by Lym Cruz
“Can I call my mother?”
“Not yet, but soon you’ll be able to reach out and even visit them.”
“What about your family?”
“I wasn’t able to see them. They were already gone.”
“Witness protection?”
“Yes,” he breathed out in defeat.
“Why? You said we aren’t in danger?”
“Nunes wouldn’t tell me why. But he promised me it was for the best.” He pressed me down on the mattress and straddled my naked body. Eyes bright. All his burdens had disappeared. “For now, we have to enjoy our vacation and spend all the money we have.”
My chest fluttered hearing the word we and the implication of it. I laughed. “I thought we were giving it away to charity?”
“Yes, but not all of it. I want to take you to all the places you’ve dreamed of and give you all of your heart’s desires.”
“I have you. That’s all I need.” I was secure with what I was saying. Ezra was everything I needed. “For now,” I teased.
We were both flawed and together our imperfections were made perfect.
Epilogue
Vinnie
Nothing made sense as we waited impatiently in a room surrounded by metal and glass. There were two armed officers by the door, and we weren’t allowed to leave. We were whisked from our home this morning—not even given time to pack anything. Nunes didn’t offer much by way of explanation, and all we knew was that we’d be placed in some sort of witness protection because we could be in danger.
“Dad,” Alexa, my daughter yelled, tears pooling her eyes. “I was going to be a doctor. I’m top of my class at STANFORD. Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get where I am? And now my life is ruined because of Ezra?”
“Lexi, please let’s be patient.” Claire tried to reason with her. “For all we know Ezra could be in danger too.”
“I’m your daughter,” the screams turned to my wife. “You’ve always protected Ezra all your life. He always came first and look at where he put us.”
I didn’t know what to say because she had every right to be upset. Our lives were turned upside down and all our plans shattered. I couldn’t even think straight.
“Dad. Say something!”
My burdened gaze found my daughter’s distressed eyes. The frown set between her brows was deep and tears rolled down the side of her face. I couldn’t make it better. I couldn’t fix this, and my daughter’s agony always felt like it was my own. I loved Alexa and Ezra more than life itself and their pain would always be my pain.
“Honey, let’s wait until Detective Nunes returns and then we’ll have all the answers.”
Roaring, she stomped her feet and plunked onto the couch. She covered her face with a pillow and wept. Her mother tried to comfort her but she refused her touch.
Claire glanced at me, her eyes speaking the words her mouth refused to utter. She was scared. Worried. And a sense of helplessness took over me.
Through the glass window, separating us from the rest of the precinct, I saw Nunes walk in. His shoulders were high, his stride was determined and triumphal. A group of armed men came in behind him, all dressed in black and amongst them was Pamela or as she called herself now, Chichi, in handcuffs.
My hands trembled with anger, and my heart palpitated to a point I had to breathe through my mouth. I looked from Claire to Pamela, and then back to Claire. Her face paled. I had a hunch that whatever was going on had to do with Chichi. Guilt, regret, shame took me down an old familiar path.
I bolted to my feet and banged on the window to hopefully snatch Nunes’ attention. Either he ignored me or didn’t notice my attempt because I went unacknowledged.
“Hey, somebody,” I continued to call. “I need to speak to someone in charge.”
“Calm down,” Claire said, grasping my arm. “Don’t let your blood pressure rise. You don’t have your meds with you.”
Alexa removed the pillow from her face. “If you have a stroke, I won’t be able to help you, do you know why? Because I didn’t finish medical school.” She brought the pillow back up to cover her face.
I took back my seat to steady my uneasy heart. My mind wandered to Ezra. All I hoped was that he was safe and well. My boy.
After what seemed an eternity, Nunes walked in. His features were impassive.
“I need to talk to Pamela.” Was the first thing I said. “Please, I need to see that woman. She’s the one that ruined my family.”
“I’m sorry but that’s out of the question.” Nunes shook his head. “Impossible. She’s in confinement, waiting to be transferred by the feds and you’re not even supposed to be here.”
I grimaced. “What do you mean? No one has told us anything?”
“I know and I’m sorry. You and your family were supposed to be at a safe house by now but one of the officers spotted somethin’ odd. We agreed it would be best to keep you here while we had it looked into. I promised Ezra I’d keep you safe.”
“That just confuses me even more.”
“I thought Ezra would have talked to you but I guess he hasn’t.”
Nunes proceeded to give a brief explanation of what was going on. I couldn’t believe that Ezra fell into Chichi’s claws. He was smarter than that.
“Nunes,” I pleaded, “that woman came into our lives and destroyed everything we had. All I need is one minute to tell her how much I despise her.”
“I understand the connection between all of you, but my hands are tied.”
“Untie them, damn it! Please let me speak to her.”
“Ezra,” Claire said from behind me. “Do you know where he is?”
His face fell and I clutched my chest. My heart tightened with a stabbing pain. “What happened to my son?”
“He’s hurt and lost a lot of blood but the doctors are optimistic that he’ll make a full recovery.”
Claire gasped. “Oh no!”
“You see what that woman did?” I bellowed, pointing towards the door.
“I understand.” He placed a hand on my shoulder to calm me. “But I can’t.”
“Please …”
He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Nunes left the room and returned less than ten minutes later. He simply signaled with a head nod and I followed. He led me through a hall and down a staircase, into a space that had one large metallic door.
“You have two minutes,” Nunes mumbled. “Make them count.”
He punched in a code and the door opened. I took the first step into the cold and empty room. Empty except for Pamela who sat at the center in a copper chair. Her hands were handcuffed at her wrists and her feet by the ankles. Her lips crooked into a smirk when she laid eyes on me.
Many years had gone by but she was still a striking woman. She was dressed elegantly in a blue dress, there was a splatter of what I assumed was blood on it—for a second I contemplated whose blood it was—and a pearl necklace rested on her chest.
“You came to watch my fall?” She laughed. “Then let me spare you the trouble and tell you that this is not over, not by a long shot.”
“Why did you come back, Pamela? Why go through all of this?”
Her face twisted. “You bastard! You know very well that I came for our son.”
“Pamela,” I warned, widening my eyes.
She scoffed. “Do you know how close I was to telling him everything? I wanted him to know that you’re not the saint you pretend to be.”
A flash of anger protected me from the shame. Getting involved with Pamela was a mistake, and that mistake led to a spiral of other faults that no matter how much I wished, I wouldn’t be able to take back.
“I told you to stay away from him,” I said through clenched teeth. “Now my son is in a hospital fighting for his life because of you. What kind of love is that?”
“The only kind I know.” Her words were harsh. “You are the coward that got me deported to keep our affair from your wi
fe and brother. I was dropped like a bag of shit in Reynosa, I had no one to turn to and no money. I slept on the streets, ate from the trash, just to survive. Somewhere along the way, I lost count of the times I was raped and beaten by filthy men. I handled it all because I wanted to live. I learned how to play the game and got better at it than anyone else. I built an empire and reinvented myself into Chichi. So, where I come from love, pain, hatred, revenge is all the same.”
A rush of memories flooded my system. I couldn’t shut them off. Each one was stronger than the other. When I arranged for her to be deported, I never imagined any of this would happen. I thought only about myself and how to protect my marriage, my brother, and to keep my son close to me at all costs. My head lowered as if there was a magnet on the ground pulling me towards it. It was shame dragging me down.
“I’m sorry for what happened, but involving Ezra in this was a mistake, Pamela.”
Rolling her eyes, as if she hadn’t heard what I’d said, she continued, “I’m dying.” She bent her head forward and her bound hands strained, reaching for her head. She tugged at her hair and it came off, revealing an almost bald head. “I have ovarian cancer and I don’t have that long to live. Doctors say maybe six months.” A layer of tears clouded her eyes. “All I wanted was to pass on everything I have—had—to my son.” She laughed. “But he double-crossed me and I must say that I am impressed. He seemed so weak that I didn’t even see it coming.” She blinked and tears fell but there was a smile on her lips. “Everything is your fault, Vincent Collin.”
“Just leave Ezra alone. If you want revenge, take it out on me.”
She chortled. A loud, hollow laugh that echoed around the room. “I never planned on killing Ezra. He is my son after all. But I might have hurt him a bit just to toughen him up. And … he has my money. All I wanted was for him to like me. After all the lies you’ve told him over the years, I knew he’d never accept me. I infiltrated his life hoping he’d get to know me. Understand me. And maybe one day he’d even look at me the way he looks at Claire.
“But don’t worry Vincent, you’ll get what’s coming to you. My revenge hasn’t even begun. You will feel my wrath on your skin for what you did to me. That Alexa of yours is a pretty girl.”
The mention of my daughter’s name brought my head up. “You stay away from her or I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”
“Didn’t you hear me? I’m already dying, but even when I’m six feet under or cremated just know that … My. Revenge. Will. Come. And I’ll be dancing in my grave on the day of your reckoning.”
“You bitch,” I snapped, marching towards her and cupped her jaw in my hands. She didn’t even flinch but instead stared straight into my eyes. Her courage never wavered. I could tell she wasn’t lying. She was going to come after my daughter. “Leave my family alone.”
“A child for a child. You took away mine and I’ll take yours.”
I pressed harder against her jawline. My hands trembled and my heart thudded. I slid my hands down to her neck and then brought up the other one. I wanted to squeeze the life out of her. But the door opened and I jumped back, releasing her.
“Time’s up,” Nunes announced. “C’mon, let’s go.” He grabbed my arm and ushered me out.
I couldn’t take my eyes away from her. The smug smile returned to her lips. She blew me a kiss and winked just before the door closed separating the two of us maybe forever.
“How safe is this witness protection?” I asked Nunes.
“Safe.” His answer wasn’t convincing. “From the threats she made, I suggest we speed up the process and get you out of town sooner rather than later.”
“What about my son, um, Ezra?”
“I’ll find a way to keep you informed.”
Embarrassed, I swallowed. “My wife doesn’t know about anything that happened between me and—”
He interrupted and said, “I’m not interested in your family drama.”
I nodded my understanding. He wouldn’t say anything to Claire, but I was sure he heard every word exchanged between Pamela and I.
“Do you think that what she said is true? Do you think she’ll come after Alexa?”
“She could be bluffing, but Rowan is still out there. We know he’s devoted to her so let’s not take any chances.”
My blood turned cold.
Thank You
Writing a book is harder than I thought and more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. None of this would have been possible without my husband and family. They are my rocks!
I’m eternally grateful for every single Beta Reader and ARC reader. And this book could not be possible without the valuable opinions of authors Vera Fernandez and M. H. B.
Allison Dublin, thank you for being the best PA and friend ever. You really are God sent. Thank so much for putting up with me.
Stephanie Messier and Angela Sorensen, I could never thank you enough for loving my characters as much as I do and for promoting the heck out of them.
I Also want to thank you for reading my story. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought and what was your experience with the book.
Lastly but most importantly, I want to thank God most of all, because without Him I wouldn’t be able to do any of this. He gave me the breath of life.
Also by Lym Cruz
Imperfectly Perfect Series of interconnected standalone novels:
Flawed
(Andrew and Melissa’s story)
Rejected
(Ezra and Christina’s story)
Stay in touch
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About the Author
Lym Cruz is a Contemporary Romance Author who strives to create heartfelt novels and short stories.
Her stories revolve around strong, but imperfect heroes and heroines, both struggling to find love in the face of adversity, and that’s what makes them relatable.
Fall madly in Love with your next characters by simply reading one of her stories.
When Lym is not reading or writing, she spends her time with her family. She considers them, her greatest accomplishment.
www.lymcruznovels.com
