Chapter Twenty-One
Cooper took care of loading up the truck while I played with Lily in the small wading pool one last time before being in the car for hours.
We decided to leave after dinner so she would sleep most of the ride and not be up for the next day without me getting any sleep. Something I appreciate.
“Hey.” Cooper’s hand rests on my lower back. “Everything is all set, you ready to go?”
“Yup. Come on, my little fish. Time to go.” I reach out to take Lily’s hand, fully expecting a fight.
But I don’t get one.
“Otay, Mommy.” She skips over to the small chair we have our stuff sitting on, and sits for me to put her shoes on.
“Um. What happened to my child?”
Cooper leans in close to my ear. “I told her I had a chocolate chip cookie in the truck if she didn’t argue.”
“Are you just going to bribe my child with cookies all the time?”
“Uh, I don’t have to. I mean, shit. I’m sorry.” He rubs his hand through his hair.
“I’m joking. But maybe carry a pack of M&Ms. She’ll take two of those in place of one large cookie.” I wink before squatting down to dry off Lily’s feet and slip her shoes on.
“Noted.” He laughs, the panic leaving his shoulders as they relax.
We walk out of the hotel, hand in hand, like one happy family.
Cooper doesn’t let me open my door, or get Lily in the car. He handles both, opening my door first, and then going to the backseat. It’s just something small that means the world to me.
After four hours as the passenger princess, I pull out my phone to text Sophia in hopes to keep my eyes open. I miss my best friend, it’s been a few days since I checked in with her.
Me: I wish you were here. I have so much to tell you. >
Sophia: Damn, girl. Four emojis this far past your bedtime?
Me: Sorry. We’re driving home, I didn’t realize how late it was.
Sophia: It’s ten at night, Aubs. Most people are still awake. Tell me everything. And I mean everything. >
Me: I had TEN orgasms in one night, then he woke up with Lily the next morning and ordered freaking room service. Then planned the entire day with her, and didn’t back out on any of the promises he made her the entire time.
Sophia: We are absolutely not glazing over the ten orgasms, I’ll be back to that in a second. But holy shit, he took care of your kid and ordered you room service?
Me: And let me sleep till eleven in the morning. Eleven. O’clock. Almost lunchtime!
Sophia: That might be better than the ten orgasms, which can we get back to?
Me: His cock is magic. There’s no other explanation. Oh, and his tongue. And his fingers. <>
Sophia: Shit girl, he got any brothers?
Me: As a matter of fact, he has five. One is single. Are you?
Sophia: We aren’t talking about me. And shit. I’d take any of them, girl. Why choose is the new trend in romance land right?
Me: I’m more interested in why we aren’t talking about you.
Sophia: Same shit, different day, different bruise.
Me: Soph. You have to leave him. You can’t stay with him.
Sophia: You know that’s not as easy as it sounds. Hugh has his hands in it. I’m only getting out by death. Just which one of us has to die is yet to be seen.
Me: I don’t like it. Can’t Ryder help?
Sophia: He’s got enough going on with Hugh. I don’t need to add stress to his plate. I’m fine. It’s nothing I can’t handle.
Me: Soph. Come to Maine. Please? You can be my roomie and we need to let Ryder handle this. Let Ryder in.
Sophia: I’ve got this, Aubs. Don’t worry about me. Focus on that magic dick with the magic tongue you’ve got. >
Me: You know how hard I’m rolling my eyes at you, right?
Sophia: I do, and I know that it’s done with love. >
Me: Okay. Text me tomorrow please? Maybe we can video call for Lily?
Sophia: You just want to screenshot my new bruises.
Me: It’s the only way he won’t find the photos. I’ve got the album ready whenever you need to use it. Call. Ryder.
Sophia: I love you. Gotta go.
Me: Love you too.
Whether I think I can trust Ryder or not, she can. He’d scorch the Earth to protect her from everything her father does. And the fact that she won’t let him help her now, kills him. Every time I see him with them, you can see his fists balled at his side, ready to strike given the opportunity.
I add a calendar reminder to video call her tomorrow evening with Lily.
The familiar bumpy road takes over the truck and tests its suspension system.
“Nothing like knowing your home.” I laugh.
“It’s why we all drive trucks.” He chuckles back at me, putting the truck in park in front of my house. “You think we can get her in her bed without waking her up?”
Looking in the backseat, I find Lily with her head slumped forward, snoring, and a little drool dripping out of her mouth.
“I think our chances are good.” I wink.
“I’ll get her out, then come back for bags.”
Before I can argue with him, he’s out of the truck and already getting her out of her seat. But, I won’t listen.
Running over, I get the door opened for Cooper and then turn to go grab the bags.
That’s when something catches my eye.
A large envelope sitting on my floor. Familiar handwriting is on the outside.
Cold sweat breaks out over my body as I stand in the doorway, staring at the envelope on my floor.
Cooper’s footsteps sound. “Okay, she made it to bed and only opened her eyes for a second.”
I kick the envelope back, sliding it under the door and into the corner of the room. He can’t see that this mess is still following me.
“Something is wrong.”
“Nope. Nothing.” I swallow hard.
“Aubrey. What is that?” He points behind me.
“I don’t know.” At least I can answer honestly. “It was just here when we got home. I didn’t look at it yet.”
“Why are you hiding it?”
My chest rises and falls rapidly. This is where he leaves me. When he sees what a disaster my life is. When he realizes that they found me and I’m not even safe here anymore.
“Aubrey.” He advances on me, reaching around me and grabbing the envelope. “Can I open it?”
Nodding my head, I can’t seem to find the words.
He doesn’t open it though. He takes my hand and leads me over to the couch.
“They know where I am. How do they know where I am?” Taking my seat on the couch next to Cooper, I let the panic pull me under. My breathing is shallow and forced. Next to me he opens the envelope and slides out the contents.
Photo after photo of me, Lily, and him sit in his lap.
“These aren’t photos you took.” I gently reach to pick one up.
“Don’t touch them. I’m calling Wyatt.”
“You can’t!” I practically scream. “You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone else.”
“Aubrey, this is serious. How did they know where we were? Where you live?” Using just the envelope he slips the photos back in and places them on the coffee table in front of us.
“It’s fine. I’ll call Sophia. Right now, she’ll fix it. But please, don’t tell anyone.” My breaths are coming quick now, the nausea sliding up my throat, and the blackness blurring the edges of my vision.
His strong arms wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me against him and squeezing me tight. “Hey, I’m here. I’m not leaving. Let’s breathe together. Feel my breaths rising in my chest. Focus on that. Focus on getting your breaths to match mine.”
I do as he says, taking deep breaths when his chest rises, and exhaling when it goes down.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… freak out like that.” My head drops back to the couch once he releases me.
“I won’t tell Wyatt… yet. But you need to call Sophia.” He hands me my phone.
“It’s late.” I lock the screen.
“Don’t care. It’s Wyatt or Sophia. Pick one. I’m not fucking around with your safety. Or Lily’s.”
With shaky hands, I dial Sophia’s number.
“I’m not giving you orgasm number eleven tonight, girl.” She answers the phone.
“You’re on speaker phone… with Cooper.”
“Oh shit. Sorry, not sorry. Heyyy man who gives ten orgasms.”
Jesus. What did I get myself into? “Can we focus? I need your help. Maybe Ryder’s.”
“What the fuck did they do?” Her voice suddenly deepens, turning more serious.
“When we got home, there was an envelope of photos under my door. Photos of the three of us from the resort. Ones that we didn’t take, or post. Cooper never posts Lily’s face.” I choke up on the last part. I’m putting my poor sweet girl in danger again.
“Those fuckers. I’ll call you back.”
The line goes dead and I feel like the panic attack is going to come back.
“Don’t go there, gorgeous. It’s not your fault.” Cooper kisses me on the top of the head. “I need to go get your things, but I’ll be right back.”
I nod, letting him go.
My phone vibrates in my hand and I mindlessly answer.
“What did you find out?” I ask immediately.
“Aubrey, it’s Ryder.” Pulling my phone back I put it on speaker and I see his name on my screen. “Aubrey?”
“I’m here. Sorry. Did Sophia tell you everything?”
“Yeah, can you send me pictures?”
“We can.” Cooper answers, taking his seat next to me.
“Who is that?” Ryder asks, defense lacing his tone.
“Cooper. My boyfriend.” He squeezes my hand in his.
“I don’t want her touching the envelope. I’ve already touched it so I can do it. Want it now? What are we looking at?”
“None of my guys were gone. None of Hugh’s guys were gone. They had a big delivery going down at the ranch this week. Hugh couldn’t spare anyone. And he wouldn’t send some grunt to do this. It’d be a higher up, one of his trusted people who wouldn’t tattle to me and they’re all here.”
“Are… Are you sure?” I hold back the sobs wanting to escape. It has to be them. Who else could it be?
“I’m sure, Aubs. I wouldn’t hide anything from you. I told them to back the fuck off you. Hugh knows what’s at stake.”
Cooper takes the phone from my hand. “I’m going to send you the photos from my phone. Keep me in the loop if you hear anything different.”
“Will do.”
He hangs up the phone, neither man saying goodbye.
“I’m going to stay here tonight.”
“Okay.” I slowly stand.
Cooper stands with me. “I mean, I can go if you really want, but we both know I’ll just be sitting in my truck watching your house all night.”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“Then I won’t.” He says it so simply. Like this whole disaster isn’t a blaring red flag to stay away from me.
Slowly, I drag myself to my room, stripping and sliding into the bed. He’s a few minutes behind me, and I know he’s locking everything up.
I’m numb.
How did I let myself get here? How did they find me? And most of all, if Ryder is right… who’s doing this?