Forever We Fall

by Chloe Walsh

  Spinning on my heels, I rushed into the bathroom to wash my hand. The carpets were cream and I didn’t want to ruin it by bleeding all over it.

  Standing in front of the mirror I urged my tears to stop falling. My chin was bruising rapidly and my back was still throbbing from the force of his kick, but there was no point in getting upset. He’d won. Again.

  “Here,” Karen said as she came to stand beside me. “Let me clean this for you. Your hands are shaking.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered as she held my finger under the cold water. I couldn’t feel the pain. Then again, I had a very high pain threshold and, compared to what I’d endured over the years, a cut on my finger was miniscule. “That was very brave of you.”

  “No problem, Lee,” she replied as she reached for the towel hanging on the rail next to the sink. “Sorry about the whole Mrs. Carter thing. I thought you were married.”

  I winced when she wrapped the snow white towel around my finger and I came to the conclusion Karen Valentine hadn’t come into contact with blood very often. Blood stains were a pain to get out of whites. I also came to the conclusion that it was pretty depressing that I knew this fact.

  “No,” I bit out as I pressed down to stem the bleeding. “We’re engaged. Not married.”

  “Huh, weird . . .” Karen muttered with a frown before opening the bathroom door for me and leading me back to the main room. I went straight to the sofa. Sinking onto it, I sat cross-legged, tucking a cushion on my lap, and exhaled a shaky breath before removing the towel and examining the damage.

  “Has he done that before?” she whispered as she sat down beside me.

  I nodded. I barely knew Karen Valentine, but she didn’t deserve to be lied to and I was too tired to build a wall up between us. Besides, my attention was entirely focused on the letter W scrawled into the skin on my ring finger.

  Whore.

  “I don’t think you need stitches, but we need to call the cops before he gets too far from here.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and I stiffened for a moment before relaxing. “I know he’s your dad, but he can’t be allowed to get away with doing that to you.”

  He’s done worse. So much worse . . .

  “Don’t tell anyone,” I blurted out suddenly. Karen was right about daddy not being allowed to get away with what he’d done, but I wasn’t going to call the police. It would cause so much trouble for us and I was worried about what Kyle would do if he found out. He was stressed enough and I couldn’t bear the thought of reading more headlines in the newspapers with my name on them. If I called the police my childhood secrets would be revealed. Every dirty detail would be splashed everywhere. My mother would be ruined. I couldn’t live with that.

  Some things were so dark they never needed to have light shone on them. I knew my father better than anyone and he had got what he came for. He wouldn’t be back. My engagement ring was worth sixty thousand dollars. He’d probably drink himself into an early grave with the money.

  “Please,” I whispered, arching my back as a small jolt of pain ricocheted through my spine. “Can we just keep this between us?”

  Karen frowned at me, her brown eyes narrowing in concern. “I don’t know if anyone’s ever told you this, Lee,” she said softly as she sat down on the sofa next to me. “But a man putting his hands on you is not okay. No man. Not your brother, not your boyfriend, and especially not your father.”

  “Please,” I begged her. “If we call the police there will be more reporters sniffing around. They’ve just started to back off again. I can’t handle any more pressure.” Kyle can’t handle any more pressure . . .

  “Then you need to tell Kyle,” she said firmly. “Cops or Carter. It’s your choice.”

  I laid my head back and sighed.

  Cops or Carter?

  That was no choice at all.

  “I’ve taken the liberty of making those particular phone calls, Delia,” David Henderson’s voice rang through my ears, causing me to sit upright, alert and tense. I’d completely forgotten about Kyle’s father who was currently standing guard in the doorway, with a grim expression etched on his handsome face. “Kyle’s phone is turned off and he is not in the building, but the police are on their way.” He inclined his head towards me. “And so is the doctor.”

  “The doctor?” I closed my eyes, allowing the tears to trickle freely down my cheeks. “My kidneys.”

  “Yes,” David replied. “You have been through the wringer these past few months.” Clearing his throat, he added gruffly, “I don’t suppose a kick to your back is good for your recovery.”

  “I suppose I should say thank you,” I managed to squeeze out, my voice thick with emotion. Kyle’s dad had never given me any clue that he even liked me, but he’d stood up to my father. And now here he was helping me . . .”Why did you help us, Mr. Henderson?” I asked as I shifted awkwardly on the sofa. “You don’t like me.”

  “I don’t have to like you in order to protect you,” David said calmly. “You’re my son’s choice and whether Kyle wants to believe me or not, I am trying to make amends. I now consider you a member of my family. And besides,” he snarled. “Any form of violence towards a woman is abhorrent in my eyes.”

  “Let’s just hope they catch him quickly,” Karen, who I’d forgotten was in the room, growled as he patted my knee.

  “Yeah,” I whispered. “Let’s hope so.”

  “Do you want me to come inside with you?” Karen asked as she pulled up in front of my house. It was growing dark and all I wanted was a hot shower and my bed.

  I felt so worn down from answering questions the officer—who had arrived at the hotel—had asked me, and even more exhausted from the poking and prodding I’d endured from the tedious Dr. Michaels.

  Mr. Henderson, after giving the officer his statement, had slipped away quietly, but Karen had stayed with me, helping with Hope while I’d been busy answering questions and having every inch of my body inspected. The fact that Kyle hadn’t returned my calls or come back to the hotel made the examinations and interrogations feel a million times worse.

  Killing the engine of her tiny Honda, Karen turned to look at me with an anxious expression. “I don’t think you should be here on your own, Lee. Not after what just happened with your dad.” She was probably right about that, but I couldn’t sit in that room and wait for Kyle to come back. I needed to breathe and I’d been choking on my fear in that hotel room. After ten unanswered calls to Kyle, Karen had finally–reluctantly—caved in and agreed to drive me and Hope home. I’d left a short note on the bed to let Kyle know where I’d gone so he wouldn’t worry.

  Surprisingly, Karen hadn’t asked me why when I asked her to stop at the cemetery on the way and I appreciated that. I didn’t like explaining how I still needed the comfort of my best friend and I was so desperate to get it, I would sit in a cemetery and talk to thin air. Being near Cam calmed me and even the few short minutes I’d sat at her grave had grounded me.

  “I’ll be okay,” I said with a small smile as I unfastened my seatbelt. “Thank you so much for the ride.” And for everything.

  “I’m not working next Saturday,” she said with a nervous looking smile. “Would you like to maybe meet up for coffee or something? I don’t know many people around here and you seem . . . you’re probably busy . . . there’s something I’d like to talk to you about . . .”

  “I’m not busy,” I blurted out with a shy smile. “I would love to have coffee with you.”

  I gave Karen my number before I climbed out, I lifted Hope out of the back, and waved her off. Karen’s car had just gone out of sight when the front door opened revealing the biggest sight for sore eyes I’d ever seen.

  “Miss me?”

  My feet were moving faster than my mind could catch up. Rushing up the steps with Hope in my arms I barreled into his arms and broke down. “Oh Derek.”

  “Thanks for this, Cindy,” I mumbled as I sat numbly in the pa
ssenger seat of my car. My head was in pieces, my vision was blurred, and I was grateful as hell that she’d offered to drive me back to the hotel. “I appreciate this,” I choked out, my voice shaking. “And for telling me the truth.”

  “That’s okay,” Cindy replied softly. “I was against it from the beginning, Kyle,” she added, tightening her hold on the steering wheel. “I told mom and Aunt Linda that you deserved to know about her cancer.” Reaching over she patted my knee. “You love her. It was cruel to keep you from saying goodbye and getting closure.”

  I clenched my eyes shut, but it was pointless. Closing my eyes and covering my ears wouldn’t stop the world from turning or the clocks from ticking. Time. Linda was on borrowed time . . .”I can’t believe this is happening,” I admitted as I raked a hand through my hair and exhaled a ragged breath. “It’s like everything’s been . . .”

  “Turned upside down and inside out,” Cindy tossed out, finishing my sentence for me before breaking down in a fit of crying.

  “She’s getting weaker by the day,” she sobbed as she pulled into underground parking lot of the hotel and killed the engine. “I’d be amazed if she sees Valentine’s Day.”

  “Hey,” I coaxed as I unfastened my seatbelt and pulled her into my arms. “I’d say don’t cry, but there’s not much else to do,” I mumbled as I rubbed her back.

  “You remember what she said.” Cindy sniffled as she drew back from me and handed me the car keys. “She doesn’t want anyone to know.”

  I shook my head. “That’s what I don’t understand.”

  “Well, neither do I,” she replied softly. “But that’s her prerogative, Kyle. You can’t tell anyone, not a soul, or she’ll stop you from visiting.”

  Opening my car door, I climbed out slowly and rested my elbows on the hood. “You need money for a cab?” I asked as Cindy climbed out of her side of the car and mimicked my actions.

  “No, I’m fine.” Shaking her head, she smiled softly. “Get your girls and go home and rest, Kyle. Let it all sink in. It’s been one hell of a day.”

  Sighing heavily I turned around and made my way towards the elevator, swinging back when a terrifying thought entered my mind. “You don’t think anything will happen to her tonight, do you?” I called out, halting Cindy in her tracks.

  She spun around and smiled softly. “Go home, Kyle.”

  “Marcus, I can’t talk right now,” I warned as unlocked the door of the suite and stepped inside. “Whatever the problem is I don’t want to know. Bring it up with Mike.”

  “I’d rather talk to you about it, Mr. Carter,” Marcus, my night and weekend manager, grumbled as he followed me into the honeymoon suite. “It’s a sensitive matter.”

  “Forget it,” I barked as I stalked into the suite. “I’m not fucking interested. I have enough on my plate right now.”

  Marcus said something back to me, but I didn’t hear him. I was too distracted by the absence of Lee and Hope. The silence was drumming in my ears. “Princess?” I called out, guessing they’d fallen asleep. It was after ten and Lee always went to bed early.

  Opening the door of the bedroom, I flicked on the light, but instead of finding Lee and my daughter I found a note.

  Kyle, something happened to me today and I tried to call you, but your phone rang out I really do not want to stay in this room, so I’m going to get a ride back to the house.

  I guess I’ll talk to you when you’re home. I’ll explain everything then

  Lee.

  xxx

  I blinked rapidly as I re-read her note. What happened today? Cursing my own damn stupidity for leaving her on her own, and Lee’s lack of self-preservation, I pulled my phone out and switched it on, mentally kicking myself for not turning it back on the minute I’d left the hospital.

  The sound of her phone vibrating on our old bed made my chest squeeze so tight I could barely breathe. Who the hell had she taken a ride from? Was she even at home? Why the fuck couldn’t things just go smoothly?

  Goddammit to hell . . .

  “And then Mr. Henderson arrived and scared him off,” Lee sobbed as she curled her fingers around her steaming mug of hot-chocolate.

  Tucking her legs underneath her, she sighed heavily and shifted awkwardly on the couch. “The police are out searching for him, but I won’t hold my breath.” Taking a sip of her drink, Lee smiled sadly at me. “I’m sorry, Der. You’re barely home and I’m dropping all of my problems on your lap again.”

  She was right about that. One week. I’d been gone seven freaking days and their drama had escalated to epic proportions.

  Those two were drama, drama and more goddamn drama. I needed a quiet damn life. This shit was exhausting. I wanted to go home to Addyson, where life was normal, where I didn’t have to deal with vengeful fathers and murder trials. I needed to collapse on my bed and bury my head under my pillow. I was beyond tired.

  Having listened to Lee recalling the events at the hotel earlier, and looking at her black and blue mouth had set alight a fire inside of me. Dammit, this was exactly what I’d been worried would happen. I’d told Kyle we needed to deal with Jimmy Bennett, but he’d done the exact same thing he’d done with Rachel. He’d swept it under the rug. Well, I’d like to see how he’d handle it this time.

  “Where is he?” I asked as I sat back in the armchair. Hope, who was sitting on my lap, automatically curled herself into a ball and snuggled against my chest. God, I loved that kid. “Where’s Kyle now?”

  “I don’t know,” Lee whispered before draining the contents of her mug and setting it down on the coffee table. “I haven’t seen him since I stormed out of his office.” She pressed her thumbs to her temples and sighed. “He must have turned his phone off because I couldn’t get through to him all day.” She chewed on her lip nervously. “I thought he’d be home by now,” she admitted. “He’s been very stressed lately, Derek.”

  Of course he has. “You should get some sleep,” I told her gently. “And don’t worry, ice, because there’s no one that’s gonna get within a five mile radius of this house without getting their ass kicked.”

  “Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll give Hope a bath first.”

  Climbing to her feet, she walked over to me and lifted her daughter out of my arms. “I’m glad you’re home, Der,” she said softly. “We missed you.”

  I bet. “Missed you, too,” I muttered.

  My chest was heaving as I pulled up at the house. I needed to calm my shit down, but Lee’s note had set me on fire. Running up the porch steps, I swung the front door open and rushed into the lounge.

  “She’s here,” Derek said from where he was standing by the fireplace. “They both are.”

  My whole body sagged in relief and I dropped my phone on the couch, not able to speak a single word to welcome my friend home. Placing my fists on the back of the couch, I leaned forward and took a few deep breaths.

  “Where is she?” I managed to ask. My jaw was tensed so tight I could barely get the words out.

  “Your room,” he replied before adding, “Kyle, she’s in a bad way, dude. Maybe you should calm down and listen to what she told me before you . . .”

  I didn’t wait for him to finish.

  Storming up the staircase, I didn’t slow my pace until I was standing inside our bedroom with my heart thundering in relief and my head all fucked up.

  Breathe.

  Deep breaths . . .

  Yeah, fuck that.

  “I need a word with you,” I demanded, storming into the bathroom. Lee was standing in the shower and immediately tried to cover her body with her hands. I rolled my eyes and pulled the glass door open. “I said I need to talk to you.”

  She turned her back to me and edged into the corner. “Can we talk when I’m out?”

  “We’ll talk now,” I growled. Turning her around, I grabbed her hips and pulled her roughly to me. Her breasts pressed tightly to my soaking wet shirt.

  �
��This is ridiculous,” she sobbed. “Look at you. Your clothes are ruined.”

  “I’ll tell you what’s ridiculous,” I growled pushing her hair out of her eyes as water cascaded down on us both. “You running off and leaving me a goddamn note. A note, Lee. Jesus Christ, have you no thought for other people? Did you even consider how worried I’d be when I found you gone?”

  “Kyle . . . please listen to me . . .” She started to cry, but I was too fucking angry to listen to her. She needed to hear me. Any number of things could have happened to her. Did she not get that? Jimmy’s threats were churning around in my head, causing my anger to rise rapidly.

  “No, you need to listen to me and grow the hell up, Lee.” She winced at my words and I was glad. She needed to realize how serious this was. She needed to stop putting herself at unnecessary risk.

  There was a reason I kept such a close eye on her. There were crazy, fucked up people out there—namely her dad—and I had a hell of a lot of money. This was public knowledge. I didn’t want to upset her, but I had to make her understand how vulnerable she was. All it would take was some nut job reading the papers to recognize her face. She was my weakest link. She was a target. She was a walking lottery ticket. She was in danger. Goddammit.

  “Don’t you ever again walk out that door without letting me know first,” I warned her. “And I don’t mean writing me a note,” I added, my tone laced with disgust. “I don’t give a shit what your excuses or reasons are. I’ve had it up to my goddamn eyeballs with your childish fucking stunts. You fucked my head up today, Lee, and believe it or not I have more important things than you to worry about right now. This shit stops. You got it?”

  She dropped her head and covered her face with her hands. “Kyle, my f . . .”

  “Do you get it, Lee?” I demanded. My heart was hammering so hard in my chest I wasn’t sure if I was going to explode or pass out.