Chapter 25
Rain pelted my windows as I sat in my car, debating on whether or not to knock on Jody’s door, but I was here so I might as well get it over with.
I reached for the door handle but snapped my hand back when two people emerged from her house.
The sight of Rick speared through me, and I gripped the steering wheel as the fight or flight instinct kicked in.
He grabbed her in a way that was too familiar; hands gripping her hair so she couldn’t move while he kissed her, his body trapping her between him and her front door.
A passerby would see two people locked in a passionate embrace, but I saw it for what it was.
Possession—the same kind Gage had wielded over me.
He and Rick were made of the same cloth.
They finally broke apart, and the heat boiling in my stomach wasn’t born of jealousy.
I pitied the poor woman who fell for Rick’s charm, for his crooked, boyish smile that was bright enough to disguise the viciousness lurking within him.
No, it was hatred that set my blood afire; hatred for the man who’d taken my innocence and trust and had used them to shatter me.
Flesh wounds heal—even the evidence of the beating Gage had issued would disappear—but the damage inflicted on the soul would last a lifetime.
Never taking my eyes off them, I dialed Ian’s number.
“Hi…” I said once he’d answered. “It’s me.”
His sigh came over the line. “I was so worried. Why’d you ignore my calls?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.” Only I did. My confrontation with Gage still lingered, as did the questions he’d asked that I had no answers to.
Rick finally broke away from Jody, and I sank down in my seat as he crossed the street to where a shiny BMW was parked.
If that wasn’t evidence of Gage Channing’s money, I wasn’t sure what was.
“Are you okay?” Ian asked.
I hesitated, searching for an answer that wasn’t total BS. “Okay” was difficult to define. “Yeah…I’m at Jody’s. Gage said she’s also responsible for the embezzlement.”
“Jesus, Kayla. You can’t trust anything he says.”
“I know, but Rick just left her house, so something is definitely up. I’m gonna talk to her.” I waited until the BMW disappeared around the corner before opening my door.
“I called the PI. He didn’t find anything else.” His frustration was obvious.
“Thanks for trying. I’ll call you after I talk to her.” I ended the call as I darted across the street, keeping my head ducked low against the rain. And then I found myself facing her much too soon. I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
“Kayla? What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you.”
She stepped back and opened the door wide. “Come in.”
“Thanks.” I stepped inside, and I didn’t miss the worried glance she sent down the street as she closed the door.
I’d met her shortly after my wedding, and at one time we’d been close.
Now there was a huge divide between us, only I hadn’t realized how far apart we’d drifted until now.
I hadn’t realized the divide was Rick himself.
There was no point in beating around the bush. “I saw you with Rick.”
She swallowed hard, and her attention landed on anything other than me; the plush burgundy runner on the floor, the large poinsettia plant on the hutch in the foyer, even her own reflection in the oversized mirror. “I don’t know what to say…”
“Why don’t you start with the truth? Why is Rick blackmailing Gage?”
Her gaze jerked to mine. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. I know about the embezzlement. Gage told me you were involved.” I still wasn’t sure if I believed him, but I had nothing else to go on.
She crossed her arms. “Gage Channing is crazy. You can’t trust anything he tells you.”
“How about his financial records? Should I trust those? The evidence doesn’t lie, Jody.
Money went into Rick’s account, and it coincides with Gage’s statements.
” I wondered how long her affair with Rick had been going on.
Had she been sleeping with him while he’d been married to me?
“Since I just saw Rick leave here, I’m going to assume Gage was telling the truth. ”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Look, I know this must be a shock to find out about Rick and me this way, but—”
“It’s more than a shock—it’s crazy! Jody, do you have any idea what he’s capable of?”
She pursed her lips. “It’s been three years. I thought you’d be over him by now.”
I was sure my eyes bulged. “You think I’m still hung up on the man who beat the shit out of me?” I took a step toward her. “How long has this been going on? Has he hit you yet?”
Jody shuffled back and wrapped her arms around herself. “He’s changed. He never meant to hurt you.”
I arched my brows. “Really?”
“He told me what happened. You don’t have to be ashamed—a lot of women suffer from postpartum depression and do things they regret.”
I stared at her, incredulous. “This should be good. Please, enlighten me—what bullshit did he feed you?”
“It’s in the past.” She shook her head. “I know you’d never try to hurt yourself or your daughter under normal circumstances, and obviously you got the help you needed—”
“Obviously,” I snapped, folding my arms. “I can’t believe you’re buying into his lies.”
“He wouldn’t lie to me. He loves me.”
I almost snorted. “Rick doesn’t love anyone.”
“He loves me, and he loves Eve. You can’t keep him from her forever. He already lost a year and half in prison.”
I blinked, struggling to form a reply to such a crazy statement.
“He should have been locked away a lot longer for what he did to me.” His expensive attorney had gotten him a lenient plea bargain, otherwise he’d still be in jail, and I’d still be safe from the threat of him.
“How long has it been going on?” I asked.
She studied the purple nail polish on her toes. “Since before you guys split. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you, Kayla.”
“You’re going to be the sorry one. Rick is rotten underneath his appeal.” I headed toward the door and opened it. “Tell him if he comes anywhere near Eve, I’ll have him thrown in jail again.”
Her expression iced over. “It’s not fair to keep him from her. He just wants to be part of her life—we both do.”
“Over my dead body.” I slammed the door behind me, and Ian called before I reached my car. He started talking the instant I answered.
“I’m going on my lunch break now. Can I come over? I need to see you.”
“I need time, Ian.” I slid in behind the wheel and slumped in my seat. Letting him past my defenses that morning had been a mistake.
“Why do you keep shutting me out?”
“I don’t want to shut you out, but…”
“But what?”
I’m ashamed.
“I’ve got some stuff to sort out. I’m sorry.” I hung up, shut off my phone, and headed to the hospital to spend the rest of my day with Eve. And I prayed to God Ian would stick to the wing he worked in.