Chapter 13
Thirteen
Melissa
If I thought fucking Light would fix all my problems, boy, was I wrong.
My bodies internal clock jerks me out of a sound sleep. I've spent years waking up to take care of Tyler that no matter how hard I try, I can't sleep in. It's got to be at least seven in the morning already. I can't tell. There's no clock in the room.
Slowly, I turn my head to the side and see Light on his front.
His beautiful face free of any tension, smashed into the pillow.
The sight alone makes me want to giggle, but I don't have time.
I have to get out of here and to the hospital.
The doctors told me that they would keep Tyler on the machines for a few days, but I still want to be there.
Last night, when I walked over here, I didn't know what I was expecting. I guess I've just become so dependent on Light for some form of stability, not having him at my house sent me spiraling in the deep end.
I didn't come here for sex. I just needed him.
Of course, now that we've been together, I realize just how much of a mistake I've made.
The sex was good. Fucking awesome, actually, but it's done nothing but solidify all those feelings I swore were just a little crush. I want more from this man. More than he's willing to give me and more than I can afford to want right now.
No, it's best if we act like this never happened. Just pretend like it was all one big dream.
Slowly, I try to pull myself out of the bed without waking him up. Before I can even get my foot on the ground, Light's hand juts out, and he grabs my wrist. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I've got to go to the hospital. Be with Tyler."
Light stretches and sits up in the bed. "Yeah, you're right.
" Finally, he pins me with his gaze. It's hot and already has my body gearing up for another round under the sheets.
"About last night, I want you to know I'm clean.
I've never had sex without a condom before. I didn't want you to worry about that."
Shit.
Double shit!
I try not to let what he's saying register on my face. It didn't even dawn on me that we forgot to use protection. I was so lost in the moment. "Don't worry about it. It's all good." I say doing my best to downplay it. "We both had a good time."
"A good time?" Light's eyes squint as if he's trying to figure me out.
"Yeah, I guess we needed it. I'm fine if things go back to normal now. I won't make it weird." I say and give a little laugh before I stand and quickly get my clothes on.
"Yeah... back to normal." Light parrots back, but there's an edge to his voice. I'm not sure if it's because he's relieved or pissed off. I don't want to get into it right now. I've got other responsibilities.
Quickly, we both get dressed, but as I reach for the door, he stops me. "I'll drive you home."
I open my mouth to object, but I can tell by the look on his face that he's not going to take no for an answer. "Thanks. I need to get a few things before I go see Tyler."
"You want me to come with you?"
"No, it's fine. I'll just be sitting around all day. You've got other things to do." I smile and shrug.
"Right... other things." Light shakes his head and looks away from me before opening the door so we can both walk out.
The energy between us is different now. I can only hope some time apart is all we need to get back on solid ground.
Light quickly rides us on his bike to the house and watches as I walk in the house.
I stand with my back against the door until I hear the bike drive away.
I let out a breath and nearly crumble to the floor.
I sure know how to fuck things up.
Unfortunately, I don't have time to think about my lapse in judgment. I need to get myself together so I can go check on Tyler. He's all that matters right now.
***
Tyler's condition has gotten worse.
I stayed all day at the hospital. The doctors came in to tell me the infection was resistant to the medication they'd given him and that they were going to try a different course. Nurses popped in and out to check his vitals. All the while, I sat in the corner and just watched him breathe.
Something so many take for granted.
It's all I ever wanted my son to be able to do.
Breathe.
By the time visiting hours are over, the staff is hustling me out again. Tyler isn't going to wake up any time soon. I might as well go home and rest up myself.
I feel like I'm walking in a fog.
Everything feels wrong. I've been here before with Tyler but it never gets any easier.
When I get to my house, I'm nearly sleep on my feet. All I want is to drop into the bed and go to sleep. I know it's not going to happen. The second my head touches the pillow my brain is going to wake up and tell me all the wrong I've done. It never fails.
Reaching into my bag, I pull out my keys and open the front door. All the lights are off.
Did I do that before I left?
I step inside and close the door behind me.
One step is all I need to realize that something is very wrong.
The air is too still, too quiet.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
I do not even have time to reach for my phone before a hand clamps over my mouth from behind.
I thrash, my heart jackhammering against my ribs, but I am forced around, and I find myself staring straight into a pair of cold, familiar eyes.
Deke.
I freeze, a scream trapped in my throat.
It has been so long since I have seen him in person that part of me thought maybe he would stay hidden behind his threats and hired muscle.
I was wrong.
"You gonna be quiet?" he hisses, his breath hot and sour against my face.
I nod because I don't have a choice.
Slowly, he pulls his hand away, but he stays close, crowding me into the corner of the entryway.
"You got someone digging into my business," he accuses, his voice a low, angry growl. "One of my men got his face smashed in and sent crawling back to me like a goddamn rat with a broken leg."
I shake my head, too scared to even voice words. I don't know who he can be talking about.
He sneers, getting even closer, and I can feel the barely contained rage rolling off of him in waves.
"Message was real clear. Leave you alone," Deke says, his eyes narrowing. "You want to tell me who sent it?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," I whisper, my voice shaking.
I don't even have time to brace myself before his hand snaps out and slaps me across the face, the sharp sting lighting up my skin.
The impact knocks me back into the wall, my head bouncing lightly against it.
"Wrong answer," he spits.
Before I can move, he punches the wall next to my head, hard enough to leave a deep dent in the plaster.
I flinch, pressing myself tighter against the corner, feeling as small and helpless as I ever have in my life.
"You think you're fucking smart," he snarls. "You think you can play games with me. I tried to make this easy for you, Melissa. I gave you time. I gave you warnings. But you won't listen."
He starts pacing the living room, grabbing things off tables and shelves and hurling them across the room.
A lamp shatters.
Books scatter across the floor.
A picture frame cracks and splinters.
"You got a week," he yells, kicking over a chair. "One week to sign over that paperwork. One week to give me what I want."
I stand frozen, my back pressed so tight into the corner that it feels like I might dissolve into it.
My mouth is dry.
My knees threaten to give out.
He storms back toward me, face red, veins popping out of his neck.
"You think this is bad?" he spits, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "This is nothing. Next time, you won't be standing when I leave."
He yanks open the door so hard it bounces off the wall behind it.
The cold air rushes in, but it does not clear the stench of fear he leaves behind.
Deke points a finger at me, his hand shaking with rage.
"One week," he says again, his voice deadly.
Then he slams the door behind him, the glass rattling in its frame.
I don't move for a long time.
I just stand there, staring at the wreckage of my home, trembling so hard my teeth chatter.
One week.
One week to figure out how to save myself and Tyler.
Or lose everything.
I stare at my house, the one I left earlier today in pristine shape only now to have it ransacked. I know I should call for help, hell even just clean up but for the life of me I can't get my feet to move. I'm in shock.
I replay the scenario over and over in my mind.
Of course my anxiety has me thinking of different ways I could've better protected myself.
I should've checked to see if there was anyone in the house before I walked in.
I should've sprang the extra cash for that gun I was looking at last week. I should've screamed.
Something would've been better than nothing.
Emotionally I feel like a failure but logically I know there is nothing more that I could've done.
With a sigh, I slide down the wall to my bottom and hug my arms around my legs. I'm so fucking screwed. I don't know what he's talking about. I don't know what paperwork I'm supposed to sign over to him. Don't know who could've hurt one of his men...
Like a lightening bolt to my spine, I know that last thought is false. There is only one person in my life that would even think about going after one of Deke's men.
The anger that washes over me is excessive, even I know it but part of me can't help but think if Light hadn't gone an mettled in my business maybe Deke wouldn't have shown up here and put a fucking time limit on me.
As the thoughts continue to rush through my mind, the telltale sound of a bike coming in the direction of the house cuts through the air.
The rumble of Light’s bike draws closer, and for once, instead of being a wave of relief, it curdles something ugly in my chest.
I don’t move from where I’m slumped against the wall until the engine cuts off. His heavy boots crunch against the gravel of the driveway. I wipe at my face quickly, trying to erase the evidence of what just happened, but the sting on my cheek betrays me.
A knock sounds. Sharp. Impatient.
I push myself to my feet, legs trembling under me, and move to the door. My hand finds the knob but hesitates.
No more pretending everything is fine.
I crack the door open just enough to see him. Light’s standing there, helmet under one arm, his hair tousled from the ride, a cocky half-smile already tugging at his mouth.
Until he really looks at me.
I don’t give him a chance to step inside. I wedge my body against the door, keeping it mostly closed between us.
“Before you come in,” I say, my voice low but steady, “has anything happened that I should know about?”
He frowns, caught off guard. “What? No. Why?”
I study him, waiting. He looks confused, annoyed even. Then his gaze sharpens, landing on the side of my face. I see the exact second he notices. The way his jaw goes tight, the way his hand flexes at his side.
“What the fuck happened to your face?” His voice is a rough growl now, danger thrumming under the surface.
I look away, but the door stays firm against him. I don't want to tell him. I don't want to deal with him right now. But Light’s patience was never something he had an abundance of.
He shoves a hand against the door, not to break in, but enough to force me to look at him. His blue eyes blaze.
“Tell me, Melissa,” he demands, his voice shaking with barely leashed anger. “Who the fuck touched you?”
A bitter laugh slips from my lips. “Who do you think?”
His face darkens, like a thundercloud ready to break open and drown everything around it.
“And you want to know why?” I continue, my voice brittle as glass. “Because of you.”
He reels back like I slapped him.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he snaps.
“You beat up one of Deke’s men. You didn’t even think to tell me.
Didn't think about what that would mean for me.” My voice cracks.
I hate it. “Because of you, he came here tonight. Broke into my house. Slapped me across the face. Destroyed half my living room. And now he’s given me a week to sign over some paperwork I don’t even fucking know about. ”
Light’s mouth works like he’s trying to find words, but there aren’t any good ones for this.
“Melissa—” he starts.
“No.” I cut him off. “You had no right. You don’t get to make decisions about my life without even telling me. You blindsided me.”
He steps forward, but I press the door harder between us. A physical barrier. Necessary.
“I was trying to protect you,” he says, voice rough.
“Well, congratulations, you did the opposite.”
He scrubs a hand over his face, and for the first time since I’ve known him, Light looks...lost.
“Let me stay. We’ll figure this out.”
I shake my head, swallowing down the lump in my throat.
“No. Not tonight. It’s better if you don’t stay.”
He stares at me, searching for a crack in my resolve. But I have nothing left to give. Not tonight.
Slowly, he steps back, the hurt flickering in his eyes before he buries it under his usual armor of anger and indifference.
“Fine,” he bites out. “But this isn’t over.”
I don’t answer. I close the door softly but firmly, leaning my forehead against it once it clicks shut.
Outside, I hear him stand there for a long minute. Then the bike roars to life again, and the sound of him leaving cuts through the silence like a knife.
I slide back down the door to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees, feeling more alone than I ever have.