by Darla Lark
~
During the ride to the hospital, Cheyenne stared out the window of the police cruiser. Michael was still alive. After believing he was dead and knowing Gaby was, she was angry and relieved at the same time. Michael was alive. But was he okay? Really okay?
“Are you all right ma’am?”
“I don’t know. I think so. I’m at least better off now that I’m away from him.” She slumped in the car, the tension of her body releasing. She rested her head against the window. “Although, I will admit that my body is aching and ribs are hurting, but once I’m at the hospital, I’ll be a whole lot better.”
Ten minutes later, he announced, “Well, here we are. I’ll help you in. First, I’ll go get a wheelchair. You don’t need to walk with glass in your feet and make it worse.”
Cheyenne agreed. “Okay. Thanks. I appreciate it.” He gave a slight nod and walked away. She leaned her head back, threw her hands over her face, and wept into them. Her ribs, knees, and legs all ached. Now that her adrenaline dropped, she really noticed the pain.
The car door opened. Cheyenne jumped. The officer leaned in. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. Let me help you out.”
She dropped her arms onto her lap. “Thanks.” She took the officers hand. Once she was out of the cruiser, he helped her with one arm around her waist into the wheelchair.
“Ma’am, I’ll be right back to take your statement,” he said as he wheeled her into the hospital.
All Cheyenne could do was nod and cry. She was terrified that Daniel would get her and finish the job. He was very angry. She knew how truly lucky she was to have escaped. Hopefully he wouldn’t find her. Now, in truth, all she wanted was to see Raina and Michael.
~
After she had been treated, bandaged, and given some pain meds, her room was bombarded. Raina came running through the curtains with Michael in tow. “Oh my goodness! Chey! What happened? Are you okay? Daniel did this, didn’t he? I’m so sorry sis. You look like he beat you up. How are you doing? I’m so glad to see you. I thought that I would never see you again. I can’t tell you how relieved I was when Detective Lawrence called me.” Raina pointed to Michael. “I called Michael right away. He was thrilled to hear that you had been found.”
Cheyenne lifted her hands to Raina’s lips. “Stop! Rain, please.” Her heart skipped a beat upon laying eyes on Michael. “Michael. You’re still alive. I thought he had killed you.” When the words left her mouth, Cheyenne burst into tears. “Everything that has happened is my fault. Gaby’s dead and you could’ve been killed. I should’ve never let him in my apartment. How could I have been so stupid as to do that? He’s a total stranger. I am so sorry.”
Michael moved to the other side of the bed, opposite Raina and took one of her hands, raising it to his lips. “It’s not your fault. All he did was knock me out. I’m fine. Now, you, on the other hand,” he said as he squeezed her hand, “are the one we need to worry about. Raina and I are going to help get you back on your feet. Detective Lawrence and I are going to pursue Daniel, as you know him.”
Cheyenne’s eyebrows shot up and she looked over at Raina who looked back and shrugged. She turned her attention back to Michael and asked, “What do you mean by ‘as I know him’?”
Michael and Raina exchanged glances before he said anything. “Cheyenne, his name isn’t Daniel Schindler. His real name is Eric Sullivan and he’s been on the run for the last three years. There is a warrant for his arrest starting in New Jersey and in several other states.”
“For what?”
“Stalking and murder.”
“Oh no! I allowed Eric into my home. What a fool I was!” Cheyenne closed her eyes and felt her throat clamp up. “He’s still out there. Who knows where or when he’ll show up? I’m quite sure he knows where I’m at. If he doesn’t, he will soon.”
Raina, who had been quiet, spoke up. “Maybe so, but we will take him on. We’ve got more going on our side.”
“Yeah? Well, you have no idea what he’s capable of. You don’t know what I went through. I did what I had to do to survive. I was beaten, kicked, raped, drug through my own vomit, forced to cleanup with baby wipes, and fed when he felt like I should eat. I never knew what mood he was going to be in from one moment to the next. With Daniel, Eric, or whatever his name is, you have to play his game or die.”
“Well, he’s dangerous, but you will be safe. I promise.” Michael kissed the top of her head. “This time, I’ll do better. It helps that you’re a strong woman or else you wouldn’t have made it out.”
“I guess. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to see both of you— especially you Michael. He told me that you were dead. And I….” Cheyenne broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.
Michael leaned in to kiss her and whispered, “I’m here and very much alive. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on healing. Okay?”
“I will, but I can’t stop wondering if he’ll come back and finish the job. Maybe even harm or kill my sister and her family. After what he’s done to Gaby and me, who knows what else he’s planning next? He’s sick.”
“I’m so sorry that you had to endure what you did. I wish that I would’ve done more to prevent this, Chey. If you were killed, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. Daniel… I mean Eric deserves to suffer for what he’s done to you and to me.”
”I’m going to make sure Mr. Sullivan pays and is put in prison for a long time.”
Suddenly a familiar voice interrupted. “Ms. Harrington, I’m so glad to see that you made it back.”
Cheyenne recognized Detective Lawrence and replied, “Me too, Detective. Me too. Are you here to take my statement?”
“I am. Are you ready to do this?”
“Believe me I’ve wanted to file a report since he took me. So to answer your question, yes, I am ready to give my statement. More than ready.” She paused and glanced at Raina who arched an eyebrow. “Could you give us a minute, please? I need to tell my sister something.”
“Of course.” The detective left. Cheyenne turned to her sister.
Raina frowned and stared at Cheyenne curiously. “What is it, Chey?”
“Rain, I have some bad news.”
Raina tightened her grasp on Cheyenne’s hand. “What is it?”
“I don’t know how to say it gently. So, I’m just going to come right out and say it. Aiden is dead. Daniel, er, Eric killed him. I’m so sorry, Rain. I-I didn’t want to tell you like this, but I thought you should know before I talked with the detective.” She saw Raina’s face contort, trying to process what she had just heard. “I didn’t want you to find out in that manner.”
All of a sudden, Raina pulled back. She shook her head. “He’s, well, he’s been obsessed with you for quite some time. That son- of-a-bitch. That son-of-a…” She burst into tears and rushed out of the room.
Michael squeezed her hand. “Is there something else?”
“Yes.” Her eyes dashed from the walls to the ceiling to the T.V. before turning them back to him. “He was a psycho, too.”
“How do you mean?”
“Aiden was stalking me all along and seemed to know Eric was doing it too.”
“There’s something else you’re not telling me.”
She rested her head on the pillow and released a deep sigh. “He made me help him put Aiden’s body in a barrel. It’s not something I wanted to do, but he forced me to.” How can I sound nonchalant about this? I put my brother-in-law in an oil drum. There’s nothing to be nonchalant about.
“Wow.” Michael scratched his head. “You apparently have many admirers. As far as Aiden goes, you didn’t have a choice. Either help Eric or die.”
“I guess.” Cheyenne held up her hand as an afterthought. “No. Not admirers. Stalkers. I have stalkers and one is still out there. My poor sister’s heart is breaking. My body is frail.” With a shake of her head, Cheyenne added, “I don’t know what to do about it. The most painful thing was to tell Raina about her husband.” She burst into a fit tears.
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Michael cradled her in his arms.
“Sh. It’ll be all right. Raina will be all right as well.”
“I hope so. God, I hope so.”
~
Twenty minutes later, after giving her statement, Cheyenne leaned back on her pillow and closed her eyes. All she really wanted was for Eric to get caught. Hopefully, in the meantime, he wouldn’t hurt or kill anyone else. He was a scary man.
“We’ll get him, Ms. Harrington.” Detective Lawrence looked over at Michael. “Have you told her yet?”
He rubbed his temples and bit his lower lip. “Not yet. All I’ve told her is his real name and that he’s wanted for stalking and murder.”
Cheyenne cocked a curious eyebrow and looked back and forth between the Detective and Michael. “Tell me what?”
Michael looked over and squeezed her hand. “I’ll tell you in a little bit. You just rest. I’m going out to talk with Detective Lawrence. I’ll be right back.” He squeezed her hand again before walking out with the detective.
After he was out of sight, Cheyenne turned her attention to Raina, who had been quietly standing next to her, returning to the room during the statement. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Rain, I know you better than that. Don’t lie. Something’s on your mind. What is it?”
Raina scoffed. “I don’t know, Chey. It’s like my world is falling down around me. You’re my sister—the last of my family. Chey, I’m scared for you. For me. For all of us. I’m the older sister. I should be able to protect you, but I feel completely helpless.” Raina cried. “I feel so helpless—especially knowing Aiden was involved and doing nothing about it. I mean, I sort of knew he had a thing for you, but not to this extent. I should have stopped it. I should have…” she wiped her face with palms of her hands. “Now he’s dead. I just don’t know what to do. I’m so sorry, Chey.”
“There’s nothing you could’ve done, Rain. Eric is sneaky and conniving. I hope that I never see him again, but I have a gut feeling that it’s not over with yet. As far as Aiden goes, how could you have stopped him? People like that… well, they can’t be controlled. Besides, he may have killed you for interfering, which I would prefer not to happen.”
“What are we going to do?”
Cheyenne squeezed Raina’s hand. “Hope and pray.”
~
Michael came back into the hospital room and smiled. “You’re coming home with me again.”
Cheyenne and Raina exchanged looks. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Your place is where I was taken from.”
“This time, we’ll have protection and not allow anyone suspicious inside. There is something I would like to ask you.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Cheyenne could see Raina’s eyes widen and clasp her hands together over her mouth and nose. Butterflies began to flutter in her stomach. What was happening?
“What would you like to ask me?”
“It’s a two part question. First of all, I would like, no love, it if you would move in with me on a more permanent basis. Will you?”
Cheyenne and Michael couldn’t take their eyes off each other. “Michael, I don’t know. I need time to think about it. It’s so quick.”
In response, as if he had prepared for her to say as much, he added, “I know, but not really, at the same time. Over the last year, we’ve gotten to know each other. Yes, I know. I was your attorney, but I feel a connection with you that I’ve never felt with anyone else. I’m in love with you.”
That took her breath away. What could she say to that? What else could she say? She loved him too.
“Yes. I’ll move in with you.” He leaned down and kissed her passionately. Pulling back, Cheyenne asked, “What was the other part of your question?”
He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a small box. “Cheyenne, life is too short and these last few weeks have been hell for me. When you were missing, it gave me time to think. I realized that I love you and…,” He opened the box exposing an engagement ring. “I would be honored if you would spend the rest of your life with me. Please say yes.”
Her heart soared. Was this really happening to her? Did he just ask her to move in with him and propose all in one moment? She knew he was the one, but part of her was a little skeptical after her divorce. It wasn’t all that long ago. However, her heart told her all she needed. Her heart overrode what her head was telling her.
Cheyenne squealed in delight. “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you. I love you, too.”
He then kissed her in a long, passionate kiss, which was short lived when Mrs. Warner walked in. “Oh, oh, oh! This is wonderful. Michael and Cheyenne. How are you feeling dearest?”
Sadness suddenly overcame her. Through the happiest time in her life, Gaby wasn’t here to share this moment with her. “I’m just glad to be back with family and friends. Though, I wish Gaby was here. There’s so much that I wish I would’ve told her. She didn’t deserve to die and I didn’t even get to go to her funeral and say goodbye.” In one quick motion, she wiped a tear away.
“It was a really beautiful service, Chey.” Raina wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “She looked so beautiful. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry, honey.”
Cheyenne shook her head. “It’s not your fault. I just have a lot of emotions running through me.”
“Hey. It’ll be okay. Anyway, I spoke with the doctor and he’s going to release you to come home with me. Welcome home, baby.” Michael still held the ring in his hand. “Guess I better put this on.”
Cheyenne and Michael stared into each other’s eyes as he slid the ring on her finger. Once it was on, they kissed again. She gazed at the ring and squealed with Raina. A pain shot through her ribs and she cried out.
“Oh Chey! I’m so sorry.”
“I’m good,” she replied through gritted teeth. “It’s only my cracked ribs. They’ll heal.”
Mrs. Warner hugged her son. “I’m so happy for you two. Something positive out of everything bad that has happened. This is what I’ve been dreaming of for the last few months. My future daughter-in-law.” She sighed in contentment. “My baby is getting married to a woman that I actually like.”
Raina and Mrs. Warner were acting like excitable school girls over the engagement. Michael and Cheyenne stared at them as they interlaced their fingers. She held her ribs with her free hand. Through the excitement, she never forgot that Eric was still out there probably looking for her. The fear began to overcome her. She didn’t want her sister, fiancée, or friends to get hurt and Eric wasn’t about to let it go—especially when it came to getting back at her.
Chapter 43
So that’s how she wants to play, huh? She had been so good and obedient. To turn on me like that is unacceptable. I’ll get her back and make good on my promise to make her pay. Michael? Why didn’t he just die? It would have made it so much simpler. Cheyenne would have been mine forever if he was out of the picture. Those two, Michael and Raina, always interfere where they shouldn’t, especially Michael. I’ll take them out of the picture this time. No mistakes. It’ll be done even if I have to kill a cop. I’ve killed before because Kim didn’t listen to me. Even the old man I killed so I could steal his identity was easy. I also did it easily to Aiden, didn’t I? The last thing I need is for anyone to find out who I am. I have to have a new identity. Cheyenne, unlike Kim, will get one more chance. If she disobeys me this time, her life is forfeit. She will still pay for her disobedience but I’m being generous with a second chance and she will have to see that. Cheyenne just has to understand and be obedient…
Chapter 44
It took Michael and Raina two days to pack Cheyenne’s things and get it all moved into his house. They had been extremely helpful with everything. Even the landlord let her off the hook for the fee to get out of her contract, thanks to Detective Lawrence. Mrs. Warner had spent a lot of time with her while everything was being done. The entire time she spent with Mrs.
Warner, all Cheyenne heard about was the wedding but her mind was elsewhere. Her mind kept returning to Eric. He terrified her and until he was caught he would continue to terrorize her life.
Breathlessly, Michael and Raina walked into the living room. “Woo! Man! Sis! You had a lot of stuff, but it’s all moved out. Your furniture and the things you told us to put into storage are taken care of. Anything else?”
“Nope. That’s it. Thank you.” She patted the area next to her on the couch.
“You’re welcome.” Raina flounced onto the couch. “Would you like to go out for a few drinks now? I could go pick the kids up and we could have some family time.”
“Raina,” Michael interjected, “that’s not really a good idea. She shouldn’t go out for a little while. This thing with Eric has to settle down first. Neither one of us want anything to happen to her. You’re more than welcome to have a few here, though.”
“You’re right. Maybe another time then?” Raina stood.
“You know, I’m sitting right here and if I want to go out, I will. Unfortunately, I’m on prescriptions, so I can’t drink. Not to mention, I’m bandaged to the hilt so I’m not going anywhere. Don’t talk about or make decisions for me. I’m old enough to make decisions for myself, thank you.” She pulled the covers over her head and stretched out on the couch.
“We didn’t mean anything by it, but we can’t help but worry about your safety.” Michael sat down next to her, pulling the blanket down, and kissed her. “All we want to do is protect and keep you safe. We, by no means, are trying to take control over your life.”
“I know, but it doesn’t mean I like it when you make decisions for me. Don’t forget that I still have a mind of my own.” Cheyenne snuggled the blanket up under her chin and held it with tight fists.
“That’s exactly why I’ve been trying to get you two to meet.” Mrs. Warner commanded the chair. “Both of you are intelligent, funny, kind, attractive and flexible. It’s the perfect combination. I love you, Cheyenne, like my own daughter.”