Chapter 7
7
Cecely
My stomach roils, and I grip onto the side of the toilet. Please don’t let me barf, I pray.
I lose the battle, emptying the contents of my stomach, which isn’t much. I’ve been nauseated all day and haven’t wanted to eat until I thought I could handle some crackers and water. Looks like I was wrong.
When I’m finished, I sit, resting my head on the wall. This has happened on and off for a few months. I’m starting to think the three positive pregnancy tests weren’t faulty like I hoped and prayed they were. Hot tears fill my eyes.
Only I would get knocked up during a one-night stand where I was chased and fucked by a man in a mask. Jeez. What a story to tell a kid one day.
What bothers me even more is that I’ve vowed not to follow in the steps of my mother for as long as I can remember. I would tell anyone who’d listen that I wasn’t going to get knocked up until I was in love and married. But here we are. My kid won’t know their father, just like I don’t know mine.
Hell, I wouldn’t even know how to find him. Jade said he paid for everything in cash that night. And his tags revealed that his car was a rental, rented under the alias of John Doe. Very original, right?
A knock on the bathroom door startles me.
“Cec, there’s someone here for you.” Harvey pauses from the other side. “He looks kind of scary.”
“Be out in a minute,” I answer.
Pushing myself off the floor, I flush the toilet, wash my hands, and brush my teeth before opening the door.
Harvey is still standing there with a worried look on his face. There’s still staples in his now bald scalp from his latest procedure. Both Tad and I were at his side, holding his hands when he woke up. I close my eyes for a moment, sending up a silent prayer. Please, let this be the one that worked.
“Who is it?”
“He wouldn’t say. He just shoved his way into the apartment and is currently sitting on our couch.” He pauses. “Should I call the cops?”
“Why? Did he threaten you?”
He sighs. “You’ll see what I mean when you set eyes on him.”
Well, now I’m curious to see who’s here. I walk past Harvey into the living room and come to a stop. My heart pounds in my chest.
No!
I blink twice, as if that will help with what I’m seeing. It doesn’t.
“What are you doing here?”
His dark eyebrow lifts. “You need to come with me.”
I snort, which makes the eyebrow shoot even higher.
“I’ve heard that before.”
Harvey looks between us. “You know him?”
“Yes.”
“No,” he answers at the same time.
“Really? You’re really going to sit there and act like you don’t know me?”
My stomach roils, reminding me just how well we know each other. An echo of words he said to me last time dance through my mind.
But if you ever see me again… run.
Should I run? The way my pulse is thrumming, I’m thinking that maybe I should.
“Ms. Blight, as I said, I need you to come with me. You aren’t safe here.”
There’s something different about his voice, but I can’t place it. It’s almost like there’s an accent that wasn’t there before. But it’s definitely him. Big, sexy, massive bald man with a scar that runs across the left side of his face, just under his eye. Yeah. Hard to miss and hard to forget.
“What in the hell do you mean, I’m not safe? I’m not going anywhere with you after that stunt you pulled.” I pause. “Wait. Is this another kinky game? Well, guess what? I’m not interested.”
His dark eyebrows lift, sending a shiver down my spine. Fuck. What if he has the knife now? I look him over. It could easily be in his black suit jacket.
I’m about to tell Harvey to call the cops when Lili and Dimitri walk in. Lili runs to me, throwing her arms around me. Her body shakes as she sobs.
“What’s going on? Who died?” I say the words as a joke, but one look at my best friend has me stilling. “Lili?”
Dimitri says, “Perhaps we should sit.”
He’s looking at his wife, like he’s worried about her. My gaze goes to her stomach.
“Did something happen to the baby?”
Dimitri urges us to sit on the couch right next to the man I thought I’d never see again. I end up between him and Lili, and because he’s so big, my leg brushes his. He moves so we’re not touching and looks around me to Dimitri.
“We need to get her out of here, Santos,” he says.
I glare at him and say, “ She is sitting right here. And someone needs to tell me what in the hell is happening.”
Lili wipes at her eyes. “The baby is fine. Perfect, actually.”
I sigh. “Thank god.”
Lili rushes on, “You’re in danger, Cecely. Someone tried to kill?—”
Her voice falters.
“Someone tried to kill who? You?” I turn to the man at my side. “Did you try to kill her?”
He looks annoyed as he says, “For fuck’s sake. Let me get you somewhere safe and then I’ll explain everything.”
Dimitri speaks up. “He’s right, Cecely. We need to get you somewhere safe.”
I stand and face the two men trying to tell me what to do.
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me who was almost killed.”
“It was your father.”
I look at Dimitri, waiting for him to deny what he’s saying.
Dimitri dips his head. “I know this is a lot to take in, but Claudius is telling the truth.”
“Claudius?” I let out a bitter laugh. “You told me your name was Gabriel.”
The room goes silent. Claudius stands, towering over me. I hate that my body takes notice.
“What did you just say?”
“You told me your name was Gabriel when we met.”
Met. Fucked. Same difference, right?
His gaze is deadly. I should be scared, but, again, my body has other ideas.
“We have never met, Ms. Blight.”
“Sure we did. Five months ago at Purple Panther Hideaway.” I lean in. “You dropped ten grand on me in the champagne room. Ring a bell?”
There’s a deep blush creeping up his tan neck, but I get the feeling it’s not from embarrassment, but rather because his blood pressure is rising.
“Gabriel is my brother.”
“Who looks exactly like you?” I huff out a laugh. “My dude, do I look like a fool?”
Dimitri says, “He’s telling the truth, Cecely. Gabriel is Claudius’ identical twin brother. Or was…”
This has me stilling. “What?”
Claudius says, “So, you see, Ms. Blight, we have never met. And you are in grave danger by staying here.”
I’m unable to stop the laugh working its way up my throat.
“Grave danger, because I might die?”
Claudius does nothing to reassure me. That alone has me sobering up.
My gaze skirts around the people in the room, landing on Harvey, who looks like he’s in shock. He’s staring at a wall, lips parted. My pulse thrums. This can’t be good for him. He’s supposed to be recovering right now!
“What do I need to do? Is Harvey safe?”
“Mr. Ashwood is safe, but will be staying with Santos for a while as a precaution. You, on the other hand, are not safe, which is why you’re coming with me.”
“Why can’t I go to Lili’s house?”
I hate that my voice cracks, making me sound weak. I shoot a pleading look at my best friend, who, in turn, looks at her husband. His expression is guarded, and my stomach churns. He’s going to say no.
Dimitri says, “Cecely, I understand that you’re frightened, but Claudius is the best person to protect you.”
It dawns on me.
“You don’t want me to come to your house because of the kids.” My gaze goes to Lili’s stomach. “And because of the baby.”
I get it. He wants to protect his family, which means I can’t go with them.
I mean, I should be used to the rejection by now. It shouldn’t sting, damn it.
Lili reaches for me. “Cecely?—”
I move before she touches me.
“It’s fine.” I turn toward Claudius. “How long should I pack for?”
“At least a month.”
“Guess that means I won’t be handing out candy on Halloween.” I sigh when no one laughs. “Give me ten.”
Lili and Harvey both start to follow, but I hold up my hand.
“I’ll be fine. Really.”
Hurt flickers across Harvey’s face, but he knows me well enough not to press the issue. I need to be alone right now.
In my room, I close the door, leaning against it. What in the hell am I going to do? Normally, I’m fantastic under pressure. A lifetime of traumatic responses, all thanks to my mother. Because of her, I’ve had to be quick on my feet, ready for anything at any time. But this? This is something I don’t think anyone could prepare for.
I sit on my bed, grabbing the notebook and pen from my nightstand. Turning to a new page, I start a list.
Reasons My Life Is Royally Fucked:
Gabriel, who I fucked, has an identical twin. Down to the scar. And for some reason, I find his asshole twin as sexy as him. WTF is wrong with me?
Oh, and Gabriel might not be Gabriel, since Dimitri referred to him in past tense, as if he died?
I’m pregnant. But maybe the scary twin can help me find Gabriel? Circle back to #2.
My father is alive. I wonder if my mother knows?
For some reason, someone is out to get me because of who my father is.
I sit back, looking over the list. It looks and sounds ridiculous. Like, this is something that happens in movies or the telenovelas that Harvey likes to watch when he thinks no one is home. Things like this don’t happen in real life. But, if that were true, then why did Dimitri look worried?
Hot tears fill my eyes.
No one is going to help me, so I guess going with Claudius is my best option.
I grab a backpack from my closet, yanking it open with shaky hands. My mind races as I shove in clothes, toiletries, anything I think I might need for the next month. I don’t bother folding because there’s no time for that. Just grab, shove, repeat.
My gaze lands on the box of tampons sitting on my desk, and a small, breathless laugh escapes me. Won’t be needing those. Still, something inside me hesitates. Old habits, maybe. Or denial. Either way, I grab the box and shove it into my bag anyway, as if packing it might make everything feel normal again. As if normal is even an option anymore.
I scan the room once more, making sure I haven’t forgotten anything essential. Then my eyes fall on my nightstand, on the thick, battered copy of The Art of War sitting there.
For a moment, I just stare at it. I’ve made more than enough money to cover Harvey’s bills over the last few months. The rest will get him through the upcoming months until he’s well enough to return to work.
Then, with careful hands, I pick it up and place it on my bed. For Harvey. A silent message. A goodbye without saying the words.
With a deep breath, I zip my backpack shut, grab the handle, and walk out without looking back.