The UnKnown (A Novel)

by Lara Henley

  “You two be careful. Drake, text me when you get there. Misty, darling, I hope to be seeing more of you.”

  “Oh, yes ma’am. I had a lovely time. Thank you for dinner.” We waved them goodbye and me and my girl were off on our very first weekend getaway.

  Chapter 25

  Misty

  Drake’s parents weren’t at all as I expected. They were very nice and laid-back. Not at all what Drake had described them to be. I knew that the cancer had changed them, but they were so nice and sweet. I could see Drake got his charm from his mother. He shared a striking resemblance to his father. They even had the same demeanor; very sophisticated and strong men. Needless to say, I was very impressed by them and I hoped to spend more time with them. I was a little sad that I wasn’t able to meet his brother, but I knew I would in due time. What could I say about that house, other than it was absolutely gorgeous and made me feel a bit uncomfortable? It made me realize how poor I really was. I had nothing compared to this man sitting next to me.

  The more time that Drake and I spent together the more I was in love with him. He always opened doors for me and pulled out chairs at restaurants. He made sure I was ok before thinking of himself. His father had taught him this because of the attention and care he showed Drake’s mother. As we ate dinner they flirted and kept touching each other. I hoped that one day Drake and I would have that same type of strong marriage that I was beginning to see all around me. I now knew that I was not facing the unknown alone. I had a family and a man who loved me and I loved them just as much.

  ***

  Three and a half hours later Drake and I pulled up to a beachfront property in Coco beach. I was in awe of the dark waves beating on the sandy beaches. I was itching to get my feet in the sand even though it was ten thirty at night. The bell hop opened the door for me and said, “Welcome to Coco Beach, ma’am.” The sound of that made my heart flutter. I was spending my first weekend away with Drake and seeing the beach for the first time. It couldn’t get much better than this. He took our bags from the car and handed Drake a ticket. I assumed for the car. Once I stepped foot into the lobby I was taken aback by the beauty. I knew he had gone all out, but nothing like this. The lobby was made head to toe of marble. All the way up to the ceiling.

  “Drake, this is…. this is…. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Nothing but the best for my Peaches, now and always. If I told you once, I’ve told you twice. I will ALWAYS give you what you deserve. And you, my love, you deserve the best.” He grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it as we made our way over to the desk. A very short blond-haired woman greeted us.

  “Welcome. How may I help you?” Her eyes were glued to Drake. I was instantly annoyed.

  “Reservation for Drake Harris.” Her fingers banged on the keyboard for a few seconds.

  “Ahh, yes, here we are.” She checked us in and then handed Drake the key. She still never acknowledged my existence.

  “Take the elevators to the right. The bellman will bring your bags up. If you need anything else please don’t hesitate to call us, Mr. Harris.” She winked. I guess the boy was oblivious to her charms.

  “Thank you. My husband and I will call if we need anything.” I took his hand and we made our way over to the elevators.

  “Your husband? What was that about?” He was amused that I would lie and tell this woman I was his wife. I could see Drake as being my husband, but I wouldn’t tell him that just yet.

  “She was flirting with you right in front of me! I had to do something because apparently you were not privy to it.” Drake laughed.

  “Oh, now we are being protective.” He giggled more.

  “I protect what belongs to me.”

  We stepped into the evaluators where Drake punched the twelfth floor button and entered his key card. It was the very top floor. We stood in silence listening to Justin Bieber’s “Somebody to Love”. When the doors opened we stepped out. I was transported into the most luxurious room I had ever seen. The carpet was a burnt rust color that matched the cream colored walls. The dark curtains opened to look out on the beach. The French doors opened to a balcony. To the left of the room stood a mini bar made of black marble. The elevator door opened again to the sight of the bellhop.

  “Where would you like your bags, Sir?”

  “You can put them in the bedroom.”

  “Very good, Sir.” He took the bags into the room and emerged again.

  “Will that be all?” Drake nodded and gave him a crisp twenty dollar bill. “Have a good night.” He turned and the doors closed, leaving us in the room alone.

  “Can we take a walk on the beach?” I was so ready to be out there.

  “Of course. We can do anything you want. Let’s grab a blanket to take with us.” I followed Drake into the bedroom and was totally taken away again. There was an oversized bed sitting in the middle of the room. There were also two nightstands made of pure oak. The room was dark with flowers in every corner.

  “Did you have these flowers put in here?”

  “I did. I wanted our first weekend getaway to be special.” He was holding something behind his back with a smirk on his face.

  “What’s behind your back?”

  “Come over here and find out.” I walked slowly to him and reached behind him to bring his hands forward. There was a shiny gold key in it.

  “I’m confused.” He kneeled down on one knee.

  “Misty, this is the key to my heart. You have had it since the moment I saw you in that diner. This is also the key to our new apartment. Whenever you are ready you use this key. It’s the key to start our future.” I had no words. I had a huge lump in my throat. He placed the key in my hands. The gold chain dangled between my fingers. It was the sweetest most wonderful thing I had ever encountered.

  “Please say something. You are killing me here.” He was still on one knee. I rubbed the key with my thumb as the tears began to form in my eyes.

  “I love you, Drake. I don’t want to spend one more moment apart. I want to move in with you as soon as we can.” He jumped up, wrapped his arms around me and lifted me in the air.

  “I couldn’t be happier, Misty. I love you so much. Our life is going to be wonderful.” The gleam in his eyes gave me the confidence that it would be.

  “Baby, I’m going to give you the world, starting with the beach.” He scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder. I screeched as he slapped my ass.

  “I can walk,” I said, kicking my legs.

  “I know you can, but tonight I am going to carry you.” The next thing I knew we were on the beach with a table sitting there with wine chilling and two candles. The white and red roses were sitting in the middle. God I loved this man even more.

  “When did you have time to set all this up? I didn’t think I could love you more than I did, but I was mistaken. God filled my life when he brought me you.”

  “I feel the same way. There was a void, Misty, and you fill it in every way.” He pulled out the seat for me and I sat as he poured us both a glass of Champagne.

  “Thank you for everything. I couldn’t be happier. Let’s toast to the future.” I saw a pained look on Drake’s face. I felt a sting on the back of neck. I reached back and felt a liquid substance running down the back of my neck. I pulled my hand forward to my face and saw blood. I instantly felt woozy.

  “What’ssss, what’s going on?” I heard Drake scream something, but I couldn’t make out what he said before I passed out on the sand.

  ***

  When I opened my eyes I was in a stark white room. I saw Drake sitting in the chair with a blackened eye and a bandage around his other eye. I tried to speak, but my throat had something in it. It hurt. I tried to move my arms to make him aware I was awake. I knew I was in a hospital because of the tubes coming out of my arm. I was panicking. What the hell happened? I was trying to move my arms, trying to remove what was in my throat. He immediately hit the nurse button.

  “Baby, don’t panic
and don’t move. I have called the nurse to come remove your tube.” He held my hands down so I didn’t rip out the tube. A nurse came in.

  “She is awake. Can we get that tube out? She is trying to rip it out.” She called the doctor in.

  “Ms. Scott, I’m Dr. Rose. We are going to remove the tube, but I need your help. I need you to cough as hard as you can on the count of three.” I was kicking my legs and nodded I understood.

  “One, two, three,” I coughed as hard as I could and Dr. Rose pulled the tube out, leaving me gasping and coughing hard for air. I was heaving hard. I lay back on the pillow.

  “Water, please water,” I said in a raspy voice.

  The nurse raced into the bathroom and got a cup of water. She helped me drink and lifted my bed a little.

  “Better?” The nurse suggested.

  “Yes, what happened? Why am I here?” I turned my neck to actually notice Drake was in a wheel chair. Aunt Silvia was standing right behind him. Drake looked up at her and then back at me.

  “Misty, let me examine you and then you can ask all the questions you need.” I nodded. Dr. Rose made everyone but the nurse leave the room while he examined me. Once finished he let everyone back in.

  “What is going on? The doctor told me I had a blood transfusion and that you Aunt Silvia were a perfect match. How? We are not the same blood type.” Tears filled her eyes.

  “We were mugged on the beach. You have been in a coma for a week. You were beat up pretty badly. The bastard hit you in the head with his gun and then kept kicking you in the head. There was so much blood. I thought you were dead. Thank God you are ok. The doctor told us you should make a full recovery, but you wouldn’t wake up. I thought I’d lost you. I love you so much.”

  “What happened to you? You’re in a wheel chair.” I was confused.

  “I have a couple of broken ribs and some bruises. I tried to fight them off as much as I could. Your screams made someone alert the cops. The sirens scared them off. All that matters is that you are ok.” He was holding my hands.

  “The doctor said he wants to monitor you for a few more days and you’ll be able to come home. I am going to take care of you baby girl, like I should have done from the day you were born.” From the day I was born?

  “Aunt Silvia, what do you mean from the day I was born?” She was sobbing.

  “Misty, I have held this guilt in for so long. I know you feel our connection. I am your real mother. Lizzy and Lee are your brother and sister. I gave you to Anna because I couldn’t take care of you. I was so selfish and young. Anna was already married and she had the means. They tried having children and couldn’t. I knew that you would be safe. Then when they died, I was too ashamed.” She tried taking my hand, but I snatched it back.

  “You mean to tell me that you are my real mom and the only mother I ever knew and loved was my aunt. Get out.” I never wanted to lay eyes on her again. My head was swimming with emotions. How could she be my mother? My mother is gone, my mother is dead. She gave me up with no remorse. I had to endure hell and heartache because of her. I will never forgive her for this. NEVER!

  “Honey, please don’t do this. Who is going to take care of you?”

  “I can take care of myself; I have been doing it since I was twelve! GET OUT! I never want to see you again you selfish BITCH!” Her head sunk down and she walked towards the door.

  “Please if you ever need me, I am here.” I turned my head because I didn’t want to watch her leave. Drake wheeled himself over to me and I sobbed into his arms. I was so tired, just so tired.

  “Baby, please don’t cry. You’re breaking my heart. I am here. I will help you.” I knew he would and I was going to let him. I had no one else. My world was falling apart just as I was putting it back together.

  “I know, Drake; get me out of here. Please.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” then he wheeled himself out of the room to go talk to someone.

  The next day I was being released from the hospital. I was in so much pain. Dr. Rose prescribed me some pain medicine to take. He told me to get plenty of rest and no heavy lifting. Drake arranged for my things to be brought over to his parents’ house. I wasn’t completely comfortable staying with them at first but they welcomed me with open arms. I told Drake to leave the car with Silvia, I wanted nothing from her. When I returned to work, I would pay her back for the clothes. I was so disgusted by her. I felt betrayed and so hurt.

  The following weeks after my release from the hospital were hard, but Drake kept his promise. He and his parents took care of me. He was in so much pain, but he put me first as always. We were now into late September and the nights were beginning to cool off. Drake and I were sitting on the patio having a late dinner when we were interrupted by two cops. Maybe they were here to tell us they had caught who mugged us.

  “Drake Mitchell,” one of the officers said.

  Drake’s father was standing behind one of them. “Drake don’t say a thing, you understand me? I am calling the attorney.”

  “Yes, I am Drake Mitchell.”

  “Please stand, Sir.”

  “Why, what is going on?”

  “You are under arrest for the death of Rodger Stewart. Put your hands behind your back.” Drake complied.

  “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will appointed to you. Do you understand these rights?” OMG what the hell?

  “Wait, you can’t take him away! He was protecting me!” The second officer held me back as they took Drake from me. I was once again all alone in this world. I had no one and I could only depend on myself. Everything I loved had been taken away. What did I do to deserve this? I saw the love of my life being driven away in the back of the police car.

  I never even got the chance to tell him he was going to be a father….

  Sneak Peek into

  The Revealed

  Three weeks later

  Sean

  From the first time I laid eyes on her I knew I was an asshole. I had just arrived home from my shift and I saw him helping her out of his truck. I ducked into the side yard because I didn’t want them to notice me staring. She was the most precious thing I had ever seen. How does he always get so lucky? Why does he get everything? Our parents love, the great school, and now the perfect girl. Misty had a grace about her that no man in their right mind could deny. And my brother, lucky SOB, got her like he does everything else. It was pure torture when she moved in with us. I had to sit back and watch them together. Watch him have what I so clearly wanted. The day Drake got arrested was like heaven smiled down on me. Did I have a chance to get her? I noticed she glanced at me every so often but quickly look away thinking I wouldn’t notice. I put my hand on her shoulder to comfort her and I knew that I was headed down a dangerous road. He asked me to watch out for her and I very well intend on doing just that.

  Drake

  The screaming I heard from Misty as I was put into handcuffs would be seared into my brain forever. I left her and I knew she felt alone. She found out that her aunt was actually her mother and now I was sitting alone in this jail cell awaiting trial for a man I killed with my bare hands. I would do it again if it meant protecting her. That man was the scum of the earth and deserved to die. I never thought I’d go to jail protecting her. I told Misty not to visit me while I was in here. She didn’t need the stress and I wanted to spare her the pain. The torture of not seeing and holding her every day was almost unbearable. The secret that I had to reveal to her is going to break us. I knew staying in this jail would be better than the jail I would create for myself when I told her. I would never again be with her and that in itself was going to be the ultimate Hell. I asked my brother Sean to look out for her while I am dealing with this shit. I don’t know if that was such a good idea because I’ve noticed him staring at her. I swear to all that is holy if he touches one hair on her perfect head
I will chop his dick off. I will wrap it up tightly and hand it to him with a bow. I am sitting here in jail for doing just that. I will protect her till my dying breath.

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  www.LaraHenley.com

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  @laraisadiva

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25