Hard To Stay

by S. Jones

  “No, Daddy. I wasn’t lying.”

  Colton frantically ran his hands through his hair. “Sir, I know this is a lot to consider, but you know there are always two sides to every story.”

  You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

  Mr. Manning’s face drained of all color. You could see the guilt settle in. It had been almost a decade, and he was just realizing what a lying, sack of shit Colton Hunt really was. He walked over and pulled Lexi into his chest. Their relationship had been strained over the years, but she was still his daughter.

  Lexi’s dad let go of her. He looked at Colton like he was ready to lose his shit. When he stepped forward, I couldn’t help but notice the strong set of his jaw and the visible tension in his shoulders.

  “You’re right, Colton. Every story may have two sides, but right now I’m only interested in hearing one.” He looked down at his daughter as if it was the first time he was really seeing her. “Let’s go to my study so we can chat.” He turned to Colton. “You can leave.”

  Colton rocked uncomfortably on his feet. His earlier bravado was gone. He nervously yanked at the sleeve of his sport coat, revealing the Brunello Cucinelli label. I knew that jacket probably cost a couple thousand bucks. No doubt purchased using his Daddy’s credit card.

  “But, Sir,” he held his hand out, trying to stop him.

  “I don’t want to hear it, Colton. I’ve listened to you for the last ten years. I think it’s high time that I started listening to my daughter. Alone!” He seared him with a look that left nothing up for debate.

  Colton leaned his head back, looking up at the ceiling. Maybe he was thinking of a way out of this mess. I wasn’t sure, but whatever it was he was done.

  “With all due respect, Sir, I think you need to hear my side of the story before these two go and pollute my reputation and my good name even further.”

  Mr. Manning raised an eyebrow. Colton wasn’t helping himself, but there was no way I was letting him know that. I took great pleasure in watching him dig his own grave.

  “I’m not the slightest bit concerned about your reputation at the moment. So, if you will excuse me, I’m leaving.”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that. These two are going to poison you with their lies about me; I can’t allow that to happen. I love your daughter. I always have, but she needs help. That loser,” he pointed a finger in my direction, “can’t be trusted. He’s a dirty New York cop who has done nothing but turn Alexis against us. She’s been fooled by him. You can’t believe a word from either of them.”

  “Shut up, Colton!” Laney’s loud voice echoed across the room practically shaking the walls. “Enough! Stop with all the lies!”

  Colton was so focused on Lexi that he seemed unaffected by Laney’s outburst. In fact, he looked like a hungry wolf who was about to eat her up and spit her out.

  “You sure you want to go there, Laney? Because I can assure you, you’re no victim.”

  Panic pierced her eyes; she was practically twisting into a pile of nerves. I sprung forward, gripping him by lapels of his sport coat. I dragged him up against the wall and pushed him on the top of a nearby desk.

  I leaned over him. “Don’t you fucking threaten her, you pussy.”

  Colton’s hands gripped the edge of the cherry wood ledge and laughed maniacally. “What are you going to do about it?”

  My chest heaved and my eyes glowed with rage. “I will shove this Size 11 boot of mine so far up your ass you will be pissing polish and shitting leather for a month. And when I’m done with that, I will fucking end you. Right here, right now.”

  He laughed, and I watched his lips curl over his teeth. “Is that another threat, Officer?”

  “You bet your ass it is. You know what, Colton?” I placed my face within an inch of his. “Being a cop has granted me access to some very confidential information. The kind of information that you prayed night and day would never become public. I know your kind. I’ve been arresting assholes like you for years. You think that your Daddy’s money and connections will always make all your troubles disappear. Well, this may surprise you, but even a simple street cop like me has a few connections of my own. I was able to get case files on you pulled that had been sealed for years.” He swallowed nervously. “Your daddy may be a fraternity buddy of the Mayor’s, but let me tell you about a good friend of my daddy’s. See, he ran a security business in D.C., protecting the lives of some very appreciative, powerful men. Sometimes it doesn’t come down to money.”

  I bent low and whispered dramatically in his ear. “You’ll never guess which one of his most appreciative clients had hired him to run his security detail? Even saved his life once from a convict out on parole.” He stared at me but remained quiet. “Go ahead, guess, shit head.” I could see him start to sweat. “OK… give up?” I smirked. “The Attorney General of the United States. That’s right, asshole. They became close friends after my dad saved his life. So close, in fact, that he took a personal call from me at 3:00 this morning.”

  The room remained silent as I continued. “I got my hands on a police report that was dated around the same time Lexi left town a few months ago.” I arched my eyebrow. “You don’t happen to remember that now, do you?”

  I let him up as he stumbled forward. The color drained from his face as he looked at Lexi’s dad. “Sir, Alexis and I were having problems. Laney was jealous of our relationship and she wanted to hurt Alexis. I fought her advances every chance I could, but I made a mistake. I’m not proud of what I did, but it takes two to tango.”

  Laney sobbed, wiping away the mascara that ran down her cheeks. “You’re out of your mind. I never hit on you. You attacked me, you asshole.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Brad

  A collective sound of gasps emanated from the room. Laney turned to Lexi. “I know what it looked like, but you had assumed the worst. Everything happened so quickly. He said he had a surprise for you that he wanted to show me. We went into my bedroom and the next thing I knew he had pinned me down on the bed and…” Her heaving sobs prevented her from continuing the account of that terrible day. Lexi rushed to her side and held her tight in her arms as her body shook uncontrollably.

  Mr. Manning’s breathing was hard as he stalked up to Colton. The muscle in his jaw pulsed. For an older man, he looked fully capable of holding his own.

  He rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. “What do you have to say for yourself now, boy?”

  Colton opened his mouth, but before he could get the words out, he was pinned to the desk again. A fist slammed into his mouth and I watched the blood drip from it. When he tried to lift his head, it was slammed back down. It hit the surface so hard I thought his skull might crack open.

  Somehow, Colton managed to stand up on his feet. He opened his mouth, showing a gaping hole where his front teeth had been. “Yes, we had sex, but it was completely consensual. There is no proof. She’s lying!” Colton slurred his defense as Lexi’s dad grabbed his throat and choked him until his face had turned beet red. I would’ve stepped in, but the sick bastard deserved everything that was coming to him.

  Mr. Manning kneeled over him and spoke in a chilling whisper. “Shut up, Colton! You are insulting my intelligence. You not only played my wife and me, you have attacked and tormented my daughters. I’ve had enough and you know that I’m not the type of man who will let you get away with it. You think you’re above the law? Wrong! Your family may have money and powerful connections in this area, but let me remind you who helped your father get his start in politics. He was a piece of shit used car salesman with a gift of the gab who looked good in a well-tailored suit. All his friends and political allies started off as my friends and professional connections. I made that man and I will take great pleasure in tearing him down. I would also remind you that I have had to befriend some very unsavory characters to accumulate the fortune and following I’ve built over a lifetime. Some of these people are so desperate for their next bu
ck that I could make you disappear for a $20 bill! Hell, some of them would do it for the sheer joy in seeing you suffer.”

  Colton clenched his jaw, feeling trapped into a corner. I could see him trying to search for a way out of this mess. “She lied and retracted her statement. The case was dismissed because she knew that I never attacked her. The case was dismissed.” He pleaded.

  “The case was dismissed… without prejudice. Do you know what that means you stupid fuck?” I chimed in, ready to lay down my trump card.

  The room went silent.

  I stroked my chin, enjoying the panic in his eyes. “Without prejudice means it can be reopened at the discretion of the District Attorney. Congratulations, Colton, your case has been reopened. Not sure if you remember, but Laney had a rape kit done. Normally a SACEK kit is only held for six months, but fortunately for Laney, the detective assigned to the case ordered an extension. He was afraid that she was being intimidated by the person who attacked her, but he hoped that she would eventually change her mind. You’ll be happy to know that the results of the kit, along with a written sworn statement from Laney was sent to the prosecutor’s office this morning. Don’t think for a second that you’ll weasel your way out of this one. It’s game over, douche! No amount of Daddy’s money is going to buy your way out of this. Here’s the good news. At least one thing in your life won’t change; you still won’t have to pay for your food, clothing or lodging.”

  “My family will fight this. Laney is lying and our attorneys will drag her reputation through the mud so bad that she will never feel comfortable in this city again.”

  “Your threats mean nothing now. Laney has an appointment tomorrow morning with Deputy Chief Gibson of Atlanta CID. You should also know that he despises those who prey on the weak and he’s not a fan of your father’s either.”

  He stared back in shock. “No fucking way. I don’t believe you.”

  “Your ass is going to jail, Colton. There may not be any proof of what you did to Lexi, but Laney’s case will be enough to put you behind bars for a very long time. You’ll get a chance to have lots of sex while you are away, just don’t drop the soap in the shower.”

  Colton’s nostrils flared. “You guys are all crazy. This is a set-up. I will be out on bail in no time.”

  “Right.” I said smugly. “You might want to call your daddy’s attorney. Although, I can pretty much guarantee that it’s not going to do you an ounce of good.”

  After what appeared to be a moment of hesitation, I watched Colton rise to his feet and storm towards the door. I charged towards him and yanked him back by the collar of his shirt. “You better listen to every fucking word I’m about to say to you. I think you have underestimated me again. You’re going to jail, motherfucker.”

  “Fuck you, pig.” He gritted out. He tried to jerk away, but I gripped his shirt tighter.

  “You’re lucky I don’t fucking kill you right now. The only reason why you’re still standing is because you’re not worth the trouble.” I paused, “but know this… if you do happen to make bail—which is doubtful—you’d better never come near Lexi or Laney again. If you do, there will be nothing that will stop me from killing you.”

  I pushed him out the door with my free hand and watched him tumble to the ground. He whipped his head around to me right before my foot slammed down on his ball sack. I added extra pressure, crushing hard on his junk. I took a step back and kicked his body down the long, sweeping flight of stairs and watched as he tumbled down over a dozen brick steps.

  As Colton laid on the ground, writhing in pain and cupping his balls, probably making sure they were still attached, we watched the sleek black Buckhead police car pull into the driveway. Two young, uniformed men exited the vehicle and approached the house.

  “Excuse me,” said one of the officers, “we are looking for a Colton Hunt. We have a warrant for his arrest.”

  “He’s right here, gentlemen.” I said, pointing to the pile of human garbage laying at the foot of the stairs.

  The other officer let out a whistle and said, “Man, what happened to him?

  I peered down at Colton and looked at the officers. “I was walking him outside so you could make your arrest. The poor bastard tripped on the top step and tumbled all the way down the stairs.”

  “Wow, that was quite a fall he took.” Noted the first cop, accepting my ridiculous explanation as he gave me a knowing wink and pulled out his cuffs. “Don’t worry Mr. Hunt, we’ll make sure you get some special treatment when you get back to the county jail.”

  The officer glanced over at me. “Thanks, Detective Morgan. We’ll take it from here.”

  The last thing I heard before I closed the door was “Mr. Colton Hunt. You have the right to remain silent…” And silent he was.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Lexi

  My father started pacing the room. I don’t ever remember seeing him so upset. He turned away from me and walked over to the long paned window overlooking the garden. I knew he needed a minute to contemplate all that had happened. The room was deathly quiet as I sat; embarrassed after having to tell my parents everything I’d had to go through. They wanted honesty, and that’s exactly what I gave them. Rehashing the past was painful, but I’d kept so much bottled up inside that talking about it brought me a sense of relief.

  I still couldn’t believe Colton had raped my sister. That I had actually watched it happen, thinking it was something it wasn’t. I was disgusted, and furious with myself for assuming the worst about Laney. She was a victim, just like me.

  How was I supposed to live with that kind of guilt?

  My dad lowered his head and sighed. “I will never forgive myself for not believing you when you tried to warn me that he was bad news. If I’d only listened to you. You and your sister…”

  “Daddy, no.” Seeing my father in so much emotional pain only made me hate Colton even more. I stumbled to my feet and rushed over to comfort him. He not only had to deal with what Colton had done to me all those years, but to my sister as well. One daughter would have been enough, but both destroyed by the same man was too much to take. Even for someone as strong as my father.

  He took my face in his strong hands. “It was my job to protect you and Laney.” His voice cracked when he spoke. “God, I’m such a failure.”

  My heart twisted so hard it hurt. He looked utterly devastated. “You had no way of knowing. Colton can be very convincing. He had us all fooled for a long time.”

  That’s how monsters like Colton survived. They said and did whatever they needed to do to hide the truth.

  He rested his hands on my shoulders looking as angry as I’d ever seen him. “That son-of-a-bitch is going to pay for what he did to you and your sister. For what he did to this family.”

  My father was a man of a few words. When he said something, he meant it. I had no doubt that he would follow through with his threat. Colton mistook my father’s kindness for weakness, but that was his mistake. I just wanted to forget the past and move on.

  My mom stared at us as she sat across the room. She polished off her Manhattan and set the crystal glass on the table. I didn’t even remember seeing her pour it.

  “I’m sorry that I didn’t believe you.” She sighed, with her hands fidgeting with the edge of her red silk dress. “I don’t know how or when, but we will get through this, as a family.” She rose from her chair and came closer, her bright blue eyes staring into mine reminding me of the connection we once shared.

  “Thank you both, your support means more to me than you could ever know.”

  “Alexis,” my mom said, “I’m really, truly sorry about everything.” She glanced at my dad and hesitated. It was weird watching my mother show emotion. She was always so put together. It was odd seeing her so unsure. “I’d like the chance to try to repair the damage I’ve done to our relationship. I know I haven’t been the perfect mother, but I’d like the chance to make things up to you.”

  “I’d like that, t
oo.” Tears filled her eyes when I reached over and covered her hand with mine. I didn’t miss the relief that relaxed her shoulders.

  My dad put his arm around her, pulling her tight against his tall frame. When I truly looked at them I saw the parents that I once had. Regardless of what had happened, they were still my family. We still had a long way to go, but for the first time in a long time I felt optimistic that we could get back there.

  “Alexis!” My dad called out, as I turned towards the door. “That young man out there. You love him?”

  I held back a sob; the word love didn’t even come close to describing how I felt about him. “I do, Daddy. So much that it hurts.” I smiled and quietly walked out of the room.

  I rounded the corner of my dad’s office, my steps a little lighter, my heart a little fuller. Brad was sitting in the sunroom, talking to Laney. To an outsider he looked to be completely engaged in the conversation, but I could sense his nervous energy from all the way across the room. Even from a distance, I could still see the worry on his face. He lifted his head as I approached and gave me an uneasy smile. I didn’t like to see so much doubt in his eyes.

  He stood from the couch meeting me halfway. Our weeks apart felt more like years. There were so many questions, and so many apologies filling the space between us. Promises were made and trust was broken, leaving me unsure where we stood with each other.

  “Lexi, please come here.” I didn’t need to be told twice. I rushed to him as his arms came around me and stroked my back. “God, I’ve missed you so much.” He whispered against my hair pulling me close. I loved the feel of his body pressed against mine. This was all I ever needed. His strength always made me feel strong, even at my weakest moments.

  “I missed you, too.” I sobbed, and dropped my head down on his shoulder. I was so overcome with emotion. Even though everything I did was to protect him, it still felt like I didn’t deserve his comfort or his compassion.