Wounded Love (G Street Chronicles Presents From Love to Loathe Series) (8 page)

“I need big favor, and I can’t tell you what it’s about.”

“Cricket, please don’t leave again.”

“I’m trying not to, but we both know this total bliss will not last forever. They will come looking, and I’m certain they will find me.”

“I won’t help you leave him, Cricket. He was broken, and I’ve never seen a man like that. I will not help you,” she turned from me and headed toward the back door.

“I have a baby sister out there somewhere. Now if Jyme found that out, don’t you think Troy could find her?” I asked.

“Cricket!”

“I don’t remember her, but Chyna had to. I was too young, but Chyna had to have known. Jyme has pictures of all three of us.”

Chelle came back and sat down at the kitchen table and asked me what I needed. I told her she had to buy two prepaid phones and take one to the casino to Cinnamon. Cinnamon couldn’t go and buy one herself because Troy and Trey would be watching her like a hawk now. I told Chelle that Cinnamon had to hear from me every seven days, and if she didn’t hear from me in that timeframe, we had a plan in place.

Chelle said she understood, and I told her I needed her to go as soon as possible. She said she could go either that evening or the next day. I made her swear to keep this secret from everybody and she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about it no matter what. She agreed, and we looked out the kitchen window to see Jyme was giving us the stare of death. It gave me chills, and Chelle turned away.

I went upstairs to get the money Chelle would need. I pulled out my bank card and slide it into my bra. I heard someone coming upstairs, and I pulled my sweater off and slid on another. I made sure the sweater I just took off was lying on the closet floor close to the door. Jyme stepped in the closet and watched me.

“What, babe?” I asked.

“What are you doing?” he glanced all over the closet.

“I got something on my sweater, so I came to put this one on.”

“What were you and Chelle talking about so secretly?”

“Nothing…just her and Kanoke and where their relationship is going; stuff like that.”

He pulled me into him and closed me into a bear hug.

“I love you, and I know you’re lying to me.”

I slid out of his bear hug, walked out to the stairwell, and went back downstairs. Everyone was getting ready to leave for the evening, and I hugged and kissed each of them. I packed up some leftovers for Chelle and walked out to the car with her. I gave her a big hug, sliding the card out of my bra and slipping it into hers.

“Use whatever you need,” I told her with a fake smile. She smiled and nodded. I waved goodbye as they drove off and passed by a staring Jyme. I headed straight for the kitchen to do some much needed cleaning. I was loading the dishwasher when Jyme came into the kitchen.

“You need to call D’Artagnan and let him know when you can start back.”

I nodded and pulled the full trash bag out of the trashcan. Jyme took it for me and tied the top off.

“We’re going out tomorrow night.”

I nodded at him again. I sprayed the table down and scrubbed away the debris from the kids’ feast earlier. I was wiping the chairs down when Jyme stood in front of me. I looked up at him, and he pulled me up to my feet. When I stood, he placed both of his hands on both sides of my face.

“What were you and Chelle talking about? Tell me now, Cricket.”

“Jyme, I love you with every ounce of me, and I’ve never felt like this for anyone before. I can’t tell you, and you can hate me for keeping this from you if you want. But I love you too much for you to have to carry all of my burdens.”

He looked at me for a couple more seconds, and then he picked up the full trash bag and went out the front door with it. I started wiping the chairs down again. I heard him come back in the front door, and he went straight up the stairs. I cleaned and scrubbed the living room, downstairs bathroom, foyer, dining room, and kitchen.

I was just drying another load of sheets, when I saw one of the big fluffy comforters and got an idea. I poured another glass of wine and headed out the back door. The only lights on in the house now were over the oven. I laid down on one of the cushioned lounge chairs. I took a sip of the wine and looked up at the stars. It was cold outside, but I didn’t care. I wrapped my arms around myself and let the stars do their silent dance for me. I must have drifted off because I woke to Jyme yanking me out the chair.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked frantically.

“Nothing,” I said sleepily.

“Get in the house now, anything could happen to you out here.”

I walked back into the house; he grabbed the comforter and the now empty wine glass. He locked the back door behind him and put the glass in the sink. He stomped over to the laundry room and came back empty handed. I just stood in the kitchen, watching his every move. He stood in the kitchen doorway glaring at me. I walked past him, heading for upstairs. I went straight to bathroom and shut the door behind me. I got into the shower and Jyme never showed. When I was done, I put my hair up and brushed my teeth and gargled. I walked over to the bathroom door and slid on the nightgown hanging on the hook. I shut off all the lights, opened the bathroom door and got into bed. Jyme had his back to me; I slid over and kissed his bare back. He didn’t say or do anything, so I just rolled over and drifted to sleep.

I woke the next morning to an empty bed. I listened, but heard nothing downstairs. I laid there for another ten minutes or so before I got up and tiptoed downstairs. I looked all through the house, but didn’t see Jyme anywhere. Then, I walked past his office and I heard muffled voices. I went and tiptoed to the front door. I looked out the peephole; there was a car in the driveway. I went to the living room to get a better look; a dark blue sedan was in the drive with dark tinted windows.

I went back upstairs and shut the bedroom door. I dressed quickly because I had a lot I needed to do, and I needed to sneak out while Jyme was occupied. I knew he would never let me go alone, and I needed to do some things without him. I snuck back downstairs and wrote a note on the fridge. “I have some errands to run. I will be back this afternoon.”

Then I eased open the door to the garage. I went over to the Escalade and climbed in. The keys were in the ignition, as I knew they would be. I had to make my next two moves very quickly since his office was close to the garage. I started the truck and opened the garage door at the same time. The garage door was half way opened when he ran into the garage. I didn’t look at him; I kept my eyes straight ahead.

“CRICKET!”

The garage door was almost open; he ran over to the truck and jumped up on the side railings.

“Open the door, Cricket!” he shouted over the engine.

“I’ll be back.”

“Don’t go.”

“I’ll be right back. I swear I’ll be right back!”

I put the truck in reverse, and he jumped down from the rails. I pulled out and pressed the button to shut the garage. I looked in the review mirror and Jyme was watching me. The sedan was still in the driveway; it had Nevada tags on it.

I went to the first cell phone store I could find. I ended up getting an unlimited prepaid account and a smart phone. I put the phone in a fake company name and used one of my alias email addresses to set the account up. Then I went into Best Buy and picked a new Sony Vaio Laptop. I was just about to check out when I saw a sparkled case; I grabbed it and went to the counter. I then went to the coffee shop right around from my old office. I was greeted by a smiling face, and it only took them a minute to make my order. I sipped on my latte as I plugged in the new laptop and jumped on the Wi-Fi. I pulled up my bank’s website to check my accounts. I had to move some serious money around. I know people say never check your bank accounts on Wi-Fi, but I was desperate now. My accounts were fine. I moved $50,000 into the account with the $150,000 in it, so there was an even $200,000 in it now. I logged out of my bank account and logged into my main alias email account.

“Cricket!”

I whipped my head up, and the serious scowl on my face turned into a pure genuine smile. I stood, and she ran to my arms. I held her so tightly and then I pulled away and got her a seat. She was shaking, and a few tears trickled down her face.

“I’ve missed you so much,” O said.

“I’ve missed you.”

“Cricket…I just missed you; that’s all.” O never cried, no matter what the situation was; she was an honest professional. “You look good,” she said. If she had known all the damage that was under this makeup, she wouldn’t have said that.

“So, I hear you’re engaged. Congratulations!”

“Who told you?”

“D’Artagnan told me a few days ago.”

She frowned and looked me over.

“Was I not supposed to know? I’m sorry.”

“Cricket, Oh my gosh…I don’t care about you knowing. I’m just trying to figure out why he didn’t tell me he told you.”

I nodded in agreement with her. “I don’t know either,” I lied.

“Cricket, I have to run; but please, oh please…take my number and let’s do lunch next week.”

“Absolutely.”

“Next week, Cricket.”

“Next week,” I assured her.

We hugged again, and she left the shop. I pulled out my wallet and fumbled for the business card I was seeking. When I found it, I dialed the number; it rung three times.

“This is D’Artagnan.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you safe?”

“Yes, I am; thanks to you.” We sat there not saying anything.

“I just saw O.”

“Cricket, you’re in Seattle?”

“Yes.”

“I have to see you.”

“Okay, I’m right around the corner from the office.”

“Come to the condo,” he said.

I hesitated. “Okay.”

“I’ll meet you out front. You can leave your car there. I will have the front desk park it in the garage.”

“Alright. I’ll see you in a bit.”

When I saw the familiar building, I smiled. I got out, and the door attendant asked me who I was there to see. D’Artagnan was standing at the front desk and he waved at the door attendant who held the door open for me. Randy jumped up from his station and slammed into me.

“Ms. Cricket!” We held each other for a minute and then he pulled back and righted himself. “It’s so good to see you; and Mr. Samson, is he well?”

“Yes, he’s very well.”

He smiled wide and walked back over to his desk. D’Artagnan yanked me up into a hug. I held him tight and whispered, “Thank you” into his ear. We walked to the elevator and went up to the eighth floor. D’Artagnan was still holding on to me as we walked through the front door. He told me to have a seat and brought two beers over to the couch. He asked me to tell him everything that happened after he left me that night.

When I was done with the story, he sat there holding an empty beer bottle.

“Do you want another?” he asked.

“No, I should really go. I have a few more things I need to do today.”

“Okay, let me walk you out.”

We got back on the elevator, and D’Artagnan hugged me again.

When the elevator doors opened and we stepped out, Randy stood and said, “I was just about to call you, Mr. Crain. Cricket, you have a package. It was just delivered.”

I looked at him and frowned. I looked up at D’Artagnan, and he looked just as confused as I did. “I’m still getting mail here?”

“No, ma’am; not until a few minutes ago,” Randy said.

I looked at D’Artagnan with wide eyes. “Where’s your phone?” I asked in a rush with my eyes on the door.

“Upstairs. Why?” he asked with caution in his voice.

“I don’t have Jyme’s number programmed in my phone. I need to call him now.”

Randy handed me the envelope, and then he punched something into the computer. “I still have your emergency information on file, Ms. Cricket.”

He clicked another button, and the printer behind him started warming up.

I turned the large manila envelope over and unsealed it. I pulled the three items out and turned all three photos over. There was a picture of the front of the safe house and two of the backyard. The front pictures showed a handful of familiar cars in the front drive. The two pictures from the backyard had one of everyone on the beach playing volleyball and one of me and Jyme kissing on the back steps. My heart stopped.

Randy handed me the paper with all the numbers on it. I reached into my side purse pocket, and I dialed the number next to Jyme’s name. The phone rang twice, and then someone answered.

“Jyme’s phone,” a cheerful man’s voice said.

“May I speak with Jyme?” I asked.

“I’m sorry; he’s detained at the moment.”

That very moment, there was piercing scream belting through the phone, and it turned my blood ice cold.

Chapter 5

HNIC

I
slid down to the floor of the lobby and held the phone to my ear.