Dirty Truths (16 page)

Promise me some day, you, me, and Cadence will take off together. Run away from it all.

Wade’s voice whispered and she felt her mind go. Drifting between Daniel’s rough hands on her and Wade’s soft kisses, she struggled to hold on to reality.

Daniel moved behind her, shoving her around as though she were a rag doll but Kristina wouldn’t let him have the satisfaction of seeing how he damaged her soul with his actions. She’d get away some day, but not before Daniel paid for this.

The floor suddenly slammed against in her face, the carpet scratching her cheek as Daniel forced her down, his body on top of her, then inside. Kristina squeezed her eyes tight and wished him away. She heard Wade again, laughing softly, teasing her, his hand on her hair. He wouldn’t get away with this. Daniel had a weakness. She just had to find it.

***

Somewhere in her mind, she heard Cadence cry. Kristina forced her aching body from the floor. Daniel had left more than an hour before, promising to return. She shuddered as the feeling of his hands and his words filtered back through her mind. Nausea rose in her stomach. Her mouth filled with saliva. Lunging from the room, Kristina stumbled down the hall to the bathroom. She leaned over the bowl and retched as Cadence’s cries grew louder. She had to have seen her running past her door and now she was angry. But Kristina couldn’t stop now. As though a floodgate had opened, her body convulsed and she sobbed as she hung over the toilet.

Slowly it ebbed. Her stomach ached but didn’t revolt. She stood. Grabbing her robe from the door she wrapped it around her, gazing longingly at the shower. She desperately needed to wash him away. The stickiness between her legs combined with a dull ache reminded her with each tiny movement of what he’d just taken from her.

Cadence had to come first and she had to pull herself together if she hoped to stand against Daniel. Kristina walked to her daughter’s room, her mind attempting to push the last two hours far from her thoughts. She picked Cadence out of the crib and walked toward the stairs. She felt numb. Even her baby’s cheerful grin could not shake the sense of disbelief and denial hanging over her.

Settling Cadence on the floor with her blocks, Kristina jumped when a rap sounded at the door. Her eyes darted to the window and almost fainted at the empty driveway. Not Daniel. She ran to the door.

Wade stood in the early evening shadows, his eyes weary and his mouth set into a grim frown. “Can I come in?”

“Of course you can.” Her instinct was to unload and tell him everything, but something about the set of his shoulders and the tone of his voice stopped her.

“What did you tell Amy?” Wade stood next to the window, peering out at the street before turning to her. His eyes were red rimmed and he looked so tired.

“Nothing. Why?”

Wade slammed his fist against the wall, rattling the window.

Kristina jumped, hugging her arms around her.

“She’s a fucking bitch, that’s why. You don’t speak to her anymore. Is that clear?”

Laughing, already on the edge of hysteria, Kristina shook her head unable to believe he thought it was possible. “Are you serious? First of all, she’s friends with my mom, and second, you aren’t at the bar, she is. How am I supposed to not talk to her?”

Wade shoved away from the window and walked toward her.

Kristina flinched when he grabbed her arms and jerked her forward. A bubble of dread burst inside her at the look in his eyes. His face flushed, he stared so intently at her she had to look away. She didn’t recognize the man squeezing her arms so tight her hands tingled.

“I’m telling you to stay away from her. If I go to jail because of her, she’ll regret it. You don’t want to be mixed up in her shit. I don’t
want
you mixed up in it.” He snapped. Then the veil lifted from his face and he let go with a frown of confusion, as though not sure what he was doing.

“Why would she do that?” Kristina asked.

“There are some things going on. Things you’re better off not knowing. But Amy is in deep and she’s trying to bury me. She doesn’t care who she shoves down there in the process. I’m sorry I got a little crazy. I just can’t stand to see you hurt.”

“Okay.”

He ran his hands over his face.

She moved to put her arms around him, needing the embrace.

Wade welcomed her, kissing her face, her lips and running his hands over her back. “God, I wish I could hold you forever and just forget this bullshit.”

Kristina remembered the bruises, the traces of Daniel littered over her body and she froze. Wade couldn’t know this right now. He might do something reckless.

“I can’t though, I’m sorry,” he said, releasing her. “Can I bring something here? Something I don’t want you to look at. Just put it away so Amy can’t hand it over to the cops? I should have gotten rid of it a long time ago but there wasn’t time, and now, well now they’re watching me and I can’t get rid of it.”

“I can’t look at it?”

“It’s just a box of stuff, but it’s something law enforcement might frown upon.” He smiled.

Kristina nodded. It’s not like she was hiding a body, a box of guns or drugs or whatever wasn’t a big deal. She looked up at him and kissed his mouth. Wade wouldn’t do anything to endanger her life and if she hoped to go to that place somewhere far away from here, she’d have to help him through this bit of trouble.

And she desperately wanted to get far away from Laighton, and from Daniel.

CHAPTE
R 19

In her bath seat, Cadence splashed around in the water that pooled in the bottom of the tub. Kristina scrubbed her skin vigorously, wanting to wipe the memory of Daniel from her body. She longed for scalding water, so hot it burned her skin.

How long she remained in there, her body shaking while she soaped up and rinsed off, she wasn’t sure. When Cadence shivered, Kristina turned the water off and bundled the two of them in a big towel. Cadence yawned. She hurried to dress her in her pajamas before going downstairs to make something to eat.

The very idea of food made Kristina’s stomach churn. She wouldn’t risk eating. If Wade found her hurling into the toilet when he returned, he’d worry. Rushing around the house, Kristina set Cadence in her high chair and then heated some soup for her. Cadence clapped when she sat next to her, bowl in hand, and Kristina finally smiled. No matter what happened, she had her daughter. Daniel would have to take that gift from her cold dead hands.

She stiffened when the door opened, the spoon half way to Cadence’s mouth.

Cadence banged the highchair and squealed.

Wade chuckled. “Feed that kid, would you?”

She slumped and closed her eyes in relief. Then, she moved the spoon to Cadence’s mouth and turned with a smile. “You were fast. Where’s the box?”

“In the living room. It can wait.” Wade pulled out the chair next to her. He made a face at Cadence who rewarded him with a quick smile before banging on her tray, her signal for more food.

“Don’t you have to go?”

“Tonight I am yours. After that, I’m not sure what will happen.”

Kristina finished feeding Cadence the soup. When she scraped the last noodle from the
bowl, she stood and walked to the sink.

Wade moved to her chair where he played Itsy Bitsy Spider with Cadence.

Leaning against the counter Kristina hated herself for doubting him when Amy spewed her venom. This wasn’t a man who would use her, or who would do anything to put her in danger.

Wade made faces at Cadence and paused to glance at Kristina. “I noticed Daniel’s truck here earlier.”

Kristina turned to the sink. “He came to see Cadence.”

He didn’t need to know.

“It’s been a while. Why the sudden
fatherly
instinct?”

“Who knows?” Kristina clattered the few dishes in the sink and turned on the water. Wade and Cadence made noises behind her. He sang and Cadence giggled. She hoped he’d turn from the subject of Daniel.

“Did he wake you up?” He walked behind her, and then his body warmed her back.

“No. Why?”

Wade touched her shoulder.

She sighed and turned to him.

“When I got here earlier you were in your housecoat and your eyes were red. I didn’t say anything because I had to deal with the other shit, but I noticed.”

“Oh,” Kristina played with the cloth in her hand, winding it, twisting it, trying to form a lie he’d accept.

His hand brushed her cheek.

She closed her eyes.

“You should have looked in the mirror after your shower. I’m sure he left more than just this scrape. Actually, it looks like rug burn. What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing. I—”

“Don’t. Don’t ever lie to me. You’re terrible at it anyway.” He cradled her face in his hands and forced her to look at him.

Kristina’s stomach churned, she didn’t want to tell him. “He got mad. Someone told him about you and me, and he lost his temper,” she murmured.

“What did he do?”

“I don’t want to get into the details. Okay? I just want to enjoy what time we have and not let Daniel ruin anything else for me.”

“What did he do?” he repeated.

“I can’t talk about it. Please don’t ask me to. It’s too… I don’t even know if I can find the words. I will talk about it, just not today. I’m okay.”

Wade stared. A muscle twitched in his jaw but he nodded. “When this shit is settled with Amy and the cops, I’m paying him a visit. I don’t care if he’s Cadence’s dad. You have no say in the matter. Understood?”

Kristina stared. Did she want him to do something? Yes and no… she didn’t know. She wanted Daniel gone, but not if it cost Wade his freedom. His eyes bored into hers, waiting for her to do as she always did and defend Daniel. Kristina couldn’t defend him anymore. Wade wouldn’t do as she asked anyway.

“I could argue, but there’s no point. Let’s deal with this box of yours so we can do something else.”

“Something else? Sounds tempting.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek and then turned. “I want you to hide it somewhere no one would look for it. I thought maybe the basement. You have all kinds of boxes down there.”

“How do you know?” Kristina lifted Cadence from her highchair and then followed him to the living room, relieved he let her off the hook. She couldn’t even put into words what had happened with Daniel. She wanted to forget; if that were possible.

“I’ve been down to the basement. I had to get a flashlight. Remember when the lights went out during the storm a couple weeks ago?”

“I forgot, of course.” Kristina didn’t remember him going to the basement, but perhaps he did so while she slept.

Wade went to the base of the stairs, near the front door in the living room and bent to retrieve a medium sized box. Setting Cadence on her mat and moving a doll next to her she waited for Wade to bring it over. The sides were battered, and layers of tape covered it but the flaps weren’t sealed, simply folded over themselves to keep it shut.

“Don’t even think about it once you’ve put it away. If you toss it from your mind there’s less chance of you slipping and mentioning it by mistake.” Wade passed it over. It was surprisingly heavy.

“Okay.”

Kristina carried it behind the stairs and to the small door that led to the cramped hole some nutty builder considered a basement. She waited for Wade to close it behind her. Cadence would scurry over, if she noticed the forbidden door was open. Down the small set of wooden stairs, she paused at the bottom to pull a string hanging overhead. A bare bulb lit the small space.

She chuckled softly. Wade had labeled the top of the box ‘Xmas decorations’ in black marker. She set it on top of a stack of other boxes marked ‘Cadence Summer One Year’ and next to ‘Xmas Tree’. Then, worried it might be too obvious, she shifted the boxes so Wade’s was nestled down the pile and moved the other Christmas stuff in front of it. Satisfied she rushed back upstairs.

***

As Wade weaved in and out of traffic, a horn blared behind him. He ignored it. Before he did anything else, he had a score to settle. He didn’t expect to see so much traffic on the road before seven.

Kristina had been strangely quiet when he told her what he planned to do. Did she hope he’d leave Daniel alone? Did she think her quiet acceptance would make him reconsider? If so, she was wrong. This time, Daniel had gone too far.

Wade’s chest tightened at the memory of her bruises, angry bluish marks along her thighs and across her arms. The welts on her stomach and breasts brought bile to his throat. The tooth marks on her back…
Motherfucker!
He hadn’t wanted to touch her, he’d been so angry. But that would punish her and Wade didn’t want Kristina to feel she was to blame.

His cell rang. Wade picked it off the seat to check the number. “Fuck,” he opened it and drew it to his ear.

“Where are you?” Thomas sounded annoyed.

“On the road, headed to Salach. Why?”

“Fucksakes, W. You’re supposed to be going the other direction.”

“I have some business to attend to.” Wade stepped on the brake as he approached a blue Taurus. The driver must have thought it was Sunday. The speed limit was eighty, not ten. He weaved around him and stepped on the gas as he came through an intersection, ignoring the yellow caution light.

Thomas sighed. “Is this business related to your friend?”

“What friend?”

“Come on now, don’t play dumb with me. My tail saw the Dodge too. Heard some noise.”

“And he just watched?” The tail and Wade would have a little talk later. He cursed.

Thomas tsked. “Now, don’t get riled up. It’s not worth it. You need to look at the bigger picture. Pull over.”

“No, I—”

“Pull the fuck over!”

Wade ground his teeth but slowed the truck, steering until the wheels crunched the soft gravel of the shoulder. “Done.”

“Now listen to me very carefully. You are out of control, and I can’t have that. Got it?” Thomas sounded calm, as though talking to a wayward child. Wade didn’t appreciate the patronizing tone.

“Got it.” He stared out at the fields. A lone cow meandered across a muddy expanse. He wondered if it had wandered through a broken fence. Though why he cared, he didn’t know.

“The business you’re attending to is nothing new. He’s knocked her around before, and he’ll probably do it again before you can deal with him.”

“He didn’t just knock her around. He fucking raped her.”

“I said listen, didn’t I?”

Wade bit his tongue.

Thomas continued. “You can do this shit later, when the heat is off. Got it? You can’t afford to raise eyebrows. He’s not going anywhere.”

“Later? When’s that? After he kills her?”

“We’re keeping a close eye on things, and we won’t allow that to happen. Come on, W. Have I ever let you down?”

“No.” A large transport rumbled past. The ground shook beneath him.

“Turn the truck around and do what has to be done. You won’t help her from behind bars, will you?”

“No.”

“Good. I’ll see you in an hour.” Thomas hung up.

Wade gripped the phone, the plastic dug into his palm. Glancing in the rearview, he cranked the wheel and spun out of the ditch, turning back to Laighton.

***

Chirping outside the window, loud and obnoxious, woke Kristina from her nap. Wade had left early and she’d stayed up long after, thinking. When Cadence yawned, ready for her nap, Kristina couldn’t keep her eyes open. She laid Cadence in her crib, climbed into her own bed, and pulled Wade’s pillow to her face.

He’d noticed the bruises on her thighs, his face reddening when he’d traced them with trembling hands. Kristina waited for the explosion but it didn’t come.

“No more arguments.” Wade growled, leaning over to kiss the welt on her knee. “He’s gone too far this time.”

She had nodded.

Part of her cheered him on, but secretly hoped by the time they dealt with Amy and Wade’s legal troubles he’d forget about Daniel. She didn’t want to have Wade all to herself, just to lose him.

Stretching and kicking the sheet from her body, Kristina sat up. She rubbed her face and groaned when Cadence’s cries erupted through the monitor. So much for relaxing on the couch for a while. She stood and walked to the doorway her gaze catching a wad of banknotes lying on her dresser. Cadence’s cries turned to babbles. When Kristina picked up the money and a piece of paper fell to the floor. She picked it up, recognizing Wade’s neat scrawl immediately.

I forgot to mention you’re not to go into work. Please listen to me on this. Under no circumstances are you to go into the bar. I told them you took some holidays. This should cover your bills. I’ll make sure I get more to you somehow.

Love you,

W.

P.S. Do not let Daniel back in the house. Call the police if you have to.

She stared at the letter, the money forgotten. Two words. Small, but powerful. Words he’d never so much as whispered last night because he’d been so angry. She’d needed to hear him say them more than anything else.
Love you.
Kristina drew a hand to her mouth and stifled a sob. She’d wanted to say so much to him before he left but she’d chickened out, worried his feelings might have changed.

Kristina stuffed the paper into her top drawer, beneath her underwear and socks. She picked up the money. Where the hell was she going to put this? Shaking her head, she wedged it with the note. She’d figure out what to do with it later.

Cadence yelled, irritated that her mother didn’t rush to see to her, and clapped her hands when Kristina entered the room. She bounced, holding onto the rail of her crib.

Smiling, Kristina picked the baby up and kissed her curly head. “Want to go for a walk?”

“Ma?” Cadence cocked her head to the side.

Kristina couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled to her throat. “Yes, a walk.” She set Cadence in her bouncy chair and went to the basement door.

She kept the stroller at the base of the stairs, using the smaller umbrella stroller most days. But she had to pick up groceries and other odds and ends so the bigger stroller would come handy.

The steps groaned as she jogged to the bottom to collect the folded stroller. She’d forgotten to turn off the light the day before and reached to pull the string. Her gaze wandered to the boxes stacked on the right side of the room.