by Rebel Farris
“This belongs to me?” He reversed and started dragging out slowly.
My answer was part moan, part shaky groan. “Yeeessssss.”
His hand trailed down farther as his fingers pinched the bundle of nerves at my core.
“Come,” he commanded.
And like a good little trained monkey, my body responded and did exactly as he said. He picked up the pace of his thrusts, not releasing the pressure on my clit. The waves of my climax rolled over me repeatedly with his every movement. My arms and legs jerked along with his thrusts like a marionette. He was completely in control of my body.
“This is definitely mine,” he said, and his movements stuttered as he found his release.
He collapsed on top of me. My body accepted his delicious weight with glee. My heart was pounding as I fought for breath and coherent thought.
Law’s breathing was labored, too, as it rushed across my cheek in the silence of the tiny room.
“I don’t like it,” he said, breaking the silence.
“It’s what’s best for the girls.”
“What about what’s best for us?”
“Law, I’m trying to do what’s best for the girls. If it doesn’t work, then I move out. It’s not like I’m signing a contract to stay there for a specific length of time. It’s a nice house in a good neighborhood—better than anything I can afford. And it has great schools. This is a good opportunity for them.”
“No,” he said simply.
“What the fuck do you mean, no?” I asked, shoving him off me and scrambling to find my clothes.
“I mean no,” he said in his tone that brooked no argument, and illustrated by the stubborn set of his chin. “You’re not doing it.”
I wasn’t having it. “What—who the—what the fuck makes you think you even have the right to say no?”
“I think I just made my point pretty clear.” He gave me that sexy, one-dimpled smirk, and his eyes darted to the table I was just on.
“Oh, I let you get away with a lot of stuff when we fuck.” My voice escalated with every word. “But you don’t ever get to tell me what to do outside of it. Especially, when it comes to my kids. Do you get me?” I crossed my arms over my chest and pinned him with a steely gaze.
He hesitated for a moment but then just smiled at me like I was a cute cat video on the internet.
What the fuck?
“You know what? You can wipe that stupid look off your face because this isn’t going to work. I’m moving in there after graduation whether you like it or not. And if you don’t like it, you can eat a dick. I’m out.”
I pulled on my final piece of clothing—my shirt—and stormed out of the room, the door slamming into the wall on my way out.
“Laine? Fuck!” He grabbed my arm to halt my exit. “Stop. Don’t do this. We can talk about it and find something that works better for all of us.”
“You’re not hearing me.” I shook off his grip and continued out the door. “Because I said, this is what’s best for the girls. I’m not compromising their lives for my pleasure.”
He halted in his tracks. “Do you mean that?”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.” My brows drew together, confused as to why he needed clarification as I turned back to him.
“So that’s how this is going to be,” he yelled. “I’m always going to take a back seat. Nothing I want matters.”
“Of course, because that’s what it means to be a parent. Why don’t you fucking get that?” I screamed at him. I turned and stomped toward my car. The man was infuriating. I loved him. I loved my girls. I shouldn’t have to choose one over the other, but if there was a choice, they were my responsibility and he wasn’t. They’d win. Even if it ripped my soul apart in the process.
Lost in my thoughts, I almost fell over as I ran into a man entering the gym. He gripped my arm and helped me regain my balance.
“Oh, crap. Maddie?” I looked up to a familiar face I hadn’t seen in ages.
“Blake? What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I just joined this gym. Coming here to work out on my lunch break. Hey, are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a disagreement. I’ve gotta run. Enjoy your workout.”
“Yeah, see you around.”
I gave a half-hearted wave as I turned and continued to my car. I pulled out of the parking lot, squealing my tires.
Now
A knock echoes around my office as Chloe scurries to my side and steps behind me, putting me between her and the door. My curiosity over her odd behavior is interrupted by the sound of knuckles on glass. We can’t see who’s on the other side because the shades are pulled, but nobody moves until the second knock sounds.
Dex breaks the standoff and strides across the room to pull open the door.
Two men in suits walk in, their eyes roaming over each of us, but linger on me.
“Miss Dobransky, sorry to interrupt,” the taller of the two says. “I’m Agent Dobbs; this is US Marshal Sanders.”
I nod at each one, at a loss as to what’s going on. They couldn’t possibly be elevating the murder to a federal case. Not after all these years.
“What can I help you with?” I ask.
“We’re not here for you,” Marshal Sanders says. “We’re here for Miss Meade.”
Chloe? My eyes dart to her, and she meets my gaze with a worried plea in her eyes before she looks away.
“I never told them,” she murmurs, her eyes focused on the FBI agent. “I never said a word about my past to anyone. You can’t take me.”
The room seems to shift as I try to adjust to the shock that our sweet, quiet Chloe apparently has one hell of a secret.
“I’m afraid the fault isn’t on you, Miss Meade,” Agent Dobbs says. “Your file was hacked. We have to take you in. We’re not sure at this time who may have broken into your file or why they targeted you specifically. But this was a targeted security breach. You’re going to have to come with us.”
Dread swamps my gut. I can’t help but think this is related to everything that’s going on with me. But I can’t say anything without sounding like a crazy person unless I’m willing to hand over that video. And I’m not. The dominoes are starting to fall once again. One by one. I feel powerless to stop it.
“I can’t leave,” Chloe mutters. “This is my family now. They need me. Maddie needs me here, especially, with all that’s going on.”
“We can’t let you stay,” Agent Dobbs says. “We need to keep you safe to testify.”
“Hey, if you need to go to stay safe, Chloe, do it,” I say, cradling her face in my hands. “We’ll be here when you get back. You’re part of our family, and you always will be. But I need you to be safe.” I look to Evan. “Evan can go with you.”
He nods in agreement.
“He’ll make sure you stay safe. And make sure that you come back to us.”
Her blue eyes shift from me, then to Evan. Her eyes are red rimmed with unshed tears. “You’d do that?”
“Of course he would,” I assure her. “Family first.”
“But what about you?” she asks.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve plenty of people around to protect me.” I smile at her and run my hand over her sleek blue hair. I gather her close, hugging her tightly, tears welling in my eyes. I’m not sure I can keep those promises, but I’m going to try. I squeeze my eyes before releasing her.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t allow anyone to come with her,” Marshal Sanders says, looking at me and then Evan. “We’re taking her to a safe house now, but eventually she’ll be relocated and receive a new identity.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” I say, my eyes narrowing on the agents.
“I won’t go, then,” Chloe protests. “If he can’t come with me, then I’m safer here with everyone. I’m not starting over again. I can’t do that, not after finding where I belong.”
“You can’t stay here,”
Agent Dobbs says. “You agreed to testify against your captor.”
“Hold on,” I say, rubbing my forehead and trying for patience. My default reaction right now is to scream at everyone to stop talking. “Agent, Marshal, would you like to take a seat? I’ve no clue what you’re talking about. I can advise Chloe to go, and Evan will go with her, but I think we need to know what we’re up against, don’t you?” I direct the last bit at Chloe, and she nods.
There’s a couch and two chairs in my office that surround a coffee table. Chloe and I sit on the sofa while the agents take the chairs. Evan wheels my desk chair around and sits at the end of the coffee table. Dex leans against the wall, silently watching this drama unfold.
I nod to Chloe to start. This is her show. I can’t fill in the blanks for her.
“Ya ever heard—” She stops and clears her throat, her eyes darting to the federal agent, seeking approval.
Agent Dobbs gives her a nod. “It can’t hurt at this point. Just no details about the case, okay?”
Chloe’s lower lip trembles as she looks back to me. “Did ya ever see the story on the news about Charlene Clancy?”
Goose bumps travel across my skin like a wave. I nod. I’d heard the story. You would’ve had to be hiding under a rock three years ago not to hear about it. Personally, for me, it was the story that finally pulled the spotlight from my life: a girl kidnapped when she was eight years old escaped her captors at eighteen.
The media was pretty vague about what happened to her, but she was held against her will for more than a decade. It couldn’t have been a sweet fairy tale. News shows speculated what had happened to her during that time while a nationwide manhunt was conducted to find her kidnappers and bring them to justice, only that never happened. And then one day, the story just vanished. People moved on to the next thing, and that was that.
I never thought twice when this lonely eighteen-year-old girl applied to the job listing for my personal assistant. Fear and worry embed itself under my skin. I reach out and squeeze her hand in support.
“That was me. I’m the girl that escaped.” Her eyes plead with me. “I’m sorry I kept it from ya.”
I snort a laugh. “I’d be the last person in the world to judge you for keeping secrets.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Evan scoffs.
I cut him a look, and he looks away, struggling to hide a smirk.
“He shouldn’t come with you,” the US marshal interrupts. “But if that’s the only way to get you to go with us, then so be it. We’ll run his background once we get on the road. We need to get you to a safe house, now. We can deal with that issue later.”
“I agree.” The FBI agent smiles at Chloe and shrugs. “I really don’t want to arrest you on obstruction. Taking you in could put you at risk, so we’ll figure it out. But we need to leave. We don’t know how fast they’ll act upon receiving your location.”
Chloe sucks in a breath and nods. She looks at me, fear and doubt as plain as day in her eyes.
“It’ll be okay,” I say. “You’re getting the best of the best in my circle of trust to keep you safe. Evan’ll take care of you. I bet my life on it.”
I stand, and everyone else follows. My brows draw together when Evan hugs me and slips his phone into my hands.
“I don’t want to have to throw it away, and I think that would be the first task on their to-do list.” Evan cuts his eyes to the agents, then back to me. “I’ll find a way to check in with you. I don’t like leaving you in the middle of this, but I know you wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important to you.”
I nod in reply, scared that the sob building in my throat will unleash if I open my mouth. I’m worried about Chloe and scared about what’ll happen if the person they’re hiding her from finds her.
I hug Chloe one last time before she and Evan disappear through my door with the FBI agent and US marshal.
I stare at the door, willing myself to wake up. I gotta still be in my bed, dreaming. This is too unreal. Tears stream down my cheeks, falling to the carpet at my feet, silently. It isn’t until arms come around me that I remember with a jolt that I’m not alone.
In the back of my mind, a thought scratches to the surface—I’m losing people I trust on a day when I’m beginning to doubt who I can trust.
Then
I weaved through the crowd, looking for my family. The commencement ceremony had ended, and everyone was scattering into the crowds to find their loved ones. I finally gave up, deciding to stay put and texted them my location. I kept my eye on the crowd for anyone familiar. Most of these people I’d seen around the small campus, but none I knew well.
“Sloane!” I yelled as I spotted her weaving her way through the crowds full of caps and gowns and hugging family members.
“Oh, my God! We did it. It’s finally over!” She had a huge smile on her face.
I stood there awkwardly, trying to find something to say besides the one thing I wanted to ask her. How is Law doing? My heart panged again at the thought. Shit. This should be a happy occasion and here I was, stuck in Mopeyville, population: one.
“Come on, I know what’ll cheer you up.” Sloane bumped my shoulder with hers. “We’re going to Salt Lick for lunch-slash-dinner. What would you call it? Dunch? Linner? That’s it, we’re having linner at the Salt Lick. I bet that mind of yours is now drooling to wrap your lips around a hot… juicy… rib.” She grinned, and I couldn’t help the reluctant laugh that spilled out.
“The idea does have its merits,” I tried to joke along with her. I just wasn’t in the right head space to be funny. “But, I’m sure if your family and mine went out together that’d be boatloads of awkward.”
“I don’t plan on being there.” Law’s voice sounded over my shoulder, and I froze.
I turned slowly. I didn’t know if I could handle seeing him just yet. When my eyes landed on him, I instantly regretted it. It had only been days since our fight, but he looked amazing. I felt like a moron, but I was doing what I had to do. We were never going to see eye to eye on it either. I couldn’t just make decisions based on what I wanted or how I felt. I was a mother, and I had to put the girls’ needs above my own. It still fucking hurt, though.
“Hey,” I said lamely.
“Hey,” he replied.
Awkward silence stretched between us.
“Fuck, you guys talk too much,” Sloan said. “I’m gonna find Dad.”
She left in the direction that Law had arrived. We stood in more awkward silence until I couldn’t take it anymore.
“I miss you.”
His head dropped as he stared at the ground, kneading his neck. The move, filled with familiarity, built a mounting pressure in my chest. I held my breath as tears swam to the surface.
“I miss you, too,” he replied, hazel eyes peeking up at me through thick lashes.
I released my held breath with a whoosh. “Then why can’t we make this work?”
“Why can’t you change your mind and move in with Holly or my sister?” he followed without hesitation.
We’d gone over these options in the many conversations we had since I first brought it up, but it always ended the same. There were just too many negatives to doing that. I didn’t want to risk my friendships—Holly and Sloane meant the world to me. My anger surged with the reminder of all the arguments we’d had in the past week. It was like we were a broken record, stuck skipping on a scratch.
“Fuck, we already beat this horse to death, Law.”
I couldn’t hear this anymore. If it was so damn important, why hadn’t he offered us a place to stay with him? His dad owned the house that he and the guys lived in. Yet, not once had he offered that as a solution. To him, it was my problem to fix, and to me, this was the best way. I wasn’t going to ruin friendships and burn bridges to make him more comfortable. Not with my kids at stake.
“Mommy!” A tiny shriek sounded as Cat launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my wais
t, Cora following right behind her.
“Hey, guys, did you see Mommy walk across the stage?” I bent down to their eye level, a reluctant smile gracing my face.
“Yes! We heard them call your name.”
“Mommy, who’s dis?” Cora said, pointing to Law, who was watching us with a crease in his brow.
I couldn’t believe that she was talking in front of him.
“That’s Mommy’s friend Law,” I said to her, then looked up at Law. “Law, these are my daughters, Cora and Cat.”
Cora’s little mouth dropped into an O. She walked over to him and touched his arm. Then she turned to face me. “He has pretty colors on his arms.”
I snapped my mouth shut. She touched him. “That he does, baby.”
Cora took a good while to warm up to someone. I took a deep breath to fight off the tears that threatened. I didn’t know why he put off meeting them for the last nine months; things might’ve gone better if it had happened before this whole house mess.
“I told you they’d find her. They’ve built-in Mommy radar,” Nic said. He and Jared approached our little group.
“Daddy! Did you see Mommy’s friend Law? He has painted arms. I want painted arms,” Cat said running over to Jared and tugging on his hand.
Every muscle in my body tensed as these two approached each other. With everything as it was between Law and me, the tension was palpable.
“Hey, Front Man,” Nic greeted and did that whole man-hug, handshake, back-slapping ritual that guys do. “How’s it going?”
“Good. Could be better.” He cut a sideways glance at Jared.
“I’m Jared.” He held out his hand for Law to shake. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise,” Law said through clenched teeth, shaking his hand with a white-knuckle grip.
I closed my eyes, hoping this would all go away. I opened them and was suddenly struck by the contrast between the two. Both were the same height, but one was a tattooed and pierced punk rocker while the other was a straitlaced military guy.
In that moment, I felt like a fraud. I wasn’t the girl I used to be when I was with Jared, but I felt like I was never the girl I pretended to be with Law. The only people who got a genuine version of me was my girls. Other than that, I no longer knew where I fit in, in either life. I shut my eyes again to hold back the tears that wanted to break free.
