by Watkins, CN
“Even now, your body still wants me,” he whispered in a deep, sexy, husky voice.
“My body ignores my brain,” I whispered back, trying to match his sexy tone.
“Call it what you will.” His fingers stopped at my lips as he bent down to my ear. “You’re still sexy as hell when you’re mad.” He leaned up and looked at me, his eyes filled with passion that even I could see in the dark.
He captured my mouth with his, taking my face in his hands. His tongue twirled around my own tongue and I moaned into his mouth, running my fingers through his hair. The scruff on his chin brushed my face as he passionately moved his tongue around mine.
He pulled his lips away as he slowly opened his eyes. He looked right through me to my soul. “Resisting you for six weeks is going to drive me mad.”
“Six weeks?” I felt the disappointment drip through me.
“Yes.” He pulled his hand off me, my body still hot with his touch. “You need to rest”
“Annabelle is beautiful, Stefan.” He walked to the couch, kicked off his shoes, and took his black shirt off, revealing his perfect, God-like body with his tattoos on his arm and his... “Stefan,” I said looking at his right side under his arm.
“Hmm?”
“What’s on your side?”
“What?”
“Your side...a new tattoo?”
He moved closer to me, raising his arm when he got to my bedside. On his side from his hip bone to almost right under his arm was something written in another language. “What does it say?” I wanted to touch it, but I couldn’t...it was still slightly red and obviously brand new.
“It’s in Hebrew. Our love will conquer all.”
“When did you get it?”
“The first night you were in the hospital. I was so scared I was going to lose you.”
“So you went out and got a tattoo?”
“I needed something permanent.” He kissed me on the forehead. “I’ve missed you,” he said, rubbing the place he’d kissed me with the pad of his thumb.
“I’ve missed you too,” I whispered back as he walked over to the couch and draped the blanket across his masculine body. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispered back.
Chapter Twenty
Stefan
I ran as fast as I could all the way to Long Publishing. Once I got in, I was panting and trying to push as much air into my lungs as humanly possible. The young blonde sitting at the front desk peered over her computer and looked at me.
“Hey Stefan. I think your dad is in a meeting.”
“I need...to see him...now!” I said, walking towards the elevators. I rode up to the top floor and got off, finding another blonde sitting in the middle of the huge floor. I walked towards my dad’s office door, but the blonde stopped me.
“Honey, your dad said he was in a meeting and unavailable until he told me otherwise.”
“It’s an emergency!” I yelled.
“Okay, okay. Let’s sit you down on the couch and I will page him.” I sat down on the white couch.
“Gloria! You better open that door right now, or you can kiss your job good bye!” We both looked at the voice coming from the elevator— Mom.
“Mrs. Long, your husband-”
“Did I ask what he was doing?” The clicks of her heels were fast approaching my dad’s office door. I sat there in disbelief as she opened the door.
“What is she doing here?” I stood to my feet and walked across the tile floor.
“Mom?” I whispered.
“Carol, you need to leave...like yesterday!” she spit at her, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.
“Your son has made accusations against me!”
“Did I even ask you a question?” she yelled, her whole body lurching forward. “How dare you come into my husbands place of business after repeatedly hurting my son! You are a sick freak who needs to get the hell away from my family!”
“Honey, please calm down. Can you come into my office so we can talk about this?” My dad asked, his tone small compared to my mothers.
“There is no talking! Get this woman out before I call security.”
“I can’t believe your believing a kid over me.”
“That kid happens to be my child, Carol. GET OUT!” Her voice echoed throughout the entire floor.
Carol stood to her feet and wiped her hands down her stomach, smoothing out her shirt. “This is absurd.” Her voice was low as she grabbed her purse.
“That poor fuck up for a child deserved every beating and whipping he got,” she spit in my mom’s face as she walked by.
My mom dropped my hand, then brought her’s up in a balled fist and punched her in the side of her face, causing Carol to fall to the floor with blood pooling from the inside of her mouth.
“Judy!” I heard my dad shout, running towards us.
My mom bent down toward Carol. “Next time you ever think about touching or talking to my family, remember that friendly reminder you just felt on the side of your face. Next time I won’t be so...nice.”
The cops pulled Carol up and handcuffed her hands behind her back. “Thank you, Mrs. Long. You shouldn’t be hearing from her for a long time.” The cops pulled her off towards the elevator.
My mom turned and kneeled down, taking my head in her hands. “My precious boy,” she whispered. “I am so sorry for the hurt that woman caused you. Your father and I love you very much. You don’t need to worry about her anymore, okay?”
I nodded as my dad put his hand on her shoulder. She rose to her feet, and they kissed. I hoped that one day I could have a love like that.
“Son, I’m sorry I failed you. Do you forgive your mother and I?”
“Yes, Father.”
It wasn’t their fault, it was mine. I should have told them a long time ago, but I was so worried they wouldn’t believe me, and that Carol would get mad and punish me even more.
“Let’s go get something to eat, honey.” My mom placed her hand over my back, walking us towards the elevator.
“Gloria, cancel the rest of my calls and meetings this afternoon. You can also take the rest of the day off. I’m sorry for what happened here.” Gloria nodded; she still looked dazed.
My dad closed his office door and met us at the elevator. “Let’s go eat.”
I never saw Carol again. Not even after my father died, years later. They say everything happens for a reason, and now I can believe that. The haunting memories and nightmares never leave me. They will stay with me forever, but at least I know that Carol will never be able to touch me, or any other child, again.
That gives me hope.
Chapter Twenty-One
I woke up the next morning and spent half the day signing paperwork for my discharge and getting my stuff together to leave. Annabelle was released from NICU, but they wanted to keep her at the hospital another couple of days for monitoring. Stefan tried to get me to take her home so that he could get a special doctor for her, but I won that fight. She was staying where she belonged to get the best possible help she could.
After I was discharged, I changed into a pair of yoga pants and a dull purple shirt that Stefan brought from home. I put on my tennis shoes before packing everything into the bag he brought me. He walked it out to the black SUV, then we went inside and ate in the cafeteria before going to visit Annabelle one more time before we left.
I was starving. I felt like I hadn’t eaten in months, so when he set a chicken fried steak with white gravy and mashed potatoes in front of me, I dug right in.
“You hungry?” Stefan chuckled under his breath, watching me.
“Understatement.” I put another bite into my mouth.
We finished eating, dumped our trash, and walked to the nursery. Stefan picked up the phone and spoke into it. Within moment the door opened, allowing us entry into the nursery.
“Annabelle is awake. She’s right this way.” The nurse led us over to her. She was lying in a hospital crib, swadd
led tightly with a blanket. We washed our hands, and I sat down in the rocking chair next to her. The nurse picked her up and laid her in my cradled arms.
I felt all the breath rush from my lungs. She was so tiny, so fragile in my arms. Her eyes were opened, and she was looking at me. She had beautiful caramel eyes just like Stefan, and I felt the tears well up in my throat.“Isn’t she beautiful?” Stefan asked.
“The most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” I whispered.
“Momma and Daddy love you so much,” I told her as I began rocking the chair. Stefan put her big finger in her hand, and she curled her tiny fingers around him.
This was what life was about. This had always been my path. Even bad things had a way of spinning around and turning out good.
We spent the next hour playing, feeding and rocking Annabelle to sleep. Being a mom was going to be an amazing job, that was for sure. I felt bad that I was leaving her here in the nursery, but she needed to be monitored and then she would come home safely.
We both got into the SUV as Charles started the engine. He pulled out of the hospital parking lot as I reached for Stefan’s hand. “What happened to my car?”
“It was totaled.” He turned his head and looked at me. “I’m just still trying to process everything. I thought you were gone. I’m sorry.” He brought my knuckles to his lips and kissed them, sending sparks through my body.
We pulled into our driveway, and Charles put the car in park. I opened my door and stepped out as the garage door opening. Stefan joined me at my side and put his hand on my lower back, leading me towards the garage. Once it was opened fully, I could see what was inside.
“Oh my gosh! Stefan!” I looked at him and then back to the garage.
“You needed a new car.” He smiled, kissing the side of my head. I walked over to the silver 2013 Mercedes Benz CLS and opened the driver door.
“I love it!” I said, peering inside at the all the controls and buttons, especially the fancy screen in the dashboard. I pressed the start button, and the car roared to life, all the gages lighting up. I turned it off, and climbed out, closing the door.
“You’re the best.” I stretched on my tip-toes and kissed him, letting it linger a little longer.
“Go inside and get the shower ready. I’ll be up in just a minute.” He smiled at me, gently tapping my butt as I walked to the door. “Charles, stay with me please,” I heard Stefan call out as I opened the door and headed inside.
I walked into the living room and flicked on the light, ready to walk down the hall to our bedroom.
“Well hello, Jenny.” His voice froze every fiber in my body. “I wasn’t sure when I would get to see you.” He laughed as he stood, his back to me. “Actually, who am I kidding? I was kind of hoping I’d never see you again.” He turned around.
“Why are you here? Haven’t you done enough damage?” I asked, shaking.
“Oh, Jenny. The damage I have caused you is not even close to the damage you have caused me. Taking my wife away from me, causing me to drink...All. Your. Fault.” He pronounced every word with such clarity, sticking his finger in my direction.
“Dad...”
“I am not your dad!” he screamed. “That would make you my daughter, and that is one thing your not, Jenny.” He sidestepped the couch and started walking over to me. “Oh, no baby anymore...”
“She’s alive,” I spit out.
“My intentions were never to hurt your baby.”
“Just to kill me, huh?”
“Precisely. Now listen here, Jenny. You want to make me go away? I can make that happen. I need money...exactly what you married into. I think you see we can both help each other out here.”
“I will never give you anything.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” He was standing in front of me, and I could smell the whiskey on his breath. “You can either give me a million dollars on your own, or I could just kidnap you and hold you until Stefan gives me the money. Your choice.” He twirled my hair in his finger.
I swatted his hand away and took a step back. “Rot. In. Hell,” I whispered.
“Have it your way.” He raised his hand up and slapped my face, knocking me down to the floor. I cried out as I heard the garage door open and two pairs of footsteps running toward me. I closed my eyes, waiting for Charles’ gun to go off, but silence was all that followed.
“Well, George, I am so glad you decided to welcome yourself into our home.” Stefan’s voice was strong and masculine.
Stefan picked me up. I looked over at Charles who had his gun pointed straight at my dad, but he didn’t look phased.
“Charles, I can handle this drunk asshole on my own. Get my wife out of here.” Charles lowered his weapon.
Stefan shook his head and walked closer to George. “Listen here, bastard. Don’t you ever, for one moment, think you can come into my house and fuck with my family and get away with it. It was just a matter of time before I hunted your sorry ass down and made you pay for what you did to my wife and daughter. You are a sorry excuse for a man!”
“What ya going to do? Kill me? You better because if I make it out of this house alive, I will come back and your wife will experience the same thing my wife experienced by her! She killed her! She took everything away from me!”
“Say what you want, you crazy fuck. Jennifer would never kill a fly, much less her mom. We all know the truth here. Maybe you should realize the same thing.” Stefan took one step forward and punched him with so much force in the face that it knocked him down.
He began spitting blood on the carpet as I hopped up and yelled at Stefan. “Stop it!”
“GET HER OUT OF HERE, CHARLES!” Stefan screamed.
Charles picked me up, trying to be gentle as I kicked my legs and screamed. I saw Stefan kick my father in the ribs before Charles carried me back into our bedroom.
“Sorry, Mrs. Long,” Charles said, closing my door and standing in front of it. I started pounding on him with my one good arm, begging him to let me out. I could call the cops. I could stop this!
After a moment, I stopped and looked at him, more closely this time. “Charles?”
“Yes’m?”
“Where’s your gun?”
Bang!
My eyes grew wide as the sound ricocheted through my body. “Ste...” I couldn’t get his name out...my nightmare was coming true. Charles was quick to turn around and open the door. We both ran down the hallway.
In the middle of the room was my father, lying in bright red blood. Stefan lowered the gun with Charles standing next to him. Stefan’s eyes bounced from my fathers dead body to my eyes. I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t move or think. My mind was taking everything in.
I put my hand up to my mouth as I tried to suppress the tears and the rage burning up my throat.
“Jennifer,” Stefan whispered. He handed the gun to Charles, and they exchanged looks before he started walking towards me.
“Don’t!” I pointed my finger at him, taking a step back.
Stefan stopped in his tracks and stood there just as still as I was. My legs gave up, and I fell onto the floor, my emotions overtaking me as I let out a loud scream, letting it rage throughout my entire body. With my good hand, I pounded the carpet over and over again.
“Shh...” Stefan repositioned me so that I was crying into his chest.
“No!” I cried. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t make this go away no matter what he had done.
“Baby, listen to me.” He pulled my face away from him and cradled it in his hands. “Your dad lunged at me, okay? He had a knife in his hands. I had to protect myself.” He swept my hair out of my face. “I had to protect you.” He kissed my forehead as I pushed through his hands and planted my face back to his chest.
Both of my parents were gone.
This couldn’t be happening.
I couldn’t do this again!
“Oh God, no!” I screamed into his chest as he rocked me back and forth, running his hand down m
y hair.
I heard the sirens and the police busting down our front door with their weapons drawn. They quickly put them down after assessing the scene. I stopped crying for a moment, looking at them.
“Ma’am are you okay?” one of the officer’s asked.
“Yes.”
“He’s dead, sir.”
I put my face back into Stefan’s chest and began sobbing again.
“It’s going to be okay, babe,” Stefan whispered.
“Sir, I’m going to need you to step over here so I can ask you some questions.”
Stefan shifted, so I stood to my feet and moved to sit on the couch, trying to get a handle on myself.
Stefan and Charles spent the next hour answering questions and signing documents. They eventually took my dad away in a body bag, the bloodied carpet the only remaining sign that he was here.
Stefan sat down next to me, putting his hand on my knee. “You okay?”
I looked over at him, my face stained with tears. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be okay.”
“He can’t hurt you anymore, Jennifer. He can’t hurt this family.”
“Easy for you to say!” I raised my voice. “You still have your mom.”
“I’d rather have no family then to have him as my family,” he whispered.
I looked at him, not blinking as his words ran cold down my spine.
I stood to my feet. “Well, then maybe I shouldn’t be allowed to have a family.”
I walked to our bedroom and slammed the door, locking it behind me. I spent the rest of the day and much of the night crying and pleading with God to have mercy on my father and to bring my mother back to me.
After hours of crying, I finally turned my brain off, and allowed exhaustion and darkness to take me over.
Epilogue
A month later
We were adjusting well to having a new baby in the house. Stefan helped as much as he could during the day, often working from home, and I had night duty, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed my talks with Annabelle as I rocked her to sleep and told her sweet stories. She was beginning to smile and giggle, and each time my heart melted into a puddle at my feet.