Torn (2 page)

           
I
found my cell phone and quickly called Deborah’s phone since I knew Richard had
went to stay at his mother’s. I figured I would try her phone first hoping
maybe she didn’t hate me as much as Richard did. She picked up after the second
ring.

           
“How
nice of you to call at seven o’clock at night,” she said sternly and I knew Richard
had gotten to her. Of course he had he was her son she was bound to take his
side. I sighed.

           
“I’m
sorry Deb. Can I please speak to the kids?” I asked as politely as I could.

           
“I’m
not even sure I should let you,” she spat out.

           
“Please
Deb just for a few minutes. This is the longest I’ve ever been without my
children, as one mother to another I’m begging you,” I pleaded. She didn’t
answer but I heard her hand the phone over to someone.

           
“Mom,”
I heard Mattie say and it broke my heart.

           
“Mattie,
how was school?”

           
“It
was ok, Mr. Badger is teaching us the times tables, it’s fun,” he answered.

           
“Awesome
honey, I’m happy you like it,” I said trying to fight back my tears so not to
upset him.

           
“Yeah
I especially like doing the fives. It’s like singing five, ten, fifteen,
twenty,” he sang out.

           
“Let
me talk to momma Mattie,” I heard Morrigan say in the background.

           
“Hold
on Morri,” he said away from the phone, “Mom when are we going home?” Mattie
asked and the tears spilled out of my eyes.

           
“Hopefully
soon, you be good for your father and grandma, ok?”

           
“Yeah
mom I miss you,” he said softly.

           
“I
miss you too Mattie. I love you.”

           
“I
love you too mom, here’s Morri,” he said and I heard him hand the phone over to
Morrigan.

           
“Hi
momma,” she said brightly in her sweet little voice.

           
“Hi
baby, how was school?”

           
“It
was ok. Momma when are you coming to get us and take us home?” she asked and it
was really getting hard for me to keep it together.

           
“As
soon as I can baby I promise. Be good, ok? And don’t fight with your brother
too much. I love you baby. Even when I’m not around I’m always thinking about
you and your brother, please remember that,” I said trying to swallow my tears.

           
“Ok
momma. I love you momma,” she said and then I heard her hand the phone back to
someone again.

           
“I
suggest you stop being a foolish selfish woman and think of your children and
leave that riff raff you’re running around with alone. Richard doesn’t deserve
the way you are treating him, all he has ever done was take care of you. You
think those bikers are going to take care of you? I suggest you get your head
on straight and beg your husband for forgiveness and pray to God he takes your
sorry ass back,” Deb said and then she hung up.

           
I
laughed at first because it was either laugh or cry at the ridiculous
statements she had just made towards me. If she only knew where I was standing
right now, in an underground mansion surrounded by nothing but the most
expensive of everything. It really was funny that the people they thought were
trashy had more money than they could ever imagine and were better people than
they would ever be. They were the trash in my eyes and I hated the thought of
them raising my children with their judgmental ways. At that thought I lost it
and began sobbing, I felt a hand touch mine and then pull me into his big cool
body. I breathed him in and I cried as he held me. He didn’t say anything he
simply held me and at that moment that’s all that I needed.

Chapter
4

         
“What’s happened?”
he finally asked after I started to calm down a bit. I pulled back from him and
he handed me a tissue so I could wipe my eyes.

           
“Thanks,”
I said sniffling. “Well I called to talk to the kids and it seems my
mother-in-law is no longer a fan of mine.”

           
“I am
so sorry Liz,” he said. “Is there anything I can do?”

           
“I
don’t think so,” I replied honestly. Richard held a lot of power and prestige
in this small town. He had a very successful business which meant he had money,
lots of it, and people genuinely sided with the money. Not to add all those
stupid commercials he made. They were terrible but for some reason I could
never fathom people loved them and people adored Richard.

           
I had
been seen hanging out with “bikers” so this was going to be an uphill battle
yet I was still determined to fight it. I refused to stand by and simply let
him take my children from me because he had suspicions about my relationship
with Archer. We were friends we had done nothing wrong. As difficult as it was
for us to restrain ourselves because some underlying force said we were
supposed to be together we had done nothing more than hold each other’s hand
and hugged. For that I was being punished. Most people would have already given
in to their desires out of anger; oh you want to take my kids from me well I’ll
show you by sleeping with this man I want so much. I knew that was what Richard
expected me to do and in no way, shape, or form was I going to prove Richard
right.

           
“Well
if there is anything you need I will get it for you,” he said. He was so kind.
I knew he looked hard and dangerous on the outside and I was certain he could
kick ass yet he had been nothing but sweet to me. I found it hard to believe
that some people actually thought he was a bad person.

           
“I do
need something,” I said looking into his bright aqua eyes. I inched myself
closer to him so I could feel his large cool body against mine. I felt his
breathing speed up a bit as he became excited with anticipation.

           
“What?”
He whispered getting closer to me. I stopped him right before he put his lips
to mine by putting my finger on his soft lips. He opened his eyes and looked at
me curiously.

           
“Food
you silly man, I am starving.”

           
“Oh
right, let’s go to the kitchen then shall we,” he said as he backed away from
me looking a little embarrassed. Finally I had gotten to him the way he got to
me all the time. It was nice to feel wanted although I did feel bad for teasing
him that way. I quickly put my arms around his neck and pulled him into me.
“I’m sorry for teasing you, it was cruel of me.”

           
“It’s
alright,” he said smiling down at me. “Just remember karma is a bitch.” He then
let go of me, grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction of their huge
kitchen.

                                   
***

           
We sat
at the island in the middle of the kitchen eating, well I was eating anyway. He
had made me a large plate of spaghetti and meatballs but he said he wasn’t real
hungry himself. He told me that after they feed they usually don’t eat for a
day or two.

           
“So
how often do you need to feed?”

           
“About
once a week.”

           
“Oh,
look I understand if you don’t want to answer because it’s really none of my
business but who do you feed from?”

           
“All
of my business is your business you’re my mate. I would never hide anything
from you. I get mine from the local blood bank, I have a hook up I buy from.
It’s expensive but discreet and they don’t ask questions as long as you have
the money. Cutter and Mystic do the same,” he said.

           
“And
Jagger and Darla?” I asked not sure if I really wanted the answer.

           
“Um Jagger
and Darla have a donor.”

           
“What’s
a donor?” I asked in between bites.

“A donor is someone that
is willing to give of themselves to Jagger and Darla for sexual favors in
return.”

           
“What?!”
I said spitting my food out all over the place. “Sorry,” I said sheepishly as I
wiped it up.

           
“Yes,
there are certain people who donate themselves. See when you get bitten
something in our saliva is a kind of an aphrodisiac. Usually when we bite
someone it turns into…well you know.”

           
“I
gotcha, no need to go on,” I said. I had felt that feeling when I had cut my
hand on the rock at the waterfall and he had licked the wound to heal it. I
thought about what he had said and it struck me as odd that he didn’t have a
donor as he was single. “And you? Why don’t you have a donor, you are single.”

           
“I am
not single, whether you choose to believe it or not you are my mate. The
thought of even touching another in that way makes me feel sick,” he said
grabbing my hand. I felt elated yet guilty at once. Joyful that I didn’t have to
worry about him being with someone else then terrible because I couldn’t give
him what he needed.

           
“I’m
sorry,” I said sadly.

           
“You
have no reason to be sorry. Fate is just a prick sometimes ya know?” he said
and we laughed.

Chapter
5

           
“What’s
so funny?” Darla asked as she sauntered her flawless body into the kitchen with
Jagger following her. She was wearing nothing but a black tank top and black
lace panties. I immediately felt uncomfortable and secretly wished I had a rock
to hide under Pharaoh followed in behind Jagger wagging his tail.

           
“Cute
dog,” Jagger said looking at me. His eyes were no longer the usual bright red
they were now a dull gray hue. I guess he hadn’t fed in a few days which
explained why they were here in the kitchen. “What’s his name?” he asked and I
couldn’t believe he was actually speaking to me.

           
“Uh
Pharaoh,” I replied.

           
“Awesome
fucking name,” he said with a little grin.

           
“Thanks,”
I said and smiled back at him. I don’t think Darla appreciated our little
moment so she quickly interrupted.

           
“So is
anyone going to share the joke?” She asked as she bent over right in front of
Archer which I really didn’t appreciate but I kept my cool as this was her
house.

           
“There
was no joke just Liz and I here sharing a bit of conversation. Oh by the way
Liz is going to be staying here for a while,” Archer said proudly. Jagger
stopped playing with Pharaoh and looked up at Archer with wide eyes. Darla
turned around and looked at Archer like he had lost his mind.

           
“What?!”
They both exclaimed at the same time as I buried my head in my hands.

                                   
***

           
“She
can’t stay here,” Jagger quickly said then he looked at me and said, “No
offense.” Which I thought was kind of him.

           
“There
is no way in hell she can stay here Archer, no way,” Darla said and she of
course didn’t give a damn if she offended me.

           
“And
why not?” Archer asked looking quite puzzled.

           
“Have
you any idea who her husband is?” Darla asked while Archer still looked at them
both confused.

           
“You
don’t know do you,” Jagger said and chuckled.

           
“I do,
he is some guy named Richard. Who cares? What’s the big deal?” Archer said.

           
“Her
husband is Richard Higgins, you know the owner of Higgins Motors, the largest
car dealership in all of northern Georgia. Am I getting through to you now?”
Jagger asked as Darla just stood there with the “hello” look on her face.

           
“I
don’t give a damn who her husband is or what he does for a living or how much
money he has. She is staying here with us.”

           
“You
are asking for trouble Archer. The man pretty much runs Talon Hills, if he
finds out his wife is staying up here with us all hell is going to break loose.
Our secretive life will be exposed. You sure you really want to go down this
road?” Jagger asked.