The Life You Stole

by Ann, Jewel E.

  “Wanna talk about it?”

  I shook my head again. “The meeting will suffice.”

  “Thanks again for helping me put together my new bed.”

  I shouldn’t have helped her do that, but she asked me in front of three other people from the group. And she asked me after I’d already confessed to having no plans that night beyond playing with the kids. While I fumbled for excuses, she jumped to the assumption that the answer was yes and gave me an unwelcome hug. To make matters worse, her car had slashed tires that night, so I gave her a ride to her apartment, but not before calling the police to let them know they should patrol that area a little more.

  After the meeting, I tried to be the first one out of the building, but Mark stopped me to chat. Adrianne exited without as much as a look or wave. I breathed a sigh of relief, very willing to chat with Mark at that point if it meant Adrianne would be gone by the time I walked out to my car.

  Ten minutes later, I wormed my way out of the conversation and the building.

  “Fuck,” I whispered to myself.

  “Mark sure knows how to talk your ear off, huh?” Adrianne smirked, sitting on the hood of my car.

  “He’s fine. If I were you, I’d hop off before I drive off.” I unlocked my door.

  “I have a surprise for you.” Adrianne slid off the hood and crooked a finger at me.

  I tried to hide my annoyance and pain, but I couldn’t. Not with her, not with my coworkers, not with my wife.

  “Don’t look like such a grump. You’re going to thank me.” Adrianne unlocked her car and opened the back door. “Meet your new family member.” She pulled a puppy out of a crate and hugged it as it licked her face. “You’ve been incredibly kind and helpful to me when so many people see me like the plague. I know it’s just a dog, but I hope your wife and kids love her and that she’ll bring as much joy to all of you as what you’ve brought to me.”

  A dog.

  She got me a dog.

  You didn’t gift people things like dogs that required care, training, vet bills, food, toys, time …

  “I haven’t named her yet, but if I’m honest, I think she looks like a Bella.” Adrianne handed her to me.

  “I’ll set the kennel in your backseat, and I have a sack of toys and food to get you started. I really wish I could see the look on your kids’ faces when you take her home.” She rolled her lips between her teeth and wrinkled her nose. “But I suppose that might be crossing a line, huh?”

  Crossing a line? I felt certain she’d crossed a line by gifting me a dog, asking me to put her bed together, and knowing my address.

  “We’re not ready for a dog.” I tried to give back the wiggling puppy, but Adrianne held up her hands like no take-backs.

  “Nonsense. Your darling little ones are the perfect age for a dog. And you have the perfect location, big yard, lots of sticks and trees …”

  “I can’t.”

  She shook her head. “Just take her home. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll take her back to my breeder friend.”

  Take her back? Sure. There would be no taking her back after I showed her to the kids. And I would never have sex with my wife again if she found out Adrianne Craig gifted us the dog.

  “Adrianne—”

  “Enjoy!” She hopped into her car and pulled out of the parking lot before my brain could make sense of anything that just happened.

  I contemplated taking the dog to a shelter or seeing if Noah wanted it. Then I thought maybe the dog would be the perfect distraction for my family from me.

  Me and my fucked-up emotions and physical ailments.

  The kids were outside in the yard, playing with toys while Evie split firewood—the job I should have been doing—as the sun crouched behind the mountains.

  “Daddy!” Franz and Anya ran to greet me.

  The puppy barked.

  “Is that a dog?” Franz’s eyes bulged from his head as he gasped in excitement.

  “Um … yeah.” I opened the back door and let the puppy out of its kennel, handing her to Franz.

  He giggled as she licked his face, squatting to release her to the ground. She took off toward the yard, sniffing everything along the way.

  “Doggie!” Anya squealed chasing her brother and the puppy.

  Evie made her way toward the dog, wiping her brow with the sleeve of her plaid shirt as she glanced up at me.

  I smiled.

  “Wow … a puppy. Did we um … discuss this?”

  I slipped my hands into my pockets and shrugged. “Yes. We’ve discussed getting a dog.”

  She couldn’t be mad. The kids went crazy over her. I was mad … mad as hell at Adrianne for ambushing me like that.

  “What kind of dog is she? We discussed a small dog, if we ever got a dog. Right?”

  “Yeah. But I did a little research, a lot of the smaller dog breeds can be a little snippety with kids. So I went with a Bernese Mountain Dog. She’ll be great with them.”

  Evie’s eyes widened as her lips parted. “Uh … yeah. She’ll also be big. That’s a large breed. Did you know that?”

  “So what do you want to name her, Franz?” I ignored Evie’s line of questions.

  “Mrs. Humphrey.”

  Evie rolled her eyes and laughed as Franz chased the puppy and Anya tried to throw a pink ball at her. “Franz, that’s your teacher’s name, not a dog name.”

  “I want to name her Mrs. Humphrey!” he insisted.

  “Franz—”

  “That’s her name!” he yelled.

  Evie turned toward me for help.

  “It’s not an awful name.” I gave her a tight smile before retrieving the dog’s things from my car. I needed to rest my arm and shoulder. Franz could name the dog Big Bird for all I cared at that moment.

  After depositing everything just inside the door, I dragged ass to the bathroom and turned on the shower, adjusting the temperate to hot.

  “Thanks for the dog. She’s peed on my rug already. Did you happen to notice I cleaned the whole house today? How did you know I was really secretly hoping you’d surprise us with a dog tonight?”

  I closed my eyes and let the water wash the suds from my hair.

  “I’ll return it.”

  “Ha! Okay. Great idea. It’s like taking back the kids’ Christmas presents the day after Christmas.”

  Shutting off the water, I reached for my towel, grimacing at my fucking shoulder.

  Mrs. Humphrey cried from the other room. Evie must have kenneled her.

  “Your shoulder hurts because Lila fell last night. Tripped on the tiny threshold between the bedroom and bathroom. She dislocated her shoulder and fractured her wrist.”

  I rubbed the towel over my face. “She told you that?”

  Evie, narrowed her eyes. “Yeah. Why are you saying it like that? I’m her best friend, of course she told me.”

  Nodding slowly, I finished toweling off.

  “So now we know why you’re sore. I’m still not sure why you’re depressed. It’s not like I surprised you with a dog. Or spent an hour at a whore’s apartment.”

  I tied the towel around my waist and brushed past her to get my clothes from the closet. “She needed help putting together her new bed. I tried to get out of it, but she put me on the spot with a bunch of other people from the group, and I caved. How did you find out?”

  “Oh … how did I find out? That’s the direction you want to go?”

  “It was nothing.” I pulled a white tee over my head and combed my fingers though my hair.

  “It was something … because someone took photos of you coming and going from her apartment and anonymously gave them to Graham. That’s how I found out.”

  Again, I brushed past her and sat on the end of the bed, letting my body deflate after a long day. “I’m not having an affair. I have no idea who took the photos or why they would take them.”

  “She was getting out of your car.”

  “Someone slashed the tires on her car.”


  “Oh … another tire slashing. Seems odd.”

  “I thought so too, so I notified the police and they’re going to keep a closer eye on that area. Now … can I just rest for a while without getting the third degree?”

  “Sure. You rest. I’ll go take care of dinner, bath time, and the dog you brought home.”

  “Evie …”

  She marched out of the bedroom. I deserved that. I just didn’t have the energy to plead my case.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Graham

  “What did you say?” Lila asked me as we ate dinner in the formal dining room. Just the two of us at a table for twenty.

  “Say to whom?”

  “The doctors and nurses who treated me at the hospital. Do you really think it’s not going to end up in the tabloids in the next few days?” She picked at her food with her good hand.

  My wife looked like hell—bruised, broken, emaciated. She for sure pulled off the cancer look. Too bad it did nothing to make my dick hard.

  “I told them you were mugged, and I didn’t want it made public.”

  “And my hair?”

  “I told them it was none of their business.”

  Her shoulders curled inward as she dropped her head. “I told Evie I fell.”

  “And your hair?” I parroted her words back to her.

  “I have wigs. If she notices, I have it covered.”

  “Well, maybe you should enlighten me so we’re on the same page.” I took a bite of salmon.

  “I shaved my head in support of a little girl with cancer.”

  I nodded. “Think she’ll believe it?”

  Lila glanced up. “You better hope she does.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I dropped my fork onto my plate and blotted my mouth with the cloth napkin.

  I had to give my wife credit; she didn’t back down.

  “Either she believes me, or she suspects I’m being abused.”

  “It was an accident.”

  “You pinned me to the wall and twisted my arm to the point of breaking my wrist and dislocating my arm!”

  I pounded my fist on the table and made her jump out of her disrespectful rage. “Enough!” Taking several slow breaths, I let my anger settle into control. “Did you not enjoy it?”

  “I didn’t enjoy it,” she gritted between her teeth.

  “You orgasmed.”

  “If I give you a blowjob before slitting your throat, is it still murder?”

  I really wasn’t trying to break anything. I just needed a release. It was, in fact, an accident. We’d had plenty of rough sex over the years. How was I supposed to know her screams were pain instead of pleasure when I did go out of my way to make sure she enjoyed it too?

  Nothing.

  Nothing was ever fucking good enough for her.

  “If I left tomorrow … what would you do?” she asked, just above a whisper.

  The legs of my chair whined against the hard floor as I scooted it back and stood. Leaning forward, I rested my fingertips on the table and cocked my head to the side.

  “What would I do to you? Or what would I do to Evelyn and Ronin? Or maybe you’re concerned about the rest of her family. I believe sister dearest is pregnant. Although our mutual friend has failed to disclose that information to me yet. I’ll have a word with her. And the last I checked, her dad has a kidney I paid for, and those borrowed organs don’t last forever. So please … clarify whom exactly you’re referring to so I can give you the grim details of my plans for if my wife thinks she’s going to leave me.”

  I wasn’t a total bastard. When she blinked, releasing a stream of tears, I plucked the napkin from her lap and dried them from her face before leaving her in the mess she made all by herself. As I reached the stairway, I called Jeremy.

  “Bleach blond. Long hair. Five-six. Thin. Not too much makeup. And she needs to be wearing some sort of natural perfume that smells like flowers. Pick me up in an hour.”

  I had a few drinks before Jeremy picked me up. It took impaired vision to overlook the fact that the woman waiting in the hotel room wasn’t actually Evelyn, just a knock-off. Although not a cheap one. The kind of woman who would let you do absolutely anything to her without ever leaking a single detail cost a fuck ton of money. Good thing I just so happened to have had a fuck ton of money always at my disposal.

  My Evelyn knock-off stood at the end of the bed in the dimly lit hotel suite. I poured myself another drink and paused the glass an inch from my mouth. “Your name is Evelyn. Do you know how to make soap, Evelyn?”

  She inched her head slowly side to side.

  I took down the entire glass of whiskey. “You do. You know how to make soap.” I tugged at my tie as I crossed the room. “You know how to marry the wrong fucking guy. You know how to come in my mouth then act like it meant nothing. So why don’t you get on your knees and show me some goddamn respect for once?”

  Evelyn got on her knees without me having to ask twice.

  About damn time.

  I unfastened my pants, grabbed her hair, and shoved my dick into her mouth. Closing my eyes, I leaned my heavy head back and let Evelyn treat me like I deserved to be treated after all I had done for her.

  The next day I felt better. More controlled.

  I signed two new bills into law and had a budget meeting.

  “See this?” My chief of staff showed me an online publication with a photo of Lila and me leaving the hospital after her accident. There really wasn’t such a thing as a secure entrance. “Your secretary told me they called several times looking for a statement. Why am I just now seeing this? What happened?”

  I continued walking toward my office, giving my tie a slight adjustment. “Do you want the official statement or the unofficial statement?”

  “The truth.”

  “She was attacked while jogging.”

  “Shit … how did that happen? Where was her security detail?”

  I sighed. “You know Lila. She’s a strong woman. I can’t tell you how many times she escapes without anyone knowing. Sneaks out a back entrance. What am I supposed to do? We’re just lucky it wasn’t worse. She’ll be fine.”

  “Was she …”

  I glanced back at him, internally rolling my eyes at his unfinished question. “Raped? No.”

  “Do you want me to have an official statement released?”

  “Do we really need one?” I nodded at my secretary before I opened the door to my office.

  “Uh … yes. We need one. Otherwise you leave yourself open to speculation. And as charismatic as the world thinks you are, someone will start a rumor that you abused your wife.”

  “Lila is spoiled.”

  “Won’t matter.”

  I plopped down into my chair and sighed. “Fine. Release a statement. Then get something else in the news cycle pretty fucking quick. Lila won’t like this attention.”

  “Pictures will help too. Maybe the two of you at a restaurant looking happy. Take her to dinner tonight.”

  I didn’t respond, but I was sure he took my frown as a reluctant yes. After he shut the door behind him, I called Lila.

  She answered her phone with silence. Not a single hey or hello.

  “Hey, sweetheart. Do something nice with your hair—er … wig—and makeup. We’re going to dinner tonight.” A term of endearment and a dinner invitation. If she sulked about it, that would be her problem. I did my part, giving her what she longingly referred to as “the old Graham.” I missed that guy too. The old Graham spent his free time with his best friend, Evelyn. They watched sports, drank beer, and fucked.

  Just once. And that was the tragedy that led to new Graham. New Graham had more responsibilities, which left so little time to undo all the shit Evelyn had done—like marrying the wrong fucking guy and pushing me into marrying her best friend.

  Such a mess to clean up.

  “I’m not in the mood to go out for dinner. This cancer treatment has left me feeling weak and unsocial.”

>   My dear Lila liked to fight me at every turn, and fighters knew if they threw a punch, they’d get one or two in return. She made it hard for me to feel remorse for longer than a day. Most of the time, I liked the fight. But sometimes I just needed her to be obedient. Lila failed at obedience.

  “I’m not asking for an RSVP. I’ll be out front at six.” I disconnected the call.

  Checking the time, I decided to call Evelyn, hoping she’d be at her shop and able to talk without the ankle biters disrupting her. Don’t get me wrong; I loved those kids. Their biggest flaw? They weren’t mine. One day soon, I’d make her pay for that—most likely naked and tied to my bed.

  “No time for you,” she answered.

  I’d make her pay for that too. I’d make it my life’s purpose to assure I was the only person she had time for in her life.

  “You failed to mention Katie’s good news. And you’re welcome, by the way. I’m sure you’ll adore your new little niece or nephew.”

  “What do you need? I’m running late because Mrs. Humphrey shit all over the carpet. I need to get a shower while Anya’s asleep and get Franz picked up from school.”

  I could hear her turn on her shower.

  “Mrs. Humphrey?” I laughed, making my way to my office door and locking it. I wasn’t to be disturbed when the door was shut, but occasionally an intern with mush for brains would sneak past my secretary.

  “Our dog.” Her voice muffled.

  I sensed she had me on speakerphone, just as I sensed she was undressing. Taking a seat on my sofa, I unfastened my pants and scooted back, already stone hard from just the sound of her voice. Catching her getting ready to take a shower may have been the highlight of my whole damn week.

  “When did you get a dog?”

  “Did you call about my dog?”

  Imagining Evelyn naked made it difficult (hard) to remember my reason for calling. “Did you confront Ronin about the photos?”

  “Yes.” Her voice muffled more.

  “And?”

  “He helped her put something together. She kind of manipulated him, and he felt like he had no choice.”

  “Sounds like a lame excuse. Are you comfortable with the ease at which your husband can be manipulated by another woman?”