He let her loose and she gasped for breath while he once more pushed her on the bed.
Crawling over her his movements were frantic, psychotic. In this moment he was not her lover, they were not having a fight. This was a stranger who was planning to defile her in the most immoral way possible.
He held her arms above her head and pushed her shirt and bra up in one swift movement, leaving them caught around her shoulders and behind her head, assisting to hold her arms in place.
“No! Don’t!” she called out, pathetically trying to get free from under him. Her efforts were exhausting and the more she tried, the more frustrated she became. Tears poured from her eyes like a faucet and she could barely catch her breath to protest her dismay. “Pl-ea-ea-se,” she sobbed as he unbuttoned her shorts and shoved them down amongst her kicks.
“Get him off. Get him off. Get him off,” he murmured over and over again while he ripped her underwear from her body. He was out of his mind. Crazy. Rabid. All he cared about was having her, owning her, erasing him. She ruined them. They would never be the same again. He wanted that back. He needed it more than he needed to breath. This was not a conscious decision for him, it was a matter of being. A truth. A constant. Possessing her, having her. It was who he was. He never registered her struggles as he held her legs apart, never let her screams fully sink in as he pushed his way through her body, over and over again.
Annie was tight, resisting, squeezing her muscles in an attempt to stop his intrusion. None of that mattered. She couldn’t stop him and he took her like she imagined a rapist would take a victim. Hard, rough, unrelenting, and with no compassion. She burned from the inside out. Her vagina felt like it was on fire as he continued to thrust.
In a final attempt to halt his attack, to snap him out of his frenzy, she caught his glance. Pleaded with her eyes for him to stop.
“Don’t look at me. Don’t you dare fucking look at me. You don’t deserve me. You disgust me.”
With those loving words he pulled out and flipped her to her stomach, keeping her legs closed and entered her from behind as he held her head to the mattress.
Braxton always had stamina, it’s one of the things she found so entertaining about their sex life. Round one usually lasting fifteen minutes, but round two could go on for hours. She found herself praying this was only round one for him. That he hadn’t spent any prior time by himself extending his longevity.
Giving up she relaxed her body, letting him do as he pleased. He’d won. He always won. He was showing her his authority over her. Teaching her a lesson. Humiliating and demoralizing her. She’d hit rock bottom. She didn’t care anymore.
“Is this how you fucked Sara,” she asked into the mattress.
His movements slowed and she knew he heard.
“Did you rape her too? Or were you kinder to her than the woman you claim to love?”
His thrusts became almost nonexistent. She had gotten to him. He laid flat on top of her, released his grip on the back of her head and rested his chin on her shoulder. He didn’t stop his movements entirely, but they no longer hurt like they once did.
“I didn’t do it B. I never did it.” His voice cracked and his body began to shake. “She lied. She lied and you believed her over me. You didn’t even ask me. You threw us away without giving me a chance to save us.”
Annie felt his tears drip onto the back of her neck as he once again picked up speed, continuing brutal thrust after thrust until he finally moaned, an utterly heartbreaking noise.
After finishing he was quick to stand while she continued to lay on the bed, letting the reality of her situation sink in. A loud sob escaped her mouth and she didn’t know if she was crying over her heartache or his. “She. She lied to me?”
“Yes.”
“And you. You didn’t?”
“No.”
Annie took a minute to let that settle while she sat up, wrapping the blanket around her nudity and pulling her shirt back down over her head. She was suddenly embarrassed; ashamed of what he did, of what she did. It was all wrong. Every part. All because of one stupid lie.
As she tried to contemplate something more to say her bottom lip curled under and she began to cry again. There was nothing more to say. They were ruined. Things would never be the same again. Brax leaned against the wall, his expression full of disdain. He looked like he wanted to go after her again, fists clenched at his sides as if he were restraining himself, and her remorse over their broken relationship suddenly turned to fear. She didn’t know this man in front of her. Didn’t know what he was capable of. She was looking into the eyes of Ax, a coldblooded, unremorseful killer.
Braxton regarded Annie as she cried. He’d messed up, could see that now, but so had she. She fucked someone else, did it intentionally to hurt him. How could he forgive her? And yet he had. He understood where she was coming from. The need to cause pain to those who wrong you. He’d done it his whole life; he just didn’t expect it to be done to him. It fucking hurt. The worst pain he ever felt. He wanted to console her, apologize, but the words couldn’t find their way out. Instead he reached a hand to her cheek and she shoved him away.
“Don’t touch me.”
He tried again and she screamed louder this time.
“Don’t fucking touch me!”
For a second he thought about trying once more. About wrapping his arms around her and holding her until she calmed down. He thought about dropping to his knees and begging her to forgive him, but his pride was still present. He couldn’t submit to her. Not after what she did. He couldn’t let her think betraying him was something she could get away with. He’d done that once before and this is how it turned out. He had come to Arizona with a plan in mind and it was high time he saw that plan through. Without another word he turned and left the room. Could still hear her cries as he slammed the front door.
The drive-thru lane was hefty that day, the lunch crowd all eager to receive their burgers and fries. Picking up fast food was rare for Keith. He usually went home for lunch, or sent his secretary to grab something for him, but he needed to get out of the office and going home wasn’t an option. The line was exceptionally long, but he waited patiently to get to the window. He had nothing to rush back to. The morning was spent typing up every deposition he had left in his arsenal and now it was just a matter of figuring out where to go next.
Carter was right about not telling the Judge. It wasn’t fair to Jason and that’s not the type of lawyer Keith wanted to be. However, he still saved his report. Just in case. If it came down to it, he wouldn’t let them lose. He’d play the card if he had to, but for now they were doing it Jason’s way, which meant they had zero leads to follow-up on. Carter mentioned having ways to get Chris to talk, but Keith had already left him a voicemail with no return call, so at that point, he had nothing better to do, but wait.
When he got back to the office with his food, he enjoyed the calm of not having anything to do, and found himself on Facebook, checking in on a few old friends. He didn’t get on the social site often. Was usually too busy juggling work and home, but now it seemed he finally found time.
Most of his friends were back in California, each with prominent lives. Lives similar to what Keith would have had if he were to have stayed. It never bothered him before, but now it seemed to strike a nerve. It’s not like he would have done it different though. If he could go back in time and have a redo, he still would have left with her, even knowing how things would turn out. She was the love of his life, he wouldn’t give up their years together for anything. He just wasn’t looking forward to hearing I told you so from his mother. She would no doubt have a field day when she heard the news. Would probably talk him into moving back home where he would get to see how happy and successful his old friends are and would be forced to travel in their wake. But on the other hand, there was no good reason for him to stay in Arizona. If they go through with the divorce, there would be nothing there for him. All he would have is his job, which
he didn’t have any real ties to. Everything else was back in California. He never even made any of his own friends in Arizona. Except for Carter of course. Keith hated him at first, but now he didn’t know what he would have done without him. Every night he let him stay over, every beer he took him out for when he was too stressed to go home. He was grateful for it all. If he did move back, maybe he could talk Carter into moving with him.
Finishing his burger and the fries, he threw away the wrapper and finished off the last of his drink, the straw gurgling air as it sucked up less and less soda. He threw that away too and went back to the computer, closing the Facebook tab so he could focus on actual work.
A ruckus sounded from out in the lobby and he twisted his head to the door just in time to see Carter walk in, his secretary a foot behind.
“I’m sorry sir,” said Jan. “I tried to stop him.”
Carter walked over to his desk and sat in one of the adjacent chairs with a huff. Keith held his hand up to Jan to let her know it was okay. This was the first time Carter had ever stepped foot in his office. They always met at his place, or a bar or restaurant.
Jan reluctantly stepped back and shut the office door.
“What the hell man?” Keith questioned. “You can’t bother to return my call, but you can barge into my office like a lunatic. What’s going on?”
“What’s going on?” he yelled and Keith instinctually sat back, shocked by his outburst. “I’ll tell you what’s going on.”
Carter held a file curled in his hand and tossed it on Keith’s desk, photos sliding out in all directions. Keith picked one up and his gut clenched at the image. It was a picture of Annabel on the couch in her office. The photo left much to the imagination, but she was straddling a man’s lap, her skirt hiked to her hips and her bare back was to the camera as she bent forward to kiss him.
“I didn’t want to show you these. I’ve had them for weeks, but I needed to get closer. It wasn’t time yet.”
“What the fuck are you talking about Carter? You knew? All this time and you never told me?”
With a shaky hand he picked up another photo, similar to the one before, only this time it was the bare back of a man behind Annabel, pressing her naked chest against the wall as he buried himself inside her. Bile rose to Keith’s throat and he had to swallow it back down. He knew she was cheating on him. He fucking knew it; just didn’t want to believe it, but now it was staring him in the face. The scandalous photo felt like fire in his hand and he quickly tossed it aside, trying his best to hold himself together in front of Carter.
“Yeah I fucking knew. I know everything, and you my friend, know nothing. This isn’t how I wanted to tell you, I honestly thought I’d never tell you. You’re too good for her. You deserve a nice girl. One who wants the same life you want, and that’s not Annie.”
“Annie?” Keith questioned. Finding it odd Carter would call her by that name.
“You’re catching on quick. Keep looking. The answers are all there.”
The next photo was of Annabel in a sun dress, standing on the steps of a country cabin with a white, Ford Raptor in the background, the same one he’d seen the other day. Keith’s heart accelerated into his throat as he quickly searched through each picture, needing more confirmation.
The next page in the pile was a profile print out for a man named Braxton Cage, a New York businessman worth billions, which explained the offshore fifteen-million-dollar bank account, but did not explain why Carter’s truck was in the same photo as Annabel, taken before he asked him to look into her.
“What the fuck’s going on Carter?”
The pages were now splayed on his desk, image after image of her indiscretions, all at precise angles where he couldn’t see the man’s face, could only make out his body, muscular and covered in tattoos.
“Well obviously your wife’s having an affair.”
“Obviously. Tell me it’s not what I’m thinking. I don’t even know what I’m thinking.”
Instinctually he sized Carter up, sitting across from him in one of his long sleeved shirts he always wore. Keith didn’t want to believe it. This was his friend. He wouldn’t do that to him. He couldn’t. He never even introduced him to Annabel. It wasn’t possible.
“If you’re thinking it’s with me, then you’d be correct.”
Keith stood swiftly from his desk, the executive chair rolling back with enough force to hit the wall. He began shaking his head no, back and forth over and over.
“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. My real name is Carter Young, but the name I go by these days is Braxton Cage. Fuck,” he exhaled. “It’s nice to finally get that off my chest.”
Keith didn’t think, didn’t stop for one second, and clumsily slid over the desk, clawing to get to the edge where he swung a punch landing directly across his jaw. Braxton saw the punch from a mile away, but stayed seated, letting it happen. He deserved this. And what Keith lacked in agility he made up for in performance, the pain ricocheting through his skull.
“You son of a bitch,” he punched him again, this time not as acute, but Braxton had had enough.
“Stop,” he grabbed his fist on the third swing, squeezing tight and twisting.
Keith grimaced in pain, lowering to his knees, but his wrath still burned bright.
“You had your freebie, in fact I gave you two. If you punch me again, I’ll fight back, and trust me, you don’t want to fight me.”
Braxton let go of his hand and took a step away, allowing him to stand. Keith’s eyes were laced with abhorrence, but he kept his fists to himself. Smart man.
“Was everything you told me a lie?” he asked, cuddling his wounded wrist while trying simultaneously to hide his bruised ego. “Just a ploy to get close to me?”
“I was trying to get close to you, yes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer and all that shit, but I was more honest with you than I am with most people. The only thing I lied about was my company. I am not a private investigator.”
“You told me you were married. Getting a divorce.”
“I was referring to Annie, and I never said we were getting a divorce, you assumed. I said she left me. Which she did. When she left New York and went home to you.”
“She left you?” he screamed out in question. Trying to understand what the fuck was going on. He no longer recognized the man in front of him. This wasn’t his friend. This was a psychopath. A home wrecker in its purest form. “She left you! Of course she did, she’s married. To me. God you piece of shit. You couldn’t just let it be? After what? A week of knowing her? You decided you were going to claim her as your own and ruin everyone’s life in the process? Well now she left me. Congratu-fuckin-lations.”
“She what?” This was news to Braxton. The last he heard, she wasn’t leaving him, at least not anytime soon.
“What, you didn’t know? She didn’t call you right after so you could laugh at my expense?”
Braxton was shocked she didn’t call. Why had she hidden that from him? He may have reacted different if he knew. Probably not, his anger so raw and pure when he heard the audio, but at least he would have known it was over. That Keith was no longer a threat.
“No. She didn’t know I knew you. I never told her.”
“Right. Like I can believe you. I can’t even look at you anymore. You make me sick. Get the fuck out.” Keith stormed over to open the door, while Carter came up behind, slamming a hand against the heavy wood to force it back closed.
“I’m not leaving until we get a few things straightened out.”
“What? You want something else from me? My wife wasn’t enough. Are you going to steal a kidney from me next?”
“I didn’t steal anything. You and Annie were already over before I came around. You just hadn’t realized it yet. You’re overreacting.”
They were face to face and Keith had to do everything in his power not to punch him again. The nerve. He might not have been able to lash out physically, but h
e was by no means going to let Carter embarrass him further. “I’m overreacting? That’s funny. Come talk to me in ten years when this happens to you. Do you think we weren’t ever happy? Annabel and me? We were madly in love with each other at one time. We fucked all day, everyday. As often as we could. Well let me clue you in. That goes away. It won’t stay this way forever. And then she’ll trade you in for an upgrade. You’ll be in my position one day and you’ll know exactly how it feels, and I’m going to sit back and laugh while I watch you overreact.”
“If Annie ever did that to me I would shoot the guy in the fucking head. I won’t let her leave me. Ever. The fact that you’re still standing here and not rotting out in the middle of the desert is a testament to how much I like you. I know what happened last night. What you did.”
“Oh, when I fucked my wife? You didn’t like that very much did you? You want to kill me now? You have no right to feel that way. She’s mine. Not yours. We might be over now, but she’ll always be mine. I’ll always be her first. Her first love, her first husband, the first person she bought a house with, the first person she got pregnant with. You can’t compete with that. Couldn’t even come close.”
Carter held a good poker face, but Keith saw the twitch in his jaw. He was getting to him, and for good reason. Everything he said was the truth. Annabel and he shared a life together, and while he will forever loathe her for what she did, she will remember him fondly. He was always good to her. And when things get rough in the future, and they always do, she’ll think of him. Will always wonder what could have been.
“Maybe you’re right, maybe I can’t compete, but I think you’re wrong. Once you’re gone, really gone, she’ll forget all about you.”
“Fantastic. Then maybe I’ll stick around. Just to fuck you over.” He wouldn’t. His hard fast decision to leave and never look back was solidified when he glimpsed that first photo.
“No. You won’t, but I’ll entertain your new found idea. So tell me, what’s your price Keith? Everyone has a price. Name it. What do I have to do to get you to go and never talk to her again?”
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