Kiss Me

by Lexy Timms

  Come home, sweetheart. Come back to the place you loved. The place where you felt comfortable and were building a life. Me, Talia, Rachel, Will and Meredith are all in your corner. Each of us is willing to stand up for you. You’re not alone. You will never be alone in this world again, if you don’t want to be.

  Please, please just let me know you’re okay. If you want me to stop emailing you, I will. I just need to know you’re okay and settling in to wherever it is you’ve landed. I won’t chase you. I’ll give you all the space you need. Just a quick few words is all I am asking for.

  Take care, sweetheart. I’m missing you like crazy.

  Ben

  He had to stop himself from telling her he loved her before he pushed the send button. That was not the way he wanted her to find out. He wanted to say the three little words to her face. He wanted to be able to see her face and judge her response to his declaration and hopefully, there would be a chance she’d say it back. He didn’t mind that’d he practically bared his soul in the email. A part of him wondered if Tim was somehow intercepting his messages. He wouldn’t put it past the guy. He knew the cell phone on the counter at Katherine’s house had been deliberately left behind. She was worried Tim would track her.

  Ben squeezed his eyes closed, pinching the bridge of his nose in an effort to calm his rising anger. Thinking of Tim and the way he was controlling Katherine made him furious. It was difficult to think there was something he couldn’t control. His life had spoiled him. His wealth had made him a little soft. He was used to throwing money at a problem until he got what he needed.

  A soft knock and the door pushing open pulled him out of his thoughts.

  “Hey, I’m going to ask, even though I already know the answer,” Rachel said, walking in with his morning cup of coffee.

  He nodded his head. “You would be right. No word. Not a peep.”

  “I’m sorry. Do you think we should call the police? Maybe we need to file a missing person’s report,” she suggested.

  “Definitely not. She’s running. I don’t want the police to find her and lead Tim right to her.”

  Rachel took her usual seat across from him. “Ben, I hate to say this, but maybe she isn’t running. Maybe Tim set it up to look like she was when in reality he did something.”

  The thought had crossed Ben’s mind, but he was sure Tim would have revealed his hand during the meeting. He’d been close to coming unglued. He would have taken a great deal of pleasure in hinting at something like that, of that Ben was sure.

  “I think she’s running. I think Tim threatened her or threatened me and she ran, hoping to make him leave me alone. I know her and that’s how she thinks.”

  Rachel nodded. “Okay, then we stick with the theory she’s running. Do you have any idea where she would go?”

  “Not a clue. She never told me much about the places she’s already been.”

  “Does she have the money to run? I mean, traveling isn’t cheap. Would she fly?”

  Ben shrugged. “I doubt it. My guess would be bus or train. She had money, of that I’m certain. I have Meredith’s PIs running every possible lead. I don’t know if she’s using her real name or using a fake one. She was always very secretive and never talked about her past beyond the fact Tim was a bad guy and she’d been bouncing around from city to city trying to get away from him. He always found her. That tells me he’s either got someone watching her or a seriously good detective.”

  “If his people find her, how come your guys can’t?” Rachel asked.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s like Tim has some magical powers that he uses to hunt her. I have no idea how he does it, but he does. He’s connected, I know that.”

  “I really don’t like this guy,” Rachel grumbled.

  “You and me both. I have to get through to her,” Ben said, his voice strained.

  Rachel was silent for a moment. He could practically see the wheels spinning in her brain.

  “Why don’t we take out ads in every single newspaper across the country. It could be like a secret code or something,” she said, excitedly.

  Ben chuckled. “I’m not sure she’d read the paper. That’s casting a pretty wide net. I’ve been emailing her daily. That seems a little more direct.”

  “And how’s that working for you?” Rachel snapped.

  “Good point. I don’t want her to come back if she doesn’t want to and I don’t want to draw her out and have Tim spring before I get the chance to make arrangements to keep her safe. I feel like I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t,” he groaned, rubbing his hands down his face.

  “I’m so sorry all of this is happening. It is so unfair. She is such a kind woman. It isn’t right this guy gets to destroy her life for his own sick satisfaction,” Rachel said, a sad look on her face.

  “I know. I want her back, but I have to remind myself that pulling her back into the open could be dangerous. I don’t know what the man is capable of, but what if he gets to her because I fought so hard to bring her back? I mean, what if she comes back, I vow to protect her, and, in a flash, he shoots her or has someone else do it? I could never live with myself if something happened to her because I begged her to come back for my own selfish needs.”

  Rachel was silent again as she processed what he had said. It was a war he’d been fighting with himself since he first saw she was gone. The best thing for her might be to stay far away from him. Tim saw him as a threat, as an insult to his own manhood. He would want to make Katherine pay for leaving him and moving on with Ben.

  “I really, really hate this guy,” Rachel seethed, slapping her open hands against the arms of the chair.

  Ben smirked. “I have a feeling Tim tends to bring out that same sentiment with most of the people he meets. I didn’t get the feeling his own lawyers liked him all that much.”

  “I want to make him pay. He deserves to rot in prison and lose everything. He keeps taking from Katherine. He deserves to be uprooted from his comfy little life and tossed into a dark hole,” Rachel said, jumping up from the chair and pacing the room.

  “I agree, but I can’t do anything until I know for sure Katherine is safe. Meredith is already putting together a countersuit. That might take some of the wind out of his sails, but it doesn’t do shit for Katherine. All it does is piss the guy off more.”

  Rachel stopped walking and put both hands on her hips, staring him down. “She’s going to come back. I know it. She’ll fight back, you’ll see.”

  “I hope so, Rach. I really hope so,” he muttered, wanting to believe Rachel’s declaration, but not entirely convinced.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Katherine

  KATHERINE WAS A LITTLE disappointed Alexandra never called, but she hadn’t truly expected her to. She knew it was a lot to drop on someone. She doubted she would have listened to a complete stranger five years ago if they would have said the same thing to her. That was the power of Tim. He could blind a woman into seeing nothing but him.

  She put the last of her clothes into her suitcase and sat on the bed. She’d already stayed too long. Tim was probably back in town and Alexandra may have told him about her visit. He’d be searching high and low for her, ready to shut her up and keep her from embarrassing him. It was time to go. The problem was where.

  In any other situation, she imagined it would be fun and exciting to have the whole wide world waiting out there for her to explore. Unfortunately, she couldn’t fly, which seriously limited her options. Well, she could fly, but that would bring Tim right to her door, unless she could travel to some tiny little country and change her name and adopt an entire new personality. She had money stashed, but not enough to live on for the rest of her life, especially if she started hopping on flights every time she thought Tim was close.

  Her phone rang, interrupting her deep thought, and nearly sending her flying off the bed. There was only one person that had the number. Her day just got a lot better.

  She reached ou
t, snatching it off the nightstand. “Hello?”

  “It’s me, Alex, I mean Alexandra, but you can call me Alex. It’s what most people call me, except for him,” she muttered.

  “Are you okay, Alex?” Katherine asked, hoping she hadn’t put the woman in jeopardy by giving her the phone, knowing it was a risk.

  “I’m fine. I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier. Can you meet?”

  “Meet?” Katherine squeaked.

  “Yes, I want to talk to you and I need to give you something,” she said, the tone of her voice telling Katherine something was off.

  Katherine hesitated for a second before deciding to trust the woman. She really didn’t have any other options. “I can meet. When and where?”

  Alex named a café which Katherine wasn’t familiar with but would Google directions.

  “An hour?” Alex offered.

  “I’ll be there,” Katherine said and ended the call.

  She checked her watch. She didn’t want to drag her suitcase with her and decided to pay for another night at the hotel. After securing the room for an extra night, she jumped in a cab and gave the driver the address she had Googled for the café. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Katherine wondered if she was walking into a trap. There was a chance she could walk in and find Tim waiting for her. Or, she may never even make it inside the café if he was lying in wait outside. She prayed Alex wasn’t setting her up. Something deep inside her said she could trust Alex. She prayed she wasn’t wrong. If she was, it wouldn’t just be an oopsie, it could be the final nail in her proverbial coffin.

  It was nearly a forty-five-minute ride with all the traffic. When the cab driver stopped in the parking lot, Katherine scanned the area before getting out. Her palms were sweaty and there were butterflies in her stomach as she walked towards the door. She kept expecting to be ambushed.

  She walked in and noticed the café was relatively empty. It was a small place, a sign advertising the seating capacity was only fifty-six. The emptiness of the café was slightly concerning. She preferred to have lots of witnesses around her in case Tim did try something. Maybe someone would stand up and save her. Unlikely, but it was always a hope. There was a brief moment when she thought about walking right back out the door, but steeled her nerves to see the meeting through.

  Katherine’s eyes fell on Alex who had put her hand in the air and waved. Katherine relaxed when she saw she was alone. It wasn’t a trap. At least, she hoped it wasn’t. Tim could still show up she supposed. She weaved around the tables as she made her way towards the booth where Alex was sitting, a cup of coffee in front of her.

  “Thank you for meeting me,” Alex said when Katherine slid into the booth across the table from her.

  The café was small and not exactly the cleanest, but she had found those particular restaurants usually served the best food. If she wasn’t meeting with her husband’s girlfriend, she would have considered ordering something, but she wasn’t there to eat. She didn’t think she could eat.

  “Sure, I’m glad you called. Have you thought about what I said?” she asked.

  Alex nodded. “Yes, I have. I’ve thought about it a lot. It’s all I’ve thought of to tell you the truth.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to add any stress to your life. I’m sure you’re already dealing with enough,” she said sympathetically.

  Alex took a deep breath, her eyes widening. “You have no idea. Well, actually, I guess you probably do.”

  “Did he come back?” Katherine asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

  “No, he said his business got delayed. I’m guessing he’s shacked up with a woman while he’s up there torturing your boyfriend. I can’t even pretend I’m jealous or upset,” she said, exhaustion colored her voice.

  Katherine smirked. “I know what you mean.”

  “Are you okay?” she asked, concerned for Alex.

  “I’m fine. He doesn’t know you stopped by the store. When he’s out of town, he hardly even calls anymore. He only calls to make sure I’m home or at work.”

  Katherine sighed with relief. “Good. I mean, not good that he’s keeping you under his thumb, but good he’s not back in town.”

  She waited for Alex to get to her reason for calling. She wouldn’t pressure her. Katherine would let her set the tone and the pace. Alex sipped her coffee and Katherine could see her working up the courage to tell her whatever it was that was on her mind.

  “I thought about what you said. You’re right. Tim is violent. The first time it happened, I thought it was because he’d been drinking, and I had really made him angry. I promised to be better. And then it happened again,” she said in a small voice.

  Katherine’s heart went out to the woman. “I’m so sorry.”

  Alex had tears in her eyes as she shrugged a shoulder. “He is so kind most of the time and he treats me very well. He apologized and felt horrible for what he had done, so I forgave him. Then it happened again and again, every time I would swear I was leaving him and somehow, he always convinced me to stay.”

  “I know. I understand. You can leave. You don’t have to stay,” she said in a gentle voice.

  “I’m going to, but I wanted to give you something before I did,” she said, reaching down to the bench and picking up a stack of papers, placing them on the table before sliding them towards Katherine.

  “What’s this?” she asked, a little confused how the papers could help her.

  Alex grinned. “Tim is out of town a lot. He doesn’t like me to go out with my friends when he isn’t there with me, so I spend a lot of time alone in that big house. I get bored and I will admit, I did a little snooping. I saw where he hid the key to his desk and inside a drawer, I found a key to the filing cabinet.”

  Katherine was nodding her head as she half-listened to what Alex was saying. “I know which one you’re talking about. He always kept it locked.”

  “I unlocked it and started digging around. I found those,” she said, pointing to the stack of papers that included bank statements, handwritten notes by Tim and a few pages of case notes.

  “Is this what I think it is?” Katherine asked, holding up a particularly interesting piece of paper.

  Alex smiled. “It is. I planned on using the evidence as part of my escape. I was going to demand he let me go or I would turn it all over to the police. He bribed a judge in that case. In another case, he paid off a witness to disappear. He kept track of all of it.”

  “This is amazing. You’re giving this to me?” Katherine asked, wondering what the catch was.

  Alex nodded. “I’m going to leave him regardless. I have a feeling you’ll know what to do with these more than I would.”

  “Alex, I think these are more powerful being used to control Tim rather than turn them over to anyone just yet. Are you okay with that?” Katherine asked.

  In her mind, she had the leverage she needed to get Tim to drop his suit against Ben. She would demand he sign the divorce papers and leave her and Alex alone. If he refused or if he did anything, she would send the papers to the police and the Bar Association. He’d never practice law again and would spend a healthy amount of time behind bars.

  “I’m fine with whatever you do. I’m leaving him.”

  Katherine nodded. “Promise me you’ll leave here and go pack tonight. Don’t stay there another night.”

  “I promise. I’m moving back into my parents’ house. My dad has known Tim wasn’t good from the beginning, but I refused to listen to him. I will now. My dad will keep me safe should Tim come knocking on the door,” she said, her voice strong and committed.

  “Good. Don’t look back. You take your things and change your phone number. I will use these papers to try and get him to stay away from you, but you have to watch your back,” Katherine warned.

  “I will.”

  “Good. Will you call me if anything changes? It is going to take me a few days to do what needs to be done. That means he’s going to be looking for you and you know he�
��ll hurt you if he gets the chance,” Katherine said, wanting to make sure the young woman knew they weren’t playing a game.

  It wasn’t the movies. The good guys didn’t always win. Alex was in real danger. Katherine would never forgive herself if she played a role in Alex being hurt.

  “I will call. I’ll keep the phone. Please let me know if anything changes,” Alex said, a nervous smile on her lips.

  “I will. Take care of yourself,” Katherine said, before walking out of the café without ordering anything.

  She was anxious to get back to the hotel and read through all the documents. It was hard to believe she had real proof of his evil ways. She knew it was her ticket to freedom. As she walked to the street corner, her mind was already reeling with how she could use the information. She debated telling him over the phone or in person. She would really love to see the look on his face when she showed him the papers. It would make the past two years’ worth it.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” she cautioned, as she held her hand up to hail a cab.

  It was critical she kept a cool head. She needed to be smart and methodical. That was something more in his wheelhouse, but she’d lived with him long enough and been running from him long enough to pick up a few of her own tricks.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Ben

  BEN WAS SITTING ON his couch, his legs crossed at his ankles, propped up on the coffee table in his living room. His phone was in his hand. He wasn’t on the phone, texting or doing anything else. He was holding onto it in case she called. After a week and a half without a word, Ben realized Rachel could have been right. It might not be as simple as Katherine packing up and running away. It could be much darker and far uglier than he wanted to admit.

  He called the police last night to file a missing person’s report. He had refused to let himself think about her being hurt or possibly dead, but it was time to make sure she wasn’t a Jane Doe in a hospital somewhere or in the morgue with police not bothering to look for her family. Tim wouldn’t report her missing, especially if he had something to do with her disappearance.