Freed (Bound Duet Book 2)

by Stephie Walls

  Just when I thought it had died down, Lynn sat down at her desk and handed him her phone. It was clear she’d just shown him a picture of our wedding day. He stared for far longer than necessary and then erupted in Lynn’s direction. Her phone took flight across the room and shattered into a million pieces after it hit the cement wall behind Lynn’s desk. In the blink of an eye, his hands did one solid sweep across the desktop and eliminated everything in their path, including her computer.

  Lynn appeared terrified and backed into a corner between the wall and what was left of her desk with Gray standing between her and freedom. I dropped my stuff by the door, hollering at him to stop, but my yell fell on deaf ears. Topher had reached him before I had, and suddenly someone was holding me.

  Gray spun around toward my voice to find Topher in front of him and me restrained. But I wasn’t interested in a fight, I only wanted to distract him so Lynn could retreat

  “Gray! Man, what the fuck?” Topher was loud enough to gain his best friend’s attention.

  I wasn’t sure who looked worse, Gray or Topher having to call his ass out at work. There was pity written all over Topher’s expression, and Gray’s face was etched with sorrow.

  But instead of addressing Topher, Gray screamed over his best friend’s head in my direction. He was answering Topher’s question but directing the response at me.

  “Nothing,” he said. The look of intimidation was lost on me.

  I just felt pity for him.

  “The looks of Lynn’s desk doesn’t say nothing. You fucking demolished the place, dude, and it’s not even your shit. What the hell are you thinking? You can’t do this crap at work.”

  I finally wrangled free of my captors when they realized I wasn’t after Gray. Several of the other guys hung with me as we watched Gray’s shit show unfold.

  Gray was trying to goad me into a brawl right then and there. I should have left. I needed to turn around and walk out the door, but with Annie’s name on his lips, I couldn’t bring myself to be the bigger man. I’d promised I would protect her, and I needed to know what his angle was because he was her biggest threat.

  “She’s married, Topher!” he screamed his response in my direction before finally addressing the man standing inches from him. The remorse took over, and the depth of his loss came oozing out. “Look at the fucking pictures. She was absolutely gorgeous, and I wasn’t there!”

  Lynn chimed in trying to sooth the savage beast. “None of us were there, Gray.”

  He fisted his hair and pulled, and it appeared to be hard, before he lowered his voice, thinking no one else would hear. But it was so quiet in that place, I could have heard a pin drop. “No, Lynn. I don’t mean as a goddamn guest. I mean as her fucking groom.”

  My attention snapped back to Gray, and one of the guys from shipping grabbed my arm, as I started moving toward him. “You need to stay the fuck away from my wife. You understand me, Gray? You’re done. Leave her the fuck alone.” My voice shook with anger, and just as the last word came out of my mouth, Annie’s best friend laid into him, and that alone was worth the price of admission.

  I was having a hard time concentrating on the scene in front of me with the other DC workers clamoring around me trying to keep me from attacking Gray. But even as I shook them off, I managed to keep my focus on Lynn.

  “Do I need to remind you that you’re married? And it isn’t to Annie.” Stepping away from the wall she’d shrunk up against, she was in his face, and her finger was in his chest, poking him with each point she made. “You pulled that trigger. You walked away from her, Gray. Who the fuck do you think you are? You think you could cheat on her, use her, walk all over her, and she was just going to let you keep fucking doing it? Jesus, you are one selfish, fucking prick! I can’t believe part of me actually felt sorry for you.”

  Her hands dropped to her side, and the tension that had pulled her body into a tight line ebbed as her shoulders relaxed along with her voice. “She deserves Brett.” Her entire tone changed as she spoke of her friend with adoration. “She deserves someone who will love her the way she loves—completely. Jesus, you are so damn infuriating.” Lynn just bested my anger. She was pissed off and not just a little.

  Gray was back in her face with Topher stepping between them. I needed to stop the entire thing, but I just stood there completely blown away by every word that came out of his mouth. Lynn reached around Topher to nudge him out of the way before both of her hands landed hard on Gray’s chest. He stumbled back before coming back at her, but she held her ground and never so much as flinched.

  “Fuck you, Lynn. I know she deserves better. I know I was a piece of shit to her. But, fuck, you know I love her! Everyone knows that, including my fucking wife! There is not one person who has ever been around the two of us, together or not, that doesn’t fucking see it. I realize I screwed myself. Why the hell do you think I’m so damn angry?” He threw himself into the chair I’d seen Annie sit in a hundred times to talk to Lynn.

  “Let her be, Gray. Let him love her. Let him take care of her, be who she needs him to be. Don’t deny her this. You and I both know if you don’t leave her alone, you will do nothing but cause problems in their marriage. Give her that gift—walk away for good.

  “She’s gone, Gray; but Lynn’s right, you have to leave her alone.” Topher pointed over his shoulder at me before returning his attention to Gray. “And you better get right with this shit at work, man, or you won’t have a job. You just pulled this goat rodeo in front of her husband—and—your boss.”

  My breathing returned to normal seeing two of his close friends warning him to stay away from my wife, cautioning him about what was good for her, and it wasn’t him. I shook off the people still hovering around me in favor of going home. Just as I picked up my stuff, Topher sat down on the edge of the now empty desk to talk to his friend.

  “I’m sorry, man. I know this shit hurts, but you made your choice and left her no options. She tried to wait for you. Stop torturing yourself and realize she’s not yours anymore.”

  I pushed the bar on the door, and the latch sounded like gunfire it was so loud and unexpected. The wind rushed against me catching the heavy metal and swinging me into the parking lot as I hung onto the edge to keep the door from crashing against the opposite wall. I closed it behind me, and I didn’t hear another word.

  Chapter Three

  Brett ~ Two Years Later

  The first two years of our marriage had been damn near perfect. Annie and I adored each other. We spent our free time together—traveling, eating out, socializing with our friends—it didn’t matter what we were doing as long as we did it as a couple. I’m sure it helped we were in counseling almost from day one, but that never bothered me. Annie had a daunting past, and I wanted to ensure I was always there to help mitigate the demons.

  When she first invited me to a session, her apprehension was apparent—mine was, too. I’d never been in any type of therapy, but it was critical for Annie, and I tried to view it as an opportunity to be part of the healing. While we dated, she had opened up about the abuse she’d endured in high school. I knew about Will committing suicide and her feeling responsible for it, but I hadn’t realized how deep those feelings of guilt truly ran. They went beyond Will and seeped into her relationship with Gray. I refused to add to that list. In fact, I wanted to help her try to unravel the ball of shame she’d wound herself into so she could weave a new fabric that showcased her beauty.

  For two years, religiously, Annie and I went to see her psychiatrist every week. Listening to her pain had been agony, knowing the man who’d caused it walked the same floors I did daily became a real struggle. He had no clue what he’d done to her emotionally. My anger toward Gray became an issue itself, so we worked on my dealing with that. But overall, our sessions were productive and made our marriage that much stronger. When we had problems, there was always a neutral third party there to help.

  Annie struggled with the losses she’d faced and the b
lame. She worked daily to reprogram her mind—Will wasn’t her fault or her responsibility, and Cole wasn’t her mistake. I thought she’d hold on to some level of culpability regarding Will forever, but I felt like we had finally made a breakthrough last night about Cole.

  The two of us were in bed this morning, and the subject came up again. Annie nestled herself into my side, and we were just lying there chatting about anything and everything. She felt warm against my skin, and when I glanced down my nose, her cleavage woke parts of my body that had still been lazily enjoying the morning.

  “So, what do you think?” her voice was hesitant, but I knew what she was referring to, and it wasn’t my arousal.

  “Annie, I told you the day we got married, we could start trying as soon as you were ready. Nothing has changed.”

  “Do you think I’m being reckless?”

  I shouldn’t have laughed; I could see the doubt in her eyes. Only Annie would think talking about having children two years after she’d gotten married would be anything other than responsible.

  Her face scrunched up in disapproval while she waited for my response. I rolled my body to hover over hers and propped my weight up on my forearms. My fingers tucked her hair behind her ear, so I had an unobstructed view of her soft features and those soulful eyes.

  “Sweetheart, I don’t think there’s anything reckless about you. I think you need to make an appointment with your doctor to see about coming off birth control and then leave the rest in fate’s hands.”

  She cast her eyes down further, illustrating how insecure she was about this. “Kids are a big commitment. What if you don’t want them after they get here? Or me?”

  “Look at me.”

  Her eyes found mine, and the hesitation was heartbreaking.

  “Annie, when I committed to you on that pier, it was for life. I’m all in. Sold out. On you, on our future children—I’m not going anywhere. I’m not Will, and I’m not Gray. What I am is your husband, and I love you. I will love our children. I’m not leaving and haven’t given you any reason to think I would.” I kissed her forehead as tears formed in her eyes. “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from you.”

  She gave me a tiny nod, confirming she’d heard me, but I knew it would take time to drive out the doubt. She’d been burned too many times by people she’d loved too much. Although, I’d argue neither deserved her devotion, but that was a separate discussion.

  Two days later, I sat waiting for Annie in the living room. I’d just gotten out of the shower and knew she’d be late but hadn’t anticipated it would be after eight o’clock when she walked through the door. The smile that graced her face surprised me. I’d expected my wife to arrive weary, but the moment I saw her, I knew she was in a good mood.

  “Hey, sweetheart. How was work today?”

  She waved her hand dismissing my question as she answered, “Meh, it was fine.”

  I watched as she wandered through the house and set her things down before returning to sit in my lap.

  “Are you hungry? I ate earlier, but I can fix you something.”

  She shook her head, but her exuberant grin never left her lips.

  I wrapped my arms around her before she finally let me in on what had her so happy.

  “I got in to see my OBGYN today.” Her face pulled back to stare into my eyes.

  My lips found hers in a quick peck that resulted in a smile of my own. “Yeah, how’d it go?” I already knew if she was happy then things went well, but I wanted her to tell me. I wanted to share it with her.

  “Good. Dr. Matthews suggested I finish the pack of birth control I’m currently on since I’m almost through it anyhow. So, as soon as I take that last pill, he said after that pregnancy is a possibility at any time.”

  “Is that what you want to do?” I needed to make sure this was what she was after. This was a monumental decision, one we couldn’t come back from once we’d taken the leap. I was ready. I’d been ready, but it needed to be her choice.

  She chewed on the side of her lip and nodded with a hesitant smile. “I can’t stop thinking about it, Brett. I want a big family. I’ve always wanted one. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d ever reach a place where it would happen, and this feels like the first step.”

  “I’m honored it’s with me.” It might have sounded like a line, but it was true. I’d watched her from afar while she dated Gray, and then while he tore her apart. There was never any promise I’d get the girl, and children might as well have been unicorns. “So, does this mean we get to start trying?” I couldn’t help but wiggle my eyes brows in suggestion.

  Never in my wildest dreams had I thought trying to get pregnant could become so monumental. Just like everything in life, Annie had to plan it down to the minute, and the following day, a calendar appeared on the fridge. She caught me eyeing the paper with curiosity when she came in for breakfast. I couldn’t decipher the color coding but knew my wife would be happy to decode it for me.

  Pointing to the month, I kissed her before asking, “Is there a key for this thing?”

  Her playful grimace screamed excitement, and I was glad I’d asked. Her enthusiasm brought me joy—there was nothing in the world I loved more than my wife’s smile.

  “Red is,” she hesitated, and her face scrunched up before she continued, “the yucky week of the month. White is low fertility. Purple are non-fertile, yellow are ovulation, and green are go days.” Her hands dropped to her sides, and her chest puffed out a little with pride.

  “Go days?” I knew what she meant but thought it was cute and wanted to force her for further explanation.

  The roll of her eyes told me she would play along. “Our strongest possibilities for conception.”

  I’d never thought of using a calendar, and never for this purpose, but the limited number of actual fertile days shocked me. And that was assuming Annie even ovulated according to the normal female cycle, which was a huge assumption since she almost never had a period that lasted longer than a day.

  “So we only have nine days a month where we are really likely to conceive?” The statistics left me miffed. I couldn’t fathom how people accidentally got pregnant based on what I saw.

  Her hands flew to the calendar to point out the white days. “Just because they’re low fertility doesn’t mean infertile.”

  My hand hit her ass playfully. “So are we taking vacation days on green dates?” I needed to keep this light. Too many of my guy friends had complained bitterly about their wives thinking getting pregnant would be a breeze, only to find out it took considerably longer than expected and was accompanied by a lot of heartache.

  “No, silly. I just want us to be aware of days that we’re most likely to achieve our goal.”

  Her words sounded unaffected, but I knew my wife, she was anything but. The longer this took, the further down the emotional spiral she would go. I needed to keep this at the forefront of my mind and ensure we were visiting with her psychiatrist about our progress regularly.

  I hated to ask but needed to ensure she had thought about this not being quite as simple as her coming off birth control. “Did you discuss your irregular cycles with Dr. Matthews?”

  The way her face fell nearly tore me in two. “He’s aware of them, yes.”

  Making my way back across the kitchen, I left my bagel unattended in the toaster. She glanced to the floor when I got within arm’s reach, so I popped her up onto to the counter forcing her to meet me eye to eye. Her chin tipped up with a little help from my hand, and I let my soul speak to hers before I uttered a word. When she visibly softened, I spoke to her with raw honesty.

  “Annie, we have to approach this with open eyes.”

  Suddenly, the innocence in her stare was almost painful to witness. In my gut, something told me this would be the hardest thing we ever went through before it became the best. That thought scared the shit out of me, but I pushed it aside.

  “We have to be realistic about how all this might work. It can take months
for the birth control to lose its effect.”

  “I know.” Those two words came out matter-of-fact, as though my reminder had been pointless and obvious.

  “And you don’t have regular periods. Has the doctor said that might be a cause for concern?”

  Her brow raised in what I read as curiosity as though she didn’t know where I might go with this. I prayed like hell she wasn’t delusional about this process.

  “Not really. Do you think it should be?” The way her forehead crinkled gave me the impression she was considering my thoughts without grasping my reason for the question.

  Letting out a deep sigh, I knew I had to man up and be honest about my concern. We didn’t hide from each other, and I refused to do so now. “I’m not a doctor, sweetheart. But I think we need to know the possible obstacles.”

  “Just because I don’t have a bloodbath monthly doesn’t mean I can’t conceive, Brett. And I know it could take time after coming off birth control.”

  The instant it clicked in her mind, the thing left unsaid, she hopped off the counter and ripped open the refrigerator. This was the one topic that would send her reeling. After snatching a bottle of water, she slammed the door and turned on me. “You think because I lost Cole I’ll lose our baby? Don’t you?”

  Never in the time the two of us had been together had Annie ever taken that tone with me. Raw and defensive, I saw her erecting walls of protection. She tried to stomp away in frustration, but I refused to let her retreat into darkness. My hand caught her wrist, and I tugged her back.

  “No, sweetheart. That’s not it at all.”

  A lock of hair had escaped from her ear. I tucked it back in place desperate to find the softness I normally saw in her eyes.

  “I want this as much as you do, and I want us to go into it with realistic expectations. That’s it.” I didn’t wait for her reply before crushing her against my chest.

  With her wrapped in my arms, I could feel her breathe, the excited pulse of her heart beating through her rib cage and the way she relaxed into me as the tears came. This was what I worried about—her fear and masked vulnerability.