Torrid Affair (19 page)

D
uring the drive
to the airport, I pressed the accelerator and let my car weave through traffic. The last time I saw my brother was a little over eight years ago. He came down to visit our mother when she and Warren decided to leave for Ecuador. I’d paced the apartment as I awaited his arrival. I’d wanted to see him, but most of all, I’d wanted to see her.

But she never came.

We were having dinner when he casually informed us all that he and Brielle had gone to City Hall, and he didn’t want the house because he and his wife were happy in Chicago.

His
wife
.

It shocked us all.

Masking my gloom, I congratulated him and welcomed him into the club.

A lifetime had passed since I last saw my kid brother.

Parking my car, I strolled into Baggage Claim and spotted Julian yanking a suitcase off the carousel.

“Need some help?” I offered when I approached him.

He spun toward me, a wide smile on his face. “Moose!” He wrapped his arms around me.

“How are you, kid?” I stepped back and took him in. He looked the same as the last time I saw him. The only difference was he looked exhausted.

“I’m tired.”

“Come on.” I reached for the handle on his bag.

“Hold on, I have one more.” He pointed to another large suitcase.

“Do you think you brought enough?”

He slid another one off and stood it upright. “I did.” He lifted the handle. “Brielle and I can’t go back there.” Julian began to walk toward the exit.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I quit my job. And the people I worked for weren’t very happy about my sudden notice.”

“What the fuck did you get into?”

“It doesn’t matter.” We stopped and waited for the light to change before we crossed the street. “I need to make her happy. What I did before won’t follow me here.”

I huffed “I assume you don’t have a job?”

“I have twenty-thousand dollars saved in the bank. That should keep us on our feet for a bit. Brie will find work, and so will I.”

“I’ll make a few phone calls. See if I can get you some interviews for a city job.”

We walked to the car and I popped the trunk. Julian looked over at me and nodded. “Thanks, man. You’ve always been the best brother a guy could ask for.” I gripped his shoulder as words failed me. “I’ve done wrong by her, but I promise you I’ll be the man she’s always needed.”

I
anticipated Julian's rage
. When Nate informed me he was coming, I visualized the argument. He would come in, demand I leave at once, and we'd have a standoff.

But that wasn't the case. 

Shortly after Nate left for the airport, Delaney arrived home for lunch. The rain had washed away the chalk on the driveway, and I was sitting under the gazebo watching the water trickle onto the perfectly manicured lawn, my mind deep in thought. 

“Hey,” Delaney greeted me when she hopped out of her small Mercedes-Benz. I smiled at her, but I knew it was forced. I was lost, my marriage was hanging on by a thread, and my life was in shambles. “The back door is always open, so feel free to come in as you please. I don't want you waiting around for us. Please, Brie, make yourself at home.”

“Thanks,” I whispered. 

“Come on,” Delaney motioned with her hand, “I'll make a fresh pot of coffee.”

I had no appetite, but I could never refuse caffeine. I followed Delaney across the deck into her kitchen where I sat at the wooden table. I folded my hands, and my mind continued to replay the last ten years of my life. It was a broken record that wouldn’t stop playing.

“You look deep in thought,” she observed as she yanked the fridge door open. 

“I'm scared,” I admitted.

“It'll be okay, Brie.” She placed the milk carton on the table. “Nate and I will make sure Julian gets the help he needs.”

I sighed. The future conversation with Julian was inevitable. I was drained, and most days I wished one of his blows would knock me out of my misery. I shook the dreadful thought from my mind. “What do you do?” I looked away from my crossed hands and to Delaney. “For work, I mean.” At one point Delaney knew everything about me, but now we were complete strangers. She and Nate seemed to have the perfect life.

I envied her.

I wanted the life she had.

“I have a clothing boutique downtown, and three times a week I teach yoga.”

The front door opened, and my heart began to race. I bowed my head as the footfalls neared the kitchen. You could hear a pin drop as no one uttered a sound. I'd been a victim for the past ten years, and even though I tried to fight back, I was too weak. Something in me would always fall back on Julian.

“Brielle,” Julian's voice echoed through the house.

Finding some small piece of courage, I looked up at him. Warm tears trickled down my face. His expression softened and he darted toward me.

“I'm so sorry, baby.” He dropped to his knees and hugged me. “I'm so fucking sorry.”

My arms wrapped around his head and I wept. “Me too,” I cried.

From the corner of my teary eyes, I noticed Nate was standing next to Delaney with his arms wrapped around her. It was odd to have such an emotional conversation with my husband while the man I desperately loved stood only a few feet away.

“I'm sorry I left. I didn't know what else to do.”

“I know, baby. I promise to change. Things will be different.” Julian looked up at me, his thumb brushing my tear stained cheek. “I swear, Brie, I will never be that man again.” 

I nodded, and Julian brought his lips to mine. Relief washed over me for a split second, but then deja vu smacked me upside the head. He'd apologized many times before, and still he returned to his abusive ways.

I pulled away from his embrace. “I don't want you to work for Dennis anymore.” My voice was stern.

His Adam’s apple bobbed and he nodded. “I know. It's done. I quit, and we'll be moving down here. I packed all our stuff.”

“You what?” I stood. I didn’t know much about Dennis, but I knew he couldn’t just
stop
working for him.

“There’s no other way out of it. I can’t stay in Chicago.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Our home is there. My job is there. My life.”

“I’m sorry. If I go back, Dennis will have me killed.” Julian stood. “There’s no other way.”

I ran a nervous hand through my hair. “What are we supposed to do here for work? There has to be something you can do. You can’t just pick up and leave everything behind.”

Julian narrowed his eyes. “This is what needs to be done. I’ve done a lot in the past for Dennis that can incriminate him. He’ll want me dead if I go back.” The apologetic tone had vanished.

Shaking my head, I covered my face. “What…Why…God! Why did you work for a monster?”

Nate cleared his throat. “I told Julian I’d talk to some people, get him an interview.”

“And you two are more than welcome to stay in the apartment for as long as you want.” Delaney smiled brightly at me.

No, it couldn't be the four of us all over again. “I don’t want to be your charity case.” I stood and shook my head. “I’m sorry, but no.”

“You’re not charity.” Delaney walked over and grabbed my hand. “You’re family, and we’d be honored to have you both here.”

I glanced at Julian, and a smile overtook his features. My gaze turned to Nate, and I regretted it instantly. His eyes were bright, the perfect shade of green, and the way he looked at me . . . I’d seen that look many times before. I couldn’t be in the same place he was. He had an uncontrollable power over me. Only he could ignite the fire that burned deep inside me. A fire that I tried to put out a long time ago and never could. It was only a matter of time before history repeated itself.

“Fine.”

Julian pulled me into his arms. “It’s settled, then.”

* * *

I
f it was too
good to be true, it was most likely bullshit. Julian was the doting, loving husband for one solid week. Six days to be exact. We had six days that I felt a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could breathe.

Dennis was behind us. Julian assured me there was no way he’d ever find us, and I believed him. He seemed to be getting along great with Nate, and promised we would only stay with Nate and Delaney for a few weeks until we found a place of our own.

But I quickly realized it was all a load of crap.

After our decision to stay in Charlotte, I found a job at a local diner. I had no experience and no degree, so my choices for quick employment were slim. Julian went on three interviews, but didn’t receive any call backs. Every morning, he went with Nate to search for potential job offerings. I still had hope he would find something soon and we would get our own place, but until then I worked every shift the diner had to offer.

It was Sunday afternoon, and I’d just finished the graveyard shift at the diner, along with an additional morning shift for a co-worker who called in sick. My body ached from the long hours I’d spent on my feet, I had a pounding headache, and the odor of burnt coffee followed me like a cloud of smoke.

I dragged my body up the garage steps as I mentally assured myself I was inching closer to my bed. I was surprised to find the door ajar, and when I pushed it open, Julian was standing with his back to me, hunched over at the kitchen counter.

“Hey,” I said. I craved a long shower and sleep. He didn’t utter a word so I stepped closer. “Julian?” I rested a hand on his shoulder. His muscles tensed under my touch. “Hey, what's the matter?”

“You have the nerve to ask?” He dragged his words out in a slow slur.

“I have no clue what you're talking about.”

With a sharp turn he spun around, and the back of his hand collided with my face. “You came here!” he barked, and I smelled the bourbon on his breath. I couldn’t speak. Sharp pain caused my skin to burn. “We were happy in Chicago. I was somebody there. I had respect. Here, I’m a fucking nobody.”

The metallic tinge lingered in my mouth. The motherfucker had drawn blood. Anger boiled deep inside me. He would never fucking change.

“Goddamn it.” My finger dabbed at the cut on my lower lip. My cheeks burned, but by now I was used to the pain. It was sad to believe that it didn't hurt as bad as it once did, but if you became their punching bag, eventually you became numb to the pain.

I was pathetic.

“Get out,” I whispered under my breath.

“You can't tell me what to do. This isn't
your
home. Remember, you ran to my brother for safety.” His eyes locked with mine.

I’d never confronted him before. For years I took his abuse and ran away crying until he eventually apologized. But enough was enough.

“I swear to fucking God, Julian, get out.”

He scoffed. “Or what?”

“I'll fucking scream. I’ll scream bloody murder, and everyone will know what you do to your wife!”

He huffed. “Fine. I need pussy anyway. You're a lousy lay.”

I held my head high, straightened my shoulders, and not until I heard the door slam behind me did I crumple and cry.

How much longer could I continue to live like this?

Nate

The house was empty Sunday afternoon. After a round of golf with a few coworkers, I came home to find a note on the dining room table. 

Having lunch with my mom and Caleb. Will be home soon. D

Though Delaney's father never cared for what I did to his daughter, her mother had reached out a few years back and rekindled their relationship. I guessed the grudge she was holding for her only daughter began to eat away at her. 

Delaney and I never asked her parents for a single cent. I remembered when she called her mother to tell her about the baby, and Caroline insisted that she'd wire the money to take care of
the situation
. But there was no way in hell I would let that happen. I made a promise to Delaney that I’d take care of her, and shortly after we found out about her pregnancy, I made an honest woman of her—even though my heart belonged to someone else.

I tossed the note in the trash and pulled the refrigerator door opened. Starved, I made a sandwich and turned the kitchen TV on to ESPN. I was mid-bite when I spotted Brielle's car rolling up the driveway. She looked gorgeous in her yellow diner outfit. Her hair was tossed up over her head, and a pencil held it all together. She parked the sedan and trudged toward the apartment. There were nights I hoped we’d bump into each other alone. I wanted to hold her. Tell her that I still, despite everything, loved her, but she didn’t even glance in the direction of my house. Her head hung low, and with a few short strides, she was gone.

Shaking my head, I turned back to the television. A few minutes passed and I got lost in the commentary of the upcoming NBA championship game. Then I noticed Julian out the window. His fists were balled at his sides, his eyebrows pinched together. He stomped over to their car and tried unsuccessfully to yank the door open.

“Fuck!” He cursed as he slammed his palm on the hood. His mouth moved, and I knew he was saying a few more choice words. He glanced back at the apartment and then stalked down the driveway. Clearly, he was pissed.

I should have stayed put, but Brielle had driven all the way here for help with Julian, so when she didn’t come after him, I decided to go see her.

First I paced the kitchen debating what to say, but after I cleaned up my lunch, I knew there wasn’t any other option but to see how she was. I took the steps two at a time. Leaning my ear to the door, I listened for any movement before I knocked. A few seconds passed before the door handle turned and she opened the door.

“Hey—

The smile I had plastered on my face to greet her vanished when I looked at her face. Not only was she crying, but her cheek was bruised and a small cut split her lower lip.

A nervous hand rushed to her face. “It’s nothing.”

“Don’t make excuses for him.” I walked through the door and framed her face. Anger, regret and pain coursed through my body. “How long has this been going on?”

Brielle closed her eyes as her head shook slowly.

“Answer me.”

Her voice was hoarse. “A few years.”

Years
?

Fucking
years?

He’d been hitting her for years.

My breath came out in spurts as I tried to calm myself. Clearing my throat, I counted back from ten before I opened my mouth to speak. But when I did, my thoughts were halted by Julian’s voice outside. Infused with rage, I shook my head at Brielle and headed down the stairs.

When I was a kid, I fought Julian’s fights because he was a scrawny kid. I protected him from bullies. But never did I imagine that he’d become the bully.

“What are you doing?” I heard Brielle’s frantic voice directly behind me. “Confronting him.”

“Nate, don’t. Please!”

Shocked, I turned to face her. She stood a few inches above me, and I could look her square in the eyes. “He’s hitting you, and you want me to stop?”

Brielle hesitated a moment before she answered. “It’s complicated. He’s drunk.”

“Fuck this.” I ignored her request and jetted down the remainder of the stairs.

Julian was outside, his hand lodged on the car door as he tried to pry it open.

“Julian,” I called out to him. He spun around and stumbled. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Delaney’s car pull in the driveway.

Julian’s gaze left mine and looked behind me to Brielle. “Well, look who it is. My wife, the lousiest pussy I’ve ever had. I left everything for you, you cock tease! For months, I was your sick puppy. You dangled your vagina in front of me like it was filet mignon. In reality, you’re nothing more than chuck meat.”