Chapter 8
Tianna
Unease about everything sits heavily in my stomach. The idea of marrying Brad isn’t sitting well with me anymore. The fact he lied to me is weighing heavily on my mind. If he can lie about that, what else has he lied about?
I sigh as I shake my head to myself. It’s for her. It’s all for her. I have to remember that fact, or I’ll lose my damn mind. I have to have faith that one day she’ll be with me, back where she belongs.
I look at myself in the mirror, and I don’t even know who I am anymore. I used to be this smart, loving person and now all I feel is regret and remorse. I feel anger and pain. How did my life turn out like this? Why isn’t there something more I can do about it?
I grab my phone off the counter and pull up my messages when I see one already sent to Remy. I didn’t send this. I click on it and see it’s a video of me and Brad having sex. I gasp as I watch the scene unfold in front of me. He did this? How could Brad do this? Why? How did he even know about Remy? I have to talk to Remy. I have to explain.
I slide the phone into my pocket and rush out of the bathroom and down the stairs, only to run into Brad.
“Where are you going?” he asks, his eyes dark.
“I was just going to check on the flowers. I heard there was an issue,” I lie to him.
“In a hurry over flowers?” he asks. I swallow hard as I nod my head hoping like hell he believes my lie.
“Yes. The wedding is so close we can’t have anything go wrong. And flowers are a huge part of the decoration,” I remind him. Brad nods his head and reaches up, cupping my cheek in his hand. His thumb brushes over my bottom lip as he smiles at me.
“I’m glad to see you’re in a better mood, Tianna. This is how I always want you to look,” he tells me.
“What do I look like?” I ask, forcing a smile.
“Happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
“I am happy. You make me happy,” I tell him, even though that lie burns. He chuckles, knowing that’s a lie, but he doesn’t comment on it.
“Go check on the flowers. I have a few things I need to finish up for work,” he tells me. I almost let out a sigh of relief but I know better. He leans down and presses his lips to mine, kissing me softly before pulling away and walking off.
I grab my purse and hurry out the door to the car, climbing in and taking off. I don’t even remember that video. When did Brad record it? Why did he record it? What do I do now he knows about Remy?
There are too many thoughts in my head right now. I can’t sort them all out. Too many questions.
I drive like a crazy person until I get to the clubhouse and pull into the parking lot. I quickly climb out of the car and look around to see if I see Remy’s bike. I don’t see it, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t here.
I rush to the door and fling it open, walking inside and glancing around. Locke is sitting at the bar, and his eyes catch on mine.
“He ain’t here,” he states from across the room.
“When will he be back?”
“Don’t know. Why don’t you do you both a favor and stay away from him, Tianna.” Locke stands from his stool and saunters toward me, coming to a stop right in front of me.
“It’s not that easy,” I tell him. He nods his head.
“It is, though. You’re gettin’ married, and you’re just stringin’ him along. You don’t see the pain in that man from losin’ you to him.”
“Locke, I know you don’t understand this, and I don’t expect you to, but I can’t. There are things, things no one knows,” I tell him when I hear Remy speak.
“And you’re not willin’ to tell. Locke’s right, Tianna. You need to leave.” I turn to face the man I love, the man I can’t seem to forget, as tears fill my eyes.
“We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t. Talkin’ leads to fuckin’, and I’m done with that shit, Tianna.”
“Remy, please.”
“Please? You’re gonna say please after you sent me that video? Do you think I wanted to see you fuckin’ that bastard?” He roars this time. Locke slinks away, leaving just the two of us.
“I didn’t send that.”
“No? Then who did?”
“Brad did. He must have figured things out, Remy. He knows about us,” I tell him.
“Us? There is no us, Tianna. You fucked that up, remember? You didn’t want this life, and yet here the fuck you are!” he yells loudly, throwing his hands out to the sides.
“It’s complicated, Remy. Please, can we just talk about this?” Remy shakes his head, running his hand through his hair.
“No. I’m done talkin’, Tianna. I’m done tryin’. I’m done puttin’ my life on hold for you,” he sneers at me. My heart is breaking in my chest at his words. This isn’t how it was supposed to be. This isn’t how it was supposed to go. I step toward him, but he steps back.
“Remy, please. I need you,” I beg him as tears slide down my cheeks.
“You don’t need me. You need him. You chose him.”
“That isn’t true! I do need you, Remy. More than you know.”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be marryin’ him, Tianna. We had what we had, and that’s over now. I’m sorry, but you chose him.” My tears turn to sobs I can’t control. He can’t do this. I need him. He doesn’t know just how badly I need him.
I drop to my knees and cry into my hands. This isn’t right. This isn’t how it was supposed to be. I don’t know how I thought this would play out but not like this.
Remy walks away, and I’m left here on my knees, sobbing uncontrollably. A hand lands on my back, but I can’t stop crying long enough to see who it is, and I don’t care. It isn’t him. It isn’t Remy, and he’s the one I need right now.
It feels like a part of my life; a part of my heart has been ripped from my chest, and I’m just left here bleeding out.
“Come on,” I hear Gunner say. He helps me off the floor and then leads me into one of the offices before sitting me down on the chair. “This has been a long time comin’, sweetheart.”
“You don’t understand. None of you do.”
“And you won’t tell him either. There’s nothin’ we can do if you don’t tell us, Tianna.”
“It’s not that simple, Gunner. There’s more at stake here.”
“Then tell him and let us figure it out,” he says. I shake my head. There’s no way I can tell them. He would kill her; I have no doubts at all.
“I can’t.”