I laughed. “I know. It took me a couple days to get used to it.”
“So, how’ve you been doing?” she asked. “I feel like I haven’t talked to you in forever.”
I shook my head. “I’m doing a lot better now. I wanted to tell you what I was going to do, but the day I left, things got really bad and I didn’t have time. Nick thought he was going to force me to have sex with him. When I put up a fight, he punched me. I picked up Joey from school, met Elijah, and we left town.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m glad you got away from him.”
“Did he hurt you?” I asked the question I had been the most worried about.
She shook her head. “No. Fortunately, they only came by the diner. My manager kicked them out. They both dropped a lot of threats, and I will admit I was worried they were going to do something.”
“I’m so sorry! I guess I didn’t even think about how it would hurt you.”
“Don’t you dare be sorry. You had to get Joey out of there and I’m glad you did.”
“Anything exciting happen since I’ve been gone?” I asked with a smile, excited to catch up with my friend.
She laughed. “Uh-uh, you are not going to dodge the question. I want to know what’s going on with you and Elijah. Are you two a thing now?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know really. I think everything is in this crazy limbo while we figure out what to do about Liam and Nick.”
“But once it’s over, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t talked about a future. Hell, we’ve barely talked about tomorrow.”
“Does he know?” she asked, raising both eyebrows.
I nodded my head. “Yes, he does, but Joey doesn’t. I don’t want to tell him yet. Right now, with all this other crazy stuff going on, I don’t want to overwhelm him.”
“Does he get along with Elijah?” she asked.
“Of course! He worships him, but it feels like I’m throwing some pretty heavy stuff at him right now. I want to slow the blows.”
Rayne smiled. “You’re such a good mom.”
I burst into laughter. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to be winning mom of the year. I’ve got my seven-year-old holed up in a cabin, not going to school, and living with his father he doesn’t know exists.”
“Okay, back to Elijah,” she said, waggling her eyebrows. “Have you reconnected?”
I felt the blush on my cheeks and knew there was no way I could lie to her.
She slapped my arm. “I knew it!”
I laughed. “It’s weird. It feels so right and normal to be with him. It reminds me of the good ol’ days when all of us would hang out together, back before Liam went psycho.”
“I miss those days.”
“Me too.”
We sat in silence, each of us enjoying our coffee. It was hard to believe we were sitting at a table way up in the mountains while Elijah was in the city possibly fighting for his life. The thought made me sick to my stomach. I didn’t want to imagine anyone getting hurt. I hated Liam and everything he had done to me, but deep down, he was still my brother. I hated what he had become and the choices he’d made, but it didn’t mean I wanted him dead or suffering.
Rayne reached out, touching my hand. “They’re going to be okay. Trevor has that quiet confidence about him, like nothing can stop him.”
I nodded my head. “I think Elijah does too.”
“So, when are you going to tell Joey?”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know. I have no idea how to start that conversation.”
She laughed. “He’s seven. I don’t think you need to get into the dirty details.”
“I know, but still. He’s been around Elijah for a week. He’s going to wonder why I didn’t tell him earlier.”
She shook her head. “Hello, he’s seven. He doesn’t need to wonder. You tell him and it’s over. Elijah and he get to know each other and you work out some kind of visitation, assuming you two don’t run off into the sunset together.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice,” I quipped. “I’m going to shower. You can borrow some of my stuff. Not that I have a lot, but at least it’ll give you something to change into.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep watch while you shower,” she said as I headed upstairs to grab my stuff from the room I was still sharing with Joey. It felt too weird to sleep in the same bed with Elijah. That was one incentive to telling Joey the truth. Then I could sleep with Elijah and wake up with him next to me.
After we both showered, Joey and I took Rayne for a walk around the cabin. Joey was the ultimate tour guide, pointing out every rock and tree as if it were the first time Rayne had ever seen such things.
“I’m hungry,” Joey declared after our extended hike.
“Me too. Maybe your mom will make us a big lunch,” Rayne teased.
I laughed. “I’ll make sandwiches, maybe even spring for a can of soup.”
“We should make cookies for Elijah and Trevor,” Joey declared.
It was a little tug on my heartstrings. He had taken to both men very well. I was excited for him to get to know Elijah and thought about telling him, then stopped myself. If the worst happened and Elijah didn’t come back to the cabin, I did not want Joey to mourn him—not yet. I would wait until he was much older and more mature to drop that bombshell on him.
By dinnertime, I had yet to hear from Elijah.
“Nothing?” Rayne asked, coming to sit on the couch with me.
I was holding my phone, willing it to ring or chime with a new message. “Nothing. I’m going to kill him for making me worry so much.”
“He’s probably busy. I’m sure he would call if they had done anything. Trevor’s with him, and he seems to have a good head on his shoulders.”
I looked at Rayne, held up one finger, and waggled it back and forth. “No you don’t. You don’t get to have a crush on Trevor.”
She grinned. “Why not? Is he married?”
“No, but he was, and he has a little girl.”
“And? I could be a good step-mommy.”
“You’ve known him five minutes!” I argued.
She giggled. “Don’t be jealous. He’s hot and older and has that mature, yet somehow dangerous edge that always makes me a little crazy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Be good. Don’t get all hot and heavy with him just yet. I need his head in the game to keep Elijah alive.”
“And then he’s fair game?”
I groaned. “Whatever makes you happy.”
We made dinner together, keeping it light and simple. I barely ate anything. I was far too worried about Elijah, wondering what he was doing, if he’d run into Liam and was now broken in a hospital or locked up in jail.
We were playing an exciting game of Candy Land when my phone finally rang. I sprang up from the floor and raced for the kitchen table where I had left it.
“It’s him!” I called out, slightly out of breath. “Hello!”
“It’s me. Sorry I didn’t call you earlier. We’ve been doing a little stalking—which you nearly blew, by the way, with your many calls.”
“I’m sorry! You could have texted me and let me know you were okay.”
“I’m fine. We’re fine. We’re headed back to the motel. We’re not doing anything today. I’ll call you in the morning,” he said and hung up the phone.
I breathed a small sigh of relief, but I wouldn’t be completely relaxed until he was back with me.
“I take it they’re not coming back tonight?” Rayne said from her spot on the floor.
I shook my head. “Nope. It’s just the three of us,” I said with fake excitement for Joey’s sake.
Rayne looked at me, questioning me. I shook my head, telling her nothing yet. It was going to be another long night. I really hated being away from him, and I hated that I hated it. I was supposed to be leaving my brother to become a strong, independent woman.
After I put Joey to bed, Rayne and I e
njoyed a cold beer from the fridge.
“Am I making a mistake by letting myself fall for him again?” I asked her.
“I don’t think you ever un-fell for him. I think your heart knows what it wants. You two are soulmates. Eight years after not seeing each other or even speaking to one another and you two are obviously both still very much in love. It’s romantic and sweet, and I am so jealous but very happy for you.”
“Maybe I should wait before trying to rush into a relationship with him.”
“Wait? You’ve waited eight years!”
“I mean wait until I’ve gotten my life straightened out. I’m homeless, jobless, and really only have the clothes on my back. I want to be this woman who can take care of herself and feel strong.”
“You will be, with him by your side. I don’t think he’s going to let you get away from him again. Let him help make you strong.”
I sighed, liking her idea. “I’m probably getting ahead of myself. I don’t even know what he wants.”
Rayne laughed. “I do.”
30
Elijah
My eyes popped open. Today was the day. I had been dreaming about it since I’d blacked out on that hillside all those years ago. Me hitting Liam. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my system, and I hadn’t even rolled out of bed yet. I couldn’t wait for the moment I could go to Michelle and tell her she was free to live her life any way she chose. I wouldn’t leave Liam until I had his word he would walk away for good.
“You up?” Trevor asked from the bed a couple feet away.
“I am.”
“Change your mind?”
“Not a chance in hell.”
He grunted. “Then we better get our asses up. Your girlfriend is going to be blowing up your phone any minute now.”
“She’s worried. She’s got a lot riding on this.”
“She loves her brother somewhere deep down,” Trevor said. “I can understand that.”
“I know she does. I don’t want to hurt her, and even though she knows what I’m here to do, if I take this too far, I risk losing her.”
Trevor made a grunting noise. “I’m glad you recognize that. You’re walking a fine line here.”
“I know. I didn’t realize it before, but I can see it now. I need to do what’s best for her, not for me,” I confessed.
“Good. You’ve really come a long way in a short period of time.”
“I just hope it isn’t a mistake. If I’m too soft on him, he’s going to keep coming for her. He is best loved from afar with zero contact,” I said, not being sarcastic in the least.
“I agree.”
He got up out of bed and headed for the shower first. I grabbed my phone and sent her a quick text, saying good morning and that I would check in later. I quickly showered after Trevor. When I got out, Trevor had the standard banana and coffee ready for me. He was almost as predictable as Liam.
“Thanks,” I muttered, taking the offered breakfast and quickly scarfing it down.
“Are you sure this is our best plan?” Trevor asked.
I shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know if it’s the best, but it will definitely catch them off guard. I think the last place he’s expecting us to pop up at is his house.”
Trevor shook his head, a goofy grin on his face. “You’re a sneaky bastard.”
I grinned right back at him. “I seriously wish we could record this. I want to replay the expression on his face when we pop up through the basement door. He’s going to shit his pants. I want him always looking over his shoulder, wondering if I’m there waiting. It’s the least I can do after the terror he foisted on Michelle.”
“You’re sure they don’t carry guns?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen any, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they keep them close by.”
He took a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with. I miss my little girl.”
“I hear you,” I mumbled, missing Michelle and Joey just as much. I couldn’t wait to tell Joey I was his dad. I had grand plans of spoiling the boy rotten to make up for all the time we’d missed.
As we were walking out the door of the motel, my phone rang. I looked at the screen to see Michelle’s name. Worried there could be something wrong, I answered.
“Hey. What’s up? Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. We’re fine. I just wanted to tell you good luck. Please be careful.”
I smiled. “Thank you. We’re going to be fine. I’ll call you after everything is over and let you know how things worked out.”
“Thank you. Elijah?”
“Hm?” I said, walking to the Jeep.
There was a pause.
“I love you,” she blurted out.
I felt as if I had been hit by a blast of hot air.
The first thing that came to mind came out of my mouth. “I love you too.”
“Bye,” she said, and I could hear a smile in her voice.
I hung up, feeling buoyed, more confident than ever that the stars were aligned, and I was finally going to get everything I had ever wanted.
“We good?” Trevor asked.
I nodded. “Better than good.”
We drove his Jeep to the street that ran parallel to Liam’s house after driving by a couple times and counting the bikes in the yard. We only saw three, which still put the odds in our favor. The plan was to go in through the small window in the basement that I knew was probably still broken. We’d come up in the kitchen and take them by surprise.
We made our way up the back alley, setting off a few dogs, though no one in the neighborhood cared enough to see what they were barking about. As I expected, the same old weathered piece of plywood was over the broken window. It was easy enough to slide in.
“I’ll go first,” I whispered.
Trevor nodded, following me up the wooden stairs. The cobwebs were so thick, I didn’t think anyone had been down the stairs in quite some time. It was dark as we climbed so I followed the slight light coming from under the door.
Taking a deep breath, I turned the door handle, happy to find it unlocked. I slowly opened the door, listening for any sign our presence had been detected. The house was eerily quiet. I pushed the door all the way open, Trevor on my heels as we walked through the narrow kitchen and into the tiny dining room.
It was strange to be back in the house where I had spent so much time. Little had changed except everything was a little older and that much dingier.
“Empty,” I whispered as we stepped into the living room. “I’ll check the bedrooms.”
Trevor nodded as I made my way down the hall. The first door was clearly Joey’s room. I glanced around, noticing a small worn baby blanket on the bed. I pushed open the next door, wondering if it was still Michelle’s. It was. I smiled as I glanced around the room. I couldn’t waste time walking down memory lane.
“Liam!” I said, knocking on the next bedroom door before pushing it open.
It was empty. I walked back to meet Trevor in the living room.
“So much for being predictable,” I muttered.
“Whose bikes are out front?” Trevor asked.
I shrugged. “I know one of them is Liam’s. Must have hitched a ride with someone.”
“Well, this was a waste of time. We have no idea where they are.”
“We can try the bar,” I suggested.
“Is that a good idea? Maybe this was a sign.”
“A sign of what? We can’t give up. We’ll have gotten nowhere, and Michelle will still be in danger.”
We were still standing in the living room.
“We have to get out of here,” Trevor said. “I don’t want them walking in and finding us.”
I nodded. “Hold on a second.”
I walked back to the bedroom and grabbed the tiny, raggedy blanket off the bed. I wanted to make sure Joey got it back. I considered grabbing some of Michelle’s clothes but didn’t want to snoop. I’d bring her home soon eno
ugh.
“Let’s go,” I said, heading for the front door.
“Wait. We’re going out the front?”
I shrugged. “Why not? It’s not like there’s a neighborhood watch.”
We strolled out the front door and walked down the street, the baby blanket in my hand, not giving a shit who saw us.
I called Michelle as we walked. “He wasn’t where I thought he’d be,” I told her.
“And where did you think he would be?”
I cleared my throat. “The house.”
“You went to the house!” she screeched. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Probably, but he wasn’t there. Any ideas where he might be?”
She sighed. “If he wasn’t there this morning, it means he stayed out all night, probably a late party, and it’s hard to say where that was. I never asked for the details of where he stayed.”
“Shit,” I muttered.
“Sorry. Does that mean you’re on your way back?”
I looked at Trevor. “I don’t know. I’ll let you know,” I told her, hanging up the phone.
“What do we do?” I asked him.
He shrugged as we turned the corner. “You said it. We can’t leave until we fix this.”
“All right. I guess we drive around looking for them.”
“Why don’t we hit the gym? I doubt they’re going to emerge from wherever they crashed last night anytime soon.”
I knew he was right. “Fine. You just want to kick my ass again.”
He chuckled, using the key fob to unlock the doors on the car. I climbed into the passenger seat, pissed I hadn’t gotten what I had come for. I couldn’t seem to catch break. I was beginning to believe Trevor when he said it could be a sign of something bad to come.
He drove us to the same gym we had visited the last time he’d been in town. Once again, the female front desk clerk openly flirted with both of us.
We took our passes and headed for the weights.
“She’s got a thing for you,” Trevor said with a smile.
I shook my head. “I’m not interested.”
“You’ve changed—for the better. I’m glad. The old Elijah would have already taken her up on her blatant offer.”
Men in Charge: A Contemporary Romance Box Set Page 39