Hindrance (8 page)

ONE MONTH LATER

NINA

Six miles was a personal best for me and I had hit it every morning for the last week. I was in the best shape of my life just by pushing a little harder. Cedric high fived me as we slowed ourselves to a stop. He was in amazingly great shape. He’d started joining me in the ocean and in the gym. We’d actually gotten to know each other pretty well in the last month. Though he refused to give up aerosol cheese, I had talked him into making better food choices. My health was a priority and hobby, and I felt amazing.

It had taken absolutely no time for me to accept that every day was Monday. All my emails were filtered by Taylor, and I made sure I had absolutely no knowledge of whether or not either man had tried to contact me. I changed my phone number and no one was allowed past my newly installed gate. This isolation had been by choice. I alone created the poison, and I alone created the remedy.

And of the latter, I was proud. It had been completely quiet as far as the threat on my life. Cedric had mentioned they were close to catching the driver of the car, and I knew it was just a matter of time. I still had some trust left, and my greatest allies were Taylor and Cedric.

Taylor had been absent lately, commuting back and forth from Savannah. My guess was a man, and after a thousand attempts to pry it out of her, Cedric told me as much.

Finally, Taylor has a man. Was that so damn hard?

I still hadn’t decided what to do with the land, though I knew by ridding myself of it I was all the wiser. I could no longer afford to care about the mystery behind it. When I wasn’t busy enough and was forced to think, I spent my time wondering what had caused so much hate between family.

And I thought mine was fucked up.

Realizing there were answers I would never get and would never seek, I’d decided I was better off not knowing. I had convinced myself of that. Somewhere deep inside and only late at night when sleep evaded me, a part of me that I wouldn’t let surface cried without tears. I’d cut her off completely from my daytime persona, and only when I lay in bed, weak with worsening thoughts, did I let her come out to remind me of Devin’s face twisted in agony at the sight of me, or Aiden’s promise to give me all that I needed before turning our relationship into a cruel joke on Devin.

Little by little, the woman who wished for a different outcome discarded her feelings subtly, like Andy discarded the rocks from his wall in that movie
Shawshank Redemption
. Little by little, I was moving a big mountain a few rocks at a time.

I went to bed after the first month, feeling accomplished. Being alone for the first time wasn’t so damned scary, and it wasn’t intimidating. It was just life. My life.

I looked to Cedric, who was still heavily winded, and smiled proudly as I walked out of the gym.

All I had to do was clear the air of my obvious distractions to see clearly. I was an ambitious, determined, wealthy woman with a strong, insatiable, sexual appetite who needed to take control of her life.

And so I did.

And you know what I found out? It was way harder to be weak.

Deciding never to set foot in at the Admiral’s Club again, for obvious reasons, I sipped a Tom Collins on the rooftop deck overlooking the sunset when my phone buzzed.

“Nina.”

“Hey, Taylor. I just got done with the meeting with Jones. He’s a weirdo. Like seriously, his inventions might be amazing, but I won’t see him again without Cedric.” Cedric, now an integral part of my world, had left me alone last night, confirming that they had found the man who attempted to take my life. I was celebrating my first night of real freedom and was excited to finally be back in control. “Come see me. I’m at the rooftop deck of the—”

“Nina, shut up and listen.”

“Okay,” I said carefully. “What’s your problem?”

“In Savannah, I’ve been frequenting a club called The Rabbit Hole.”

I sighed. “You know, Taylor, you finally want to talk about your shit and I’m finally over asking.”

“Please shut up.”

“Okay,” I said, sensing the seriousness in her voice.

“It’s a sex club. Do you know what I’m saying?”

Shocked at her admission, but willing to share, I admitted, “Yes, Taylor. I’ve had a Dom.” Well, actually
two.

“I know because he’s here.”

“Who?”

“Devin,” she answered in a hushed voice. I watched the sun drift beneath the horizon as the Ravenel Bridge lit up. The birds danced through the air in sendoff, as if to tell the sun goodnight. So many things had changed, and yet my love for this city remained the same. I stood still, admiring the harbor as I buried my emotion, playing immune to Taylor’s confession.

“Taylor, nothing surprises me anymore. Seriously, we really need to clear the air between us, you and I. And why should I care,” I continued in vain, already speed walking toward my car.

“I just thought it strange him being here.”

“Well, he
is
a newly divorced man and needs a new sub.” The news of Devin and Eileen’s divorce was unavoidable. It had been in every local paper, and our scene at the club only added to the already wagging tongues. I had managed to keep the media out along with everyone else in my life, including my mother turned stalker who had been the only one who’d almost successfully broken into my solid barrier.

Devin had actually done it. His divorce was finalized and his ex-wife was MIA, rumored to be vacationing overseas to avoid the embarrassment.

Godspeed, crazy bitch.

I got into my Mercedes and turned on the ignition as I spoke. “Let’s say for curiosity’s sake—”

“I’ll text you the address.”

“Taylor?” She’d already hung up.

I broke every speed limit between Charleston and Savannah as I rode down U.S. 17. Whatever Devin had been hiding, I was positive it had to do with that damned club. I cursed my stupidity for the laws I was breaking to spy on a man I swore I was done with. I had to justify to myself over and over that I was attempting to get answers I rightfully deserved. I had suffered a lot for little satisfaction and remained even less knowledgeable than when we’d started our affair.

If he was able to move on with another woman so quickly after he’d claimed he loved me, something inside of me had to see if for myself.

I thought of every conversation we’d had, and searched our dialogue for every clue, but not one led me anywhere. Devin had grown up in Savannah, that much I knew. He’d mentioned a few places he’d wanted to take me, none of them being a sex club. As much as I’d been reluctant to admit it, and as subtle as it had been, I was Devin’s sub. His
willing
sub, as I had been Aiden’s. This both fascinated and infuriated me. Why wouldn’t he just admit to being this way? I’d granted his every wish, and denied Devin
nothing
sexually.

Taylor’s apparently a member of the club, too. Hence the reason why she’s been so damn secretive. I should have guessed it. Was the entire world hiding behind a daytime mask? I knew I was. It simply made everything easier. My night demons were still haunting me, and as much as I tried to move on, memories played on a continuous loop. I needed answers.

Arriving at the club an hour and twenty minutes later, I cautiously pulled in to The Rabbit Hole, noticing the parking lot was full. Staring at the oddly carved doors, I realized they reminded me of the movie
Alice in Wonderland
.

Fitting name.

I wondered briefly what the inside of places like this were like before the reminder of why I was here in the first place burst through the double doors. Devin was hightailing it out of the club and running to his car like his life depended on it. I slumped in my seat, knowing he hadn’t seen me, and relieved he was alone.

Nope, nope, nope, nope, Nina. NO!

I waited for him to start his car, knowing if I didn’t catch him as soon as he pulled out I would never catch him. He was in a hurry. I turned on my lights and pulled up behind him just as he was turning out of the parking lot. He sped out as I followed him as closely as I could without seeming too obvious. When I started to recognize the route, I slowed behind him considerably, giving him more space. And with his final turn, I stopped altogether. He was on Peach Tree Rd.

The land. My land.

I’d only been out here one other time, just after I’d obtained it, but I had come alone, spending my time sitting next to the water, soaking in the beauty, and hoping I could make some use of it, though no idea ever stuck. Now I felt the dread in the pit of my stomach as I killed my lights a quarter mile away in the dark night, praying my silent Mercedes remained that way. Rolling down my windows as I approached, I noted Devin’s car parked next to the small shed. It was lit from within, and I felt my stomach roll.

That’s when I heard the first scream. I jumped in my seat, suddenly paralyzed as I hit the brakes. Waiting and listening for another, I prayed to God it was a figment of my imagination.

It wasn’t.

Another scream, followed by another, ripped through the dark night and the serenading of the crickets. Even they seemed to quiet after the next piercing howl. I picked up my phone to dial for help and realized I had no signal.

I had to help her.

You can do this, Nina.

My heel sank into the pluff mud and I left it there, swiftly relieving my foot of the other. Turning my head toward my idling car, I reassured myself that it was still there, the door left open in case I needed to escape in a hurry. Hearing another bloodcurdling scream, I walked toward the dim light. Fear shot through me in waves as Shel Silverstein’s words fumbled around in my head,
Clooney the Clown
a horrific internal monologue resounding through my frightened mind. My senses heightened with each step I took toward the cracked door. There was soft music playing in the background. I knew the song but couldn’t make out the words. It was upbeat and a little jazzy, and totally unfitting.

I could hear the crunch of crisp grass under my feet and then another scream echoed in the night. Reaching into my purse, I fumbled inside and let out a way too audible breath of relief when I felt the cold steel.

Another scream, louder, more desperate. Pain … this was pain.

“Enough!” It was a loud boom of a familiar male voice.

I recited the poem over and over in my head, the way I used to when I heard my parents fighting, and yet I knew that what I was about to see was far worse than what I used to hear. I took another step forward and a motion light came on, alerting my presence to those inside. Sweat from the humidity, along with adrenaline from fear, had me dripping, my now soaked blouse clinging to my torso.

Terror raced through my every pore as I gripped my gun and took aim in front of me.

A dark figure appeared out of the door, but I instantly knew who it was. He came toward me in a black blur, yelling my name as I squeezed the trigger with a scream of my own.

Devin went down, gripping his shoulder with a string of curses as I pointed the gun at him.

“What did you do, Devin?!” My voice was unrecognizable even to me; it was laced with fear and confusion.

“Nina, fuck, don’t shoot me again.” He tried to stand, but slumped down again next to the shed door with a wince, still gripping his shoulder.

“What the fuck did you do, Devin!” I roared as I moved closer, refusing to believe that my weapon would keep me safe. I was shaking and my gun looked like it was on vibrate. I pointed right at him as I approached the door with no choice but to either shoot him or go around him to get to whomever he’d hurt.

“Is she dead?”

“Nina, listen to me. Really listen, okay? Don’t open that fucking door.” Devin stood slowly on shaky legs, holding his shoulder as I pointed the gun at his head.

“Step back!”

He took a step back, his eyes pleading as he begged. “Baby, please listen to me. Don’t open that door!” The gentleness in his voice betrayed me, jogging my memory as tears fell at random, ignoring my need to be strong and in control.

“What did you do to her?” It was a hoarse whisper.

“Nina, I’m begging you. Don’t go in there.” He took a step forward and my hand stiffened at my head’s command.

“Step back, Devin!”

He took another step and stayed silent, accepting that I wouldn’t leave until I was satisfied.

I opened the door.