Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
PIPER
Afog of darkness clouds my mind for the next two days.
The time passes by, and I barely leave my seat at the window.
I’m here again now.
It’s midday. Levi is downstairs on a business call. He’s been working from home and staying around me practically twenty-four/seven.
He even summoned his lawyers, who managed to get an emergency restraining order. It’s supposed to make me feel safer, but I don’t think that will stop Reece. If anything, it’ll probably encourage him even more.
Levi’s done so much for me already, and I hate feeling like I’m draining his time.
Lord knows I’ve tried to feel better, even to pretend I’m fine so he’d at least go back to work. But I just don’t have the energy to do more than sit here in terror.
When I woke up earlier, I came straight to the window and have been here since.
It’s the sea. Watching the waves rolling against the shoreline somehow gives me some sort of anchor.
When I’m not here, I feel like I’m stuck in a labyrinth, circling different paths only to end up at the same place, stuck in my fear.
Only therapy and strong meds can take the edge off when you go through the type of fucked-up shit Reece put me through.
When I was rescued and went back to Aunt Bess, I was a broken, beaten mess.
I couldn’t even talk, and I could barely sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, my mind took me straight back to that cabin in the woods.
The nightmares lasted for a good eight months. When they stopped, there was a time when I didn’t dream at all. That was better.
Better to see nothing than the face of a monster who terrified me.
It was hard to tell Levi what happened, to recount those details. What I told him was awful but not even the half of it.
I never explained the horrible parts before when Reece started losing his mind.
All those times he hit me then either apologized because he was stressed out or blamed me for provoking him.
I never explained that when you’re in that situation, it’s hard to figure out who’s at fault, even when you know things can only get worse.
Then, when I told Levi about the kidnapping, I never captured the raw fear I felt from being driven away in the back of a pickup, bound and gagged.
There are no words that can fully explain how you feel when you think someone’s going to kill you. There are even less words to describe how you feel when you believe it.
Even now, there are some days when I wake up and wonder how I’m still alive.
The shitty thing is, I never saw this coming.
My healing was based on the fact that Reece was behind bars and would stay there for twenty-five years.
Not three.
And when last I checked, he wasn’t supposed to get any chance of parole or any sort of reduced sentence—except when he was given the choice of twenty-five years or life.
The twenty-five years wasn’t fucking long enough, but I thought I’d have time.
Time to heal, time to truly move on, time to forget.
When Dorian explained what happened—how Reece got out—my world crumbled.
It felt like the sort of thing you hear in one of those crime movies where top criminals get out of prison early because of who they know.
Reece was just crazy and hyped up on drugs. He wasn’t important like that, but the man had the manipulation skills of a serial killer. It’s not that surprising he made the right friends in a maximum-security prison. I’d bet an accountant was mighty useful in a place like that.
Now he’s here.
Somewhere in New York, Reece is out there waiting for me.
The asshole must have looked for me in San Francisco first. Then he would have gone to New York because he knows Alexis lives here.
If he’s been here for a month, it was definitely him I felt watching me all those weeks ago. My guess is he also knew where I lived when I was at that horrible apartment block.
It wasn’t him who trashed my apartment and took my panties. That’s not his style.
The rose and the note and the creepy Hannibal Lecter vibes are more him.
I think that incident threw a wrench in his plans, though. It meant he couldn’t stalk me as much. Because I went to live with Levi.
He clearly knows about us, too.
I’ve been asking myself why now?
But the answer is simple. He struck because it was the right opportunity.
And knowing him, all these weeks of waiting have probably left him unhinged and impatient.
He wanted to get my attention and fuck with my mind.
Soon.
The word circles my mind like a swarm of vultures.
Bastard.
I wish I’d never met him.
I wish I could have had the good sense to run away from the moment he looked at me.
If I had, I wouldn’t be in this mess now.
And sadly… I know I wouldn’t have met Levi.
Meeting Levi is the only thing that eases the pain, but that’s just it. The pain is still there.
A little knock sounds on the bedroom door.
I don’t have the strength to speak.
It opens. From the light footsteps, I can tell it’s Marie. She’s been checking on me all morning.
Earlier, she brought coffee and cake. She stops by the little table, and her face falls when she sees I haven’t eaten or drunk anything. In her hands is more coffee and cake.
The last two days have been the same: she brought food to me, hot and delicious, and took it back cold and untouched.
She sets the new tray down next to the old one and looks me over.
“Piper, you have to eat something.”
I simply nod and offer a kind smile. “I will.”
“Just try and nibble on some of the bread or pastries.”
I nod again to humor her.
Levi appears at the door and walks in. Marie straightens and regards him with concern.
“Please, try to get her to eat something,” Marie says, glancing toward me. “I’m getting worried.”
“Thanks, Marie, I’ll do my best.”
Marie nods, picks up the old tray of food, and takes her leave.
Levi drags up a chair and sits before me. “Do you want to go out to eat?” He searches my eyes.
“No,” I rasp, my voice hoarse.
“I could take you out on the boat and we could get away for the day.”
I shake my head.
He stares at me a moment and bites the inside of his lip. “I spoke to Aunt Bess earlier. She’s worried about you. She wants to come see you sooner.”
I press a trembling hand to my head. “No. It’s too much. I… can’t.”
Aunt Bess is my rock, but I can’t see my family right now. It’s bad enough to have Alexis around looking at me like the world keeps ending. But thankfully, when she stops by, she doesn’t stay for too long.
Aunt Bess, on the other hand, would be staying here. And it wouldn’t be just her.
I spoke to her yesterday, and she was beside herself with worry. The last time she sounded like that was when I’d been rescued. It was understandable. I was missing for three weeks. People had given me up for dead.
Yesterday, she got so worked up Rob had to take the phone. And even speaking to him was too much for me. He’s like a father to me, and he’s always treated me no different from his own kids. The conversation was difficult for all of us, and nothing I said reassured them.
I can’t comfort my family when I can’t even stabilize my own mind.
“It’s okay. I’ll speak to her.”
“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to deal with this.” I blow out a ragged breath.
He reaches forward and takes my hands. “What do you mean?”
“Me, Levi. We barely know each other. Barely been together for a month and this is happening. It’s reason enough to boot me out of your house and head for the hills.”
“No. I’m not some asshole who would do that to you.”
“I know, and that might be the problem. I—”
“I told you I love you. There. That’s reason enough. It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been together, I’m here and this is my problem, too. When you’re hurt, I’m hurt. When you’re not happy, it’s my job to fix that.”
I stare back at him, stunned. Sometimes I wonder if he’s going to look at me too closely and see I’m not worth it—all this hassle.
I keep waiting, even before all this, for him to snap out of his fascination with me and see I’m not a butterfly.
I’m just a plain old moth with tattered wings. But he keeps seeing the butterfly.
“I… I love you, too,” I whisper, loving him even more than I ever thought I could.
He touches my cheeks. “Hearing those words is worth more than everything I own. So, please, just allow me to love you back and take care of you.”
A tear runs down my cheek, and I nod.
“How about we just… sit together and I hold you?”
I sniffle. “I’d really like that.”
He sits on the window seat and pulls me into his arms. I curl into him and actually fall asleep.
* * *
The next two nights, I battle nightmares, the same old ones that used to haunt me every night.
But Friday morning comes, and when I get up and see my notebooks on the floor across the room, something changes in me.
It’s not strength. I don’t have that yet.
I feel… angry.
I can’t believe I own a beautiful office building, I’m about to start my own business, and I’ve confined myself to this room.
I have now a week and a few days before we head to England.
I really wanted to see my personal office being worked on and set up, even if it was something small.
But no. I’ve been here. As if Reece hasn’t taken enough from me.
I’ve always been such a high achiever, smart beyond my years. Fuck, I completed my MBA when things were at their worst with Reece. I took my last exam with a shiner I claimed I got from falling down the stairs.
How can I let him do this to me now when I made it this far?
That… that thought gives me strength, and I go to the bathroom and shower, then I get dressed and ready to head out.
Levi’s already up. I can hear him shuffling around downstairs.
When I get down there and he sees I’m dressed, he smiles with relief.
“Where are we going, Butterfly?” he asks. It’s like he knows.
“To Bloom and Brand.” That’s the first time I’ve called my business by name like that.
Levi nods. “Alright, let’s go. Can I take you to breakfast on the way?”
“Yes.” I give him a weak smile. “That sounds great.”
He extends his hand to me, and I take it.
We head out and drive to this little café we went to a few weeks ago. We spend some time there eating and talking, and although I’m cautious of being outside, I feel safe with Levi.
When we get to my building, it’s a different story. I experience that paranoia and icky feeling of having someone invade your space.
But I remember the pep talk I gave myself and shake off the ick.
It helps. I go back the next day and the day after with the same mindset. Levi accompanies me.
The contractors don’t work on weekends, so Levi enlisted Locke and Dorian’s help on Sunday afternoon when I wanted to get the shelves and file cabinets into my office.
The contractors had finished painting and fitting the new windows, so I thought it would be a nice touch, as I’m only here for the rest of this week.
Aunt Bess and the family are coming Wednesday. It would be good for them to see something close to what my office will look like when it’s fully functional.
Levi and his brothers get down to business and work.
Being around them lightens the mood because they’re always joking around. Levi and Locke gang up on Dorian, then he starts complaining that Knox got off easy because he’s in England.
“Can I make you guys some sweet tea?” I offer when the shelves are all done and they sit for a break.
“I’ll never say no to tea,” Locke mutters tiredly.
“Babe, how about I get it?” Levi offers, standing.
“No, you’ve been busy all day. It’s the least I can do for you.” I smile.
“What about me? Do I get tea, too?” a rough voice cuts through the room. A voice I wished to never hear again.
Every muscle in my body locks instantly.
No.
No, no, no.
I turn slowly toward the front doorway, and the second I see him, all the air leaves my lungs and my heart stops.
Reece.
Oh my God.
He’s really here.
He stands casually in the open doorway looking the same way he did three years ago.
Short dark hair, bright green eyes, and the same bad attitude.
Dressed in a pair of jeans and a black long-sleeved T-shirt, he looks so normal. Like he didn’t destroy my entire life.
His eyes lock onto mine instantly.
And he smiles.
That smile.
The one that used to make my stomach knot even before everything happened.
My body goes ice cold.
I can’t move.
Can’t breathe.
Can’t think.
The guys go still, too. No one is moving.
“Restraining orders,” Reece muses mockingly as he steps farther inside. “Security guards. Lawyers.” He lets out a mocking laugh. “That’s a lot of work for little old me.”
Levi steps forward, dangerously slowly. But Reece barely even looks at him.
His attention stays fixed entirely on me.
“You really think any of that’s gonna stop me from getting to you?” His voice softens in that terrifyingly familiar way. “You know better than that, Piper Andrews. Should have known I wouldn’t let you move on. You can whore yourself out to whomever you like, but you’re still mine.”
Levi moves before anyone can stop him.
One second, he’s beside me. The next, he’s charging across the room like a missile.
His fist slams into Reece’s face with a sickening crack that echoes through the entire room.
Reece hits the floor hard.
And Levi doesn’t stop.
He’s on him quicker than a heart can beat.
Punch after punch lands in his face filled with raw rage.
“You sick fucking bastard!” Levi roars as blood splatters across Reece’s mouth.
Reece laughs.
Actually laughs. The sound makes me sick.
“Levi!” Dorian shouts, rushing toward the fight. “Don’t fucking do this!”
“Levi, stop!” Locke gets there first, but Levi shoves him off, then sends another round of punches into Reece’s jaw.
“Don’t you ever come near her!” Levi snarls in Reece’s face.
Eventually, both Dorian and Locke manage to drag him back.
“Enough!” Dorian barks.
Levi tries to fight against them, breathing hard enough to sound almost feral.
And through all of it…
Reece starts laughing again.
Blood drips from his split lip as he pushes himself upright.
Then he looks straight at me.
Not Levi.
Me.
“I’m coming back for you, baby girl,” he says calmly.
Terror floods my body so hard it hurts.
“Don’t worry.” His smile turns chilling. “You’ll be mine again soon enough.”
“No,” Levi growls.
But Reece is already backing toward the door.
Dorian reaches for his phone instantly.
“Call the police,” someone says. I don’t know who.
The front door slams shut.
And all I can do is stand there shaking while one horrifying thought repeats over and over inside my head.
I’m never going to escape him.