Chapter 3
Faith
Oh my God. I can’t deal with this right now. Not only did I walk into a room where the man I married when I was eighteen sat waiting for me to give him a lap dance, I ran out of the room freaked beyond belief. Hurt by seeing him again. Confused as to why he’s here.
Did he know it was me?
No, he couldn’t have. I don’t look the same when I’m wearing the wig and in full-on makeup. I do that so no one knows me.
Then Lawson came to talk to me. Urged me to go on home, which I didn’t have a problem doing. Not one bit. He escorted me to my car himself, where he and I stood talking. Well me more along the lines of crying my eyes out because he knew about Alex. Knew what happened four years ago.
Besides Lyrica he’s my best friend and I didn’t keep anything from him.
As we stood there, him speaking soothing words to me, I’d whipped the wig right off my head. I needed to feel like me. To not being in character. Not right then when the pain in my chest was at a high while I clutched the rings I’d slipped back on when I’d gotten dressed.
I didn’t even realize Alex was in the parking lot until I heard voices behind us. I turned to see who it was, and my panic took over even more as I rushed to get in my car and shot out of the parking lot without a backwards glance.
I couldn’t do this. Not now. Not when I needed to be able to take care of my son. A son I had with Alex. One he didn’t even know existed. Am I wrong for not telling him? I know I am. He has the right to know his son, same as Alec has the right to know his daddy.
The thought of writing him and letting him know crossed my mind more than once.
I didn’t dare think of calling him out of fear of hearing his voice and crumbling or breaking down begging him.
I refuse to be that low. He tossed me away, didn’t want me anymore.
Not when I loved him more than anything.
I still do. More than anything besides our son.
I can’t help it. Alex was the first and only man to ever touch me.
Shaking my head, I wipe the tears from my eyes while I drive home.
I knew Lyrica would be asleep in her room as Alec would be in his when I got there.
The two of them would be oblivious to the world; although Lyrica sleeps with her phone right next to her with it on loud so she would hear it when I text to let her know I was on the way home.
That’s the only time in her unconscious state she was aware of anything.
I can’t do this. Seeing Alex again was like ripping the delicate band-aid from the wound which was barely covered.
Pulling into the driveway, I put the car in park and turn off the engine as I stare up at the darkened home. While I stared, I did what I’ve done so many times before. Think about the what ifs.
Stop it.
Nothing can come from those thoughts.
My phone ringing nearly causes me to jump out of my skin. Swiping at the tears furiously, I reach into my bag and find the damn thing.
I nearly throw it across the car when I see it show, Unknown Number.
Who the hell is this person?
Why do they keep calling me?
Sighing I hit the ignore button and wonder if maybe I should call Lawson. Tell him about the calls. No, I don’t need to worry him. He’s got more shit to deal with, besides what’s going on with me.
Shaking those thoughts from my head, I grab my keys from the ignition and climb out from behind the wheel. I barely get the door closed when I’m slammed front first against the side of my car.
“You can’t answer the fuckin’ phone,” a man snarls harshly in my ear, his body pressed against mine.
Fear takes hold because I don’t know who this is or what they want. What I do know is he’s standing outside my house. A house that my son lives in.
“Think you’re too good to take my calls. Let me hear your voice. You’re nothing bitch but a body to look at with a sweet voice. Can’t give me what I want, I’ll take it.” Ugh, what is this guy rambling on about?
“Let me go,” I whisper, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.
“I don’t think so. We’re going to go inside where you’ll give me what I want.
If not, I’ll sink my blade into that little boy of yours.
Then take you and that bitch friend of yours.
” Oh no. Please God don’t let this be happening.
I need to get away from this lunatic and protect my son from him. Lyrica as well.
Alex is in town; I could find him. He would protect his son. No matter what. I just have to get to Alec first and away from this guy.
“Please, I’ll do what you want just don’t hurt my baby,” I plead.
“Good, then get inside,” he commands, gruffly, his body pulls away from mine as he grips my arm, yanking me away from the car.
My keys clenched in my hand; I keep them that way. Even when the guy opens my house, as if he lived there, with his own key.
Oh. My. God.
This lunatic has a key to my house.
Keep it together Faith. Just a bit longer until you can get Alec out of here safely.
The man pushes me inside and I search the living room for something, anything I can use to hurt him with when he drags me through as he heads for my room.
He knows which room is mine.
God this is freaky, and I can’t comprehend it right now.
As he pushes me into my room, I spot the angel with wings sitting on my dresser. If I move fast enough, I could waylay him with it and hopefully knock him out. It’s worth a shot, right?
The lunatic releases me once the door is closed and I turn to face him for the first time as I back away toward my dresser.
I take him in and realize I know him. He was a regular at the club.
Never took the other girls up on a lap dance.
They’d said he just sat there and watched the stage.
I don’t get why he never did go for one.
The girls always talked about how good looking he was.
They constantly whined about not getting to touch him.
Dark blond hair, slicked back, green eyes and body covered by a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow.
Slacks covered his lower half. His body wasn’t built but you could tell he was muscular.
I shoot a silent prayer to whoever could be listening as I reach behind me and place my keys on the dresser and wrap my hands around the statue
“You have teased me for too fuckin’ long, Faith. I’m tired of watching you on that fuckin’ stage and not getting to touch you. For you to finally be mine,” he says as he stalks toward me.
I suck in a deep breath as he comes closer to me.
“Please don’t do this,” I murmur quietly.
“Why because you think you’re too good for me?” he sneers, the side of his lip curling in disgust as he comes within reaching distance of me.
Before he can touch me, I whip the statue around bringing it against his head causing him to stagger back.
“What the fuck?” he snarls.
I scream out as I attack him with the damn thing again, only he catches my wrist stopping me from making contact.
“Foolish, Faith. Fuckin’ dumb to hit me. Told you what I’d do . . .” I don’t give him a chance to finish that statement. Instead I bring my knee up to his groin with enough force to cause him to release me as he groaned in pain while bending slightly.
With the statue still in my hand, I bring it down on the back of his head, sending him to the floor from the impact.
Stepping back, I let out a shaky breath as I make sure he’s out while grabbing my keys.
“Faith?” Lyrica calls from the other side of the door.
Making my way to the door, I throw it open, step through it quickly and pull it shut. “Grab a chair from the kitchen,” I tell her franticly. Putting my keys in my pocket, I try to keep it together.
Nodding Lyrica does as I ask. Coming back with one she asks. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute. Go pack a bag. I’m going to get Alec,” I state as I shove the chair in place under the doorknob, hoping that this works so we can get out of here.
I rush to his room, grab his bookbag I use for when we go off, and pack some basics for him.
A couple pairs of clothes, his blanket, the picture of his daddy, and his teddy bear.
Zipping his bag, I lean over and pick his sleeping form up from his bed at the same time the banging starts from my room.
“Bitch, I’m going to kill you,” the lunatic yells.
Oh God. We have to get out of here. Now.
Running out of Alec’s room, I meet Lyrica with wide eyes and rush out of the house.
I don’t stop until I get to the car and put Alec in the back seat, not bothering to buckle him in.
Closing his door, I dart to the other side and climb in behind the wheel.
Lyrica does the same but reaches behind her to secure my son in his seat as I lock the doors and pull the keys from my pocket.
I put the key in the ignition and start my car instantly and throw her into reverse at the same time the lunatic rushes from the door running in our direction.
“Faith,” Lyrica murmurs as she turns back around in her seat to see the guy running in our direction.
“It’s okay. We’ll be okay,” I mutter quietly, as I put the car in drive when I can. Punching the gas, I head toward the other side of town, in hopes to find Alex.