Reckless (17 page)

“Don’t want to play with her.” She whimpers.

“Why not?” He asked as she remains silent. “Lillah, why not?”

“I don’t like her, Daddy.”

I look at the little disgusting, nuisance appalled. “That isn’t nice Lillah, why would say that?”

Fidgeting she keeps trying to get back into Sean’s arms rather than explain herself. “Cause … she stinks.” Sean glances back at me with a strange expression. “Come on Lillah,” Sean said picking the child up and letting her bury herself back into his arms. “I think it is best I take Lillah to my mother’s Rebecca, thanks for the offer. And don’t forget to stay away from Ava.” Sean leaves abruptly without any explanation.

I try unsuccessfully to sneak into the house and make sure Ava is still drinking her tea but that Edelmira acts like she is working for the secret service and Ava is her charge. I spend the rest of the day bored out of my mind, waiting for Joel to come home. I had been staring at the door for hours when he enters.

“What’s wrong with you?” He asked walking past me to the bar.

“That bitch has been laid up in secure quarters all day.”

“So?”

“
So?
So she’s not drinking her tea I am sure of it.”

“How do you know? Because the Gestapo Witch has been making her special meals and drinks to help her get better.”

“You will just have to think of something else Rebecca.”

“Me? Why does it always have to be me?”

“Because dear, you’re the one that wants her husband.”

“And what exactly is it that you want my beloved?” I said sarcastically as he sits down.

“His life as he knows it … destroyed,” Joel said relaxing comfortably into a chair.

Sean

The last few weeks have been excruciating. It was all I could do to concentrate on getting up in the morning, forget about trying to go on each day as if my life is perfectly fine. My wife can barely stand up straight, her eyes have been noticeably dilated at times, she barely eats at all and I’m not sure she is in touch at all with reality. I do not know who she is anymore. The strong, vibrant woman I fell in love with has become … I don’t know. Then there is Jasper. After I drop off Lillah at my mother’s I stop by Ava’s office to let Kyle know how she is doing and to my surprise Jasper is here too.

The moment I walk in, Kyle runs up to me, “Whoa, Sean, please don’t start anything here.”

“I only want to talk to him, Kyle.” I said concentrating on my breathing. Jasper gets up and walks over to me but remains more than arms length distance. “What is going on with you and my wife? And you better not lie to me.”

“There is nothing going on between them, Sean. I can’t believe you won’t believe her!” Kyle yells at me.

“I am talking to him … so, Jasper, what is going on between you and Ava?”

“Nothing is going on between us. She told you that, hell she hit me when I simply tried to kiss her on the cheek.” I roll my eyes. “I don’t know how all this got started but believe me there has been absolutely nothing but business between us. She was so afraid you would be angry with us working together she would work from home on the days I was working here. The night at your house was the first time I have seen her in months.”

“Then why were you there?” I asked him but he shakes his head. “You’re not going to tell me?”

“I … I guess I was hoping to make you mad enough to leave her so she would run back to me for comfort.” He said strangely. Kyle looks at him in shock.

“But that’s not why.” Kyle said before Jasper shakes his head at him.

I take a second to rub my face and consider the events and that my wife was telling me the truth after all. I turn to walk out but then remember something else she said and he confirmed. I turn and step to Jasper quickly, “By the way, don’t ever touch my wife again.” I say punching him in the jaw.

I bargain with Kane to save the last scene for the next day, so I can leave early. The drive to and from home is a rare peace lately, I usually welcome it although tonight I am anxious to see Ava. I hesitate getting out of my car, breathing in and out forcefully to prepare myself for whatever might be waiting for me inside. As soon as I get out of the car I hear the dogs going nuts, and my head immediately starts pounding.
Who put them outside, they won’t be happy unless they are with Ava?
They are muddy and a complete mess as they fight to get inside.
I hold them back from getting inside,
“Boys go play, I don’t feel like cleaning you up just yet.” I ease into the house hoping they will be quiet long enough for my headache to go away. Of course, they sit right outside the door whimpering as they look up at me with innocent eyes. “Ten minutes, that’s all I ask,” I said before making my way to our room. As soon as I reach the hall, I see Joel opening the door to our bedroom.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I yelled startling him.

“I thought I would check on Ava,” Joel said releasing her door.

“Why? I specifically said for no one to bother her.”

Joel looks around nervously as he grips his mouth, “Honestly Sean, I had a suspicion about what the problem may be but I wasn’t sure until Rebecca told me about a man showing up here earlier … to bring her these.” Joel said holding up a bottle of pills. “I think you should search the house for more, there is no telling how much more she has.” He said handing me the bottle of pills. “I was hoping I wouldn’t find anything and then you wouldn’t be hurt anymore than you have been but … you have to do something to help her Sean. You have no other choice.”

I stare at him in disbelief, “How … how would Ava even know how to get these?”

“Apparently she does. I hate to ask this Sean, but how well do you really know her?”

I go into our room and Ava instantly sits up groggy but curious. “Where did you get these?” I said holding up the bottle of pills to her but she simply shakes her at me.
Sighing.
I look around the room and begin going through all her drawers.

“What are you doing?” Ava asked.

“I’m searching for more.” I said but I find nothing in our room but I do in her office. My whole body sinks as I take the other bottle to show her.

“That’s not mine.” She says looking at me in shock.“I saw you Ava, your eyes dazed, your hands shaking and you wouldn’t eat. I watched you get worse and worse, hoping, praying that you would handle it on your own. I thought you were stronger than this.”

“I didn’t take them, he’s been sneaking them to me somehow.” She said pointing at Joel. “I can’t believe you don’t believe me, you especially, I would think you would believe me.” She said tears suddenly flowing down her face.

“I want to get you some help,” I said watching her close her eyes hard. “I only want to get you some help, stop being so stubborn and let me.” I sit next to her calmly. “Please, Ava. I love you. I only want to help you get better so you can come back to me. There is no reason you should have to take drugs to get over your past.” I hold her face still as she cries and nods, hugging me tight as I exhale in relief. Wiping my tears away I hold her out from me and force a smile, “Ethan found a place that can help, I haven’t seen it myself yet but I will go do that now and if it seems right then I will make …” I breathe in deeply facing my own reality. “I will make arrangements for you. Okay?” She nods reluctantly and I kiss her gently before leaving her.

Ava

As soon I hear Sean leave, I jump out of bed and pack my bags. I have to get away from here, I need some time to think. I do not know what is happening to me but I know I am not doing it to myself. I gather my things and rush through my door running right into Joel.

“Going somewhere?” Joel asked while threatening me backwards.

“Get out of my way.” I said trying to look strong.

Joel laughs, “You’re still weak aren’t you. It’s okay, Sean is going to put you somewhere that will help you.”

“I’m not going, now get out of my way.”

“Oh I think you are … unless you want me to help you.”

“Help me? How can you help me?”

“Well I am Sean’s best friend, he trusts my opinion on things. I can talk him into giving you another chance. Keep you around for awhile. You know as soon as he puts you away, he’s going to forget about you.” I shake my head but he laughs at me. “Oh Ava, don’t fool yourself. It happened to Rebecca, out of sight, out of mind and
you
will be, very soon. But if you do some things for me then I might be willing to help you out.”

“I’m not doing anything for you.” Joel shakes head, looking down at his hands as he pulls out rope from his back pocket. Panicked, I shove my suitcase into his chest and run past him but he catches up with me and holds me down, while I scream. “Sean will find out and he will kill you!”

“Sean isn’t going to find out anything, he doesn’t believe a word you say remember? You’re a drug addict whore, who sleeps around. Trust me he isn’t going to give a shit about you when I am done.”

I scream harder, fighting him until ...
Whack! … Whack! … Boom!
Joel pauses after the loud crash startles us both but the sudden rumbling coming from the floor beneath me, causes me to smile. Rondo and Prince round the corner with their target’s image mirrored in their eyes. I lay flat on the ground as they both fling themselves atop of Joel, showing no mercy to his screams. Jumping up I immediately grab my bags, call for the boys, and take them both along with me as I drive away.
I don’t know where I am going, but anywhere is better than here.

Rebecca

As soon as I saw Joel leave with that rope and the needle, I knew he was asking for more than we are both willing to bargain for. He told me to follow, he told me to bring the video camera but I can’t see this going the way he thinks it will. He should have just let her go, let Sean put her in that rehab place. He is so damn stubborn, I know he has been set on having her since he first laid eyes on her. He has been determined to win her over and steal her from Sean. Only Ava, is only interested in being his friend. Now he has lost his damn mind and he is going to take me down with him, if I’m not careful.
While searching the guesthouse, I hear the dogs going nuts and I do not dare go outside now. They sound like they are going to kill somebody. As soon as the thought enters my head I hear the crash followed by Joel’s screams.
Shit! What the hell am I going to do now?
Remembering back to how I got the last bit of money from Joel’s father, I take in a deep breath and then slam the door against my arm and then my face before throwing myself down the stairs.
I hope I got blood everywhere because that hurt like hell.
I take a half a step outside
wondering what to do next when I see Ava rushing down the drive with both dogs. I look back at the destruction of the now open house and stand frozen as Joel hobbles towards me.

“Have you lost your mind?” I asked him.

“What the hell happened to you?” He asked.

“I’m covering my ass, because you are obviously going to be killed.”

“She’s gone and is probably never coming back. I will tell Sean that she was trying to get away and I held her back but that the dogs thought I was hurting her and attacked me, helping her get away.” He said as he walks into the guesthouse and cleans himself up.

“Okay boy wonder? What are you going to do when she does come back?”

“
If
, … if she comes back. And if that happens, I doubt he believes her, he is getting ready to put her away. She will probably go straight to the loony bin before he hears her say anything.”

“Well excuse me if I don’t take part in this crazy plan.”

“Fine Rebecca! Do whatever you want. Stay here and makeup your own little stories, handle it all on
your own. Hell, call Ethan, he has been so helpful to you in the past.”