by Layne, Ivy
Chapter Twenty-One
Cooper
That horrified look in Alice’s eyes flashed in my mind again. Yeah, thin fucking ice. The last thing I needed was to make Alice think I was an out-of-control stalker who couldn't let her have a few days to herself when she was pissed at me.
Some women might find it romantic to be chased all over town. Alice would not be one of them. The last thing I needed was to give her another reason to push me away.
I forced myself through a semi-normal Sunday. Nothing like the Sundays I'd had since Alice had been with me. Spending the day alone only reminded me how much I needed her back. My place was too quiet without Alice. Empty. Everything was empty.
I put in a punishing workout when the quiet got to be too much, stopping only to take a quick call from Axel. “She turn up yet?”
“No. Left her purse and phone.”
“Doesn't want to be found, then,” he commented. Axel might work in Vegas, but he knew Alice almost as well as I did.
“Yeah.”
“Everyone is still here, hanging at the pool. No one but Emma knows what happened. Didn't want to fuck up the wedding. Maybe she'll turn up at work tomorrow.”
I could only hope.
The only other interruption in my miserable Sunday came in the form of my mother, who showed up in the early evening, banging on my door. I ignored her for a while, tuning out the relentless pounding until my phone rang with call after call. When she hit the limit of my tolerance, I strode to my door and yanked it open, looking down into bloodshot, tear-filled eyes.
“Cooper. Finally.” She pushed in past me and headed for the small wet bar at the end of the kitchen. After pouring herself a hefty slosh of gin, she took a sip and turned to face me. The sight of the glass in her hand, the red streaking her eyes, her mere presence in my house after everything she'd done to Alice—all of it was enough to freeze me in place. I reminded myself that this woman was my mother. No matter what she'd done, she was still my mother. I couldn’t throw her out of my home. I owed her that much.
“What are you doing here, Mom?”
“I came to make sure you're all right,” she said as if it were obvious. “You and that woman left the wedding early. Everyone noticed you were gone, and then you never came back. I was afraid she was here with you, but I can see that she's not.”
“Don't call her that woman. Her name is Alice.”
“I know what her name is,” she snapped at me. “And it's time this ridiculous farce was over. The scene at your brother's engagement party was bad enough. If I'd known you were going to bring her to Jacob Winters' wedding… Everyone saw you together. Everyone! How could you be so cruel to me?”
“I wasn't aware that my personal life had anything to do with you,” I said evenly, knowing it was a lie. When she bothered to pay attention to her sons, my mother took everything about our lives personally.
She waved her hand in the air as if wiping my words away. “Cooper, don't be a fool. Everyone knows who that woman is. You look like an idiot parading her around on your arm.”
“What do you mean, ‘Everyone knows who that woman is?’ What lies are you spreading?”
My mother took another sip of gin and lifted her nose in the air, ignoring my question. “Tell me it's over with her. Tell me you're done and you fired her.”
“I won't tell you that. I won't fire her, and I won't ever be done with her.” She refused to meet my eyes and I officially hit my limit. I’d never be done with Alice, but I was more than done humoring my mother. “You know she never slept with Dad, right?”
“Oh, Cooper, don't tell me you're that naïve. Of course, she slept with your father.”
“Why are you so sure? Because you caught them? Or because he told you?”
“He told me. He tells me everything. I know you've never understood our marriage, but your father doesn’t lie to me.”
I choked on the laugh that tore from my throat. The alcohol had pickled her brain.
“If that’s the case,” I said dryly, “then you’re an accessory to a number of felonies. Should I call Agent Holley so you can make a statement?”
My mother refused to acknowledge my comment. Typical. If it didn’t fit her world-view, it didn’t exist. I pressed on.
“You never caught him with Alice. You only have Dad’s word for it.”
“I don't need anyone else’s word for it. He's my husband, and you should have more respect for your father.”
Talking in circles with her was going to make me lose my mind. With Alice missing I was hanging on by a thread as it was. I didn’t need a trip to crazy-town.
“I honestly don't know what to say to you, Mom. I love you, but you're delusional. What I really don't get is how Dad cheated and you’re blaming Alice. He’s the one who made vows to you. He’s the one who broke them. But she’s the only guilty party? It’s her name you’re smearing all over town?”
“Don’t be such a child, Cooper. Your father strays. So what? Men stray. He didn’t marry any of those women, did he? He's married to me. He's given me a good life and I've tried to be a good wife. You’re the one who’s delusional. You think marriage is fairytales and true love. You need to get your head out of a storybook and into the real world. I hope you're not considering anything serious with that woman.”
I stared at my mother, at her arms crossed over her chest, fingers gripping the crystal glass, now almost empty of gin.
She was never going to change.
She was never going to listen to reason.
She would cling to the reality she wanted to believe until her last breath and nothing I could say would make a difference.
I could play along, or I could make a stand. Thinking of the horror in Alice’s eyes, put there by my parents’ lies and my trust in them, I did the only thing I could.
“Mom, I need to make something clear to you,” I said, a piece of my heart crumbling at the words leaving my mouth. “If you ever speak disrespectfully about Alice again, I will cut you off. Alice has earned my loyalty. My trust. I will choose her over you. Every single time.”
My mother drew back in shock, her mouth falling open before she rallied and shrieked, “How could you pick that woman over your own mother?”
“You've been picking Dad over us for years. Always, you choose him. He’s a liar and a criminal, and still, you choose him. We’re busting our asses to build up Sinclair Security—which, by the way, pays for the lifestyle you like so much—and when he puts the company at risk, you still choose him.
“I’m just learning from your example. I found someone who deserves my loyalty. I'm not going to throw that away because you and Dad want to drag us all down with you. We're doing what we can to help Dad and keep you safe, but don’t push me. Don't make me choose between you and Alice. You won't win.”
My mother’s stare stretched into eternity, her eyes icing over until they carried no trace of affection for me, her oldest son. Turning in a neat pivot, barely wobbling despite the alcohol, she pitched the crystal glass into the sink with all the furious power in her thin arm, watching with a satisfied glint in her eye as it exploded into glittering shards.
In the silence that fell, she speared me with a cold look before she stormed to the door and let herself out. Numb, I went to my laptop and pulled up the security cameras, tracking her progress from my door to her safe house a floor below.
I half expected her to pack her bags and leave, but she didn't, instead filling a wine glass to the brim and settling in front of the television as if nothing had happened.
Maybe, in her mind, nothing had. I couldn’t underestimate her ability to rewrite history.
Closing the cameras, I cleaned up the shattered glass and put my mother out of my mind. She’d made her choices. And I’d made mine.
Alice. Alice was my choice. Every time.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alice
I was going stir crazy. The next time I flee from my home in the middle of the night, I need to remember to pack better. Hidden away in a cabin on a small lake in North Carolina, I was concealed from Cooper—for now—but I had nothing to do but brood. I am not a brooding kind of girl. I hadn’t even thought to bring a book or a bathing suit.
There were games in the shelves beside the fireplace—useless for a person alone. I could only play so much solitaire. The stack of dog-eared westerns weren’t my thing, but if I was here any longer, I might be forced to crack one open. Anything to keep my mind off the reason I was here.
The cabin belonged to my sister-in-law Kristi's family. I owed her one. Big time. I owed both Kristi and my brother, Pete. I love all my brothers, but nothing matched my relief when I'd called Pete on Saturday night and he'd said in a sleepy voice, “Take a deep breath, honey, and tell me what I can do.”
I'd been fine until I got to my apartment. Well, not fine. I'd been a mess. While my heart had shattered, my brain worked double time. I'd seen that window in the bathroom and known exactly what I had to do.
Fortunately, it wasn't far off the ground. I'd been smart enough to toss my heels out first, landing barefoot in the mulch. Clutching my shoes in one hand, I’d sprinted around the side of the building and gone in through the front door as if there was nothing odd about a barefoot wedding guest strolling through the lobby.
The second I'd been out of sight I'd bolted for the stairwell, my only thought to get to our room. Fortunately, I hadn't unpacked, more interested in spending the day at the pool than hanging up my clothes. It only took a minute to dump everything in my overnight bag, grab Cooper's keys, and run back down the stairs. I was out the side door and unlocking Cooper’s car while he was probably still standing by the bathroom, waiting for me to come out.
I drove through the gates of the resort, wondering how long it would take Cooper to realize I was gone. I had no doubt he'd be in pursuit once he figured it out.
I know, I know, running out on Cooper was not the most mature thing to do.
I should have stayed and had a rational, adult conversation about his father's lies and his mother's vicious name-calling. A calm discussion about how Cooper had believed all of it.
I should have, but it wasn't going to happen. A sick ball of humiliation festered in my stomach, growing bigger every time I remembered Cooper’s placating voice telling me it was a long time ago and he didn't care anymore.
It was okay, he forgave me for cheating on my husband with his married father.
I couldn't get my head around the level of asshole Maxwell was to have spread that story behind my back. It explained so much about my first few months at the company.
Cooper's coldness.
The gross propositions from other team members.
I'd almost quit a few times, but my husband had encouraged me to stay and the salary and benefits were off the charts. I'd loved the challenge of the job itself, but the work environment had left much to be desired. Then everything had gotten better, almost overnight.
No more propositions. Cooper’s ice had thawed until he was, if not friendly, not openly un-friendly. Cooper, Evers, Knox, and Axel had gradually taken over running the day-to-day business and the work environment became just as appealing as the pay and benefits package. I'd forgotten about those first few months until Lacey's accusation.
Remembering her words, another stab of anguish stole my breath.
How could Cooper have thought—?
By the time I got back to Atlanta, I'd managed to put my humiliation on ice and think clearly. Part of our training at work included exit strategies. Always have a plan.
I'm an office manager. I know how to order bullets, not pack them in a bug-out bag. But, just for fun, I’d figured it out years ago. How would I get away from the building if I didn't want to be tracked?
The first part was easy. I stopped at a gas station on the outskirts of Atlanta and withdrew the maximum the ATM would allow, spending some of it on a burner phone. I’d have to leave my own phone behind, along with all my credit cards.
Knowing how the guys searched for people helped, but some cash and a burner phone weren’t enough. Sinclair Security is the best. I wouldn’t be able to hide from them for long. I didn't even want to. I just needed a little space. Time to think.
I was mad and hurt, and the thought of staying put until Cooper came through the door made me feel like giving in to the tears prickling the backs of my eyes. I couldn’t even consider the idea of walking into work on Monday knowing what everyone thought of me. I needed to get my head straight, and I couldn’t do that anywhere near Cooper.
I’d parked Cooper's car in the garage, leaving the keys inside, and took the elevator to my apartment.
Once I was safe in my place, out of the reach of Cooper’s cameras, I called the one person I knew would always, always be there for me. My big brother, Pete. I had to call three times. The burner number was an unknown. Pete probably looked at his phone and figured it was a mis-dial. Finally, he answered with a sleepy, “What?”
“Pete, it's Alice. Sorry to wake you up, but I have a problem, and I really need my big brother.”
I heard the rustle of him sitting up in bed, the murmur of Kristi beside him. “What happened? Are you okay?”
I didn't have time for a full explanation. Cooper would be right behind me, the last person I wanted to see. Not now. Not yet. Not until I’d had time to sort this out on my own.
“I'm okay. I'm safe. I just… There's no time to explain, but I need to get away from here and I don't want my boss to be able to find me. Could you call me a car to take me to the airport and rent a car for me? I can’t use my phone or my cards or he’ll know exactly where I am.”
“Those fucking guys,” Pete swore under his breath. “I knew working for them would get you into trouble eventually.”
“Pete, you can yell at me about my job later. For now, can you just help me?”
“I’ve got you, honey. I’ll deal with the Sinclairs once we get you somewhere safe. Do you have a plan? Where are you going to go when you get the car?”
“I don't know. I haven't figured that part out yet.”
“I'm on it. You get ready to go. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”
“Thanks, Pete. Tell Kristi I'm sorry for waking you up.”
Pete hung up, already focused on the task at hand. I left my regular phone and purse on the counter where Cooper would find them later. I didn’t feel like writing a note, but when he saw the phone and the purse, he’d know.
In my bedroom, I threw my dress on a hanger and changed into a t-shirt, shorts, and a hoodie, shoving my feet in an old pair of high-tops, about as far as I could get from my wedding finery.
Grabbing a backpack, I stuffed it full, transferring my toiletries bag from my suitcase to the backpack. I took my driver’s license from my wallet, leaving the wallet itself and everything inside.
Pete called back as I was jogging down the steps to the front door of the building. “Your ride is going to pick you up the next block over. I'm looking at the app, and he’ll be there in three minutes. That good?”
“Perfect. You're the best big brother ever.”
“I know. I want an explanation once we get you out of there.”
“I’ll tell you everything. I promise. Tomorrow. For now, I just have to move before he gets here.”
“Yeah, I got it. The ride is going to take you to the car rental counter at the airport. Kristi put the ride on her work account. I billed the rental to my company. Should make it harder to trace. Call me when you're in the rental and I'll give you directions. “
“Directions where?” I asked.
“Kristi’s family's cabin. It's in Blowing Rock. It’s a hike, about five hours from Atlanta, but no one�
�s using it this weekend or next week, and it’s not rented. I can give you the code to get the key. No one will look for you there. Kristi manages the rental schedule for the family, but all the paperwork and the deed are in a trust from her maternal grandfather. Should be a few layers removed from her and definitely hard to trace to you. You can hide out there for at least a week.”
“Pete, that sounds perfect. Thank you.” I pushed out the front door and turned right, heading to the next block over.
“Your ride is a light blue sedan. Do you see it?” Pete asked. I watched as a light blue sedan pulled up to the curb fifty feet ahead.
“Did I mention you’re the best big brother in the world?” I asked, reading him the license plate on the car and getting confirmation before I slid into the back seat.
“I know I am. I expect you to pay me back in babysitting once this kid is born,” he said. Kristi was six months pregnant. Theirs would be my parents’ first grandchild, my first niece or nephew. All of us were beyond excited to have a baby to cuddle.
“You know it.”
“I'll text you the address. If you have any trouble plugging it into the GPS in the car, let me know.”
“Roger that,” I said.
“Get some coffee in you so you don’t fall asleep and call me when you get there.”
“I promise. I’ll be careful. Thank you, Pete. And tell Kristi thank you, too.”
“Love you, Allie. Stay safe.” Pete hung up. I hoped he wouldn't have any trouble getting back to sleep.
I didn't see my family as much as I'd like. Work kept me busy, and they were all up in the DC area. I made it home for the weekend every few months, but it still wasn’t enough. I was tight with my mom and dad and close to my other brothers, but growing up, Pete and I had always been partners in crime. We were almost the same age while our other two brothers were five and seven years older.
Pete and I had caused trouble together and been grounded together. No matter what, we’d always had each other’s backs. Distance had grown between us during my marriage to Steve. My fault, really. Steve and Pete hated each other. Steve hated Pete because we were so close, and Pete despised my husband because his asshole radar was much better than mine.