Chapter Nine
Gambit
She looks so innocent, bundled beneath the frilly white sheets with an IV drip feeding her nutrients and forcing hydration.
Her hair lost the battle with humidity days ago and forms a puffy crown around her head in the way it always did in the summer when she inevitably lost the struggle with the swamp’s climate.
I can’t resist touching the soft coils. Seeing her so confused and weak did a number on my brain.
Everything I felt took a backseat to her survival.
In that moment, I was forced to make a decision: choose health and well-being, or my hate.
It wasn’t even a question. Now that everything has died down, I’m left to figure out where I stand and who this woman is.
I don’t like not knowing. But neither of us is in a position to answer questions.
The years have matured her, turning the young girl I once knew into a stunning woman.
Her curves are Coke-bottle perfection, and her face is still just as sweet with her rounded cheeks, large brown eyes, and full lips.
She’s a golden-brown, dimpled-cheeked temptation I could so easily fall for once more.
But the wounded boy in me remembers the day she damn near killed me and ruined us.
Gunning the engine, I push my two-stroke to the limits. A fine mist settles on my skin, dampening my clothes. The money in the duffle slung across my body is a welcome weight. It’s the ticket to our freedom. We’ve scraped together every penny we could spare for a year.
With Ro eighteen and over halfway to nineteen, nothing can hold us here. This is my half of the cash meant to start our new life. The breaking and entering gig was a risk worth taking to put our finances where they need to be.
It’s best I get out of Dodge before anyone comes sniffing around for suspects.
I’m always at the top of their list by default.
Officers want to scare me straight or catch me in the act.
They can’t accept the fact that I’ll never wear blue and carry a badge like my father. It’s what Le Blanches do. Not this one.
Weaving through trees on the sodden ground, I make my way to the tiny home at the end of a long dirt road, removed from neighbors for miles. Folks like their privacy around here. Reaching the porch, I kill the engine. Ro steps out onto the porch, and the screen door slams behind her.
Her father’s hulking shape is a shadowy figure hovering in the background behind her. My heart drops. She doesn’t look right. Plush lips twisted into a grimace, and brows wrinkled; she’s a ball of anxiety. I scramble off the bike. If that bastard put his hands on her, I’m going to kill him.
I scan her for bruises as I approach the top stairs. “Did he touch you?” I growl.
“No.”
I run my hands down her bare arms. She steps back. “What’s wrong?”
Crossing her arms beneath her chest, she bites her bottom lip. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“I know, that’s why we’re leaving.”
“No. Us.”
“What are you talking about, petite?” I lean in and lower my voice. “He threaten you?”
“No. This is about you and me.”
“Where is this coming from?” I ask. Blood rushes, pounding in my ears, muffling my hearing. My chest grows tight. It’s like an alien possessed the girl I’ve known my entire life.
“You started dating me before I knew who I was or what I wanted.”
The words are a slap to the face. I stumble backward, shocked. “I refused to date you for that reason. You insisted.”
“I was young and flattered by your attention. You were the adult.”
“Bullshit, Ro. No one ever makes you do a damn thing you don’t want to.” My deepest fears are falling from her lips. Things we’d talked about long before I agreed to court her.
“You took advantage of me. And I was stupid enough to believe I was more than a body to warm your bed.”
I grab her arms and shake her. “Stop this.”
Squirming, she breaks free, shoving me hard.
Off balance, I fall into the wet grass. Ass soaked, I blink up at her.
Her father’s laughter rings out, creating a soundtrack to a horror movie I can’t escape.
Shaking my head, I meet Ro’s shuttered expression.
The warmth I’m used to is gone, replaced by a cold mask of a doppelganger.
“This is my home. I don’t want to leave it. That’s your dream. I didn’t feel like I had a choice but to follow you. I know better now.”
“No. No. No. You’ve always wanted to get the hell out of here.” I push myself up, crowding her space. “I can protect you. Whatever he told you, I won’t let it happen.” I know this has to do with her drunken father.
“He didn’t do anything.” Her voice cracks.
“I don’t believe you.” I grab her face and squeeze. Water turns her eyes glossy.
“It’s true.” Her lips tremble.
“Fucking liar. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t want to leave right now. That all the plans we’ve worked toward over the years were for nothing.
“I- I want you to go live life on your terms with your half of the money and leave me to mine.” Garbled and broken, her words sound like music from a ruined cassette tape. Pain explodes in my head and chest. My vision narrows, blackening around the edges.
“Don’t do this.” It’s as close to begging as I can come.
Tears spill over and run down her face. “You groomed me for years. It’s time I figure out who I am without you.”
It’s the final shotgun blast to my soul. Groomed. The word echoes in my mind. I stumble back, numb. Tears sting my eyes.
“Time for you to move on, boy. Before I make you.” Her father reappears behind the screen, cocking his rifle.
“I’ll be leaving like we planned. In case you change your mind.”
“I won’t.” Spinning on her heels, she walks away without looking back. Jogging up the stairs, she enters the house. The door slams shut, hiding her from view. Sniffling, I back away, bumping into my dirt bike.
Nothing has ever hurt like this. Gut churning, I turn, mount my bike, and ride. Tears mingle with the rain, blurring my vision. Had I pushed her too hard? Did I ignore her real feelings? Am I the monster she made me out to be?
Pulling the bike over, I empty my stomach.
Shame washes over me. I hate men who prey on young girls, asserting their will over their partners.
How had I become what I loathed most? Swiping my mouth, I return to my bike, eager to escape the swirling mass of confusing emotions and the woman who ripped my heart from my chest. I will never let myself be placed in this position again.
Aknock on the door pulls me from the past. I sit up in the chair, and the door cracks open, revealing my sister’s strawberry blonde hair.
“Hey. Is she doing okay?” Running a hand through my hair I clear my throat. It’s odd having her visit in the pastel purple guestroom created with her in mind. I’ve never had anyone else stay in here until now.
“Yeah. Doc had some other patients to check on, so I agreed to stay and monitor. Once he administered the sedation, she has been resting peacefully. How’s the kid?”
Lotte walks over to stand beside me. She puts a hand on the back of the cream chair with gold trim that formed a bow.
I hate the feminine look, but even I can admit it’s comfortable.
“Passed out after a long shower once I assured her that her sister was being taken care of and she could see her when she woke up.”
“That’s good.” Stretching my arms over my head, I yawn. Running on empty is starting to catch up with me.
“What are you doing?” She tilts her head and studies me silently.
I frown. “I just told you.” Her lips purse, and I internally groan. She’s not going to let this go.
“No. That’s not what I mean.” Lotte crosses her arms over her chest. “What are your plans with her?” Her tone becomes almost motherly.
“You asked me to help her. I’m giving her an alibi.” I shrug, dodging the deep conversations she’s trying to initiate.
She huffs. “For years, you wouldn’t even mention her name or let me speak about her. What’s this?” Gesturing from Ro to me she scowls.
I sigh. “Don’t put yourself in places you don’t belong.”
“She’s my best friend.” Her voice shakes.
I raise an eyebrow. “And I’m your brother.”
“I don’t want to see her hurt.” Walking over, she runs the back of her fingers down her face.
What about me?
“Or you.” She meets my gaze. “Tread lightly and think things over before you act.”
“If you don’t trust me, why bother calling?”
She points at me. Her face flushes. “I never said that.”
“You’re reading me the riot act.”
“I’m reminding you that once the two of you were endgame, and I’m not convinced that’s not still true.”
I give a strained laugh. “That’s because you don’t know how it ended.”
“Are you looking to tell me?” She steps away from the bed and moves to stand beside my chair.
“No.”
“Neither of you has ever moved on. That has to count for something. Use this time wisely. Love like the two of you shared is rare.”
“We were young and stupid. Don’t read too much into it, Lotte.”
“I don’t believe that.” She smiles with a knowing expression that reminds me of our mother.
“Let’s get her back on her feet before you start making your predictions.”
“How do you plan on building an alibi?”
“She’s been with me the entire time. We’re headed to California for her to meet my people.”
“Wait. What?” Lotte places her hands on her hips.
“Distance between her and home is a good thing right now.”
“What if she doesn’t want to go?” She taps her toes against the carpet.
“She’ll go along with my plan if she wants the help. I can’t put my life on hold for this. I’m trying like hell to juggle it all.”
“I don’t like this.”
“Yeah. Me either. But here we are.” I continue to stare at Ro, unable to keep my eyes off her.
After all these years, she’s in my home.
I’ve thought about this moment for years, but never like this.
I don’t know what happened, but the money at the end of the bed, shoved into a cedar hope chest, is the money she’d saved up to leave.
I didn’t understand why she cared about the duffle she’d forced Guidry to go back and grab until we arrived home and I got a real look at it.
Had she lied that day she told me to go? What was the point? She hadn’t done anything since I left but struggled from the sound of things. Why?
“She won’t disappear on you, you know,” Lotte whispers.
“Not so sure ‘bout dat. Not much about this situation makes sense. Did Betti give you details on what happened?”
“She’s being loyal. Can’t fault her for that.”
“Humph. Why didn’t Ro spend any of this money if things got tight for the two of them?”
“I don’t know.” Lotte pauses. “To be honest, she never mentioned it to me.”
“Why am I not surprised. She’s good at keeping secrets.”
“Whatever you think about Rowan, she’s never been a liar,” Lotte defends the friend who stood beside her when she hit rock bottom.
“We don’t always know people as well as we think, sister,” I say gently.
“Don’t do that. I know her well enough.”
“What are you getting at, huh?”
“Give her a chance to explain herself. Actually talk about shit. Both of you have been sitting on this for far too long.”
“Whatever you’re scheming in your brain, don’t. I’m saving her ass because she’d do the same for us, nothing more.”
“Are you really telling me you have no feelings for her at all?” Lotte asks, exasperated.
“It’s complicated. But sometimes the past just needs to stay in our rearview.” I stand abruptly. “Since you’re here, I’m going to get some shut eye.”
Ignoring the optimistic youth who’d been lovesick over the woman.
I gave her the power to hurt me, and she carved my heart out with a dull rusty blade.
I’m owed my comeuppance. I want answers, but asking outright feels like letting her win.
I leave the two women and the questions I’m not equipped to answer behind. I need to grab sleep while I can.