Chapter 9 HER
Jake takes my elevator card from me. He hasn’t let go of my arm again. A firm grip, pushing and pulling me along. I guess this makes him my executioner. He’s walking me to face Max’s anger.
I’m numb. I’m not really sure that I’d be able to walk without his holding me up, without his strong force moving me along. I keep staring at him, trying to see any change in his expression. So far, he’s been this strange mix of anger and determination. But somehow neutral too. His looking through me look…with only a touch of anger. But I don’t know if it’s directed at me or Max…probably both.
Just before the elevator door opens on the top floor though, he turns his head slightly to me. And he grins again. I’m weak. I lean against the wall, pulling on his arm, but the doors open at the same time and he pulls me forward.
I can see that our door is open. Jake pauses for a second, pulling me closer to him. He whispers to me, an angry edge, a command not to be argued with, “Shut up. Not a word until I tell you to speak.” I only nod, but he doesn’t even wait for this. He leads me into the apartment.
As we walk down the hall, I’m aware of two things. Silence. And a face I don’t know. The other three faces are all angry. Ron, Jeff…and Max. I swallow, looking down quickly to avoid eye contact with anyone.
Jake doesn’t let go of my arm, keeps it close to his chest, hiding his grip though.
Chapter 10 HIM
I imagined all sorts of ways tonight would end. I didn’t allow myself to imagine the worse cases. The ones where Lucy didn’t walk in that door…but this?! Fuck! I never thought I’d see my brother holding the arm of my wife…Where’s she been? What’s she been up to since this afternoon?!
Jake nods at Dad, but doesn’t say anything. He stays close to Lucy. She at least has the decency to look ashamed, to look down. I step forward, but Dad speaks first. His words halt me.
“Lucy. It’s good to see you’re safe and sound!” Dad moves to put his hands on her shoulders and kiss her cheek. She looks scared, pressing more into Jake’s side.
Jake answers, nudging her. “She was stuck in my elevator this whole time. I really need to get that damn thing fixed!” Her smile at the nudge quickly disappears and she looks down again.
Dad doesn’t respond, just moves so I can see his look of warning. His back to Killaney and Jeff. I nod before he’s turned enough to not block their view of me anymore.
I move forward, ignoring Jake and Lucy. “Looks like you were right, Killaney…the wife always does show up in these cases…” I try for a light-hearted laugh, but I know I fall far short of this. I nod to Jeff, who stands.
Killaney stays seated though, looking from me to Lucy behind me. “Mrs. Traeger? Do you mind answering a few questions?”
I don’t turn to see Lucy’s face, and I don’t wait for her to respond. “Thought you weren’t technically on duty, Detective?”
He turns his eyes to me again. “You’re right.” He smiles. “I can come back tomorrow if you’d prefer something more formal, Max.”
I shake my head and lift my hands open in front of me. I sit down at the table to face Killaney. He has a clear view of Lucy now, my back is still to her. I don’t trust keeping my anger in check if I look at her. I can picture her look of fear and how her body tried to shrivel seeing me.
I watch Jeff’s face. He stays standing, but doesn’t move away from the table.
Chapter 10 HER
I shake in Jake’s hold. Thankfully, Max moves away. I can’t see his face. I can see that his body is tense, filled with anger still. But for some reason he’s pretending to be calm. So is Ron. He’s still standing close to us and looking so calm.
This only makes me shake more. I can feel Jakes hand gripping harder. I steal a glance up at him, but he doesn’t look away from the short man at the table.
Jake leads me to sit at the table, he takes a seat right next to me. I’m glad that he stays close. Max is to our right, the detective to our left.
“Mrs. Traeger, I’m Detective Killaney…a friend of Jeff’s.” The man nods up towards Jeff, who’s standing a little ways down the table. “Your husband and Jeff called me to check up on you…after they found your purse…they thought something might’ve happened to you…?”
I look at Jake. I know I shouldn’t. I can tell by his look, staring straight at this detective, not turning to me, he only nods a little. I quickly look back. “I…I’m sorry that I had everyone so worried.”
Jake thankfully speaks up, “Her purse and phone were stolen. Lucy didn’t have any money to get home…so she walked to my place. To find me.” I can see that he glances at Max. I don’t follow his eyes. I can’t. “She was stuck in my elevator for hours before I got there.”
I don’t say anything. That was a partial lie, a partial truth. I’m not a good liar. I won’t be able to lie to Max if he questions me. I don’t know what I was thinking…stupid!
“That must’ve been some ordeal, Mrs. Traeger…?” Killaney leans forward. I only nod. I notice that his breath has alcohol and notice the empty glasses and nearly empty bottle on the table.
For some reason, this makes me angry. While he was so worried about me, Max sat around here drinking?!
I stand up, grabbing the glasses angrily as I do; they clink together loudly. I head into the kitchen, walking by Ron as I do. I ignore his stern look.
I make noise putting the glasses in the sink loudly. I return, but don’t sit down again. I stand away from everyone, with my arms crossed. “If you don’t mind…it’s been a long day…”
I don’t know where this is coming from. How I’m able to stand, let alone come across as upset with everyone. It’s like I’m watching myself from afar. I can see that I want to get this over with. I want to get to the part where…No. I’m not brave enough to say that…the part where Max can unleash the anger he’s holding in….There. I said it. I shake again though, all bravery gone.
Max gets up. I look at Jake, but see that he’s wearing his neutral mask, only the hint of a shake to his head is given to me.
Max comes to stand next to me, putting his arm gently around me. He kisses my head and I melt into his arm for a moment. His gentleness…it’s what I crave most right now. “Lucy’s right. I’m going to have to ask everyone to leave. I appreciate your staying…and helping. But she’s home where she belongs now.” He looks at me and I can see the dark look he’s burying. “And she needs to get to bed.”
Jeff moves to leave, nodding at Killaney. Killaney reluctantly gets up, putting his notepad away.
He stops in front of us though. “I’ll have prints on her phone tomorrow or the next day at the latest…I’ll let you know if we find anything. But you’ll need to come file a report with the precinct too.” I see Max nod. Killaney keeps staring at me, but I keep my look composed. I don’t know how. But I manage not to shake or cry or scream…only in my head.
Chapter 11 HIM
I move my arm from around Lucy to grab her arm and turn her to me, not rough, not gentle. She drops her arms to her sides, but doesn’t look up into my eyes. “Look at me, little girl.” She does. Her usual responsiveness.
But Jake stands and moves to be next to us. I can see Dad coming back from closing the front door to join us too.
It’s like watching a bad movie. You can see everything happening, but you can’t make it better.
I let go of Lucy’s arm. “Where were you this afternoon?”
She doesn’t stop staring, but it’s Jake that answers. “I told you. Her purse was stolen and she was stuck in my old elevator.”
I move just my eyes from him to her. A few times. Dad is now on the other side of Lucy. A tight little circle. I laugh. “Not buying it.” I look at Lucy again. “Tell me where you were, Lucy. Now!” She jumps at the rise in my voice. Good.
But Jake is still interfering. “I told you…”
Dad shuts him down this time. “Jake. Stay out of this.” Lucy is the only one who doesn’t look at Dad. I
can see Jake wants to argue, but he doesn’t say anything more.
“Answer me, little girl.” I say this quietly, in a deep demanding voice. One I know she’ll respond to quickly.
Chapter 11 HER
It’s my downfall. Not being able to lie to him. I thought I could. He’d see right through me. And this is my one chance to get him to see…
I swallow, not taking my eyes off him. “I needed to talk to Jake.” I watch as his face slowly melds…into the angriest face I saw one time before. Somehow made more horrible by the calmness, the lack of change in his body. It’s all on his eyes and lips. And I want to run again. My heart leaping into my throat, I have to hold back a cry. I put my hand to my mouth though.
But this time, we’re not alone. Jake sees this change too. I can feel him press a little closer. And Ron turns to face Max a little more.
How strange. I can hear every breath, feel every tension. How long have we stood like this? I start to see pops of bright lights in front of a darkening curtain. I stagger a little and feel hands on my arms. I look down and can’t tell if they belong to Jake or Max. Oh, I see…both.
I’m pulled towards a chair and sat down hard. I want to say, “Thank you,” but my mouth’s not working…all fuzzy right now. I cover my face and try to follow the words said behind me. But I really just need to breathe for a moment.
Chapter 12 HIM
Shit. She’s going to faint. I don’t drop my anger, but I grab her arm to stop her legs from buckling under. Jake grabs her other arm. I look from his hand on my wife to his face. He’s not letting go. We pull her over to the table and put her in a chair.
“What the fuck is going on, Jake?!” I can see Dad moving to stand near us again. I ignore him.
“She was scared of you.” Jake matches my tone, says this like it’s an accusation. An explanation. It’s not.
“So? She runs to you?!”
Jake lowers his eyes to Lucy’s head. I don’t need to look down to see that she’s trying to get her breathing under control again, covering her face and shaking. He tries for a calmer, more even tone, “She didn’t run to me, Max. She needed a friend to talk to. That’s all. I didn’t make it home…she got stuck in my elevator. That’s it.” He tries to shrug like this is no big deal.
My tone hasn’t changed. I’m only getting angrier. “Let me get this straight…she left here for her appointment, but instead went to your place…looking for you?” He only nods, keeping his eyes on me again. For a moment I can’t see beyond the red. I can’t believe any of this is happening.
My nightmare earlier tonight was someone holding Lucy for a ransom or taking her and…and hurting her. But this?! That she was with my own brother?!
Dad interrupts, “Jake…why would Lucy go to your place?” He’s angry too, but trying to sound calm like Jake.
Jake doesn’t look at him as he answers, just keeps staring at me, “I’ve been talking with Lucy…for a few months now…we’ve become close friends.” I don’t like the way he stressed the word. My jaw and fists clench harder. “She was scared about her doctor’s appointment today…and she needed a friend to talk to.” He repeats what he’s already said…it’s not an explanation!
Jake finally takes his eyes off me and looks at Dad. “She’s been scared for a while. She just needed…a friend…” Dad shakes his head slightly, but I can see that he’s out of words too. Jake fills in the silence again. “It was stupid. She knows this. She knows she shouldn’t have…” He glances at me, but lowers his eyes to her again quickly. “She would’ve been home sooner, if it weren’t for my elevator. I found her when I left here and brought her back as soon as I could.”
Dad sighs. It’s a sound we’ve heard before, with a look we’ve seen. It’s a resolute sound and look. He doesn’t like what he’s heard, but he’s done listening. So am I. I don’t wait for him to speak.
“Thanks for bringing my wife home where she belongs, Jake.” Sarcasm and anger mix to clip each word. He shoots me a look filled with volumes, but doesn’t say anything back. “Lucy.” She doesn’t move. I look down at her and repeat her name a little louder to get her to look up. “Go to our room.”
She pushes herself to stand, but Jake grabs her arm again, pulling her closer to him. “No.”
I narrow my eyes, anger taking a backseat to disbelief for a second. Only a second. “Get your hand off my wife, Jake.” I don’t move. I don’t need to, we’re all standing very close.
Jake drops his hand, but Lucy stays standing against his arm. My brother stares at me; I stare back. I’m pretty sure he wants to hit me. I know I want to hit him.
Dad breaks in, “Lucy. Go sit on the sofa.” No one argues with his commands. Lucy meekly moves two steps back and turns to the living room. I don’t take my eyes off Jake, but I see her sit on the edge, watching us. “Jake. Max. Sit.” We don’t move. “Now!” That did it. We both sit at the table, slowly, still staring at each other.
Chapter 12 HER
This is so much worse than I could’ve imagined. All three Traeger men, here, angry. All because of me. I want to cry and cover my face. But it’s a train wreck I can’t look away from…I have to watch, to stare.
Ron takes the seat I was just in, between Max and Jake. “This has been a long day for everyone. I have a few phone calls to make to clear up this mess.” His voice booms like Max’s. His anger a film covering everyone. “Max. You need to see to your wife. She’s obviously had some sort of shock or something today.” He speaks slowly, “She needs to be dealt with…gently tonight.” Max looks at him, but takes a while before he nods.
“Jake.” I watch as Max looks at his brother again; Jake turns to look at Ron. “You need to go home. And think about how your involvement here tonight only made matters worse…for everyone.”
“I’m not leaving until I hear Max say that he won’t hurt her.” I shiver hearing this. Jake is calm, but his voice has the same edge, the same steely grit as Ron’s. I want to jump up and run. I want to cower behind Jake. I want to beg Max to forgive me. I just want to hide really.
Max laughs. It’s a choked sound, sandpaper against bricks sound, “You’re trying to tell me what I can and can’t do, little brother?” Oh, God. This is only getting worse.
Ron puts his hand on both men’s arms on the table. “Enough.” I can see how he has an effect on them. Grown men, but they’re both still under his control. I can see myself in them, under Max’s control. Always. “Max, that detective is going to want to check on Lucy, to get a report tomorrow…it’d be best if you kept your anger in check right now, son.” Max again only nods.
Ron turns to Jake. “I told you to go home. Now.” Jake nods too.
He gets up and walks over to me, standing close, hiding me from them for a moment. He puts his finger on my cheek, tracing a tear I didn’t know was there. “I’ll call you tomorrow. You’ll be fine.” I only swallow in response, still too afraid to speak. My arms are wrapped around me, trying to hold my fear in, keep myself safe. It’s futile. But his words do make me feel better…it’s a lie, but I hold onto it.
He walks down the hall and I can hear the door quietly open and close. I can’t help but look back at the table. Ron and Max are both staring at me with the same look. Disgusted anger. Shocked anger. Furious anger.
I’m too frightened to move or breathe or blink. I just keep holding onto Jake’s words…I’ll be fine.
Chapter 13 HIM
I close the front door.
Dad stayed long enough to send Lucy to bed and make the calls he needed. I had to sit and listen as he explained that it was just an accident. That Lucy is fine and back home. No, no need to investigate anything. She was only trapped in an elevator for hours, but she’s fine now.
I had to listen to Dad laugh and charm his way out of the favors he pulled for me. The number of people he had already involved. He didn’t waste any time. If Lucy hadn’t shown up when she did, my house was minutes from being a full-blown TV-style crime scene investigation.
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I sigh. I know he’s right. I have to keep my anger in check. Tonight anyway. There may still be questions to answer tomorrow. Too many people involved.
For his sake. For my sake. I can’t let my anger have control. If I punish Lucy tonight…I have to stop myself from thinking this. The images that pop into my head are too vivid. My hands ache to punish her!
I take a deep breath and walk down the hallway. I stop at our bedroom door. I can’t go in there. If I see her now…I won’t be able to stop myself.
I turn and walk into the guest room instead and close the door quietly.
Chapter 13 HER
I don’t remember falling asleep. I’m still in my clothes, on top of the covers. It’s late though. 3:00 a.m. I don’t need to roll over to know Max isn’t in bed. But the house is quiet. I don’t know where he is.
I get up and head to the bathroom. The lights hurt for a second, making me blink my puffy and red eyes. I splash more water on my face. Take off my clothes. Put on my robe and nothing else.
I don’t have a plan. I’m not really thinking. Just going on instinct. Maybe…
I quietly open the door. I can see the guest room door is closed. He must be in there.
I take a deep breath. Steeling myself. I can do this. I have no choice…I have to face him sooner or later…
I quietly open the door and hear his deep breathing. I hesitate. I second guess. Maybe I should just let him sleep…not wake the monster…I’m trying to joke to myself?!…so not funny!
I stand over the bed, putting my hand on his dark, soft waves. I gently rub his head, “Max…come to bed, sweetie…”
He’s awake in an instant, rolling over and grabbing me with him. He’s on top of me before I can even squeal at the sudden movement. “You want me to come to bed, baby?” I only nod. I don’t know if he can see me even.
True Control 4.2: A Dark Romance (True Series Book 5) Page 4
