Hindrance

by Angelica Chase

Aiden: Don’t fucking touch it.

  Nina: I really hate you right now.

  I hit my phone. “Taylor, when is our last meeting?” Breathless, I needed this to end. I had no patience left.

  “Our last meeting is downtown at four. I arranged it there because of the construction.” Our floor was currently undergoing serious renovations due to Taylor’s new position and our plans to expand.

  “Give me that address.”

  I texted Aiden with orders to be there at four-thirty.

  It dawned on me suddenly that in my hours with Aiden I hadn’t once feared for my life, or worried about the state of it. I’d simply been living it. It reminded me of a happier time. A time when …

  I was so done going there.

  DEVIN

  I looked up from my phone to see Eileen hovering over me on the porch. Hanging up, I looked at her with bored and impatient eyes. For three weeks, I’d been in this hell. Three fucking weeks all I’d known about Nina was that she was a prisoner in her own home, alone, and without Aiden. That much was comforting.

  “We need to make an appearance at the Admiral’s Club for the Marions’ birthday party.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “Devin, for Christ’s sake, I haven’t been out of this house in three weeks!”

  My head was splitting with the shriek of her voice. I needed the space as well. We were close to finding out exactly who she’d hired, and as soon as that was solved, I would have my freedom.

  Glancing at my watch, I addressed her. “Ready to confess?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she scoffed as I followed her from the patio to the kitchen, pointing to the island barstool.

  “Sit.” She hesitated before taking the seat.

  “I want it on tape, Eileen. A video of you confessing to hiring a hit on Nina.”

  “Devin, I told you, I called it off.” Her posture was that of a spoiled teenager, and I couldn’t help but reason this woman was not well. She clearly had more going on than I’d ever cared to understand. I almost felt bad for what I was about to do.

  “This is a divorce decree.” I laid the paperwork in front of her. “This is the title for the plantation. I’ve signed it over to you. You can have all of our assets except for my boat. It’s all there. I’ll call Byron over and we can finally finish this.”

  She looked at me as if I was an idiot. “You want this in exchange for my confession that I tried to kill your whore? Devin, it won’t happen.” She crossed her arms confidently across her chest after pushing the paperwork back in my direction.

  “Yes it will,” her mother snapped behind her. “Stupid, stupid girl, did I teach you nothing?”

  Eileen froze in her chair, sweat instantly beading on her forehead. Her mother had always been her kryptonite. I cursed my stupidity in my earlier attempts to sway her on my own. My greatest ally was in the woman who had ruined her. It took very little to convince her mother about Eileen’s latest evil deed, which is why she decided to intervene, for the sake of reputation. I’d only lightly threatened to take the ordeal public in an attempt to persuade her. In exchange for my freedom, I would take away my wife’s. Eileen would be spending the next ninety days under observation at the Charleston Mental Institute. When bargaining with her mother, I agreed to complete discretion as she ‘sought the help her daughter so desperately needed’. Eileen looked at me with tears in her eyes.

  “Take the plantation, marry Thomas, and let me go.” She looked at her mother, wide-eyed and full of excuses.

  “He’s speaking nonsense, Mother. His claims are ridiculous.”

  “Give him what he wants, Eileen. Clearly you have failed him.” I felt the snap in Eileen then; it was tangible. It was also a beacon of hope for me. She picked up the pen and put it down, swiping her hand in the air.

  “No, I’m not doing this again. Not without—”

  “Byron,” I called as he entered the kitchen. With her mother and lawyer present, I was free. I had no doubts, but stayed as my wife unraveled, apologizing to her mother, and refusing to look at me.

  I grabbed my keys as I heard Byron’s briefcase click shut. A celebratory drink at the club may just be what I needed.

  Game over

  A text came through, making my blood boil.

  She was at his home last night.

  And I was so close to gloating.

  I sent a text of my own.

  Devin: YOU CANNOT HAVE HER.

  NINA

  I finished my meeting with ten minutes to spare. Preparing the conference room, I frosted the privacy glass, turned on the radio, and ordered chilled champagne. For some reason I was nervous as I waited on Aiden. I opted to do the deed where my meeting was held, a comfortable lounge with plenty of seating. I’d suffered through twenty-five minutes of ass kissing only to hand over money I would have willingly given without prompting. Aiden was all I saw, his attempt to keep my attention solely on him had paid off and I was just about to show him how much. I wondered where he decided we would escape to.

  Away with Aiden was becoming more appealing by the second as they ticked by. Adjusting my skirt, I smirked knowing I was pantyless underneath. There really was no point with Aiden.

  Lying back on the oversized, leather couch, I closed my eyes briefly. Moments later¸ I felt his fingers trail up my leg, keeping my eyes closed, my slow smile revealing to him I was awake.

  “Hey, beautiful, keep them closed.” His voice moved over me like a warm blanket and my body instantly responded. I did as he asked, his touch sending a welcomed shiver down my spine in anticipation. “Have you thought about me today?”

  “Yes,” I replied, my voice heated.

  “And,” he said, prompting for more.

  “And what?” I breathed out as his hand pulled away. I could feel his presence sitting on the table next to me then heard the pop of the champagne.

  “And how did I fuck you?” Two glasses were poured as he waited on my reply.

  “The first time, from behind and hard, the second time, laid out in your bed. And it lasted much, much longer. The third time …”

  “Tell. Me.”

  “Aiden, please touch me.” I was already writhing.

  “Tell me, naughty Nina.” His hand resumed its strumming on my legs, and I opened them in invitation, which he took. He paused when he realized I was already bare then slid his fingers through my drenched folds, feathering my clit then thrusting them inside. My body arched up at the intrusion, but he pushed me down then caressed my pebbled chest through my dress.

  “So naughty,” he breathed into my ear. “This has been waiting for me all day.” I could hear the evidence of my arousal as he fingered me viciously. “And the last time I fucked your pussy, Nina, how did I do it?” Rough fingers explored me, my eyes still closed as I reveled in the feeling, still on the verge of explosion. “Tell me.”

  “Lower.”

  “And you will have it all. Keep them closed.” He pulled me to standing then led me across the room, placing my hands out in front of me until they touched the glass wall that surrounded us. Slowly lifting my skirt up, he kept it bunched around my waist, smoothing my thighs with his hands before pulling me back and stretching me before him.

  “Keep them closed or you won’t get my cock, Nina.”

  I nodded. Panting, I spread my legs further for him without him asking. I heard the zip of his jeans and my adrenaline spiked, kicking my need into overdrive.

  Please, please, please, please.

  “You sure you want this?”

  “Aiden,” I warned.

  Just as soon as my warning was heard, I felt the burn in my scalp as he wrapped his fist in my hair and buried himself to the hilt in one long thrust.

  “Oh, God.”

  “Keep them closed,” Aiden rasped on a promise of more. I pounded my hands against the barrier as he fucked me hard and fast, the build growing intense and unbearable.

  His thrusts were frantic, hungry, and animalistic, and I welcomed ea
ch one with my moans. His hand came down hard on my ass as he pulled my hair, keeping us tightly together with brute force. Another whack at my skin and I was bucking back onto his cock, my body trembling with the need for release.

  Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

  Each slap of his hand became harder than the last and it sent me reeling. As I screamed his name I felt the rush of orgasm. Aiden gripped my hair even tighter, making my eyes tear up as he pressed my face into the glass.

  “Open them.”

  Blinding ecstasy ripped through me as I shuddered and pulsed, completely unaware of my surroundings. I screamed in pleasure as wave after wave hit me, praising his efforts, and losing myself completely in my body’s release. It continued on and on as Aiden reached around, massaging my clit in quick strokes, spurring it further, making it last.

  Slowly Aiden massaged my singed skin as I focused my attention on the sight before me. Realizing Devin’s eyes were on mine, I cried out in surprise then jerked back in revulsion before looking up to Aiden, whose eyes were trained on Devin. Devin was sitting alone in the lounge adjacent to the conference room, a drink in hand, and completely focused on me. Unshed tears lay heavy as Devin watched me scramble to cover myself, pulling my skirt down.

  “Oh my God,” I breathed, watching Devin’s expression go from surprise to devastation.

  I looked to Aiden for answers and saw the glass remote in his hand. “Aiden … why?”

  He looked down at me with a smirk. “Shall we go face the music?”

  Incredulousness turned to rage as I watched him physically gloat, his eyes remaining trained on Devin. “How could you fucking do that to him?”

  Aiden’s eyes drifted to me in mild surprise. “You chose this place. And, baby, I thought I told you I’d claim you anywhere.” He pulled me to him as I punched at his chest furiously.

  “How could you do THAT!”

  He gave me an odd look. “It was pretty fucking perfect, don’t you think? Weren’t you the victim when he was fucking his wife on his desk? Isn’t that what you told me?” Looking between them, it dawned on me.

  “This isn’t about justice for me, though, is it?” Aiden looked down on me with contempt.

  “It wasn’t about him. It had nothing to do with him until you brought him into it!” he countered.

  “I didn’t invite him here!” I whirled on Aiden. “You thought I wanted this? That I am capable of this!”

  “You didn’t plan on having him out there when I fucked you?” He seemed genuinely unbelieving as I studied him.

  “Jesus, Aiden, and you would go along with it? This is who you are?”

  I looked back to Devin, who was now standing, drink in hand, an odd expression passing over him. Grabbing my purse, I walked out to him, unable to deal anymore with the look on his face. “I didn’t know, Devin. I swear to God I didn’t know you were sitting there.” I couldn’t look at him as I pleaded my worthless case. I heard glass shatter, looked in that direction, and saw the splintered remnants of Devin’s glass had fallen short of Aiden’s step out of the conference room.

  What was I thinking having Aiden meet me at the fucking Admiral’s Club where Devin and I met? I was sure Devin would think this was purposeful.

  Everything went in slow motion from that moment on as Devin rushed Aiden in a bloodthirsty rage. It dawned on me then that the look I saw on Devin’s face was resolve; he intended to kill him. I heard the sick crunch of bones as I braced myself for war. Devin landed blow after blow as Aiden took the first few in an attempt to taunt him.

  “Come on, cousin, you can do better than that,” Aiden urged as he took another solid blow to the face.

  I screamed as they crashed through the glass table in front of me, Devin getting the better of him before Aiden—who had him in both weight and size—landed a hard blow to his midsection, knocking him off balance. Devin recovered in mere seconds, unfazed as I rushed to him before he went back in.

  “Please, Devin, stop. Please. Stop. I’m so sorry, stop!” I was pushed out of the way as he roared, moving toward Aiden, his intent clear. I screamed for help as a bloody and now defeated Aiden took blow after blow, his face reddening with each one. Several people came running in from what looked like a private party to aid in breaking them up. Devin was uncontrollable, as it took five men to finally pull him off. I stood, mouth gaping, at the animal Devin had turned into, his eyes fixed on Aiden. Cedric came in moments later, sheer panic written on his features.

  “YOU’RE LATE!” I screamed at him as he gave me a sharp nod in guilt before pulling me away. I looked to a bloody and battered Aiden who seemed pleased with himself for getting the best of Devin’s temper, while Devin looked to me completely broken. I let out a sob as Cedric pulled me out of the door.

  “Where were you?” I was berating Cedric as I tried to wrap my mind around what had just happened.

  “Downstairs with Taylor. I was only there for five minutes. You were safe inside the room with Mr. McIntyre.”

  “Not really,” I said, the adrenaline crash making me dizzy as Carson drove us home. “I’ll never be safe with a McIntyre and that’s the sad truth of it.”

  Aiden thought me capable of being a monster and now Devin saw me as one, as I had him. I ignored my emotion from the look on Devin’s face as I purposefully numbed myself.

  No more. It was all over and I did not intend to entertain any of it further.

  Aiden wasn’t perfect and his only flaw that I knew of lay within his contempt for a man I still loved. It made him the bad guy, and I’d had enough of the bad guy. I took a trusty Xanax from my purse and saluted Cedric with the bottle while throwing my phone out the window and into the Atlantic as we crossed the bridge.

  “You are going to be so bored.” I toasted him as he took the bottle away, allowing me my one pill.

  There was absolutely nothing to think about or mull over. I was completely done with both men. I had never been more certain.

  As I slipped into a medicated sleep an hour later, I was thankful for the pull into darkness.

  ONE MONTH LATER

  NINA

  Six miles was a personal best for me and I had hit it every morning for the last week. I was in the best shape of my life just by pushing a little harder. Cedric high fived me as we slowed ourselves to a stop. He was in amazingly great shape. He’d started joining me in the ocean and in the gym. We’d actually gotten to know each other pretty well in the last month. Though he refused to give up aerosol cheese, I had talked him into making better food choices. My health was a priority and hobby, and I felt amazing.

  It had taken absolutely no time for me to accept that every day was Monday. All my emails were filtered by Taylor, and I made sure I had absolutely no knowledge of whether or not either man had tried to contact me. I changed my phone number and no one was allowed past my newly installed gate. This isolation had been by choice. I alone created the poison, and I alone created the remedy.

  And of the latter, I was proud. It had been completely quiet as far as the threat on my life. Cedric had mentioned they were close to catching the driver of the car, and I knew it was just a matter of time. I still had some trust left, and my greatest allies were Taylor and Cedric.

  Taylor had been absent lately, commuting back and forth from Savannah. My guess was a man, and after a thousand attempts to pry it out of her, Cedric told me as much.

  Finally, Taylor has a man. Was that so damn hard?

  I still hadn’t decided what to do with the land, though I knew by ridding myself of it I was all the wiser. I could no longer afford to care about the mystery behind it. When I wasn’t busy enough and was forced to think, I spent my time wondering what had caused so much hate between family.

  And I thought mine was fucked up.

  Realizing there were answers I would never get and would never seek, I’d decided I was better off not knowing. I had convinced myself of that. Somewhere deep inside and only late at night when sleep evaded me, a part of me that I wou
ldn’t let surface cried without tears. I’d cut her off completely from my daytime persona, and only when I lay in bed, weak with worsening thoughts, did I let her come out to remind me of Devin’s face twisted in agony at the sight of me, or Aiden’s promise to give me all that I needed before turning our relationship into a cruel joke on Devin.

  Little by little, the woman who wished for a different outcome discarded her feelings subtly, like Andy discarded the rocks from his wall in that movie Shawshank Redemption. Little by little, I was moving a big mountain a few rocks at a time.

  I went to bed after the first month, feeling accomplished. Being alone for the first time wasn’t so damned scary, and it wasn’t intimidating. It was just life. My life.

  I looked to Cedric, who was still heavily winded, and smiled proudly as I walked out of the gym.

  All I had to do was clear the air of my obvious distractions to see clearly. I was an ambitious, determined, wealthy woman with a strong, insatiable, sexual appetite who needed to take control of her life.

  And so I did.

  And you know what I found out? It was way harder to be weak.

  Deciding never to set foot in at the Admiral’s Club again, for obvious reasons, I sipped a Tom Collins on the rooftop deck overlooking the sunset when my phone buzzed.

  “Nina.”

  “Hey, Taylor. I just got done with the meeting with Jones. He’s a weirdo. Like seriously, his inventions might be amazing, but I won’t see him again without Cedric.” Cedric, now an integral part of my world, had left me alone last night, confirming that they had found the man who attempted to take my life. I was celebrating my first night of real freedom and was excited to finally be back in control. “Come see me. I’m at the rooftop deck of the—”

  “Nina, shut up and listen.”

  “Okay,” I said carefully. “What’s your problem?”

  “In Savannah, I’ve been frequenting a club called The Rabbit Hole.”

  I sighed. “You know, Taylor, you finally want to talk about your shit and I’m finally over asking.”