Scarred (6 page)

“You’re nuts. I’m not model material.”

“Don’t start with your leg. I’ve seen some ugly-ass women and you’re fucking stunning.”

“Yes, but like you said, I’m five-foot-nothing.”

“Well, you’ve got that but still, don’t fall for his excuse to shoot pictures of you, okay?” I warned her and that was apparently her tipping point.

“You know; you’re starting to piss me off. I’m not stupid. I didn’t fall into your lap because you smooth-talked me. In fact, you’re far from smooth. I wanted you. Before that, I stayed perfectly pure. I’m not a gullible broad. This isn’t the first time a man has talked to me or tried to sleep with me.”

“Damn it, Elena. I don’t think you're gullible.”

“No? I seem to see it differently. How about when you told me you could get me an account manager? That I need to spend wisely. I let it go the first time because I was still so in awe that you were even talking to me. You constantly remind me to eat. Then you were against me going back to my condo like I’m not safe without you. Either that or you don’t trust me. Whichever way, I need some time alone.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just don’t trust others with you. I don’t want a man looking at you, let alone talking to you. I want to beat my chest and hold you close so everyone knows you’re mine.” We walked to her apartment to get some of her things, or at least, so I thought. We weren’t going back home together.

“I just want you safe. Don’t you understand that?”

We got onto the elevator with the dog. I hit the stop button and pinned her to the wall. “Look how easy it was for me to get you where I needed. Try fighting me off.” She struggled but couldn’t break free.

“You’re hurting me, Dexter.”

Releasing her hands, I apologized. “I’m sorry.” I didn’t mean to grasp her so tightly. I just wanted to show her why I worried, well, besides my jealousy. “But this is what I’m talking about. You couldn’t get away from me.”

“That’s because you’re a beast man. Most men aren’t built like you.”

“Yes, but there are plenty of men who are much stronger than you. You’re smart. You know that if you’re walking alone, you’re not safe. I’m worried. When Bill, the bellman downstairs, told me you went to walk the dog, I wasn’t worried that you’d run off with another man. I was worried you’d get hurt or some shit. What happened the first day we met?”

“Someone knocked me to the ground,” she reluctantly admitted.

“Precisely. I’m sorry that I seem controlling and paranoid but losing you would destroy me.”

“Then what about the money thing? That wasn’t to protect me. I wasn’t in physical danger.”

“No, I just wanted to have something to say to you. I wanted to care for you and all that shit a good man should be doing for the woman he loves. Look at me. I love you so much that I let that runt over there rip apart my ottoman the other day without freaking out. That’s got to count for something.”

“It does, but you’re still overprotective.”

“I can’t change that. Maybe one day when he’s a big powerful beast, I might relax because when you take him for walks, a bastard won’t dare approach or think about hurting you.”

“You do know you’re insane, right?”

She was softening, but her resolve was tougher than I gave her credit for. “Insane when it comes to you. Please don’t do this. Please don’t leave me.”

“I’m not, but I need to go home anyway. You need to trust me, and I need to get more clothes.”

“No…”

Elena reached around me and hit the button to get the elevator moving again. “Don’t ‘No’ me. I’m staying home alone and doing some thinking about us.”

“How long do you need?” I asked. I didn’t like this, but if I was going to get her to stay with me, I had to back down—for the time being.

“I don’t know.” She sighed looking up from her purse with her keys in hand.

Seeing her holding them only made me angrier. “Damn it. Come on, let’s get you inside. And don’t get on me about being bossy. You’re taking my soul with you, so I don’t have the patience to deal with this.”

“Please don’t do this, Dex. Don’t manipulate me into staying.”

I arched my brow at her because I didn’t think I was. I was pissed as fuck and beyond scared. She didn’t even know the truth and she needed space. I couldn’t tell her what I found out today or I’d lose her for good.

I didn’t kiss her goodbye because I couldn’t. All I did was wait for her to walk into her condo, then prayed for the patience not to knock down the door and carry her back to ours.

I walked back to my home ignoring any of my neighbors, but they were all used to it anyway. Changing into my workout clothes, I headed down to the lowest level of my building where I have my gym. The first thing I hit was the punching bag. I had a week of pure bliss and it was gone. I knew I shouldn’t have gone to work today. I beat the bag until I cut through my taped hands and started bleeding. That wasn’t enough, though, the weights were next. My heart was fucking breaking with each rep. It sucked that I could finally feel, and she claimed to care. She never told me she loved me, not that I wanted her to say it if she didn’t mean it, but it gutted me.

I was covered in sweat contemplating going over there, but I couldn’t. I had to show her it wasn’t about trust. It was about love and fear. I knew I’d fucked up, but I was new at this. Dropping the weights hard, I didn’t give a fuck about the noise. Let them bitch, and they’ll be out the damn door. It was my fucking building.

I roared loudly in anger then noticed the figure in the mirror. I turned and there she was. “Um…I thought about it.”

“And…I can’t be without you either, Dex. I love you.” She ran up to me and into my arms. I was covered in sweat but didn’t care. She was here. Elena came back. Our lips clashed, begging and fighting to dominate each other. We moaned. I was too horny, too happy to waste taking her upstairs. I leaned her down onto the mats and tore off her pants.

“Don’t leave me again,” I growled.

“Don’t boss me around,” she snipped back.

“Not going to happen. I love you and you’re my world, but I’m still the boss.”

“Whatever. I’m not going anywhere.” She caved.

I barely dropped my shorts before I was seated fully inside her. Fuck, the beast in me demanded fulfillment. Thinking I was going to lose her had me ready to drown my sorrow in sweat. Her nails clawed at my back as I punished her pussy. “Ah!” she cried out, instantly coming on my cock. My balls took the cue and I came with her. I felt every pulsing shot of cum empty into her. Pressing my head to her chest, I needed to hear the heart that belonged to me. She had mine since the start.

We laid there in a heaping pile of sweat, our bodies still intertwined. I didn’t know what had changed her mind, but it didn’t really concern me because she was here and that was enough.

~~~~~

When he left me at the door without a kiss, I felt the first pang hit my gut. Before that, I'd been too mad to notice. I could tell that he was trying to keep me in this fragile little box. Whether he did it with good intentions or not, I wasn’t having it. I didn’t want him to look at me like I was broken and frail. I wanted him to see me as competent and able. He never questioned my intelligence, more so just my naïveté. Being a millionaire out of the blue did make me a target of stupid decisions and of predators, but I knew what it was like to struggle both emotionally and financially, so I held onto my money and didn’t flaunt it.

I missed him already. Anytime he left the room, he would kiss me like it was the last time he’d see me, but this time—nothing. Since we met, he'd been the one holding on tightly and not letting me get away, but his quiet goodbye wasn't something I was ready for. I'd been at my condo with Bruno when there was a knock at my door. My hopes jumped when I thought he wasn't letting me go that easily, but it wasn't Dexter.

It was a neighbor from down the hall, Reggie Jeffers. We didn’t really speak to each other, but I noticed him a couple of times. There was nothing frightening about him. He was young, attractive, and he seemed to be fit.

“So, what brings you back home? Did you and Dexter Price break up?”
What the fuck?
We hadn’t spoken more than a few handful of times and nothing personal. I wasn’t surprised he knew who Dexter was, but the fact that he was all up in my business ticked me off a bit and made me a little uncomfortable.

“Actually, I just came to get some things before I headed back over to his place.”

"It's just you haven't been around for a week and then he just leaves you here. I assumed he was done with you. I was about to ask you out. You’re unbelievably hot.”

“Thanks, but sorry. Dex will be here shortly. He went to pick up dinner for us.”

“Okay. Well if you ever split, I’m just down the hall.” I didn’t like the harsh look in his eyes. It was like he had a sinister plan in mind for me.

I nodded. My pulse was jumping. His interest and knowledge of my whereabouts freaked me out. Closing the door and dead-bolting it, I packed a bag and held Bruno in my arms, needing his comfort. I tried calling Dex to come back, but he didn't answer. He’d been right. Something about my neighbor was off and it would have taken him just a second to overpower me. I could have been in deep shit then.

I had to get out of here. Calling the front desk, I asked for help with bringing my things down. I waited until they arrived, checking the peephole before I opened the door. My neighbor peeked out his door further weirding me out.

Once I got to Dexter’s floor and there was no answer, I walked around the building looking for him and that's when I heard movement in the gym below. I wasn’t too sure how I’d be received given my adamant refusal, but makeup sex was phenomenal. Damn, I purred over and over again, lying in bed now, pleasurably worn-out. I moaned and rolled over and cuddled the pillow while Dexter made us some food. It smelled wonderful. I didn't know how he had energy left to get up and cook. I didn't want to move.

I heard him call up for me in a deep, tempting summons as he climbed the stairs.  "Elena, my love. Time for dinner."

The man could make food sound sexy. He opened the door and I smiled. He was wearing a pair of pajama pants with a white tee. Sex on a stick. I thought he was so irresistible that I didn't notice the scars that bothered him so much.

"You're so lucky I'm tired, mister. You look so delicious." I eyed him lecherously.

"Well, so do you, but I need to feed your little ass." He was getting cranky with me, but it was all a show. He was a big teddy bear when it came to me.

"Just because you're an overgrown beast...doesn't mean I'm little."

"No, the fact that you're short and thin makes you little. Now get up before I come get you."

"That's supposed to make me want to get up?"

"Yes, because if I get close to the bed, you're going to get it rough and hard."

I twisted my lips in faux contemplation. "Fine. I coming."

He didn't say anything, but he winked. What a perv. I couldn't wait until later.

~~~~~

Last night had been a test of my moral character. I should have told her the truth about what I knew, but I couldn’t risk losing her. The truth would send her running as fast and as far as she could go. I loved her so much. Going into the office made me nervous. I felt like anything could happen, but I needed to get my act together. Elena left because she thought I was being a patronizing dick. I couldn’t let her know that I was a dick and was freaking out.

Most of the day flew by because I’d been gone for so long. I had a lot of work to catch up on. Like before I met her, I dove right into the pile of important shit I had to do and sign. There was something on my desk that caught my attention. It was called the Collins Fund. It came out in installments of a million dollars a month for two years. It was a trust that was promised by my father before he died. I knew Collins was a common name, but something about it seemed off to me. I wanted more information about it. By the end of the day, I wished I’d have left it alone. It was one more thing on my list of guilt that was growing daily. If she ever found out, I would never see her again. I had to keep everything a secret.

We spent the next two weeks blissfully happy. Learning my lesson that I wasn’t as safe as I presumed but too afraid to tell him about Jeffers, I stayed inside most days while he worked. He would probably break that guy’s neck for even knocking on my door. We met with a specialist who was able to get me into therapy sessions a couple of times a week. The therapist was a woman which pleased him to no end. Dexter would even pick me up when I was finished.

They were starting to help. I felt stronger and more sore at the same time if that were even possible. Even though I was beginning to see a bit of progress, some of the damage were permanent. There were parts of my calf and thigh that couldn’t be helped. The foster home just hadn’t had the money to spend on the treatment I needed. They assumed my young age would be my saving grace; unfortunately, it didn’t work.

Before the next therapy session, I had to stop off at the local Walgreens near our condos. After getting what I needed, I ran back to my home which I hadn’t been to since last week after getting more clothes. Dexter wanted me to move out and into his place, but I hesitated to agree. It was only a matter of time before I moved all the way in, but I wanted to wait because he was too good to be true. I had a feeling if the test I bought came up with two pink lines, I would be doing it a lot sooner.

Within twenty-five seconds the results were in; I was going to be a mother. It was a lot to take in. Having Dexter's baby made us official. We hadn't talked about his family for weeks, so I didn't know what he told them about me. Gosh, fear got to me. What if I wasn't a good mother? My parents were terrible caregivers. That bitch left me with a drunk who almost got me killed.

No, I would never be them. Not ever. This baby would be loved like a child should be. I had to get a move on before I was late for my appointment with the physical therapist.

I walked out of the bathroom leaving the test on the sink and headed to my front door. I was almost there when I noticed an envelope had been slipped through the crack. I opened the door to see if I could find the one who left it, but they were long gone.

I hoped that creep didn't just send me dick pics. I’d seen that on the news the other day. People were strange sometimes. Thankfully, I didn’t run into Jeffers again. I still hadn't told Dex about him, and I didn’t want to.

The label said, "For your eyes only."

I pulled the fastener and took out the contents. After reading the papers, I wished it had been dick pics. I dropped the file on the floor; paper scattering everywhere.

How, why?

My world crashed down around me. Everything was a lie.

~~~~~

When I got to the therapy center, she wasn’t there. I asked about her and the receptionist said she never showed for her appointment and didn’t call to cancel it. I went looking for her everywhere. My place was empty and there was no note or anything. I called her phone like thirty times trying to get a hold of her. Panic crawled up my skin. She was missing.

"Tell me, Bill. When did Elena leave?" I asked him frantically. My heart was in my throat hoping maybe she said where she was going.

"It was almost an hour earlier than the usual time she left." 

“Did she get into a taxi or anything?”

"No. She took off walking and made a right." He pointed toward the front doors.

Then it dawned on me...her condo.

I rushed over there just as Cole got out of his car. She wasn't with him. He was lucky for that one.

"Hey, Price, what gives? You look wild, man."

"I'm looking for Elena. She missed her appointment and isn't answering her phone."

"Sorry, just got back. Let me know if you need anything."

I hurried into the building and up to her floor.

"What the fuck?" There was a man exiting her apartment. His eyes bugged out when he saw me. I saw red and moved toward him, but he dashed into his apartment next door before I could bust his skull in. I couldn't believe she would be cheating on me.

"Hey, you little fuck! I'm going to kill you," I roared through the door, pounding on it.

I walked back to her apartment because I needed answers. She’d just destroyed my world and I wanted to know why.

I unlocked the door with my copy of her key and there on the sofa lie Elena, fully clothed, tear stains on her cheeks, and a stack of papers on the coffee table. I read the note on top.
He couldn't stay away; now you will.

It was in my uncle's writing—the fucking son of a bitch. He was going to pay... someway, somehow. I dropped to my knees. I knew why she betrayed me...she found out.

I made a call to an acquaintance and asked for a favor.

~~~~~

I woke up from my cryfest turned sleepy time to see Dexter on the floor kneeling before me. He was asleep with his hand in mine and his head in my lap. I was so pissed at him, but I still loved him. I'm so confused.

I continued to stare at him without moving. His hair was disheveled and he looked worn out. He didn’t have his usual suit jacket on; instead, he was just in his dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I had to look away because he held a spell over me and I couldn't think straight when I saw him.

I looked at the clock on the mantel and it was almost ten at night. On the coffee table was the packet that started it all. He’d picked up the papers and read them apparently.

"You're up," he whispered, a bit of sadness etched in those words. He knew about the file. My question had to be for how long. Did he seduce me to prevent me from saying something when the truth came out? Just thinking about our time together, I knew that wasn’t true. No, his affection and love were felt every minute of every day.

"I don't know what to say, Dex."

"Just don't leave me, please. I'll do whatever I can to make it right, but I can't lose you."

"How long have you known the truth?" I wanted honesty.

He sat up on the sofa next to me and took a deep breath. "Since the first..."

"What? Oh, my God! I can't believe you!" I screeched trying to jump off the couch, but he stopped me with his hands on my thighs. "You still took my virginity."

"Elena, you're not listening. I didn't know since the first time we met, but from the first time you left me. I wanted to tell you but you had already said you wanted a break, and I couldn't risk losing you. You had to have hated my family and me for what happened." He was afraid I’d hate him for his parents’ error in judgment. That was nuts. If anything, I would feel relief that it wasn’t my father. I hated his father without a doubt, but not Dex. Never, Dex.

"Them? Yes. You? No. You were a kid when our lives were torn apart. You keeping this from me is what hurts more than you could ever imagine. My whole life has been based on a lie. I’ve hated my father without any reason. He has been ostracized, and what’s worse is I’ve felt that way about him too. Then you kept it from me. You could have told me; instead, I had to find out this way.”

“I’m sorry, Elena. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Since you came into my life, the pain of that night has started to fade. You’ve healed the cracks, and I was afraid to lose you.”

“I don’t want to lose you either,” I admitted. “But I can’t live with doubt. I need to trust you, and so far, you’re making it really hard to do.”

“Damn it, Elena. We need to talk about this.”

“What do you want me to say? Your dad was to blame for the accident. That he was the drunk, and that your family’s wealth bought a lifetime of lies and deceit. God, I’m so disgusted with the fund. I wasn’t supposed to mention where it came from or I’d lose it, but I don’t care. It’s hush money. Money given to me as a way of trying to hide the truth. I need to give it all back and sell this place. I’ll find an apartment somewhere and get a job.”

“You already have a place to live…with me. I’m not above begging, pleading, or at this point kidnapping you. I couldn’t look any worse in your eyes.”

“Dex, you look wonderful, but this is a big deal. I feel grossed out, violated, and manipulated. All this time he was innocent. Your uncle covered it up attaching a nice check as a bow.”

“I should have looked into it from the start. When I saw the Collins Fund on the documents for me to sign, my uncle informed me that it was a deal made before my dad died. I didn’t know it was a cover up.”

He pulled me into his arms, and I didn’t push away. I needed his love. When I laid there thinking about the truth, I knew I couldn’t hate Dex for it. The fact that he only knew about it since the day I walked out was what saved me from leaving. I never told him about the neighbor and that it had happened the same day because I was afraid of his reaction as well.

“Are there any more hidden secrets? I didn’t read the full thing because I was too distraught and tossed them on the floor.”

“They were all nicely stacked here just like this.”

“Don’t play with me. I might be confused and hurt, but I’m not crazy. These papers were over by the door. When I saw them on the table, I thought you had picked them up.”

“What about when that guy stopped by? Who was he?”

“What guy? There’s been only you and me in this place.” I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. I assumed it was jealousy rearing its ugly head.

“I chased the motherfucker down the hall when I saw him coming out of your place. I thought you two were fucking.”

I jumped up panicking. Maybe he saw someone by my door. I can’t imagine someone would be inside without me knowing. “That can’t be. No one was here.”

“The guy ran into the condo next to you.”

“Oh, no. We’ve got to call the police.” I freaked out. He had gotten into my place. Shit, I should have told Dexter or the building manager about Jeffers.

“Yes, we do, but first, I need to make another call.” He stood up and paced the room. He started talking to the guy on the other end but then hung up.

“Who did you call?”

“A friend who I asked to get me information on this guy next door. Reggie Jeffers is the son of a politician and a drug addict, but that was all he had at the moment. Either he was here to hurt you and somehow knew I was coming up, or he was trying to rob you. He is obviously dangerous.” I nodded because he was right. The man scared me when he was spying on me.

He dialed the cops next. “We had a break-in in my fiancée’s condo.” He rattled off the address and his name. He owned and dominated most of the town, so his name was known. Plus, I lived in one of the most expensive buildings in the district. It wouldn’t take them long to get here.

“Elena, let’s sit here and not touch anything but each other.” He leaned down and took my mouth softly. I could tell he was testing his limits with me. He didn’t know how far I’d let him go, but I needed more. I pressed my body onto his, pushing him against the sofa where I mounted him. Our kiss intensified; Dex tugged on my hair and my ass. I was panting and moaning, trying to grind on his cock. Then the doorbell rang. The police were here.

~~~~~

We walked to the door, my hand in hers tugging her behind me. When I opened it, I was staring down the barrel of a forty-five.

"Get in." He pressed the gun to my head so we backed up into the room.

It was the bastard from next door. He pushed off my head with the gun, making me stumble to the floor.

"Get up, Price." With his glazed eyes, I knew he was stoned.

"Why are you doing this? I don't want you." She told him, and I wondered what had transpired that she hadn’t mentioned.

He wasn’t steady with the weapon. Jeffers didn’t point the gun at her, but he took it off me as he snarled at her. "Sweetheart, I don't want you either. You were just a way to get to him." He pointed the gun towards me again. It was clear he wasn’t as prepared to go through with this as he claimed.

"But why?" she asked pleadingly. I saw the fear in her lovely eyes which infuriated me even more than I already was. I needed to protect her at all costs.

"Because his uncle paid me a lot of money to get rid of him. So what's going to happen is you're going shoot him and then kill yourself." While he babbled on with her, I was thinking of a way to get us out of there. Then I’d get a hold of my uncle and crush him.

"What makes you think that's going to work?" Elena asked nervously.

“It really doesn’t matter if it does. I’m going to blow his brains out, then you’re next.” He was shaky, and that could be really bad or really good. If he were spooked, he could snap and pull the trigger, but if I had a chance, I could take him down. I wasn’t in the gym for nothing and had no bodyguards.

I tried to calm Elena down by whispering I loved her, but I could see her shaking. That was when I noticed she was leaning against the intercom button to speak. Whoever was at the front desk was hearing everything that was going on. Let's hope they had a plan before this nut shot me. I just needed the right angle and I could rush him. I was finally getting my happiness despite a life built on a lie and a woman hell bent on trying to leave me.

"Listen. Can't we work something out? I have more money than my uncle could ever dream of. I could give you more than he's offering you."