“Yeah, from-” I’m drawing a blank. “From…huh…television.”
His eyebrows lift. A half-smile appears on his face. “You must be the producer of his new show.”
“That’s right. I’m here to talk to him about it.” I feel so stupid. What if this kid asks me about the details? What in the world am I going to say?
Rocco nods his head and politely asks, “You want to wait in his office?”
“Yes,” I answer with relief. “That’ll be great. Is he here?”
“No,” he remarks. “He’s running a little late. He’ll probably be here in the next ten minutes. Follow me.”
“Thank you.”
Rocco takes me through the maze of activity in the kitchen and leads me to a corridor. We get to the end where Russell’s office is located. Rocco, being a gracious gentleman, opens the door and lets me go in first. I turn around just as he’s closing and locking it. When he faces me, I’m shocked to see his sweet welcoming expression has turned to pure anger.
“Where is your father?” I ask him nervously.
“You’re not a producer, are you?” His voice is even but sinister.
“Excuse me?” I heard him, but I’m stalling.
“You said you were here to talk to my dad about television.”
“Oh, that’s right. We have to talk about the show.”
“You’re lying,” Rocco says while folding his muscled arms over his chest.
“I’m not-”
“Yeah, you are. You’re the woman that lives across the street from us. You’re the one that my dad was fooling around with earlier this year.”
How does this kid know about me? I swallow hard and look around for another exit. He’s blocking the only way out. I’m trapped. I have to think fast.
“Rocco, your father and I have never messed around. Never.”
“You called me the other day, asking for my dad. Now you’re here. What for? You think you’re going to break up my parents?”
“No, that’s not the case at all.” I’m shaking. “Maybe, I should leave.”
“You’re not leaving until you tell me the truth.”
“Rocco, this has been a misunderstanding. Okay, I have never been with your dad.”
“Yes, you have. What did you think was going to happen between you two today? You thought you were going to drop your pants, and you two will get it on in here like old times? Is that it?”
“Look, that is totally unnecessary. I told you I haven’t slept with your dad.”
“STOP LYING TO ME!” Veins pop up in his forehead and neck. The boy begins to sweat.
I move back behind the desk, hoping that’ll give me some form of protection. Rocco is now standing directly on the other side. He leans on his fists, eyes firing into mine. I’m scared out of my mind. A knock sounds off at the door behind him.
Rocco is not fazed, and he does not take his eyes off of me. “If you come back here or call my dad again, I’ll kill you. I’ll come directly to your front door and kill you in your own house. You hear me?”
“I hear you,” I shakily whisper.
“Rocco, what’s going on in there?” a woman says while banging on the door.
He rises to his full height and unlocks it. Tiffany Wolfe, Russell’s wife, comes in. She’s uncertain as to what’s going on, but it doesn’t take long for her to recognize who I am.
“Rachel, you’re here,” she says, glancing up at her son with uncertainty.
“Surprise,” I chuckle, trying to ease the tension.
“Is everything alright?” The question is to me and Rocco.
“Everything’s fine,” I answer with a smile and a nod.
“Mom, this is the woman Dad was having an affair with.”
I’m stunned to the point of speechless. My heart is about to come out of my chest. I can’t believe he told his mother about the affair. Before Tiffany can begin to say one word or even react, I run out of that office, and I don’t stop until I get to my car.
I just made a huge mistake. Why did I come here? What was I thinking? Russell is going to be mad as hell, and if Grey finds out, he’s going to kill me. And I don’t even want to think about how Tiffany is going to react when she gets her wits about what Rocco told her. That woman can get out of control and crazy real fast. Shit! What am I going to do now?
Chapter Twenty
I’m sweating from every pour on my body. My hands are trembling. My mind is racing. If Grey finds out I went by Russell’s restaurant, I am more than dead. My ass is going to be buried alive. How could I have been so careless and stupid? I should have called first. Damn it!
My cell phone rings, startling me. I glance at the display inside the car. Thank God. My mom is calling. I totally forgot about her. I take a deep breath and let out all the air to calm my nerves. I can’t let her hear how stressed I am.
“Mom,” I say as calmly as I can. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine, darling. Having so much fun. I just came in from a late night party.”
“A late night party? What time is it there?”
“After four in the morning,” she says with a giggle. “I’m not really adjusted to the time here. So, I’m just sleeping when I feel sleepy and partying when I’m awake.”
“You’re not overdoing it, are you?” I look at the display as if her picture is staring back at me.
“Oh, I’m doing it any way and every-” Her voice fades away.
“Mom, speak up. I can’t hear you.”
“Rachel, darling, I have to go. I’ll talk to you next week.”
“Mom, call me Saturday. Don’t wait until next week.”
“Love you, darling.” She begins giggling again.
“Mom, wait a minute-”
And just like that, I get a dial tone. I want to call her back, but my voice activation to make a call in the car hasn’t been acting right lately. And I need to keep my eyes on the road. It’s bad enough I’m nervous beyond the ability to function properly.
I let out a sigh and shake my head. I feel like I’m just banging my head against the wall for no reason. My mom doesn’t understand what I’m going through for her, and she’s living it up in Hawaii. And I was really hoping that Russell would be the man to rescue me from Grey. What can I really do now? Is there any hope for me at all? Any whatsoever?
Chapter Twenty-One
In the driveway at Jack’s house is the same Impala that was parked in front of the house last night. I didn’t catch the license plate number before I went inside, but the color and the body shape is the same. Is that woman inside of Jack’s house, and why would she be?
I get out of my car and look side to side. Grey’s car isn’t anywhere to be seen on the street. I’m not sure if I want to go into Jack’s house now. If that woman is in there, she might want to have a few words with me, and I’m not up for fighting or arguing over a man I don’t love. As far as I’m concerned, she can have him. Well, she can’t have him. I need Grey in order to keep my mom living in that gated community.
After getting the groceries out of the trunk of my car, I head for the door with my arms and hands full. Before coming over, I got Jack a few things with the money Lynn gave me last night and the thirty dollars from Grey. There are necessities Jack won’t think to get himself until he’s completely out. I don’t mind doing what I can for him, but at the same time, I want Jack to start doing for himself, too. Maybe, we’ll talk about that when we have a chance. Right now, I’m sure about to run into Grey’s mystery woman.
I struggle to get the screen door open, but help quickly arrives in the form of Detective Lucas Parker. I smile at him as I come inside.
“Rachel,” Lucas says. “Glad to see you again. Let me help you with those bags.”
“I got it,” I remark as I continue to the kitchen.
“Is there more in the car?” he asks.
“No, I got it all.” I blow out in exhaustion after I place the bags on the counter. “How are you doing, Jack?”
“I’m good,” he says while wheeling the chair around to face me.
“What brings you here, Lucas?” I go back to the living room area.
“Jack told me you’d be stopping by today.”
“Did he? I didn’t know you two talked to each other.”
“It’s been a while.” Lucas looks passed me into the kitchen. “You do all of his grocery shopping for him?”
“I think so,” I reply. “I don’t mind.”
“Hope he appreciates what you do for him.”
“More than she’ll ever know,” Jack says, much to my surprise.
“I was-”
The toilet flushes suddenly. Within seconds, a woman comes out of the bedroom, and she’s adjusting her hair. It’s the same person I caught Grey having sex with last night. When the woman finally sees me, she’s speechless and shocked.
“Rachel,” Lucas says, “this is my partner, Detective Jillian Rogers.”
I extend my hand and say with a pleasant smile, “It’s nice to meet you, Detective Rogers.”
She’s too choked up to get her words out, but she does shake my hand. Lucas notices her strange behavior, and he gives her a glance, as if he’s silently questioning her. I act normal, like I’ve never seen her before.
“Rachel,” Lucas says, returning his attention to me. “I was wondering if I could speak to you for a minute. I know how Grey can be…overwhelming, and I thought I’d talk to you away from him. You understand, right?”
“I guess so.”
“Excuse me, I have to make a private phone call.” Detective Rogers remarks as she walks out of the house.
Her sudden departure has Lucas totally perplexed. I’m still even keeled. Doesn’t bother me one bit.
“Wonder what’s wrong with her,” Lucas says to himself.
“You wanted to speak to me?” I ask to get him back on track.
“Yeah, uh, sorry about Detective Rogers. She’s never acted like that before.”
“It’s alright. Is this about my neighbor? What I told you the other day is the truth. I really didn’t know her, and I never met her.”
“That case is closed, actually. Gia Briggs is locked up and awaiting trial. This is about another matter entirely.”
“Okay,” I respond.
“Do you know a woman name Stella Burnshaw?” Lucas brings out a pen and tiny notepad.
“No,” I shakily answer.
He sighs and looks over at Jack. Jack looks down at his hands. I try to appear confident, but I know my lie isn’t believable.
Lucas remarks, “Rachel, you don’t have to lie to me.”
“I’m not.”
“If you’re scared of what Grey will do, you don’t have to be.”
“Lucas, I’m not scared.”
“We won’t let him hurt you.”
“Who is we? Does ‘we’ include the police officer that just left out of here?” I started to say she’s been fucking my husband, but for some reason, the words won’t come out.
“Yes,” he says, “Detective Rogers and I will help you. We will protect you. Just tell us what you know about Stella Burnshaw.”
“I don’t know her,” I lie.
“Rachel, you don’t have to live in fear. Just because he’s put a ring on your finger, doesn’t mean he owns you or controls you.”
Easy for him to say.
“I need to know the truth.”
“Detective Parker, I don’t know that woman. Can we end this, please?”
He takes a step towards me. “I’ve known Grey much longer than you have, and I can tell you, and so can Jack, that he’s sadistic and dangerous. Have you ever wondered why he’s not on the police force anymore? Did you ever ask him?”
“Yes, I did, and Grey told me he was tired of serving. It wasn’t what he expected.”
“No, Rachel, he stepped down because there were charges pending against him for rape. He pulled over three women on three separate occasions and raped them while he held a loaded gun to their heads.”
Why didn’t someone tell me before I married him, but would I have listened? God, I’m not surprised. I ask pointedly, “Why hasn’t he been arrested? Why isn’t he in prison?”
“Because it was their word against his with no evidence to back up their accusations. We didn’t even have proof that he was on the roads they claimed he stopped them on. Our records show he was off duty during those incidents.”
I sigh with hopelessness and remark, “I can’t help you.”
“Yes, you can.”
“Sorry.”
“He’s got you under his thumb,” Lucas remarks with irritation. “Let me just say this to you, Rachel, and listen to me good. I don’t like to speak on anyone’s marriage. What people do is their business, but your time with Grey is running out. He’s unstable, and you better wake up before it’s too late.”
I want to tell him what I know about Stella, but there’s too much at risk for me. I won’t do it.
Before leaving, Lucas gives Jack a handshake, gives me his card, and leaves. His warnings are ringing like a fire alarm in my head, but what can I really do? Not only is my life affected if I walk away, but so is my mother’s life. She needs that apartment and health care that Grey is providing. I pull out a chair and sit down at the table.
“Lucas is right about my brother,” Jack says as he rolls his chair to me. “He’s always been like that.”
“Jack, there was a time when I loved that man with all of my heart. I was willing to do anything for him, and I mean anything. When I married him, I wasn’t looking to be kept or pampered. My love wasn’t based on superficial things, and Grey knew this. But none of that mattered to him. He changed after we got married. He stopped saying he loved me. He started coming home late and ignoring me and-” I blow out in frustration. “What I don’t get is why he changed.”
Jack scoots closer to me and says, “Grey has always been the same person as he is now.”
“But he wasn’t some crazy person when I met him, and I didn’t see any warning signals while we were dating all those years.”
“I bet you did, and you chose to ignore them. Love does that, makes you blind, gives you hope. But still, despite all that, you saw the signs.”
I shake my head with aggravation. I did see the signs.
“Let me tell you a story about Grey. I was home on vacation for Jaleesa’s sixteenth birthday. She wanted me to be there, and I couldn’t disappoint my little sister. So, I came home the day of the party. A buddy of mine picked me up at the airport, brought me home. Grey was supposed to, but he never showed up. No big deal. I didn’t worry about it. I still made it before the party started. Everyone was there, except Grey. I asked about him. No one knew where he was. Couple of hours later, the party started, and an hour later, Grey showed up with his girlfriend. He had beaten that girl so bad she couldn’t see out of one eye. My dad was pissed off. My mom was embarrassed. But nobody would say anything to him. My dad was too afraid to approach him. My mom was trying to act like everything was fine, and whatever lie Grey fed about the girl to whoever asked, my mom backed him up on it. I went to him about it during the party, and we ended up in a fist fight. Ever since that day, the family hasn’t been on the same level. I don’t like him no more than he likes me.”
“But he helped you get out of Atlanta.”
“He didn’t do it because he wanted to. The only reason why Grey is doing anything for any of us is because of our mother. If she didn’t give two cents about us, he’d have my pay from the Army, and I’ll be in the streets without a dime. Jaleesa wouldn’t be living where she is, and Andrew sure as hell wouldn’t be living under the same roof as you guys. Everything he’s done for this family, and I mean everything, is because he will not go against our mother’s wishes.”
The weight of the kind of man I married is heavy on my shoulders. I have a deep fear of Grey, and this bit of history only solidifies it more.
“I found out a year after that the girl was
murdered. Police found her chopped up and washed up in Garden City on the shores of the Savannah River.”
I’m just speechless, but again, I’m not surprised.
“Grey killed her,” Jack continues. “I wasn’t there, and I can’t prove it. But I know it. And whoever that Stella Burnshaw is, he probably killed her, too. He raped all those women, just like Lucas said, and he’s beaten Jaleesa. And I know he’s abusing you.”
So, Jack does know after all. I will not confirm or deny any of his statements. I don’t think I need to, anyway. With a heavy heart, I stand up and start unpacking and putting the groceries away. It’s the only sane thing I can do in this insane moment of realization. When I finish, I head for the door.
Jack stops me before I can get out of the kitchen, by grabbing my wrist. His eyes are red. For the first time, I see genuine concern and a very clear vision of love. My heart swells. I can’t take it. I rush out of there in order to stop myself from crying. My tears haven’t fallen in a long time, and I won’t let them now. Jack is not going to make me feel human again. I rather keep my outer shell of solid numbness.
Chapter Twenty-Two
When I make the last turn into the driveway, I see Andrew standing outside talking to Tiffany Wolfe. Actually, he isn’t talking. She’s yelling while pointing her finger in his face. He’s smirking with his arms crossed. Andrew looks like a huge bear next to her, but she’s not fazed by his size at all. If I had any other place to go, I would have turned around in the street and drove out of Privilege Place like a bat going to Hell. But since I don’t, I have to get inside the house fast in order to avoid that woman. I hit the garage door button, thinking I can make an escape, but as it’s going up, I realize the thing is going too slow. It gives Tiffany enough time to block my driving path into the garage.
I stop a few feet away from her. I stay in the car. The doors are already locked. I’m good. She comes to the driver’s side. She starts hitting the window and cussing me out. Spit is flying everywhere. After a few more times of her hitting the glass, it shatters. Her diamond bracelet must have broken it. I’m shocked she could do that, but she doesn’t care. Despite the shattered pieces in and outside of the car, Tiffany reaches through the window and pulls my hair. I’m screaming for her to let me go. She’s calling me all kinds of bitches and hoes. Andrew is standing back. He’s not trying to help me at all.
Rachel (Women of Privilege Book 2) Page 7