My heart fluttered in my chest when I realized Presley had researched Matilda, going out of her way to locate the woman who’d raised me. My eyes burned as I watched her looking out the window of the vehicle. She was beautiful and had a heart of gold. I was the luckiest man to have this woman’s love.
I turned to look out my window, noticing that the scenery had changed so much in the eleven years since I’d left the city in hopes of making a name for myself in the music industry. The mountains and the desert that I could see past all of the concrete buildings still appeared as beautiful as ever. The city had aged and become congested. The highway through town was much wider now and it looked like construction was starting up again to produce more lanes for the demand on the roads.
The graveyard was on the outskirts of Albuquerque, to the south. A long, gravel road cut through the center. Headstones of all shapes and sizes dotted the land. Many were adorned with silk flowers and little trinkets that meant something to the family of the deceased.
Coraline stopped the SUV she’d rented, shifting it into park. “I’ll wait here. Take as long as you need.”
Presley and I exited the vehicle immediately. She had a piece of paper that she studied for a moment before taking my hand and walking forward. As we walked, I searched the names, looking for Matilda’s among them.
I knew it was her stone the moment it came into view. On top of a small hill sat a tree. Below it was a stone pillar that stood about four feet tall. Engraved on the hard marble were cherubs, little baby cherubs … her favorite.
There were no flowers, no trinkets adorning the stone. It looked as though when she was buried, Matilda Marshall had been left alone to her fate. A woman with no family would be laid to rest and left forgotten for eternity.
My heart lurched as I leaned over to read the headstone. Tears gathered in my eyes as I remembered her, laughing and playing with all of the kids. She always paid extra attention to me and sometimes she would give me her dessert if I finished my meals without complaint.
“Oh, Ace,” Presley cried, pulling me close to her side. It only took a moment for my knees to hit the ground in front of the stone. My hands touched the engraved words, still not sure if what I was seeing meant what my heart was telling me.
“It’s my song,” I choked out, a lone tear escaped and trailed down my cheek. “My lyrics.”
“It is,” Presley sobbed, wrapping an arm over my shoulders. “She loved you, Ace.”
My fingers traced the words again, still disbelieving that she had actually followed my career.
Wings of the angels are made from a mother’s love… ~Fatal Cross
“I’m so sorry, Matilda,” I whispered, leaning over to press my lips to the stone. “I loved you, thank you for being my mom.”
I sat back, reaching out for Presley’s hand, drawing the tips up to my lips. My eyes searched the information on the headstone. I felt another twinge in my heart when the date of her death was only a few months after we’d announced that we were going into rehab. I had a little relief in knowing that she didn’t die seeing me at my worst. At least she knew that I had tried. That made the disappointment in not telling her goodbye just a little bit easier to bear.
“I can’t believe she’s gone,” I whispered, accepting Presley’s arms around my shoulders.
“We can stay as long as you need,” she replied, kissing my temple. “I’ll stay with you.”
“Thank you.” I choked up. “Thank you for this.”
“I wanted you to know that you were always loved, even if you didn’t have a traditional upbringing.” God, this woman was my angel.
“I love you,” I said, turning my head so I could capture her lips.
“And I love you, Ace.”
It was hard to do, but I left the cemetery a little while later, feeling a bit lost. No one spoke as we returned to the venue. I had plenty to think about on the ride back, but by the time we arrived, I knew what I wanted to do. Never would Matilda be without flowers or little trinkets at her grave. I’d make sure she was taken care of from that day forth.
“Hey, Cora,” I said, stopping her as she got out of the vehicle. “Can you do something for me?”
Chapter 28
Presley
The police contacted me a week after my father had attacked me outside his home in Denver. The final bit of information that tied all of this horrific bullshit together was a confession from him. I’d seen the video footage from the police station. My father, although a narcissist, didn’t handle the pressure of being in cuffs very well and sang like a canary to the police.
In all of my wildest dreams, I never would’ve believed what I had heard.
I was not his daughter.
The news was still a shock, but I was working through my issues since the tour had ended with a new therapist in Seattle. Ace had gone out of his way to make sure that my father paid for every act of abuse over my thirty years.
My mother had an affair about thirty years ago and I was the product. The relief was enough to have the weight of abuse lifted from my shoulders. Now I understood why he always said he should’ve made my mother have an abortion. He hated me. In some ways, I should hate her… hate them both.
My mother disappeared. I didn’t know where she was and I had no desire to find her. My only wish was that she found peace and happiness wherever she landed. She wouldn’t have any worries over money for a long time.
As much as I despised her for the way she handled my upbringing, there was one thing wrong with the entire scenario. The hatred. I’d learned to put my hate aside, to not let it rule me. The reason was waiting in the other room for me.
One thing I’d learned since meeting Ace was to love and appreciate the things you did have. Seeing him fight to overcome his struggles was inspiration enough to overcome mine. My beginning started as bad as it could get, but I was loved by my friends and my aunt. I had the love I’d needed all along. I just couldn’t see it through the haze of my past clouding my vision. When I finally let go of it all, I could finally breathe… I could be myself.
Ace’s love has taught me that I could accept affection and grow from it. If I had not taken his hand that day, letting him touch me, I didn’t know if I would’ve ever let go of my past.
Now, I had a future. A future doing what I loved and with someone who loved me unconditionally. Ace would be the man to walk beside me as I thrived.
“Are you ready?” Coraline asked, peeking her tiny head through a small crack in the door.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” I smiled brightly.
The door to the room I was using was pushed open wide, my band mates entering one after the other. Garrison’s eyes were the first to tear up, and Brian and Drake weren’t much better.
“You look beautiful,” Garrison said, kissing my cheek.
“It was the best dress I could find on such short notice.” I frowned. “Do you think he will like it?”
“He’s going to love it,” Brian chimed in. “And if you don’t get out there soon, Ace is going to think you changed your mind. He’s already a nervous wreck.”
“Is he okay?” I worried, looking toward the door.
“He’s fine,” Coraline said, handing me the bouquet of flowers. We’d run into town earlier in the day to piece together a few things for our wedding. The flowers were premade, but the white and purple colors were exactly what I’d been wanting.
We all flew to Las Vegas on a whim the day before. Ace and I agreed to get married on short notice because we didn’t know what the future would hold for us once we got back on the road. Call me crazy, but I didn’t want a long engagement. I knew he was mine and I wanted to start our life together, even as unconventional as it was going to be.
“Alright, boys, out!” Coraline shooed them from the room, promising we would be ready in five minutes. Once the door closed, she turned around, tears welling up in her own eyes. “Fucking pregnancy hormones!”
“It’s okay,” I snif
fled as I pulled her into a hug and waited until we both composed ourselves. Coraline chuckled, straightening my dress.
I’d found a simple white dress at a store in Phoenix the same day I found out about my father. The material gathered into a rhinestone knot underneath my breasts, allowing the bottom half to flow to my ankles. The top made a halter around my neck, then crisscrossed at my shoulder blades in the back. My scar was on full display, but I didn’t care. I didn’t hide them anymore, because they were no longer a part of my life. My new life was with Ace.
“You look beautiful,” Cora sniffled. “Okay! Okay! I have to get you out there before I turn into a blubbering idiot.”
“Let’s go,” I breathed, feeling my knees wobble as we reached the door. I held onto the doorframe for support after seeing the doors to the little chapel only feet away.
I took my first step toward my future, allowing Coraline to open the door. As I entered, the music began to play. It wasn’t the traditional wedding march. No, it was the song that we’d practiced the day we’d returned to the tour after spending time at Ace’s home in Seattle. It was the day that I knew I’d fallen in love with him.
As my voice belted out the beginning to “You Need to Hear This” over the sound system in the chapel, I looked up and found him there, wearing a pair of black leather pants and a white button down shirt. He wore a tie that was loose around his neck and the first button on the shirt was undone as if he’d worried at it until he’d given up and loosened the tie and button in frustration.
My eyes flickered to the left when I heard another feminine sniffle. I choked out a sob when I looked at the maid of honor spot and my aunt Ginger was standing there in a beautiful purple dress. She nodded and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, smiling toward Ace.
Both of our bands’ mates were standing in a semi-circle around the minister and Ace. There was nothing traditional to this wedding. Both of our bands and family stood together as one to support our wedding. Taylor and Brian parted just enough for me to walk through. Ace reached out his hand and I took it without hesitation.
“I love you,” he whispered as I found my spot. “I knew you’d want Ginger here, so I had her flown in.”
“Thank you, Ace. I love you,” I replied, turning to face the man who would be marrying us.
As the minister told us about lasting love, faithfulness, and the work it would take to be husband and wife, I could only nod at his words. I made a promise to myself that I would forever love and cherish him, helping him through any hard times he would face. When it was my turn to repeat my vows, I did it with my head held high. When the minister turned toward Ace, my future husband was smiling bright.
“Do you, Ace, take Presley to be your wife? To have and to hold from this day forth, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” he breathed out as his eyes traced my lips.
“By the State of Nevada, I now pronounce you man and wife.” The minister continued, “You may kiss your bride.”
His lips crashed down on mine, his arms making an iron bracket around my waist. His tongue met mine and if it wasn’t for the throat clearing, we would’ve stayed like that for hours. Reluctantly, we pulled away from each other and faced our family.
Garrison was the first one to envelop me in a hug. Brian and Drake followed behind him. When I searched for Ginger, she was on my right, waiting her turn. Her makeup was completely gone and her cheeks were still damp with her tears.
“I’m so happy for you,” she squealed, taking my face with her hands. She kissed both of my cheeks and whispered something that sounded like a prayer. “You’re going to make a wonderful wife, Presley.”
“I’m going to try damn hard, because I love him,” I admitted. “He’s my everything.”
“I knew it from the moment I touched your hand in my shop that day,” she gushed. “Your aura was so bright and beautiful. Something told me that he was going to bring you out of your shell and I was so happy when I saw the two of you together.”
“He did,” I agreed. “He showed me what true love is, Auntie G.”
“He loves you,” she replied, nodding toward someone over my shoulder. “And he’s here to take you away.”
“Only for a few nights,” Ace replied, his hands sliding over my hips. He pressed a soft kiss to my neck and spun me around. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah,” I smiled.
“Come, love,” he said, taking my hand. “Let’s start our forever.”
And that’s exactly what we did.
Epilogue
Ace
I woke up the last morning of our short honeymoon in Las Vegas, my beautiful wife lay asleep in my arms and all I could do was smile. She’d been through so much in her life and for some reason, she’d opened up, giving me all of her.
“Ace?” she mumbled, sleepily.
“Shh, go back to sleep,” I ordered with a whisper. She snuggled back into my side and I kissed her temple as she relaxed.
My phone chimed from the bedside table. I quickly scooped it up so that it wouldn’t wake my wife. My chest ached when I saw the text from Coraline. She’d been feeling better lately and she’d gone out of her way to help me with a request.
I have arranged for flowers to be placed on Matilda’s grave every month.
I replied with my thanks. I didn’t have a family, but the woman who’d cared for me in the home was about as close to a mother as I was going to get. My life was finally where it needed to be. I had a bright outlook on my future and a good woman to walk by my side.
Presley had moved into my home in Seattle already, finally selling the apartment she owned in New York City. She’d said that nothing there held any meaning to her and we agreed to have a company go in and clean it out. She was mine now, forever.
Taylor and Coraline would be getting married before the next leg of our tour started. He’d been beside himself with happiness over the announcement of her pregnancy. The first place they’d gone when we arrived in Phoenix was to a doctor to make sure she and the baby were okay. She was told to take it easy and that everything looked normal. We all put up a fuss when she’d grumbled about not working as much. Taylor had laid down the law about her restrictions, and so far, she was listening to him.
I slid out of the bed, careful not to disturb Presley so that I could wake her up with a cup of coffee. When I turned around, the morning sun was peeking through the curtains, a beam of light cast across the bed. Her hair was tangled around her neck and those wine stained lips I loved so much were pushed out into a sleepy pout. The white sheets were pulled up tight under her chin. My heart squeezed when I realized she would be mine forever.
I returned to the bedside, coffee in hand. I leaned over and kissed her lips, smiling when she groaned out her unhappiness at being woken up.
“Coffee?” she mumbled.
“Here,” I replied, waiting until she sat up in the bed. She closed her eyes as I pushed a strand of hair behind her ear while she took her first sip of coffee. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning,” she grinned.
“You need to get dressed,” I informed her. “We have an appointment this morning.”
“Appointment?” she frowned. “What appointment?”
I scooted closer, cupping her face with my hands. Her body relaxed into my hold and I kissed her again. My lips lingered on hers, not caring that she was getting frustrated with me for not telling her what was going on.
“Ace?” she questioned, narrowing her eyes.
“Remember that song you wrote in New Orleans?” I asked, continuing on her nod. “I’ve set up a time for us to record it. I’d like to do a duet with you and release it on your next album.”
“What?” she screeched. “Are you kidding me?”
“No,” I laughed, moving out of the way so she could jump out of the bed. I watched her as she did a little dance around the bedroom and her ass wiggled in the tiny shorts she’d worn to bed.
“Oh my
God!” she said, coming back so she could jump on my lap. I took that as happiness and hoped to hell I was right.
“So, that’s a yes?” I chuckled.
“Yes, yes, yes!” she laughed. “I’ve always wanted to sing with the Ace Ryker.”
“Baby,” I smirked, kissing her again before I continued. “We have the rest of our lives to make beautiful music together.”
And I couldn’t wait to see what we did along the way.
The End…
.
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading Fatal Temptations. This book was very hard for me to write with Presley’s childhood abuse. There are many things in this book that hit very close to home for me, and I wanted to use my voice to speak for a moment on this subject.
If you’ve been around me for long, you know that domestic violence is something I strongly speak out against. Domestic violence is a problem all over the world and can happen to anyone at any time and at any age. There is no discrimination.
This subject has long been shied away from because it makes people uncomfortable to talk about to strangers and even family members. No one wants to feel awkward when the topic is brought up in conversation.
But it needs to be addressed.
The statics do not lie:
1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives.
3 million men are victims of physical assaults in the United States alone.
More than 60% of domestic violence incidents happen within the home.
In 2 out of 3 female homicide cases, females are killed by a family member or intimate partner.
Fatal Temptations (Fatal Cross Live! Book 2) Page 18