Chapter Thirty-Three
I sit next to Sophia’s bed with her and Ryder. I don’t want to leave her but I need to get back to my daughter. Thankfully she understands.
Last night we finalized all the plans for her to come live in Wyatt’s cabin. She’ll heal first, the doctor said maybe about six more weeks before she’ll approve a cross country drive.
Ryder is working on IDs, a car, and cash in her new name for her new life as a struggling student. I’m thrilled she’ll be with me and away from James. Even if it means she has to give up the life she knows, I know this is best for her.
“Ryder.” Damon says, walking into the room.
“Guess your ride’s here.” Ryder gives me a tight smile in apology for Damon … again.
Turning to Sophia, I squeeze her hand in mine. “I don’t want to leave you”
“Someone needs to give my girl a hug. And I can’t yet. So you have to leave.” The tears well in her eyes. “I’ll be there so soon. Tell Lily she owes me ice-cream asap.”
“She’ll be counting the days and so will I,” I say with my lip trembling.
Damon clears his throat, a not-so-subtle reminder that he’s ready to leave.
“Text me when you land.” Sophia squeezes my hand one last time.
“I promise.” Moving my gaze to her brother, I say, “You better keep her safe.”
“My life’s mission is to keep her safe.” Ryder says quietly.
Nodding in response to him, I turn to face Damon. “I’m ready to go.”
He takes my suitcase from outside her door and I follow him down the hallway. Neither of us speaks again until we are close to the airport.
“I was never going to let them in your house,” he admits quietly. “I can’t stand that you think I would let them in.”
“Could’ve fucking fooled me.”
“It was a test from Hugh. Ryder had to pass it. I’ll spare you the details, but there were consequences if we failed. If you think what James did to Sophia was bad this time, you don’t want to know what Hugh had in store if Ryder failed.”
“Why would Hugh want to hurt his own daughter?” I question him sarcastically.
“You have no idea what Hugh is capable of. Neither does Sophia. Ryder makes sure it stays that way. But let’s just phrase it as Hugh views Sophia as a trading commodity for more power.” His eyes never leave the road and he will not look at me.
I study his profile. Waiting for something… anything to tell me he’s lying. I know what Hugh Chiave is capable of. But to his own daughter? I can’t fathom it.
“Fine. Then I guess you want my thanks?” I say, still a little snarky.
“No. I just don’t want you associating me with Hugh.
There’s about to be a big shift, and I’m not a bad guy.
I only want to help protect. That’s why Ryder and I connected as friends in the first place.
Both of us protecting our families from evil at too young an age.
” He finally turns to face me. “I just can’t stand seeing you look at me like I used to look at my father. ”
Well, fuck me. I instantly soften to the guy. I know that feeling and that look.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to Ryder. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It’s okay. Completely understandable. I just couldn’t let you leave again thinking it was me and Ryder. He’s a good one too. We’ve got Sophia, and you by extension.” He gives me a weak smile.
“Then why aren’t you making Hugh stop what he’s doing to me now?” I ask, my voice full of hurt.
“What do you mean?” He puts the truck in park in the spot and spins to face me.
“The stalking. The letters. Breaking into my home. Taking photos of my daughter, all to get their money back. Ryder said you’re not involved, but there’s gotta be something he knows.
Lily is innocent. She doesn’t deserve any of it.
” I put my hand on the door handle, but he grabs my arm, stopping me.
“That’s not us. I swear to you. I’ve not heard anything, not even a rumble of anything from the other guys. Even if it’s a top secret mission from Hugh, someone talks. There’s always something running around, and there’s been nothing.”
My mouth drops open. I’m torn on believing him, but Ryder said the same. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Ryder would have heard for sure if I haven’t. I promise you it’s not us.”
I stare at him, unmoving. “Then who is it?”
“I don’t know. Can you send me or Ryder what you have? We’ll get on it. If it’s Hugh, he’s keeping it tight-lipped and close to home so Ryder would have to do some digging.”
I nod, holding out my phone for him to add his number to a message. I send him all the evidence I have on my phone. All the photos. The number, everything.
“Shit, Aubrey. I’m real sorry. Ryder and I will figure this out. I promise you.”
Giving him a half of a smile, I open the door and grab my luggage. “Thanks for the ride, Damon.”
“Anytime. And I’ll call you in a few days with some answers.” I nod before walking away.
I was so sure it was them, I was so sure Damon himself was involved. But now my mind is spinning.
Security is basically empty and I’ve made it to my gate almost on autopilot. Pulling out my phone I text Cooper.
Me: It’s not Ryder. It might still be Hugh, but I don’t know. They have no idea what I’m talking about and haven’t heard anything about it.
Cooper: It’s definitely Nolan. I just need to figure out how and who he has doing all his dirty work.
Me: I don’t know. Why would he target me? How does that help him?
Cooper: He thinks I’ll back down. And maybe I should shut the blog down.
Me: No. As much as it sucks, I trust that Wyatt will figure it out. I sent everything to Damon, Ryder’s best friend, too. We’ll get an answer soon. Whether it’s Hugh or Ryder, we’ll get answers soon.
Cooper: I hate that it’s affecting you and Lily, even if she doesn’t know it. They’re getting too bold and Wyatt’s lead hasn’t panned out yet.
Me: Let’s wait until Ryder or Damon calls me back before you give up on your dream.
Cooper: Okay. I’ll give it a week. I can’t wait until you’re back home and I can have my eyes on you.
Me: It’s been a while. I think I’d prefer your hands.
Cooper: That can be arranged. Ma offered to keep Lily tonight but I told her I’m sure you’d want to see her.
Me: Thank you. I definitely do. I owe her some Mommy time.
Cooper: She’s ready for it. She misses you.
Me: Hopefully she didn’t run you too ragged.
Cooper: How dare you speak of my princess that way. She was perfect.
Me: >
Cooper: Blasphemy. What time do you land?
Me: Still on time for five. Is she awake yet?
Cooper: No. Liam tired her right out last night making her help him brush the horses. She was thrilled to do it, but crashed as soon as we got home and is still soundly sleeping.
Me: Okay. Tell her I love her, I’m about to board. Text you when I land in Portland. >
Cooper: Of course. Have a safe flight. >
Pocketing my phone in the side of my bag, I stand with my boarding pass in hand, ready to get home.
The plane jolts, waking me up when my head slams into the window. We must be hitting some turbulence.
“Nice of you to finally wake up.”
Every muscle in my body tenses up. There was no one next to me when we took off, and that voice, that very familiar voice, has my blood running cold.
“Jack. Wh-what are you? How?”
“While you stammer and try to figure it out, let me just lay all this out for you, darling wife.” His smirk is cold and evil, not the man that charmed me all those years ago, but the man he was before he died.
Or didn’t die.
“You’re alive?” I sputter like some idiot who can’t see what’s right in front of her.
“Obviously, Aubrey.” He snickers. “You are going to act like we’re a happily married couple, coming back from vacation together. Then we’re going to go pick up our daughter and you’re going to follow the directions I give.”
“It’s you. You’ve been the one doing all this.”
“Glad to see you’re catching up,” he says sarcastically.
“I’m not… no. No. I’m not doing anything with you. How dare you show up like this and demand… what? You need money?” I move back as far as I can until my back is flush with the wall of the plane. I’m cornered and have nowhere to go.
“Oh, but you will.” He grabs his phone, showing me a video. It appears to be a live feed of my house, Cooper and Lily are walking toward the barns. “You see, I have someone ready, someone close, to take care of both of them if you don’t agree to do what I say.”
I study him for a moment. He looks nothing like the man I knew.
His face is gaunt, skin wrinkled, hair thinning and scraggly looking.
Track marks line his arm and suddenly I’m hit with a wave of understanding.
He won’t stop. He has nothing to lose. Whatever he’s getting from this is more important than Lily or I ever were to him.
I believe him. I believe all that he’s saying and if I don’t get Lily, Cooper will pay the price. If I can get Lily with me, we have a chance to get away.
“What are you getting out of this? Why are you torturing me?”
I need all the information I can get before I get off this plane and put my daughter in danger.
“If your little boyfriend would have listened, I never would have been found. But he was selfish. Even last week when you moved into that hidden cabin. I’ll admit it took me a couple days to find you.
But I did eventually. I let you think I was gone while he had the opportunity to stop all of this.
But he didn’t. He chose himself.” Jack settles back into the seat.
“What is Nolan giving you? What is the plan here?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Sweet Aubrey.” He reaches out, caressing my cheek and I recoil at his touch.
“Don’t you see that none of it matters? You’re getting what you deserve for shacking up and letting this guy fuck my wife.
And I… I get my life back. I’ll take Lily and get to live my new life with my daughter and without you holding me back. ”
“You were dead. I didn’t just shack up while being your wife, you were dead.”
“For less than six months, Aubrey! You fucked him less than six months after your husband’s death.
I always knew you were a fucking slut, guess I should have known what I was getting when you fell so easily into my bed.
And all under my dear aunt and uncle’s urging.
Maybe I should pay them a visit too.” He taps his chin with his long, dirt filled fingernail.
“No.” I practically shout for the small space.
“Oh, feeling a little protective are we?” He laughs. “They always did think you’d save me.”
“They love you.”
“No, no. They love you much more than they ever loved me. I was always just the fuck up nephew they got saddled with.”
I suck in a deep breath before responding, trying to center myself.
“That’s not true and you know it. You made that your personality.
You masked it well enough to lure me in, but then you turned into your true self.
And you know what? When you died, I was relieved.
I could leave you behind and not have to worry about my daughter being alone with you. ”
“Seems that dream is over for you. It’s time for me to get what I want.”
“You don’t want her. You never did.”
A smile splits his lips, showing the yellowed, rotting teeth. “You’re right. I don’t. But I do want to see you suffer, and taking our girl will ensure that you spend every day looking for her, missing her, and wondering what I’m doing with her. Or who has her.”
“You’re vile. When did you turn into this man? When did you start to hate us?” My stomach rolls at the thought of my poor girl suffering.
The will to fight is stronger now than it was just a few moments ago. I need to figure out how to tell Cooper.
“The moment you told me you were pregnant.” He spits.
“Why didn’t you just let us go? Why all these dramatics?
We would have happily left if you just let me take Lily.
All you had to do was sign over your rights and you could have lived the life you wanted.
” I slowly reach out to get my phone without getting his attention.
Thank God I paid for the Wi-Fi package on the plane.
“You think Aggie and Tommy would have let me do that? You think they weren’t up my ass to make you an honest woman? Now look at how that worked out. I wonder if they’re pushing Cooper to do the same, if he resents you as much as I do.”
Keeping my phone down by my leg, I pull up the message to Cooper.
Me: It’s J
I hit send when he looks my way. If he finds me texting who knows what he’ll do and if I can give them a heads up, I will.
“Fine. I’ll do what you want, but you have to promise me that you’ll leave the Keatons and Aggie and Tommy alone. Don’t drag them into this.” I narrow my eyes, the anger I feel shooting out from them.
“That was too easy.” His brows furrow as he takes my face in.
“Not really. I want you to promise me one more thing.”
“Of course you do. What is your demand now?”
“I want you to give Lily to Aggie and Tommy. I want you to get what you’re owed, and then give her to them. I’ll disappear. I won’t go home to them, I promise.” Under my leg I cross my fingers and then my toes. I have no intention of keeping that promise.
“Nope. Not happening. Did you miss where I want you to suffer?” He laughs. “Could you be any more dense?”
“Think about your daughter for once in your life. She’s innocent. She didn’t ask for any of this shit.” Neither did I.
“Tell ya what, you go quietly, you do what I say, I’ll think about it.” He turns from me once more, going back to whatever he put on the screen.
Me: Jack.
Cooper: Jack? He’s dead, how is he connected?
Me: Alive. Trust m
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He glances over at me.
“Reading my book. You seem to be done with me.” I delete the messages with Cooper quickly and open my book app. “See.”
He stares, his lips in a thin line. “Whatever. Watch yourself. You know what I can do to Cooper and Lily if you don’t follow along.”
Looking at my screen I see that we’re almost over Maine, our descent will be starting soon. I can only hope that Cooper picks up on what I’m saying. I can’t risk any more messages.