Chapter 28
Ophelia. Now.
[Text: Aleena]
Cisco’s here. Need help.
I get the text and adrenaline rushes through my body like a storm.
Cisco. My sister’s deadbeat ex-husband. He’s the kids’ father, but only biologically.
He doesn’t ask about them. Doesn’t want to know them.
Doesn’t want anything to do with them, except to occasionally yell at my sister about how she’s keeping them from him.
He’s also the man who cornered me and put his hand up my skirt behind my sister’s back. But that’s not something I try to think about.
I leap into action. I grab my keys, throw open the coat closet, and grab my coat—
In the closet sits a baseball bat. The one I used to play with Squeaky and Kira. I grab the bat too. Just in case.
I exit my building, and the rain is pouring down. Great. It’s going to be impossible to get a cab. I move to the edge of the sidewalk and peer through the sheet of rain, but all the cabs have their “occupied” lights on. Fuck.
I hear sirens, but I barely register them until I hear my name: “Ruby!”
I look up. An ambulance has come to a stop at the edge of the corner. The back doors are open, Phantom hanging out. He motions me over. “Get in.”
My heart lifts. It’s better than Cinderella’s pumpkin.
I clamber up the back. Phantom grabs my wrist, hoisting me the rest of the way.
He closes the back doors, knocks twice on the divider, and the ambulance speeds into action again.
I jerk forward with the movement, my body brushing up against his.
We’re both wet—his dark uniform even darker—and he moves his hand to my arm to steady me.
“Sit,” he commands.
He guides me into a fold-down seat, and straps me in.
In a daze, I let him. I’m still clutching the bat like my life depends on it.
He’s noticed the weapon in my hand, but says nothing.
Once he finishes locking me in, he grips a handle and flattens his fingertips on the ceiling to lock himself in place.
“Do you know what Cisco’s doing there?” Phantom asks.
I shake my head. “You know as much as I do.”
“Has he done this before?”
“Once. Twice. He gets drunk and takes it out on her. She got a restraining order, but—”
“Takes it out on her?” he asks, prompting me to clarify.
I can’t. I swallow. My fists tightens around the bat, and I realize my hands are shaking. All of me is shaking. In that moment, I realize…
This isn’t just anger. It’s fear.
I’m afraid. I’m so fucking afraid of what I’m going to find when I get there, and I’m so glad that Phantom’s here.
He drops a hand to my shoulder. “Ophelia.”
I lift my gaze to his. I lose myself in the comforting, steely control in his eyes.
“You’re not alone,” he tells me. “I’m right here with you. It’s going to be okay.”
He says it, and I can breathe again. My breath comes in tight, choking gasps, but at least it’s coming now. His hand squeezes my shoulder and his touch is like an anchor, grounding me when I need it most.
The sirens cut, and I realize we’ve come to a stop. Phantom unlocks the back door and I yank off my seat belt, quickly climbing out.
We’re in Astoria. In front of Aleena’s place. The rain has turned into a manageable drizzle here, creating little fog clouds up under the beams of street lamps, and I can hear him.
“Open the fucking door, you bitch!”
Cisco is hollering. Banging his fists on the door. One of the neighbors shouts at him to shut up, but he just shouts back.
I see him, and my blood runs cold.
This is the only man in my life who managed to make me feel small and trapped and ashamed all at once. Well. He’s not getting away with that tonight.
Phantom moves like a shadow behind me. A secure, supportive presence. I push through the fence, grip the bat, and motion it to Cisco. “Hey, asshole!”
Cisco whips around. Under the lamplight hanging from Aleena’s door, I can see his eyes are bloodshot. He’s uneven on his feet. He looks at me, squints, and mutters a few swears to himself.
“The fuck is this?” he lifts his hand towards me.
“Get away from my sister or I swear, you’ll regret it.”
He barks a laugh. “And you brought your boyfriend to beat me up, huh?”
Phantom quietly steps beside me. “Oh, no,” he says. He laces his hands behind his back. “I’m just here to clean up the pieces after Ruby’s done with you.”
Cisco blinks at that. I take a step forward, bat lifted, and he gets the picture. He stumbles backwards, falls into a bush, and has to scramble his way back to his feet, brushing twigs and leaves off of his shoulders.
His face flushes. He’s humiliated now, and he gets in my face. “Always have to get in the middle of things, don’t you—”
He’s within swinging distance. I could hit him. I could crack him across his smug face. But before I can act, Phantom swiftly puts his body between us.
“Walk away,” he says. And that’s it—no threats. No weapon in hand. Just his low, steely command. There’s a quiet, dark energy around him, and Cisco seems to respond to it, finally backing away.
“You’re crazy!” he mutters. “You, your fucking sister…all of you!”
But he retreats now, stumbling down the pathway and out the gate. He walks backwards, keeping his eyes on Phantom and me in case we make a move towards him, and continues grumbling, mumbling to himself as he leaves.
The second he’s out of sight, I drop the bat. I rush to the door. “Aleena. He’s gone. It’s me.”
The door swings open. Aleena’s face is wet with tears, and she sobs with relief. “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry, I didn’t know who to call…”
I feel Phantom beside me. “Did he hurt you?” he asks. His eyes scan her, looking for signs of damage.
“No, thank god. He never made it inside.” She wipes her hand over her eyes, shaking.
“Are the kids here?”
“They’re in their rooms…”
“May I?” Phantom asks.
Aleena nods, and Phantom moves inside, going to check on the kids. I wrap my arms around Aleena and just hold her tight. “You’re safe,” I whisper to her. “I promise.”
I linger, comforting Aleena. Moments later, Phantom comes back downstairs. “Kids are okay,” he announces. “Squeaky slept through the whole thing.”
“Casper!” Through the open door, I see Phantom’s partner in the ambulance. She waves him over. “We’ve gotta go!”
His eyebrows knit. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a set of keys, and hands them over to me. “Call the cops,” he says. “File a report. Then go to the club. You can all stay there. I don’t want them here in case he decides to come back around tonight.”
I stare at the keys, dumbfounded. Phantom? Mixing his club world with his real world? Unheard of. “Are you sure?”
“Tell Princess when you’re on your way.” He’s on the move, but he takes an extra second to put his hand on Aleena’s shoulder. “You’re going to be okay,” he tells her.
Aleena’s eyes go wet again. “Thank you…”
Once last glance at me. “You have everything you need?” Always checking in on me…
I nod, resolute. “Yeah…we’ve got it from here.”
Phantom gives a curt dip of his head, and like that, he’s out. He leaves the house, jumps back into the ambulance, and they’re off.
“This is the library,” Princess says, giving the grand tour of the Harlem brownstone in her slippers and a pink pajama set. “We have books, games…help yourself. The kitchen is right ahead; make yourself at home. Food, drinks, whatever you need.”
“This place is really nice,” Aleena comments. She sounds like she’s in a daze, and she probably is—the panic from earlier has melted into a soft, cozy shock. But at least she’s calming down now. She’s carrying Squeaky, who sleeps soundly on her shoulder.
“There’s a bathroom to your left, and—don’t go up there!” Kira has one foot on the staircase, her little hand on the banister. Princess blushes when she realizes she raised her voice. “I mean…it’s…being renovated. Stay downstairs. Please. Safety.”
Slowly, Kira retracts her foot, returning back to the ground floor.
Princess clears her throat awkwardly. She unlocks a door, opening it. There’s a staircase leading down. “Phantom said you can stay in his room. He’ll take the upstairs bedroom when he gets home. It’s down this way.”
Princess motions inside, and my sister, the two kids, and I descend.
Phantom’s room. In all the time I’ve known him, it hits me that I’ve never actually been inside his bedroom.
There are two giant bedrooms on the third floor that people fuck in.
I guess I’d just assumed he’d slept in one of those, but now that I think about it—yeah.
I probably wouldn’t want to sleep where people had been rutting like animals before, either.
There’s a short stairwell which empties out into a plain room.
The space is smartly used—a large bed against the wall, a half-kitchen, and a private bathroom and shower.
There are slotted half windows that look out to the backyard and give the illusion of natural light, but the room is mostly a cave lit by table lamps.
He’s kept the room tidy, bed made with military precision—I’d expect nothing less from him.
It’s clear to me that this room was originally meant to be a guest room, or perhaps a space for short-term renters. It wasn’t meant to be occupied by the owner. It’s very on brand for Phantom to use up the least amount of space, even in his own house.
He hasn’t decorated, but the built-in bookshelf is stuffed with well-used paperbacks, so there’s hope for him yet.
“The sheets are clean,” Princess says, lingering at the bottom of the steps. “I put fresh towels in the bathroom and toiletries if you need them. I sleep in the attic, so if you need me…holler. Loudly.”
“Thank you, Princess.” I touch her arm. “Seriously.”
“Of course.” She waves and bids the kids goodnight as well.
My pocket buzzes with a text.
[Text: Dove]
Not stalking you buuuuut.
[Text: Dove]
Your location says you’re at the club??
[Text: Dove]
Are you with Phantom rn?
[Text: Ophelia]
yes and no.
[Text: Ophelia]
he’s doing me a favor.
[Text: Ophelia]
long story. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.
[Text: Dove]
kk. I took Spud out. Everything’s hunky-dory here. See you when I see you.
[Text: Ophelia]
Thanks babe. Love you.
[Text: Dove]
Love you more.
It’s good to know that my absence from the house was noticed. I’m sure she and Dorian will enjoy having the apartment to themselves tonight. Still—it’s good to know someone always has my back, and I appreciate my non-biological-sister for checking in.
Aleena and I then set about putting the kids to bed.
Squeaky complains when we wake him up and Kira is too hyper, excited by sleeping over in a new space.
Aleena and I divide and conquer. As I’m putting Kira’s PJs on, my eyes settle on two framed pictures on Phantom’s bookcase.
One is of his mother (aw, sweet), and the other…
is less sweet. It’s the picture of a woman with her arms behind her back, purple and blue rope crisscrossing in intricate patterns from her upper arms all the way down to her wrists.
She’s got her head tilted towards the camera in a coy half-smile, and…
Whoops! Not any woman! That’s me!
I deftly snatch up the picture and shove it awkwardly behind my back. When Kira goes to the bathroom to brush her teeth, I shove the photo in one of the drawers under the sink.
Aleena and I get the kids in bed. Once they’re both fast asleep, I go upstairs.
Phantom has a wine rack in the kitchen and I go through his reds.
I pick out the cheapest looking bottle. I feel like he’d be fine with this, and if not, well, I’ll buy it from him.
We’ve earned this. I pour Aleena and I two glasses and tiptoe back downstairs.
We sit side by side on the staircase where we can watch the soft rise and fall of the kids’ bodies, deep in sleep, a single lamp gently illuminating them.
The first sip of wine tastes like some kind of heavenly reward for a crazy-fuck night.
We speak in hushed tones. I find myself asking, “Why’d you text Alex?”
“Oh.” Casually as anything, Aleena says, “I text him sometimes.”
“You do?”
She waves it off. “Just…medical questions. When the kids get fevers. Rashes. Once, Squeaky shoved a marble up his nose and Alex paid a house visit.” She frowns. “Don’t look at me like that. Medical care is expensive, Reddit is unreliable, and he answered my questions for free.”
“No, I know…” She thinks I’m betrayed that she kept in touch with my ex, but I’m not. That’s not it. I’m touched, honestly. He goes out of his way for my family, even when I’m not looking. “I’m glad you reached out to him. Really.”
I knock my leg against hers. Aleena looks exhausted. “How are you doing?”
“I’m okay,” she says. Her gaze falls to the peacefully sleeping children, and I see a hint of a smile touch her lips. She seems to genuinely believe it when she says, “We’re going to be okay.”
Aleena only gets a couple sips in before she has to lie down. I go into the bathroom, closing the door behind me so I don’t wake anyone up, and rinse the two wine glasses off in the bathroom sink.
My phone vibrates.
[Text: Phantom]
Update?
[Text: Ophelia]
Safe and sound at Casa La Seekers Club. Everyone’s tucked in.
[Text: Ophelia]
Thank you. Again.
[Text: Phantom]
Your family is my family.
Warmth floods my chest at that text. I can’t help but smile. I bite my lip, thinking, then send back:
[Text: Ophelia]
I had to take down some of your decorations.
I go into the drawer, pull out the picture of my arms bound, and snap a photo of it. Then I message the photo to him.
Phantom types. Overthinks. Deletes.
Oh, this is fun.
[Text: Phantom]
I like to admire my handiwork.
[Text: Ophelia]
By “admire” do you mean “jerk off to”?
Phantom replies with a picture of his own. It’s clear this one is taken in real-time. It’s a selfie of him in his uniform, riding in the front seat of the ambulance. He’s scolding me with lifted eyebrows; a look that’s often followed by a firm strike on the ass.
I zoom in on the picture. The grey stubble climbing his jawline. That crescent moon birthmark. The faint crinkle of skin around his eyes. The stern expression that sends me, just a little bit, into subspace.
He might as well have sent a dick pic, the way his expression sends shivers rippling over my skin.
[Text: Ophelia]
How much longer on your shift?
[Text: Phantom]
Five hours give or take
Now it’s my turn to be indecisive. I type, I wish you were here, then think better of it, delete, and try again.
[Text: Ophelia]
Be safe
[Text: Phantom]
You too. Text me if you need anything.
I give him a thumbs up emoji, which doesn’t nearly express half the things I want to say to him.
Things like thank you for tonight and thank you for the quiet things you do when I’m not looking and how can do you manage to feel so ingrained in my life and infuriatingly out of reach at the same time?
Conversations for another day.
I put my phone on the charger and climb into the bed with my sister and the kids. Even with the clean sheets, Phantom’s scent clings to the pillows—this warm, masculine musk—and I bury myself in it, feeling safer than I have in a long time.