“Okay,” Matthew responds. “Listen carefully. The police cruiser is going to make three laps around your block. I want you watching each one. On the fourth, you’re going to grab Tyler and meet the cruiser when it pulls into your driveway, and you’re going to get in the car. The officer will bring you to me. I didn’t want to do this, but I’m being backed into a corner right now and I’m not going to let you and Ty get hurt. While you’re waiting on the cruiser, I want you to pack a couple bags for the three of you. Nothing major—clothes, some of Tyler’s toys, your books, whatever. Get the bare essentials, Sam, stuff you need for the night and maybe tomorrow. After that, I’ll take care of whatever you need. Got it?”
My brain is in overdrive right now. I’m being told that I’m about to flee my home, because people are trying to come after me and my son. My ex-husband apparently has the police on his payroll, at least enough that they are willing to be used as a taxi service. I have no idea why the police wouldn’t just drag this asshole into the station and question him, maybe lock him up until Matthew has more information. Well, I have theories, but none of them are what I would call comforting. One of those theories is that the asshole outside is too dangerous even for the police to approach.
And now I’m really scared.
With Matthew murmuring comforting words through the phone, I pack our bags and pretend I don’t hear him alternately soothing me and shouting at other people. The thought that I should contact Tom crosses my mind as I’m gathering his shaving tools and it takes me a moment to realize Matthew hasn’t read my mind when he answers my question, that I actually spoke out loud. “Tom will be in my team’s custody shortly,” he says briskly, not sounding too pleased with what he was saying. “He’s safe.”
I don’t know what to say to that except thank you and I finish my packing before heading back to the bedroom. I’m just in time to see the man in the street snapping his head to the left suddenly, then booking it back to his car. Within seconds he’s speeding off. I report what I see to Matthew, who lets out a sigh of relief as the police cruiser slowly drives through my neighborhood. When he disappears around the corner, Matthew tells me to get on my shoes and jacket. On the second pass, I’ve moved my luggage down to the front door. The third time, I’m gently picking up Tyler from his bed, relieved that he’s such a deep sleeper. A couple minutes later, there are headlights in my driveway and I hear a door opening, closing, and rapid footsteps approaching my porch. I yank open the front door and am face-to-face with a tall, older police officer. My eyes dart down quickly taking in the fact that his hand is resting on the butt of his handgun, but he’s got a very kind face and even kinder eyes, and the fact that Matthew sent him causes me to trust him almost immediately.
“Miss Everett?” he asks quietly, his eyes darting down to my son sleeping against my shoulder. I nod and he smiles, bending to grab the two duffel bags I’ve packed. “This way, please.”
For a brief moment, I’m amused as I think about what my neighbors would see if they poked their heads out their windows right now: it’s practically the middle of the night and I’m loading my belongings into a police car and will shortly get in myself. And if I gave a damn about what my neighbors thought, I would be more worried about this. I’m just relieved Tom isn’t here right now, or he’d be out of his mind worrying about what everyone else is thinking. It’s not that he wouldn’t see the severity of our situation, but that he’d be more focused on the immediate and what’s right in front of him. That, I know, is his way of coping with stressful situations.
Some of his tendencies seem to have rubbed off on me; as I reach the car, I stop suddenly. “I need my son’s booster seat,” I say quickly. “It’s in my car...”
“I’ve got one,” says the officer, smiling again. “You can buckle him in the backseat.”
I blink several times as my mind wraps itself around this statement. Matthew has thought far enough ahead to make safety arrangements for Tyler’s transportation. The thought frightens me a little; how long has he believed this scenario would see realization?
With Tyler safe in the backseat and myself up front with the officer, whose name I believe might be James P. Healy if the badge on his dashboard is any indication, I begin to relax for the first time in what seems like hours. We back down the driveway and leave the neighborhood as casually as I would if I was headed to the grocery store. I find myself looking around, wondering if I’ll ever see any of this again and whether I even want to see any of this again. Immediately, I’m chiding myself. This may not be my dream life, but it’s the one I’ve chosen, and it wasn’t until I realized Matthew was back in my life that I started feeling differently about it. I don’t know how long this ordeal is going to last, but once it’s over, I will be returning here and getting back to normal.
Vaguely, I hear Officer Healy over the radio talking in police code that makes no sense to me. It’s not until I hear a familiar voice talking back that my interest is piqued. “10-4, Patrol,” says Leo’s crackling voice over the radio. “Please proceed as instructed. ETA?”
“Fifteen to twenty,” Healy responds.
“Acknowledged.” Leo pauses. “See you soon, Sam.”
The line goes dead and I watch as Healy switches radio channels. He glances over at my dumbstruck expression and chuckles. “Leo’s father is an old friend of mine,” he says by way of explanation. “He contacted me a couple days ago asking me to stand-by, just in case. Luckily he caught me tonight as I got off duty.”
“Oh,” I say weakly, sitting back in my chair and looking out the window. “Where are we going?”
“The Double Tree on Dodge Street,” is the response. “I don’t have details, but I will say this: whatever the trouble is, you’re in the best care with Leo and Young. They’re good kids.”
I make a noise of acknowledgement, uncertain whether I’m comfortable knowing the police officer who was strictly instructed to not approach the suspect outside my house also has no idea what’s going on. Before I know it, we’re pulling into the driveway of the Double Tree Hotel and I can make out the faint outline of somebody leaning against a wall outside the front door with a cigarette hanging from their fingers. Officer Healy pulls up to the curb and I watch as Leo stubs out the cigarette and walks around the car to my side, opening my door. He’s smiling widely at me as he helps me out, and I try to return the smile, but fail miserably. Tyler is still, surprisingly, asleep when I get him out of his chair. Leo’s wide eyes are locked on my son; I know he’s thinking about just how much he looks like Matthew.
“I’ll get your bags,” he says quietly. Before we head inside, Leo turns towards the police car and waves. “Thanks again, Jim!”
Officer Healy gives him a slight salute, then pulls out of the driveway.
“Are you okay?” Leo asks once we’re in the elevator.
I’m rubbing circles on my son’s back, mostly to comfort myself, but glance out the corner of my eye at Leo. “I will be,” I say with a sigh. “Does he plan on giving me answers?”
Leo doesn’t have to ask which he I’m referring to. “I think so,” he responds. “He’s pretty upset right now, though, understandably so, and I think a couple people are going to be out on their asses by dawn.”
Once on the topmost floor of the hotel, we turn right and walk down the hallway to the very end. Leo removes a key card from his back pocket and uses it to unlock the door, holding it open and ushering me inside. Despite it being after midnight, the suite where Matthew is staying is full of activity. A few of the people I recognize as security while the other faces are new to me; they’re all on the phone.
The second the door closes, I see Matthew’s head snap up from where he’s been tapping away at his laptop. He’s wearing an expression of utter relief as he sets aside the computer and stands, making his way quickly towards me. We don’t speak and he doesn’t ask permission to wrap his arms around his, holding us as closely to him as he can. His chest is pounding and his breathing shuddering, b
ut when he pulls away to look at me, he’s the epitome of cool, calm, and collected. “You’re all right?” he asks, looking between Tyler and me.
I nod. “I’m fine,” I assure him. “But we need to talk.”
Sighing, he nods as well and runs a shaking hand through his hair. “Yeah, I know,” he says quietly. His eyes fall on his son and his expression softens. “He’s slept this whole time?”
I smile. “Yes,” I confirm. “He could sleep through anything, which is good considering I don’t want him aware of this anymore than he needs to be.”
“I agree,” Matthew says, jerking his head to a closed door that I’m sure is a bedroom. “Do you want to lay him down? Tom should be here soon and from what I’m hearing, he’s not pleased.”
Snorting a laugh, I nod, following my ex into the bedroom where Leo has already brought in our things. I place Tyler in the middle of the bed and cover him with the blanket. I’ll need to keep an ear out; if he wakes in a strange place, he’ll probably panic, especially if I’m not beside him. I kiss his forehead and turn to find Matthew’s eyes locked on the little boy as well with an unreadable expression on his face. A few moments later, he snaps out of his thoughts and gestures that I follow him out of the room.
In the few minutes that we were in the bedroom, the suite has cleared out leaving only Leo who is pouring himself a drink at the bar. He offers one to both Matthew and me; we both accept. One sip into our drinks, the suite door opens again and we look over to find a very harassed-looking Thomas Saunders entering in front of two more members of the security team.
“Samantha,” he murmurs, crossing the room to me in a few long strides. I set aside my drink and stand, letting him wrap me in his arms. I hug him back, though I’m looking over at Matthew who is watching us with a myriad of negative emotions, leaving me feeling guilty. Yes, I know I’m living with Tom and should have no problem hugging him; I think it’s my ex-husband witnessing this affection that has corrupted my feelings on the subject.
“Where’s Ty?” Tom asks, concerned as he pulls away from me.
“Asleep,” I tell him.
Tom nods and finally looks away from me, directly to Matthew, and I’m very glad Tyler sleeps as deeply as he does and that I thought to close the bedroom door. “What the fuck is going on?” he growls at Matthew.
Matthew raises an eyebrow. “There was someone staking out your house,” he says evenly, pouring another drink and handing it to Tom. Tom accepts it grudgingly. “I saw the need to evacuate Sam and Tyler, and get all three of you to safety.”
“I told you what was going to happen if you showed up again.” Tom is standing at his full height, which is still about a head shorter than Matthew.
“No,” Matthew says firmly. “Look, I’m done dicking around with you, Saunders. I get you don’t like me and I’d be lying if I said the feeling wasn’t mutual. But for once in your life, shut the fuck up and let the grown-ups talk.” Tom is staring at the other man as though he’s grown two heads. Resignedly, Tom sits on the couch and I sit beside him as Matthew chooses the armchair closest to me. “You and your family is in severe danger. If I hadn’t intervened, I don’t even want to think about what might have happened to them tonight. This isn’t a fucking game and I’m not fucking playing anymore. If you value your life at all, you’ll do exactly as I tell you, exactly when I tell you. If you disagree, there’s the door.” He points at said door.
Tom glances towards it and I get the feeling that for half a second, he’s considering leaving. After a moment, his shoulders slump slightly and he turns back to Matthew, giving him all his attention.
“Good choice. The people following you are relentless and will stop at nothing to get what they want. Currently what they want is leverage against me, which means they’re going straight to what means the most to me—Samantha and Tyler. I don’t know what they plan to do if they ever actually get their hands on you, but I know they won’t stop trying. Right now, you’re safest with me. On your own, you’re vulnerable and risking exposure to anyone who wants to hurt you. Hate me all you want, but right now you’re only option is to trust me.”
This only seems to piss off Tom even more. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” he says coldly. “And neither is Samantha or Tyler.”
I bristle, turning towards Tom to ask him since when he thinks he can make my decisions for me, but Matthew beats me to it. “I need to talk to you,” he says directly to Tom. “Privately.”
Though Matthew’s tone books no argument, I see Tom starting to do so. Whether he’s intimated by Matthew or doesn’t want to fight my ex in front of me, I don’t know, but the two men head out onto the balcony, closing the door behind them. Leo joins me on the couch and I realize I’d managed to forget he was in the room. “Long night?” I ask, watching Leo top off what has to be his fourth glass of whiskey.
“Understatement,” Leo muttered. “The last month has been one whole long night, especially when Matt got word about this threat.” He looks over at me thoughtfully. “I think the only good thing to come out of this is that he gets to see you again. He’s happier than he’s been in years...”
I’m not sure what it is I’m supposed to say about this, so I busy myself with my drink and glancing through the glass doors of the balcony where I can see Tom and Matthew having a very heated conversation. Matthew is pointing at me and I think I know exactly what they’re talking about.
“It’s good to see you, Sammy,” Leo says quietly.
I look over and match his smile. “You too,” I say honestly.
Leo Hoffman, among other things, is Matthew’s right-hand man. They’ve been friends since they were kids and when Matthew started his business, Leo was the first person he hired. I’ve known him as long as I’ve known Matthew; he was with Matthew that day in the diner. Over the years, he became a very valued friend, loyal to Matthew to a fault, and could have easily hated me for leaving. That doesn’t seem to be the case, though, and that’s a relief.
“So what’s the deal with you and Saunders?” Leo asks, also looking out the glass doors.
I sigh, trying to think of a way to explain. “It’s complicated,” I mutter evasively. It’s the truth. Tom and I are currently in a state of limbo—he wants something that I’m not certain I want and I can’t rightfully give him what he wants until I am. He deserves better than that, especially after everything he’s done for me and Tyler over the last five years.
“Well, whatever it is, I’m glad you’ve at least got somebody you can lean on,” Leo says sincerely. “Matt doesn’t trust him, of course. Thinks he’s more focused on keeping you and Matt apart than worrying about your safety.”
I can’t argue that. Tom hated Matthew from day one and that hate only strengthened when I left home with him, doubled when I married him, and quadrupled when I left him. “He’s worried about our safety,” I tell Leo. “I just think it’s because Matt is the one coming to us with all this that he’s fighting it so hard.”
“He needs to get his head out of his ass. Quickly. This isn’t something we can just ignore and pray it goes away. Matt won’t admit it out loud to anyone, but this has scared the hell out of him. I’ve never seen him like this, Sam, and I’m not sure if it’s because you and Tyler are involved this time or if he’s really more afraid that these guys are this determined...” He shakes his head and looks at me with a serious expression I’ve only ever seen on his face a handful of times. “He really stepped in it this time.”
The fact that Leo is admitting that Matthew seems to have done something that went too far brings home just how bad this is. Matthew isn’t the type to under react to threats, but neither he nor Leo ever really took them as seriously as they should. That may have changed after I left, after the attack, but in my experience my ex prefers to downplay everything for the benefit of those around him. I want to ask Leo what it is Matthew has stepped in, but the sliding glass doors open and we both look over as Matthew and Tom reenter the room. Matthew looks calmer t
han before, while Tom looks livid.
“Leo, I need a hand,” Matthew says quietly, giving me a small smile that I try to return. We’re all aware he’s making up excuses to put distance between us and them—us being Tom and me.
“Yeah, of course,” Leo plays along, standing from his spot beside me. “Night, Sammy.”
My smile is a little more genuine. “Night, Leo,” I say back. The two of them head off into another room, leaving Tom and me alone.
“Are you speaking to me yet?” I ask him as he continues to stand just inside the door.
He sighs and finally meets my gaze. “I don’t like this,” he says quietly.
“You think I do?” I counter, my tone harsher than I intended it to be. “You think I wanted to leave my home in the middle of the night while my son slept because apparently there’s someone after us for God only knows what reasons? Let me tell you something, Tom: I know you’re protective of us and that you love us, but don’t ever think you get to make decisions for me, especially when it comes to the safety of my son.”
Tom looks like I’ve hit him. “Samantha, you can’t really be considering going along with his plan—”
“I don’t know what his plan is!” I whisper loudly, trying not to draw attention from Matthew and Leo. “What I do know, however, is that anytime he tries to tell us, you jump in with some stubborn retort about the two of us. He’s left me alone for five years, Tom. We’re divorced. If he wanted me back, he would have shown up years ago.” I swallow hard at my own words. “He’s here to help us. That’s all.”
The look on Tom’s face right now suggests his belief that I’m wrong. “All I know is that you, Tyler, and I have lived peacefully and happily for all this time and the second he comes back into our lives, we’re in danger. Can’t you see how dangerous he is to you? And even if you won’t tell me exactly what happened before you left him, I know this isn’t the first time you’ve dealt with this shit. Yes, I realize now we’re in danger and I’ll do whatever I need to do to keep you and Ty safe, but if we stick around with him, it’s only going to get worse.”
Young Lies (Young Series) Page 4
