Chapter 3
Lani
It was a big day at work today. With a new development in the high school rape case, I’m a giant ball of nerves as I’m driving home. I am unable to locate Jackson, but I’ve found his brother, Devin. And aside from Jackson’s DNA sample, that’s as close as I’m going to get to a DNA match to Missy’s son, Cade. I know it won’t be an exact match, but there should be enough similarities to connect Jackson to Cade. I’m hoping it will be enough to convince a judge of a reason to bring Jackson in, wherever he may be. But first, I have to get that DNA sample from Devin Morgan.
As luck would have it, this weekend is my ten year high school reunion, and Devin married the queen bitch of my graduating class, Casey Miller. She made my already miserable high school years a living hell. I tried ignoring her, but she made it impossible. She made sure that I felt ugly, insignificant, and insecure whenever I was around her. I still haven’t figured out why she felt the need to do that since I was never a threat of competition to her. I’m not really looking forward to seeing her again, but I know I have to go. I want to move on—I need all of this behind me.
I’m both anxious and excited for what’s about to happen—in order to have closure, so many pieces will have to fall into place. As I open the door to my apartment, I find an envelope that someone must have slipped under the door. That’s weird. It’s addressed to Alani—I wonder who it could be from. Maybe this has something to do with the reunion since no one, other than Evan, calls me Alani anymore. I open up the envelope and read the letter inside.
My Dearest Alani,
I had my eye on you that night, the nice innocent virgin who disobeyed her parents. I remember what your tits felt like in my hand. I’m happy you came looking for me. I’ve been thinking about you .
I think your car is cute. I really like when you wear that short black skirt. I’ve been lucky enough to see your panties as you part your legs to get in.
I thought it would make me jealous watching another guy fuck you, but it doesn’t. He doesn’t fuck you the way I will.
Keep on searching for me. I’m closer than you think.
Love,
Your Jax
P.S. Tell Missy she is turning my son into a sissy. I’ll be around to collect him soon.
What the hell?! How does he know all this? He knows where I live? And that I was looking for him?? He knows about my car, what I wear, and has even watched me have sex! I feel the fear and panic start to rise inside of me. I look around my apartment, trying to figure out what I should do. I can’t take this to my parents—they already hate that I chose my line of work instead of taking over the family business. And my brother Nick wouldn’t know what to do either. At this moment, I realize for the first time that I’m in way over my head.
I don’t bother to grab anything before I run out of my apartment. I am back to my car in no time, but where am I going to go? I can’t drag Ari into this. I’d never be able to live with myself if something happened to her because of me. The only other person I can think of is Maddox. He’s the only one I can trust with this, and that’s why I left instructions for him to have access to my lock box at the bank in case something happened to me. I already know I’m dead—Jackson knows where I live and what I’ve been up to.
I pull up to Maddox’s apartment building, but I’m afraid to get out of my car. I know Jackson had to have been following and watching me closely to know intimate details about me. What if he followed me here? I look around trying to find anything or anyone suspicious. One of the disadvantages to being short is that you can’t see shit. Knowing I’m a dumbass for just sitting here, I swing open the car door and make a mad dash into Maddox’s building. When I get to his front door, I start banging on it. God, what if he’s not here? What would I do? Where could I go? I can feel my terror starting to rise and I look over my shoulder to make sure no one has come up behind me. It takes no time for Maddox to open the door. He must have seen me through the peephole because the next thing I know, I’m being yanked inside.
Evan
Today is the first Bears football game of the season and I’m supposed to be watching it with Maddox at his place. I haven’t hung out with him much lately since I’ve been busy working on Kerrigan’s case and banging different women whenever I don’t wind up staying late at work. But no matter how many women I stick my cock in, how many times I fuck them, what position I take them in, or which hole I cum in, I can’t get over Alani. Something has to give, but I’m not going to play childish games and I refuse to beg her for anything. I’ve decided to give her what she’s asked for and leave her alone—I plan to ignore her from here on out.
I knock on the door, and Maddox flings it open and rushes away inside. He looks back over his shoulder at me and asks, “Did you see anything suspicious outside?”
“No. Why?” I ask, instantly alert. I take a quick glance out into the hallway before I shut the door and follow Maddox. I find him opening the bathroom door and a woman comes rushing out into his arms. It’s Alani. And she’s in tears.
Maddox rubs his hands up and down her back, trying to soothe her. I’ve told him before not to touch her. I’ve never wanted to hit Maddox up until this very moment. The only things restraining me from the strong urge to pummel my own brother are her tears and the fear in her eyes. My girl is scared. Why? And why did she run to Maddox?
“What’s going on?” I demand.
“I don’t know. She just got here before you did,” answers Maddox, leading us to the living room. “She said she’s in trouble.”
Alani has to take a couple of deep breaths before she is able to tell us what’s going on. As I’m listening to her, I’m becoming more and more aware that Maddox still has his fucking hands on her. I’m trying hard not to focus on that, but it has me on the edge. I breathe and concentrate on Alani instead. I hate seeing her like this. I’ve never seen her so vulnerable, and I’m compelled to take her from Maddox. I mentally sigh—so much for ignoring her. I walk over and wrap my arms around her, silently lending her my strength. Almost instantly, I feel a lot of the tension in her body release. I wonder if she realizes that she was only to able calm herself once she was in my arms.
She mentions that her current troubles are related to the incident she was involved in with Kerrigan and Missy in high school. As Kerrigan’s attorney, Kerrigan had to tell me about the night she was nearly raped at a party. Alani and Missy were at the same party, and Missy wound up getting raped. When Alani names Jackson Morgan, the governor’s son, and the two other men as their attackers, I silently add three more people to my list of people who need to die. Out loud, I ask her, “Why do you think he wants to kill you?”
“I got this today. It was slipped under my door,” she answers, pulling out a piece of paper. “He was at my home. What am I going to do? He knows where I live!” She starts to tremble again, so I take the note from her and pull her in tighter.
“Alani, I promise you, I’ll kill him before he gets near you again.” It’s a fact—if anyone comes after her, I will end them.
I read the note, and it drives me over the edge. I’m usually good at masking my emotions, and that’s what makes me so good at my job. But that’s not the case when it involves Alani. I take out my aggression on Maddox’s TV remote and whip it against the wall. THESE BASTARDS ARE DEAD.
Maddox glares at me and then glances at the shattered remote before snatching the note from me. I feel a little guilty for destroying his shit, but I’ll just buy him a new one—maybe even get him a new TV. Maddox reads the note, then tells Alani that he’ll look into it. He offers to let her crash at his place since it’s not safe for her to go home. Did I just hear my brother right? There’s NO fucking way she’s staying here with him. Over his dead body, because I will kill him .
“Fuck that. She is coming home with me,” I snap at Maddox before I have time to think things through. Why did I just say that? The only woman I’d ever lived with was my mom and that didn’t turn out so well. Plus, I love living alone and having my space. But then again, I’ve wanted Alani since the day I laid eyes on her.
“No, I’m not, Evan. I’ll stay here,” Lani responds.
“I live on the top floor of the most secure apartment building in Chicago,” I point out. I’m not backing down from this—she’s coming home with me. I do realize this means no more walking around naked...well, maybe.
“Lani, he’s right,” Maddox agrees.
When Alani still refuses to stay at my place, I aggressively press her for an explanation. She replies that she’s afraid of me, and of course, I need to know why. Her eyes meet mine before she replies, “The way you talk to me. The way you look at me. You’ve kissed me when I didn’t ask for it.”
“Alani, I won’t hurt you, ever,” I assure her, stroking her cheek gently with my thumb.
“I can’t stay with you, Evan. I’m sorry,” she states harshly, knocking my hand away and turning away from me.
“Oh yes, you are. If I have to kidnap you to make sure you’re safe, that’s what I’ll do,” I declare adamantly to her.
She whips around and says, “See, that’s what I mean. You want to control me. You want me to submit and be some sort of toy for you. I’m not who or what you think I am.”
I’m getting pissed that not only does she think so little of me, saying I’d just toy with her or hurt her in any way, but she’s refusing to let me protect her. I lash out at her and demand the real reason behind her refusal to stay with me.
“Because my feelings for you scare me,” she says so softly I nearly missed it.
I’m so stunned by her words that I jerk backwards. Hearing Lani say that gives me hope. I was right...she was feeling me. Still shocked by her revelation, I say, “What?! You’ve been nothing but a royal bitch to me. ”
“Because I wanted you to hate me, to leave me alone. Why couldn’t you just hate me?” she asks despairingly.
I decide to lay it out for her and finally admit to myself that Alani owns me. I love her and I’d do anything to protect her, so I say, “Because apparently, the universe decided you were mine.”
“Evan, if I stay with you, it’s not for the reasons you want,” she says sorrowfully.
“I want to keep you safe,” I tell her, and it’s the truth. Right now, all I want is for her to be safe. I haven’t lived with anyone in my entire adult life, so I know this will make or break us. I’m not going to push a relationship with her right now because it’s not what she needs. Besides, I don’t need that distraction with what I’m planning to do.
First thing tomorrow morning, I’m starting my research on the bastards who hurt her.