropping?” I laughed.
Taylor simply shrugged, not sorry for doing so. “It’s my house.” He paused, thinking something over. Finally, after a full minute, he spoke. His voice was softer, almost like he was afraid to say what he was saying. “You are welcome to stay here, Avidya. There is more than enough room. At least until you know for sure what you want to do. Carlos entrusted me to keep you safe, and I will do that by any means necessary.”
“You will be safe here,” Kent agreed. “No one comes to this little town.”
“Haven’t had any issues all the years I’ve been here,” Taylor mused.
“The reason I came here,” Kent said after a moment. “Is because I have these bank cards and IDs for you, Avidya. Can’t go by your known last name.” He motioned to an envelope that sat on the table. “I’ll transfer some funds into the bank account monthly, so you can get what you need.”
“Then why does she need a job?” Taylor asked, taking a seat on the couch.
“To give her purpose. To make friends. To get out of the house,” Kent shrugged. “Why do you have a job, Taylor? Would it be the same reasons?”
Taylor grunted some sort of reply, and Kent shook his head.
“Sorry, you were left with this meathead. Really not sure what my son was thinking, but at least you won’t be known here,” Kent laughed.
“I just don’t like people,” Taylor grunted out, eyeing the man.
Yeah, I didn’t much care for people either. I liked it here so far. So that had to be a plus, right?
I did have to wonder what the history between these two men was. They seemed to only tolerate each other because they had no other choice. And that could be the whole reason Taylor wasn’t too happy about the Melendez family.
Chapter 6
Avidya
Fully awake now that Kent had left as quickly as he had shown up, I took a seat on the other side of the couch. My mind was reeling with questions once more. None of which I was willing to ask out loud. I didn’t want to know the answers to my questions. I was more than happy to not have answers that would no doubt lead to even more questions that wouldn’t be answered any time soon.
What was I going to do? Could I really stay here that long with this man? Who was this man to me? Would we both be safe here, even after the baby came? And what would become of me after that? Would I be able to just go back like nothing had happened with a baby in tow? Would everyone just accept us both as if nothing had happened?
“You okay?” Taylor asked, glancing my way.
“Yeah,” I muttered, shaking myself away from the thoughts that began to plague me. It didn’t seem that my husband was faring all that much better than me. He was depressed and wanted to find me. Kent said he’d do whatever he could to make sure that Zachariah would stay as far away as possible, keeping him busy with business and family stuff.
How long would that last?
I wasn’t sure if Zachariah feeling as horrible about my choices as I was was a good thing or not. I was happy to know that he wasn’t pissed off at me, but instead worried. Would we both be able to get past this and move on; to keep on living as though we never knew each other? Or would fate somehow bring us both back together one random day?
We were both heartbroken, and only I held the power to fix that. Now was not the time to try. That was for sure.
“So, who are you, exactly?” I finally asked, not sure if I wanted to know that answer. I raised my eyes to meet his, the same eyes that I had seen countless of times on another man I refused to really think about here and now.
“Taylor Shantez. I was once a Hartwell, but that was over twenty-five years ago,” he answered. I’m Aaron’s brother, but he can rot in hell with the rest of them,” Taylor grunted. It didn’t seem like anyone liked that man. The one and only man that wanted me dead, so, it seemed.
I remembered this man’s name, and now things were beginning to click into place. I vaguely remembered seeing him in a picture, but it was quite a while ago so I couldn’t remember as well.
“No one ever talked about you. Travis mentioned looking for you but didn’t have any luck in doing so,” I mused. It was on the trip he took before I was kidnapped. I remembered how angry I was at Travis when he did return from his little so-called trip.
“Ah, yes,” he huffed in a partial half laugh. “Travis is smart, and that’ll get him into trouble soon enough.”
“He means well, though,” I said. “He’s been helpful the last few months. Along with his…girlfriend.” I wasn’t sure what to call Keena, but I guessed girlfriend was close enough. I didn’t want to say something that made Taylor uncomfortable with the entire lifestyle I had been thrown into. Just because I was accepting of such things didn’t mean everyone else was.
“At least someone is,” Taylor grunted out.
We lapsed into silence once more. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it also felt strange. I was trying to understand this man, understand his past and present at the same time. He was standoffish, yet in a careful sort of way. I could understand it.
“Where is Cody at these days?” Taylor asked.
“Dead,” I stated, not feeling bad about it either. “He broke into our home and Zach’s guards took care of him. That was after scaring the crap out of me.”
“That would be certainly a death sentence,” Taylor spoke, not seeming all that surprised. “He never was too smart. Thought his God could save him.”
“You don’t believe in God?” I asked, surprised.
“I do,” he said slowly. “Just…I’m not in the best place with him after all these years. God has never worked in my favor, girl.”
“Why’s that?’ I asked, generally curious. I turned, putting one leg underneath me so I faced Taylor.
“I have just been dealt a crappy hand in life,” he said as a way of explanation. “It really doesn’t matter how, or why. It is as it is.”
“I’m a good listener,” I stated.
“You don’t want to hear of my sorrows, girl. It’s in the past, and that will be where it all stays,” he said, keeping his eyes on the TV the entire time.
“If you change your mind…” I trailed off.
“Why didn’t you go to college? You’d make a great psychologist,” he hinted, changing the subject.
“Cody,” I shrugged, feeling it was enough of an explanation. “And now, that’s not an option. I have enough to deal with.”
He nodded his head, as though it made sense. I could see his mind working on a way to try to convince me of maybe at least trying out college, but I didn’t want to hear it.
After having to make sure I had straight As all through school, I was done having to spend hours upon hours to make sure I kept studying and making sure I was the perfect daughter Cody wanted. I had to have perfect grades, and I hated it. I hated spending so much time on school work when there was life to explore out in the world. There was no way I’d ever willing do that again.
What did it matter if I was the best at school work when I was meant to be married off? I couldn’t have been happier that I came to be in Zachariah’s hands when I did.
“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” I asked, remembering he worked last night. I also noticed it was now early afternoon. I must have been very tired to sleep so late.
“I was able to get my schedule switched. Don’t want to be leaving you alone at night in case something happens,” he answered.
I was sure he did that for me, but I kept that to myself. I saw how he tried to show that he didn’t care ab
out me even though he did. It was almost sweet that he did care. His gruff exterior was just for show, and after so many years of most likely trying to put anyone off, he had no idea how to really be anything else.
I could relate more than I liked to admit. I wasn’t sure how to get along with people. I didn’t know how to connect and keep a relationship with hardly anyone. The only person I ever could really get along with without having to try was Becca. That was taken away the same night I was taken away from everything I had once known.
Things had changed so much the past couple of years. So much so, I didn’t even know who I was. I had thought I had that part figured out, but then things changed once more. It always seemed to when I didn’t want it.
Just another thing I had to figure out. At least I wasn’t alone in this. I could see that Taylor struggled with life more than I did. I hoped that with us together, I could get him to see the bright side of life. I needed to, and I couldn’t do it alone.
Chapter 7
Zachariah
I was anything but happy as I sat at the bar, overlooking the club area. I detested being here. I would rather be in jail then right here at the moment. I didn’t want to see all these happy couples. I didn’t want to hear about how happy a Dom was with his sub. Least of all, I didn’t want to hear all the happy emotions that came with sex around me.
I just fucking wanted to go home to me in my own misery without having to be around anyone.
I was only here to appease my father. He really hadn’t thought through me being here. There was alcohol. And someone that I could easily find to help numb my pain. He had to know that I would do anything to keep my feelings at bay for as long as possible.
The only thing stopping me from doing either of those things was knowing I’d never cheat on my wife, even if she thought what we had was over. And the bartender was Travis, who refused to serve me anything but water. That fact didn’t make me any happier, either.
Yes. I was glaring at everyone around me. No one dared to come up to me because of that.
Thank fuck for that. I wasn’t in the mood to be my normal sociable self.
“You aren’t too sociable tonight,” one of the regular Doms spoke, sitting down next to me. His buzz cut and sharp jaw stuck out every time I looked at this man. He was polite and respectful, which is how he got into my club a little over a year ago. He followed the rules, never stepping over that line that was easily crossed by many.
“His girl left him,” Travis stated easily, passing Bruce the drink he had asked for.
“That sucks,” he hummed out. “Go find another.”
“I’m still married,” I muttered, running a hand down my face. The ring on my finger should have been a clear sign that I wasn’t giving up on my wife. I never would.
“Well, she still left. To me, that means she is no longer in the picture. At all. You have free reign, man,” Bruce laughed.
“Still not going to,” I seethed, glaring at him.
“Then find a Dom that will take the pain away. It works just as well,” Bruce stated.
“That won’t work either,” Travis said, saving me from having to reply. Tempting as it sounded, I knew I couldn’t do that either. I’d hate if Avidya went to someone else if I had left her, just like she left me. I may be hurting, but I would go that far to take my pain away. Whiskey worked just as well, for the most part.
“Well, good luck, buddy,” Bruce said before standing and looking for a sub to play with.
He was the type that only wanted a plaything, switching constantly from one to the next. He was a great Dom; I had to give him that. No woman ever complained about him not following the rules in this establishment.
“How about you just go to the office. I don’t need you here. You’ll just dampen the mood,” Travis said, shooting me an irritated look.
That sounded like something I could do. It was much better than sitting here having to socialize. I did just that, too. It was better than sitting in the middle of people who I had no desire to even talk to.
I had wanted to once bring my girl here on a night like this. I wanted to show her just how much of my world she could like and crave. I wanted to show her that this life that I lived was exciting. Now, that chance was gone. I hadn’t heard a thing from her, or about her. I was even trailing my father to see if he would go visit her, and nothing.
Not a damn thing.
No one in my family went anywhere out of the ordinary. There was nothing to lead me where my wife was. I hated it. Everyone around me knew I hated it, too. It wasn’t a secret, that was for sure. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure how they were still able to be around my ass with my angry filled hate that I was showing everyone lately.
Maybe my father was right. Maybe Avidya would come back after she got her thoughts in order. I still didn’t know why she left. That was what kept bugging me. If only I knew, I could just do something to fix it!
Nothing could fix the giant hole in my chest from her leaving me. There was absolutely nothing that could fix that but her. Didn’t she know how much I fucking loved her? Didn’t she know that she’d take my heart with her if she ever left?
Sitting at my desk, I couldn’t help but miss my wife more with each passing minute. I felt like I could never overcome her leaving me.
Why?
Why did she leave? Why couldn’t she just come talk to me?
Why, God damn it!
I rested my head in my hands, forcing the tears of destruction away.
I would find her. I would bring her back, kicking and screaming if I had to. I would go to the ends of this earth to get her to see reason.
I’d even tie her up to make her listen if I had to.
I was a monster. And that monster was just unleashed.
Chapter 8
Avidya
Within days, I sat at the doctor’s office, my knee bouncing as I sat in the chair. I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I knew I had to get this done. I had to get it confirmed.
What if I wasn’t really pregnant? What would I do then? Was there any chance that I wasn’t?
I was sure that if I went by periodic vomiting episodes, I was without a doubt pregnant. So why was I second guessing that positive test? I had no idea. I was getting pretty good at second guessing everything these days.
Maybe I should have let Taylor tag along to this, just so I didn’t have to go alone. But what was done, was done. There was nothing I could do to change it now.
Looking around the waiting room, I was nearly by myself. The walls were painted a soft cream color, matching the blackish gray chairs that were set up around the waiting room. In the corner that was along the same wall as the entrance door, there was a small table with four colorful chairs around a blue round table. A few coloring books and markers set on the table in the middle. Next to that, was a small bookshelf filled with books.
Apparently, this was one of the best doctor’s offices in town. Although, there was only one other one not all that far away.
The only other person besides the receptionist was an older lady who was currently looking through some house décor magazine, humming to herself.
It wasn’t that long of a wait before my name was called by a nurse who wore SpongeBob scrubs. I stood, following her past the door and into what looked to be a hallway.
“Have you left a urine sample?” she asked, looking at the chart in her hands.
“Yes,” I answered. That was the first thing asked of me after I filled out the forms, using my borrowed name and address. It had felt weird, though. In a span of six months, I now have had three different last names. What more could possibly change?
“Good,” the nurse stated. “Please, step up onto the scale.”
I did as instructed, letting the nurse weigh and take my blood pressure. She seemed to want to get done with her day, and I couldn’t blame here. She looked tired and worn down.
After showing me to the room, she said the doctor would be in shortly.
&nb
sp; I took a seat on the examination table, the white paper crinkling as I tried to get comfortable. I never did understand why they had to use this type of paper.
After waiting for nearly three minutes, there was a soft knock on the door before it was pushed open.
“Good afternoon, Miss Shantex,” she greeted. Her hair was pulled back by clips on both sides of her face, making her square face more prominent. Her bright blue eyes looked me over. “I’m Dr. Fare, but please call me Ree. I see you are here to confirm being pregnant.”
“Ah, yeah,” I said. My voice came out a bit quieter than I had hoped. My hands were damp with sweat.
“No need to be nervous,” she stated, taking a seat on a purple leather stool. “The sample you left confirms you are, indeed, pregnant. Any idea how far along you may be?”
“Not really,” I grimaced. “It wasn’t planned.”
“That’s perfectly fine,” she spoke. “Before I come up with a plan of action, I’d like to do an ultrasound to find out how far along you are.”
“Okay?” I said, figuring that much.
“What are your plans?” she asked, folding her hands in her lap, giving me her entire attention.
When I didn’t answer right away, she explained a bit more. “Do you plan to keep the baby?”
“Yes,” I answered. Why else would I be here?
“Is the father in the picture?” she asked next.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He doesn’t know, nor will he.”
“Okay,” she said, not asking for clarification on what I said. “Last one. Do you want to know the gender when that time comes?”
“Yes, please,” I laughed. It’d be a bit easier to figure out how to live my life if I knew what would be in store.
“Perfect,” she replied easily. “Everything will work out just fine. I can answer any questions that you have. All new moms, and even experienced ones, always have a question or two. Now, I’d like to get that ultrasound done today if possible, just to get an idea on how far along you are. You’ll need to start taking prenatal vitamins, along with making sure you take care of yourself.
His to Know (His to Own Book 3) Page 3
