Judas

by Lacey-Payne, Chandler

  “It's magnificent!” she exclaimed, pouring over the fine architecture of the house.

  “Yeah, if you don't mind dog hair,” he smirked.

  The heavy door burst open and a shrill hiss came from the inside. “Well don't just stand there staring. It's a house.”

  He sighed. He knew she would not welcome Adessa but he knew that Adessa was prepared. She had every right to be there with him, and his father had promised to keep an eye on her while he was away. Adessa led the way inside, leaving Judas and Phillip to carry in the bags. By the time Judas was in, his mother and her mutt had already cornered his wife, asking questions he knew she wouldn't be comfortable with.

  He went to save her, silencing his mother with a single glare that would have caused the devil himself to retreat. Adessa had no control over the loss of their son and he knew it was only a matter of time before his mother would throw it in her face.

  He snapped his fingers to silence Sasha's menacing growl. “Don't mind the dog. She's just mad about the hair bow,” Anita said, trying to form a conversation with her son. He hated that dog. It was everywhere his mother was and heeded her every command. It was like her very own rattling henchman.

  “We'll be in my old room, unpacking if you need us,” he said, excusing them both. They walked up the massive spiral staircase and entered his old room. He hadn't been back in a few years but as usual, his mother hadn't touched a thing. It was still the room of an unruly eighteen year old who was into girls more than sports and who had been too violent to control.

  The walls beneath the posters of his favorite bands still bore the holes and scuff marks from his tantrums. He always wondered why she refused to change the room, but oddly enough, he was comfortable in it, because it was his. He had slept in that room every night of his entire life until the day he left with Leanna.

  “Don't let her get to you, doll,” he said, reaching out to stroke her arm. He was trying to comfort her but as he watched her eyes roam around the room, he knew she wasn't interested in whatever his mother would say. She was learning about her husband. She smiled and continued the scan, taking in the entire contents of the room, absorbing them one by one.

  He began to unpack some of their belongings, stashing them in his old closet as she walked around, touching things, and opening up drawers. “Jesus! She even kept your old condoms!” Adessa shook her head and closed the drawer back. “Oh, did I leave those behind?” he said, playfully, and they both laughed.

  It felt good to be here, despite the pain of the past. Because, she was with him. And this was their new start. He had his wife back, and not even his mother could trigger him right now. He had pushed Jaime far from his mind, willing himself to forget her, and for the moment, it was working. His father knocked on the door sometime later. “I have some news. You might want to sit down,” he told them.

  Judas raised a brow, defensively crossing his arms. This couldn't be good. “What is it?”

  Phillip grinned broadly as he announced. “Your mother has invited both Liam and Mathew to dinner with us on Friday.”

  “What?” Judas sputtered. “Both? Did she fall and hit her head while we unpacked?”

  The old man chuckled, “No, but both of them accepted. I can't believe it!”

  Judas grinned, “This should be interesting.”

  “Indeed!” his father said, still grinning like a fool.

  Adessa raised a skeptical brow.

  He turned to Adessa, who obviously didn't understand the importance of the conversation. “Liam hasn't been home in fourteen years,” he explained.

  “I see. So he left home at, what? Thirteen?” she tried to calculate.

  “He was fourteen,” Judas corrected her. “Mother put him out on his own for some misdeed that none of us seem to remember. He never came back. Called her bluff.”

  “Smart boy,” she grunted under her breath.

  They spent the rest of the afternoon in their room, only coming out to take a dip in the massive in-ground swimming pool, and then the two enjoyed a private dinner on the deck. The weather was hot but the breeze coming in from the ocean felt amazing and the salty air was just what he needed. There was nothing like coming home, and he wished he were able to do it more often, but that had always meant dealing with his mother, and no matter how much he tried to be prepared, one was never ready to face Anita Quinn.

  He hadn't made love to Adessa since she came back, but their intimacy was building and he was happy just to have her near. She sat between his legs in the metal lounge chair, allowing him to braid her wet hair. The simple act was a dose of tonic that he needed, and he relished in being able to share this part of his world with her. The good life. The one that was meant for them. But he had to get better first.

  He had to secure her safety and with it, his sanity before they would begin to rebuild. In one week, he would start his treatment but for now, they would enjoy what time they had together.

  Adessa was lounging by the swimming pool, lost in her own thoughts as she enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine that enveloped her. The low buzz of the weed eater hummed in her ears, as the gardener began his daily chores. Adessa watched lazily as he worked, trimming and pruning the shrubs that surrounded the compound. He was sweating beneath the hot sun and Adessa felt a flush of heat rush through her when she saw him remove the lid to his water bottle and begin to pour it over his head sending the cool water to cascade over him.

  “He's handsome, but don't get any ideas. He's broke,” Anita snipped from behind her large sunglasses as she flopped into the chair next to Adessa.

  “Excuse me?” Adessa was mortified.

  Anita huffed, extending a finger to push the dark spectacles down her nose. Her brown eyes were fierce. “You heard me. He's broke. I pay his salary, I should know.”

  Adessa raised a brow in return, “What exactly are you implying, Anita?”

  Anita shrugged, patting her leg, to offer the small dog a seat. “You don't fool me, Adessa. I know your kind. Out of get rich quick schemes, and not attractive enough to sleep your way to the top. Helps to land a lonely fool, with more money than brains.”

  Adessa turned her attention back to the water in front of her, “I love him.”

  Anita wasn't going to let that one slide. “Of course you do. All women love my sons. Rich, well, all but one. Handsome. Ignorant. What more could you ask for?”

  Anger was barely contained, but Adessa knew this was Anita's home and she could be here for several months. She was going to have to learn to deal with her, but she wasn't going to back down. “I can't speak for the others, but Judas isn't a fool, nor is he ignorant.”

  Anita stood, placing the empty glass on the small table beside her. “Come, whore, I'll show you around.”

  Adessa nearly choked. “Whore?”

  Anita took a few steps, chirping as she looked over her shoulder back to Adessa. “Oh. Right. That's the other one.”

  Adessa's blood was boiling. It took all she had not to slap her. She was not a whore, and as far as she knew, there were only three others who knew about Jaime, and Anita wasn't one of them. “Who told you about her?”

  Anita smirked, turning to face her now. “Don't be ridiculous. There are no secrets in this family. One way or another, I find out.”

  Adessa swallowed hard. So she did know. Adessa wondered what else she might already know. “I have no secrets.”

  “We'll see,” Anita said, plastering a fake smile to her lips.

  Adessa couldn't take it anymore. The woman was obnoxious and Adessa wasn't going to be taunted. “Look, Anita, I don't know what game you're playing but I'm not afraid of you. I am married to Judas and there is nothing you can do about it. I suggest you endear yourself to the fact before you make a grave mistake.”

  “I've already made mistakes. Three of them,” Anita bit out. Sasha yapped once, as if to agree.

  “You are a horrible, evil bitch, Anita. I have nothing further to say to you, so go sharpen your claws somewhere el
se,” Adessa hissed, picking up her bottle of water and storming back inside. She was going to have to leave this place as soon as possible. Judas hadn't even entered treatment yet, and Adessa knew that with him gone, Anita would only get worse, and she wasn't in the mood for it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  He was beginning to wear out the carpet in the expansive sitting room. He had gone over everything in his head dozens of times, and the more he thought about what he would need to do, the more he was gripped with terror. He wasn't sure this place could help him, but the arrangements had been made and he would be leaving in a matter of days. Adessa seemed to be settling in alright and he thought that was largely due to the fact they had both avoided his mother like the plague. The mansion contained over forty rooms, and included every amenity known to man.

  He spent the entire morning trying to relax in the massive jacuzzi, and then half of the afternoon was spent on the basketball court. He hated basketball, and nothing he tried helped relieve the pressure. There just wasn't any release for the stress he was facing and he could feel it mounting by the hour.

  He knew what he needed, but he knew it wasn't possible. She had given no sign that she was ready or would allow him to touch her yet, so he was being respectful of her space. He tried to imagine the hell she had gone through at his hands. He was trying to allow her the time she would need to heal as well. It wasn't only about him anymore, they were a team. One with more pain and suffering to deal with than any human should.

  Adessa was sitting on the stone floor, polishing her toenails as she watched him pace. “You're nervous,” she said, closing the lid on the bottle of dark red lacquer, giving it a thorough shake.

  He nodded, taking in a long, slow breath. “Some,” he said, hesitating before just blurting out, “What if this doesn't work?”

  She stared at her fresh painted toes, not looking at him. “Then you try something different.”

  He knew the answer before she said it, but he hated the thought of how long he would be away and even worse was the consequences if he didn't follow through. “I don't want to keep leaving you,” he said quietly.

  “I don't want you to stay and be broken.” Her voice was distant when she responded, but he knew she was refusing him the chance to back out.

  He finally went to sit on the floor beside her. “I'm going to miss you.”

  “I'm going to miss you too,” she said softly, still avoiding his gaze.

  He tucked a crimson ringlet behind her ear as he spoke to her. “Will you be alright here?”

  She nodded, smiling warmly as she finally met his gaze. “I'll manage. Don't worry about me.”

  How could he not? He was leaving her in a house full of strangers and one of them couldn't stand her. She knew no one here, and had no allies. Phillip was all she could rely on if Anita went on some random tirade. He knew eventually she would crack if she didn't get out of the house.

  It might take weeks or months for her to find them a place to live, and he was deeply concerned for her welfare. He didn't know what he would do if he came home and she were gone. He wouldn't lose her twice, and certainly not because of his mother's insensitive badgering.

  “Look for work, doll. It will pass the time and keep her out of your hair,” he suggested. He knew with her experience, she would be able to find work in no time, and it would keep her from worrying about him while he was away.

  She opened the small bottle again to apply a second coat of polish to her toenails. “I will do that as soon as I find us a home. I want you to have a place to come back to, and not this one,” said, nearly groaning as she dragged the dripping brush against her wet nails.

  “Take your time. I want you to find something you will love, not a place to escape to,” he said, focusing on her fears, instead of his own.

  She wasn't backing down. “And I want you to be somewhere safe, and not worry about your mother destroying everything you are working for,” she stiffly retorted.

  She had a point. The house was enormous, but he was a guest in it and he couldn't hide from her forever. “I don't understand how she does it. Sometimes a single sentence is all it takes. And she seems to know exactly what buttons to push,” he said, confiding in her.

  “Judas, it doesn't take much. You're a loose cannon,” she said coarsely.

  Her words were an odd response, and for a second, he wondered how he should take the remark. He was opening up but her words felt blaming and cold. He was paranoid. She was here, and she still loved him. She was helping him to work through this, for them. For their life together. He leaned back on the hard stone floor, staring up at the ceiling as he waited for the time to pass. Later tonight, his brothers would arrive, and a whole new worry would set in. This was important for Liam, and he was afraid his mother would be on her worst behavior.

  Judas went to shower, leaving the contents of his pockets on the table beside the bed. She was flipping through clothing, trying to decide what to wear to dinner, when his cell phone rang. She quickly snapped it up from the table to see who it was. Her eyes narrowed as she hit the button to answer. “What could you possibly want?”

  Jaime was clearly not expecting Adessa to be the one to pick up the phone. “I want to talk to Judas,” she said.

  Adessa swiftly replied, “He's not available.” No way in hell would his old whore just call him up as if she had the right.

  “Where is he?” Jaime persisted.

  The nerve of her. Judas was no longer any business of hers. “That's not your concern,” she icily replied.

  “I need to talk to him,” Jaime snapped, overstepping her bounds.

  Adessa wasn't going to allow it. She knew exactly what Jaime's intentions were. “You're not going to tell him about that baby.”

  Jaime didn't deny it. “It's his right to know. He needs to know,” her voice didn't waver.

  “You have taken enough from him, Jaime. Just take your spawn and be happy that you have that. He doesn't want you and he doesn't want your baby. Leave him alone,” Adessa barked.

  “That's not true. I don't believe you.”

  “I don't care if you believe me or not. Don't ever try to contact him again or I will see to it that you spend the rest of your life regretting it.”

  Jaime was instantly enraged by the clear warning. “Don't threaten me Adessa. I'm a big girl and I'm not afraid of you.”

  “It wasn't a threat. It was a promise, and it wasn't you that it was meant for,” Adessa warned.

  Jaime gasped, sputtering into the phone in horror, “You… you wouldn't!”

  “You don't want to find out,” Adessa said, hanging up the phone.

  She would never have to worry about the tramp again. She could go find another man to seduce and slice up, but it wouldn't be her husband. Never again. She would never see another penny from him, and Adessa didn't care if their spawn starved, as long as Jaime was out of his life for good. Adessa was so caught up in her hatred for Jaime that she didn't notice the shadow that stood outside the bedroom door. Listening.

  Adessa's hands shook slightly as she realized what she had done. He would be pissed if he knew she spoke to Jaime that way, but she had no choice. She wasn't going to stand by and let Jaime seduce him back into the place he was fighting desperately to get away from. He didn't love her and he was weak. Too weak to resist Jaime's charms and Adessa was ready to do whatever it took to keep him far away from the blonde tramp. She erased the history on his phone and took the additional step to block Jaime's number before replacing it beside his wallet and spare change.

  “Did someone call, earlier?” he asked, strolling into the room wearing only a towel.

  She shook her head innocently, “No, not that I know of,” she lied.

  He walked to his phone and picked it up, checking the history. “Guess I'm imagining things. I could have sworn I heard it ring,” he said, dropping it back onto the table.

  “It happens when we get old,” she said, forcing the playfulness into her voice as
she removed his towel and began to dry his still dripping form. That would distract him.

  Two hours later, they were back in the sitting room. Judas seemed more relaxed than he had been earlier. She could smell the faint scent of his soap beneath the heady cologne he wore, and it reminded her of how masculine and virile the man could be. She moved closer, breathing in his scent, accustoming herself to the feel of his warmth beside her.

  She had no idea why he refused to touch her, but she had given him his space and for once, she was determined not to push. He would come to her when he was ready, and she would wait this out, however long it took.

  The door burst open without a knock, and two enormous men strode through, lightheartedly bickering between themselves as they made their way across the elegant room. Judas hugged them each, clapping them both on the back as they exchanged their hellos. They were all exactly the same height, and all of them beautiful, though it was easy for Adessa to know them apart. Mathew was clean cut, and handsome, bearing emerald eyes that were identical to Judas and Phillip. He reminded her a lot of Judas in his demeanor, but there was nothing commanding about him. He was quiet, maybe even thoughtful, and obviously at ease.

  Mathew nodded, acknowledging her, but continued the pleasantries that were underway between the group. He wore a crisp polo shirt and slacks, which made him seem more relaxed in contrast to the others, and his movements were graceful and fluid. For a first impression, Adessa was nearly starstruck.

  She had to admit, she hadn't expected Liam to be so handsome, or so poised, given the colorful impression Anita had painted of him. He was rough around the edges, but there was something about him that caused her pulse to instantly quicken as his baby blue eyes met hers.