FILTHY (Reckless #2)

by HJ Bellus

  It’s the missing child’s report filed by Francis and all the work she went through to find me, along with the prisoner’s ID who sent me the letter. I study his face as he reads through the information. It feels like an eternity of hours pass before he speaks again.

  He clears his throat. “What’s your endgame here?”

  “I want charges pressed and Francis to have justice. They need to pay for the crime they’ve committed, and I could give two fucks whether they’re the greeters at Wal-Mart or a high power senator. Fair is fair. And if you don’t have the balls to follow through, I will.” I stand on steady feet with conviction like I’ve never felt in my life before.

  I’m empowered, strong, and for the first time in my life have reason to fight for what is truly right and just in the world. I don’t say another word before turning and walking out of the office. In the sunlight of Tennessee, I check my phone and have twenty minutes before my interview with the local news channel.

  The list of names of the men I remember who studied me naked as a child and stroked their dicks, burns a hole in my pocket. I’m bringing all the bastards down because no one is going to stop me. For the first time in my life, I believe in myself. Know that I’m worth it and I’m going to defend myself. And I know exactly where all this power came from…Rhett Westburn. He showed me love and gave me confidence, and all I ever did was what wait for the bottom to fall out. I looked for every chance to run and I did.

  Me: I love you

  He has to know how much he means to me and how much I love him. I heard him when he was talking about Gia, and knew deep in my gut he wasn’t cheating, but it gave me the excuse to be a coward and run.

  Me: You have to know how much I love you and how you’ve changed my life forever. I’m dealing with stuff I never would’ve. I would’ve run or turned to pills and liquid courage, but Rhett I don’t have to do that because of you. I’m sorry and please know I love you. I’m going to the news station to out my dad. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved.

  I catch a taxi to the news station and am not surprised when he never responds. Deep down, I needed his response to help me get through this, but I’ve hurt him. Hurt him bad and don’t deserve his support right now. I send him one final text before stepping into the news station.

  Me: I don’t deserve you. I’ve hurt you, but Rhett I can’t teach my heart to unlove you. I’ll never unlove you.

  Again my phone remains silent, and I tuck the piece of heartbreak deep down in my purse and inhale air giving me the last piece of confidence. Once this story hits the noon news, and then the six and ten news, I won’t have to worry if the detective decides to press charges because my mom and dad will have taken care of me.

  My phone buzzes in my purse when the news crew is mic'ing me up. I try to reach for it, but they’re vultures on a mission wanting this story before it leaks anywhere else. For the first time, tears threaten. I need Rhett here with me. What in the hell was I thinking? He’s my other half, my base and foundation, he’s always there for me. The one person who can make me laugh like a lunatic while making love to me. He’s mine and I pushed him away.

  For all I know he could’ve sent a nasty text back to me telling me he’s done with me. Yes, that’s what it is. I can’t let myself think anything else or I’ll never get through this interview. I’ve lost him. I swallow that jagged pill, feeling it slice open my throat as I steady my clammy palms on top of my jeans and forcing a fake smile to the gorgeous news broadcaster.

  She’s so put together, from her designer heels to her perfect hair. She carries herself in the most fashionable way from her posture to her soothing voice. It helps the doubts beginning to creep up inside of me. I’ll never see Rhett again before my dad has his way. Why do I keep calling that bastard dad?

  “Hi, Darby.” She extends her hand to me. “I’m Michelle Easton. I understand this will be very painful and I can’t even begin to comprehend it.”

  She goes on about which camera to look into while speaking and reassures me to only answer the questions I feel comfortable with. I scanned the letter and all the other documents I wrangled up, and emailed it to them. It’s clear they’ve done some research of their own when I see pictures of my birth mother scattered on a table. In some she’s holding me, and others it’s her as a young and vibrant adult. She’s gorgeous. I see my honey hair, wide smile, and brown eyes reflecting back at me through her pictures.

  The interview starts off simple enough with easy questions about my name and upbringing. Michelle holds up several perfect pictures of a perfect family. My mom, Dad, and me smiling for Christmas card pictures and even family pictures. It all looks so insanely perfect. I’m going to look like a spoiled rich kid calling victim.

  “Michelle.”

  “Yes, Darby.”

  “May I speak openly right now?”

  “Oh yes, honey, we will cut and edit the video.”

  “I’m not lying.” My voice becomes shaky and I have to battle back the tears. “These pictures make everything look so damn simple.”

  I break. Every fucking single guard I’ve built up tumbles, erupts, explodes in one second. The immensity of this whole shit show crashes down on me. My hands cover my face as the sobs erupt from me. All of it tears through my soul, leaving me crumbling to nothingness in front of the camera crew.

  I hear a commotion in the background and then voices. It finally subsides and I fight to gain control of my feelings. It’s a losing battle and I’ve never felt more like ending it all forever.

  “Let me to her.”

  I don’t even react to the voice swirling away into nothingness.

  “You’re not allowed in here, sir.”

  “I don’t give a fuck.”

  The deep voice rips me from my vortex, and I blink through the steady stream of tears pouring out of me. I use the back of my hand to make sure I’m not making it up.

  Michelle grabs the man’s forearm and speaks softly to him. “There’s a dressing room off the side of the hall you can take her to.”

  He nods and then scoops me into his arms. I melt into him until my soul is his and I’m cocooned in everything Rhett.

  “Thank you,” I whisper into his chest.

  “I got you, baby.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  I feel him collapse on a couch and the sound of the door shutting from his boot kicking it closed. He doesn’t loosen his grip, keeping me to his chest until the heat of his skin becomes my own. I need more. Always need more with him.

  My fingers undo the buttons on his plaid shirt until my face is up against his hard chest. His skin becomes mine. I let the rest of the floodgate rush out of me and soon follow his breathing pattern. His air is mine, filling my lungs and soothing my soul.

  “I’m so sorry, Rhett.”

  “Talk to me, Darby. You have to talk. You can’t run anymore.” He forces my face up to his. “I love you. You hurt me, but I love you more than my own fucking life. I need you in mine. I won’t let you run, but you can’t hurt me anymore.”

  I nod to him and watch him use the pads of his thumb to wipe away my tears. He leans down and kisses my forehead.

  “You gave me the courage to do this, Rhett. I need you here now and have no idea why you would come to save me, but thank you. I need you.”

  “What in the hell happened?”

  He swiveled my hips until I’m facing him, straddling his lap. He keeps enough distance between us so he can watch my face. My palms splay out across his broad chest. It’s my security blanket. I have everything in the man holding me right now.

  “I’m done running, Rhett. I’m sorry. I should’ve stayed and listen.”

  “I believe you, Darby, quit fucking apologizing.” His fingers dig into the exposed flesh above my jeans and between my shirt.

  “I ran. Ava gave me a letter a few weeks ago, or a week ago, shit I don’t remember.”

  He reaches forward, brushing his lips on mine until he’s kissing me. His tongue s
weeps across the seam of my lips and I part for him. Rhett explores the inside of my mouth, letting out a moan and kissing me tenderly, but pulls back before deepening it.

  “Calm down, baby, and just talk to me.”

  “I opened the letter one night in the hotel and…” The tears are back in full force and I can’t say it. I pull the original letter from my pocket. The bundles of paper with the beautiful cursive I’ve carried on me since the day reading it.

  “Here, I can’t.” I hand him the letters and then bury my face in the crook of his neck while inhaling him. His woodsy scent makes me sadder knowing I pushed him away. It’s the smell I want to inhale forever and ever.

  The papers rustle in his hands as he struggles to reads it. He grunts a few times until I hear him throw them to the ground and I wonder if he was able to read it all the way through. I know it’s a struggle for him on a daily basis.

  “Jesus fucking Christ. I’m going to kill both of them, Darby. Kill the fuckers.”

  I don’t move from his neck. “I called my mom and they confirmed. My dad promised me he’d make me disappear if I leaked it. I turned everything into the detectives and I’m going through with the news.”

  “Good girl. I’m here for you.”

  “He’s going to have me killed, Rhett.”

  “My fucking ass he will.” His voice is harsh and scary. He pulls me back up and the look in his eyes scare the living hell out of me. “I’ll kill him first.”

  “Then I’ll lose you.”

  He taps the side of his head. “I’m smarter than him. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Will you stay with me?”

  “You couldn’t get rid of me if you fucking tried, baby.” He kisses the top of my nose.

  “Take me. I need you in me now.”

  He doesn’t have any words and only responds with his hands. My shirt is up and over my head. I reach over and lock the dressing room door, ready to be absorbed in everything Rhett.

  He palms both of my breast, forcing a low moan from me. His fingers dig in and I’m a greedy little bitch because I need more. I reach behind me and unclasp my bra. It falls from me and he rolls both of my budded nipples between his fingers.

  “Now. I need you, Rhett.” The tears fall from my face and despair lingers in the air. “Take it all away, baby, please.”

  He gently lays me back on the couch, pressing his palm down on my abdomen while pulling my jeans down far enough, then my panties. He cups my wet pussy, causing me to squirm. He’s on his knees between my spread legs, well as far as my jeans allow me to.

  I fight to kick off my flat sandals, then drag one leg of my jeans off so I can spread wide open for him.

  “God, I’ve missed you, Darby. I need this beautiful pussy every morning and night. I need to drink your sweet juices and coat my cock in it. It’s mine.”

  He buries his face between my legs. At first just rubbing his nose along my peaked up clit and then begins flicking his tongue on it. I’m so wound up I could explode at any minute. My hands wind in his hair. It’s longer than before and makes me smile.

  He gracefully slides one finger inside me then two, but when he adds his mouth sucking my clit. I can no longer hold on. I buck up into his face and sing out his name as I spiral out of control. I feel myself in the release. The happy Darby, the one who loves and lives life. He makes me feel it all.

  Rhett makes his way up my body until he’s pressing his soaked lips on mine. I lap all of the juices between us and then thrust my tongue back in his mouth, sharing the taste with him. He moves so slowly and carefully with me I feel like I’m going to break all over again.

  “I thought I wanted you to make love to me, but I need you to fuck me, Rhett. Fuck me so hard I forget everything but the power of you.”

  I reach down between us, unbutton his jeans, yank the zipper down and free his rock hard cock.

  He presses his forehead down to mine and I tell him again.

  “Fuck me. Take me. I’m yours.”

  He slams into my wet pussy without warning until he’s deep inside me, and I moan loud. He covers my mouth and then slams into me over and over again. His balls slap hard against my ass and I scream into his palm. He angles his cock so he rides my clit as he punishes me with his dick in my pussy.

  He flips me over until my front is pushed down onto the couch. He catches both of my wrists in one hand, pulling them behind my back. The pressure of his hand pushing my wrists into my back exhilarate me. He slams into me again, reaching down clutching a handful of my hair, and I force my face into the cushions to catch my screams of pleasure.

  He’s relentless and punishing as he fucks me hard just like I wanted. He takes me again, owning me in this very moment, and I vow to myself I’m his forever no matter what happens.

  His dick pulses inside of me sending me into another orgasm. I know he’s close when he lets go of my hair and pulls my hip up to him.

  “I love you, Darby.” He lets out a grunt. “I love you forever.”

  His warm liquid coats my insides and then he collapses down on me.

  “Let’s bury the bastards together, baby.” He plants a tender kiss on my cheek.

  Rhett blows my mind with roughness, then tender love, and with him in my corner, I know I’ve got this.

  A good forty-five minutes passed in the dressing room, but when I step back out into the hall and peer over at the interview set-up, I’m confident and ready to tackle the situation. This time the pictures don’t affect me and when they tempt my insecurities. I glance up to Rhett or focus in on my birth mother’s wide smile.

  The words flow from me, and Michelle is kind and considerate in her questioning. My message is loud and clear along with all the evidence. When I stand up from the interview my legs are shaky, but it’s a good shaky. They quake with confidence and the fact the weight of the world is being lifted from me.

  22

  Darby

  “Are you going to call her?” Rhett asks around a mouthful of a bacon cheeseburger. He’s finished his plate and laying claim to mine.

  It makes me smile. The man hasn’t slept and did everything he could to get to me. Of course, with the help of Zane and Ava. He was honest in sharing his feelings of resentment and not wanting to come here, but it was his best friend who talked him through it when I wasn’t there. Ava knew the city like the back of her hand, guiding and telling him where to go. She knew exactly what news station I was going for when Rhett called her telling her about my text messages.

  She doesn’t know the whole story, but knew I’d be going for the sucker punch of all sucker punches with KKTY on FOX. They’re known for eating The Democratic Party alive in Tennessee. It’s their game and they’re the best at it. I glance down at my phone knowing the story is airing now and can only imagine my asshole parents freaking out.

  “Who?” I ask, running my sandal up the inside of his leg and smiling.

  “Your birth mom.” He catches my foot under the table with one of his hands wrapping his hand around my ankle. “You have her contact information.”

  “Honestly, I haven’t thought that far out yet.”

  “Do you want to reach out to her?”

  I nod. His grip around my ankle tightens, securing me in him. I’m not a weak woman, but with him in my corner it makes the picture perfect.

  “Did you notice her address is only a few hours away from our house?”

  “Home,” I correct him. God, I long to be back in that place.

  “Home,” he corrects himself for me with a huge grin on his face. “I’ve shipped out about twenty more orders.”

  “You have.” I light up.

  “Yes, it’s looking like a full-time job.”

  “Oh my god, I’m so proud of you.”

  “I’ll go with you when you’re ready, baby.”

  “Okay.” I nod. “Life is funny.”

  “How?” he asks, shoving a mouthful of French fries in his mouth.

  “I was brought to y
ou in California. I know it was a higher power that brought us together and taught me to truly love, and my birth mother is there as well. It’s like my whole life was supposed to happen this way.”

  “It sure in the hell isn’t fucking fair.”

  “No, it’s not. But I’m not the victim. It was meant for a reason.”

  “I don’t care.”

  I prop my other leg up on his thigh, enjoying his touch. “It brought me to you. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  “I’ve never met a stronger woman than you.” He clutches both ankles in his hands, promising me so much more.

  23

  Rhett

  “I’m with her.”

  “Is she okay?” Ava’s worried voice fills the phone.

  “She’s going to be, Ava. It’s bad, really bad, but she needs to tell you.”

  “I saw the news story.” Ava bursts out into tears.

  “It will be okay, Ava, I’ll bring your best friend home. I promise.”

  “I can’t do this.” I hear her pass the phone and then my best friend’s voice comes across the airwaves.

  “Rhett.”

  He’ll never know how much his support means to me.

  “I’ve got her and I’m not leaving her side.”

  “Get her home.”

  “Our flights are scheduled for first thing in the morning.”

  “He’s going to come for her.”

  “I know.” I rub the scruff covering my jawline. “Trust me I know.”

  “Are you packing?”

  “Yes, and we are at a hotel near the airport. It’s out in the open with lots of foot traffic. He’d be a fool to come here for her.”

  “Desperate people do desperate things.”

  “Nobody will hurt her.” It’s more of a reassurance to me as well.

  “I’m not just worried about her.” Zane’s message is loud and clear.

  “I showed her how to use the Smith and Wesson 357.”

  “Good. I’ll be there to pick you guys up in the morning. What time does your flight land?”