Tryst (16 page)

Another few weeks pass and it’s pretty quiet. The chatter concerning her mother has died down some. Now that it’s been let out Bentley will be at a signing this week, everything is in place. They will grab Bentley, her mom will hand them the money, she will get arrested, and my girl goes home. That’s the plan, but plans often have a way of deviating, and I’m planning for the next to worst. I can’t plan for the worst because I can’t even imagine a life without Bentley in it any more than I could imagine living without having to breathe.

I can’t think of anything better than waking up with the girl I love in my arms. Too bad she isn’t there, though. Instead, I’m sitting downstairs pacing the fucking floor, panicking over every fucking thing that could go wrong today. It’s supposed to be simple. Cage’s boy will grab her and take her to some warehouse where several men will be waiting for her mother. As soon as the bitch drops the money they’ll take her into custody. Simple as that, yet here I am thread-bearing her carpet as I pace. I get that she needs to be caught in the act, but they have enough evidence on tape to nail this bitch. I don’t see why they have to endanger Bentley in the process. This shit is going to scar her even more, and I have to stay on the fucking sidelines with my mouth shut.

I’ll be at the signing with her, but knowing I have to leave her side, and knowing what’s going to go down is making me physically ill. This is going to destroy her. She’s so fucking excited about today, and that whore is going to ruin it. I’m a fucking bastard. I should have told her, and I should have warned her. I know my baby. I know she could have pulled this off and made it look real. I don’t want to witness the terror in her eyes as this unfolds, because it will fucking ruin me. My only solace is in the knowledge she’ll never know I knew about it. It’s already been cleared that Cage’s and my name will never be mentioned throughout any of what’s to come.

I load the trunk with the couple of bags and mini suitcases she has filled with books and different items to be given away to fans and event-goers. As I come back into her house, I can hear her above me as she walks back and forth across the room, changing her outfit again, no doubt. This day can’t possibly end quickly enough. I want this over. I don’t want her to ever have to worry about this bitch again, and I want her in my arms tonight where she belongs. Bentley and I may not have been together for long, but she’s the only woman I can see spending my life with. Aggie always told me when it’s real love, true love, it will hit you like a freight train. Well, I’m pretty sure I was hit by that train when I ran into her in that hotel lobby half a year ago.

Chapter 15

Bentley

I couldn’t possibly be more excited than I am in this moment. To be able to do a signing right here at home is a dream come true. I have had so much wonderful support, and I can’t wait to meet my fans. Best of all, I know Tristan will be there with Ele, and knowing I have them there makes this even more special. I’m practically bouncing around my room as I get dressed, putting the finishing touches to my outfit.

As I step outside, Tristan is leaning up against my car waiting ever so patiently. I practically skip over to him and stand on my tip toes to deliver what was meant to be a small kiss on the lips. He, however, takes the opportunity to turn my peck on the lips into a mouth melting duel for control of each other’s tongues. I swear I lose all sense in the presence of this man, as well as all track of time. By the time I pull away were now running fifteen minutes late and neither one of us can catch our breath. Yet I can’t think of a better way to start my morning.

By the time we get to the signing venue, I’m rushing around like a mad woman trying to get my table set up, while Tristan goes to greet Ele.  Another half hour passes, and people are starting to come through the doors while I’m still putting everything in its place. A kiss across the back of my neck has me turning to see the man I’ve come to call my own, sans shirt, just like he is on the cover of Ele’s book. He is looking good enough to eat. OK, well maybe not eat, but I wouldn’t mind licking every inch of him in this moment.

I’m trying hard not to be jealous. Every time I look up, some new girl has her hands all over Tristan. I get it comes with the territory, not too many women wouldn’t sexually objectify Tristan. One in particular, though, can’t keep her hands to herself. She’s another author who Tryst mentioned was trying hard to get him on her next cover, and had big tour plans set for him. I laughed pretty hard at him when he mentioned her wanting to share a room and possibly a bed. I thought he was joking until he turned a bit green in the face. So now here I am, trying hard not to give the bitch my death stare.

Looking around the room, I spot a girl I haven’t met before and decide to say hello. She’s really sweet, but on the shy side, which doesn’t get her much attention in a place like this. After talking for a while and exchanging numbers I tell her to give me a call if she’d like to hang out while she’s in town. Since a few people are finally coming over to mingle, I excuse myself and head back to my table.

I’m having a blast meeting with all of these awesome people who have supported me over the years, and chatting with the author at the table next to me. However, my entire world comes crashing down around me when a voice I had hoped to never hear again rings out against all others.

“Only you would be stupid enough to attend an event in the town you live in. I mean why not just paint a sign on your back saying, “Here I am.” Honestly, no daughter of mine could ever be so stupid, but then again you were never truly a daughter of mine,” she stated, through gritted teeth. “I really should have had the doctor drop you or something. I swear, if your father wasn’t so damn pathetic you would have never existed in the first place. No matter, that’s what mommy’s here for,” she speaks in a hushed tone so others can’t hear, “to make sure no one will ever remember your pathetic existence. Sure, some idiot who reads the garbage you supply might miss your trash. I’d even dare say the sexy piece of ass you’ve bagged might miss you, at least until he realizes just how much of a filthy whore you are. Then even he won’t wonder what became of you. Do you really think people will miss a disgusting, vile, little slut like you? Of course, now thoughts of you will be right up there with remembering to take out the trash,” she snides.

I can feel Tristan behind me as the tears burn down my face. The humiliation of that moment, of him hearing it all, tears through me as if I am being ripped to pieces. I stand there unmoving as her eyes rake over Tristan before speaking once again, a sickeningly sweet smile across her face, “Ta-ta for now darling, you and I will be seeing each other again real soon.” The words are more than a threat. They are a promise.

I stand there as Tristan tries his best to calm me, but my nerves are shot. A wave of panic sets through me knowing it’s only a matter of moments before she has my address. A million thoughts hit me at once. I need to leave. I can’t stay here. I should go now. I should pack up and just leave. A thousand terrifying scenarios run through my head at the idea of her really making good on her promise. I’ve been able to hide from her for six years, yet she finds me in my own town. I think about it as I wonder where I slipped up. I’m usually so careful. I’ve never made a mistake before now. I never let it be publicized that I’ll be signing. I never announce it for this very reason. Yet here I stand, shaking, in the middle of a banquet room because my worst fears just became a reality… she’s found me.

Tristan

I watch as the terror crosses Bentley’s face, fucking destroyed by the fact there is nothing I can do to stop it. I know this bullshit needs to happen. Not the bitch’s words, but her actions. As I listen to her degrade Bentley, though, I’d like to shove my fist down her throat. I’ve never hit a woman before, but I don’t think I’d hold back if given the chance to beat that monstrous bitch to death. It would be a slow, agonizingly painful fucking death. I’ve never wished so many bad things on a person as I wish on this slutbag.

The hatred marring this bitch’s face as she degrades my baby makes me fucking furious, but the defeat on Bentley’s face is telling a story I never want to read. She believes this shit. She actually believes if something were to happen to her no one would care, and no one would miss her. I want to fucking shake the shit out of her. I’d search every inch of this fucking earth to find her. I would tear everything this fucking cock sucking whore loves to pieces until I found my girl. No way in fucking hell would my heart be able to beat without her.  This bitch is out of her mind, trying to fill her head with this shit.

I wrap my arms around Bentley as security removes her mother. I pull her to me, as her mother continues to shout her bullshit. I can feel how badly she’s shaking in my arms, yet she hasn’t let a single tear fall. My Spitfire is the strongest woman I’ve ever met. Even with all of the shit this woman throws at her, she still refuses to show her any fear.

I know it is stupid to hope somehow this bitch would have changed her mind. I didn’t really expect her to show up, but after the showdown she just had with my girl, the rage is written on her face. I stand here holding her as the onlookers watch in morbid fascination. I’m sure some asshole is probably recording all of this shit to stick on YouTube later on. It boils my fucking blood that she has to go through this shit, especially here where the locals know who she is.

The moment I get her away from the crowd of people that have gathered, she falls apart in my arms. I try soothing her as I rub her back and hold her close, but nothing eases the sobs wracking her entire body. For a moment I reconsidered allowing this plan to come to fruition. I don’t know if I can stomach her being any further traumatized. The more I consider it though, the more I think if we don’t do this now, who the fuck knows what that crazy bitch will cook up. I’m sure one of her favorite pastimes is trying to think of new ways to break Bentley. I let the knowledge that knowing she will at least be safe this way be my deciding factor.

Chapter 16

Bentley

There is a small comfort in being in the arms of someone you love. Sure it’s taken several months to get to this point, but I can finally admit to myself that I love Tristan. I feel safe in his arms, like I’m untouchable. Having him here with me to face my mother gives me a sense of strength I didn’t even know I had.  I convince him, as much as myself, that I can finish out this day’s events, and face the onslaught of murmurs and stares as I go back to my table.  The rest of the event goes off without a hitch, and I find myself worrying less about my mother’s threats.

A sense of dread overcomes me as I get ready to leave the building. Tristan went ahead with my bags so I didn’t have to carry them.  As I walk to the car, the sound of screeching tires halts me. I turn around to find a dark van pulling up next to me. A door opens and a man in a ski mask jumps out. My flight response kicks in as I take off running. He’s a lot faster than I am, and I’m quickly knocked to the ground. I fight back as hard as I can, trying to break free as he tries to pull me into the van. Using everything I had been taught, I attack with all the force I can muster. Slamming my head back, a loud crunch followed by a low cursing, lets me know I hit my mark. His grip loosens a bit and I try to break free once again but fail. Smashing my foot into his instep he lets out another small yelp but doesn’t release me. As he shoves me through the door of the van I kick my foot up connecting hard with his balls. I try once more to get free and jump out the door but something slams into my head and everything goes black.

When I wake up I’m in a damp, dark room that I can only assume is a basement. I can hear voices, but I can’t make out what they are saying. There are at least two voices, though, and the sound of a woman cackling makes my blood run cold as the panic sets it. My mother, she actually went through with it. A sense of dread falls over me as I search for a way out. All of the windows are boarded up and there is no light coming through, which tells me the sun has set.

A rattle at the door draws my attention as I debate whether to try and run or pretend not to be awake yet. I decide last minute to run, but I can’t. My hands and feet are both bound with rope. As every single moment in my life flashes across my mind, I think of so many things I wish I had done, and words I wish I hadn’t left unsaid. I think of Tristan, and my heart hurts knowing I may never see him again. The idea that I won’t hear the sound of his voice, or taste him against my lips breaks my heart. A tear falls knowing I’ll never get to tell him I love him.

The door opens and I see two sets of shoes enter. One is a pair of shiny red heels belonging to my mother, and the other is a pair of black sneakers belonging to a man I’ve never seen before. I try to lift my head but it’s pounding from both the man I head butted, and whatever was cracked against me. Pain rips through my head as she yanks my hair, pulling my head back to face her.

“Not so tough without your little bodyguard are you? Why he’d even bother with a little tramp like you is beyond me. Don’t worry though sweetie, mommy will make sure he forgets all about you. Shit, by the time I’m through fucking your boy toy, he won’t even remember your name, just like nobody else will,” she spit, before letting go of my head and stepping back.

“I expect the job to be done well. Let her rot down here a few days before you get rid of her. I want to make sure there is plenty of media attention circling around her abduction before her body is found. Make sure she can be identified. Other than that, I want the little bitch to suffer. She’s been the bane of my existence,” she growls, before stomping the heel of her stiletto between my hands, grinding into the palm and twisting the heel before pulling it back away.

I let out a small scream as the pain shoots through it, trying in vain to sooth it with my other hand, but the ropes are cutting into my wrists. I watch as blood pools around where the ropes broke through the skin. I vaguely hear them discussing the terms of payment, but the ringing in my ears makes it impossible to hear any words clearly.  I’ve never hated anyone as much as I hate this woman. The idea of her putting her hands anywhere near Tristan has me dry heaving.

I don’t know how much time has passed. I’m freezing in this small room and the light coming through the boards tells me it’s at least daybreak. The pounding in my head continues, as I slowly fall in and out of consciousness. I’m woken briefly by the sounds of arguing voices. My mother’s voice rings through as she starts screaming at someone. I can’t make out the words to their argument, but it escalates as I hear furniture crashing around. The sound of a key slipping into the lock is the last thing I recall as my mind fades to darkness.

The next time I wake, I’m in a small room with monitors beeping and bright lights burning my eyes. A small group of men are huddled near the door speaking in muffled voices. My stirring must have alerted one of them as they all turn in my direction. I can’t clearly understand what any of they are saying, as they all seem to be speaking at the same time. A nurse pushes past them to check my vitals and hands me a small cup of water that I drink with desperation. Confusion washes over me as she explains how I’ve suffered a concussion.  Once my head settles, a large man breaks away from the group and takes a seat next to the bed.

“How are you feeling Miss Celeste?” he asks, with concern. “I have to apologize for the ordeal you went through, but I assure you we only did what was necessary. As I’m sure you’re aware, your mother hired a couple men to abduct and murder you. While it’s not exactly clear why she would want you dead, we have learned some troubling things concerning your past. I am truly sorry for the suffering you’ve had to deal with at your mother’s hands. As I was saying, the men she hired are actually undercover agents. Since she went as far as to bring you across state lines, it became federal jurisdiction. Your mother is currently in custody on several charges, including kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, and assault. Well, you get the picture. We have enough evidence to lock her away for a long time.”

I look at him with confusion, “I don’t understand how this happened, if you knew she was going to do this why didn’t you stop her before? Why did I have to go through all of this?” I ask, my voice weary and tired from the ordeal.

“I am truly sorry, Miss, but the only way we could have been able to charge her was for her to actually complete the transaction. Once she made a cash exchange, we were able to arrest her. I know this must be very difficult for you, but believe me if there was another way for this to have transpired we would have done it.  I have to say though, you should be very proud of yourself. You put up one hell of a fight. If you weren’t up against a trained professional, chances are you would have escaped, as it is you broke Logan’s nose,” he utters, with amusement.

I want so badly to go home, to crawl into my bed and lock myself away. Apparently, I suffered several bruises and scrapes to my body and face during transport and while unconscious. I am informed my mother took a few cheap shots in those moments, but none of that matter now. The doctor says I’ll be released some time tomorrow after they run a few more tests and confirm there isn’t any swelling. I ask the nurse to refuse all visitors. I don’t think I can handle it. I’m already hurting, and to see the looks of pity and sympathy would just add to my misery.

The nurse comes in a short while later, making small talk and checking up on me. After giving me another dose of pain medication and threatening me with bad disco music, she convinces me to eat. I feel bad because eating isn’t really the problem, it’s the holding it down part that doesn’t seem to stick. I have three cracked ribs and two others are bruised, making it even more painful when I puke up the small amounts I’ve eaten. It isn’t until after I successfully hold down a few mouthfuls of chicken broth, that she leaves, and I decide to try and get some sleep.

Tristan

Stepping up to the nurse’s station I ask for Bentley’s room. The woman looks up and tells me she’s not accepting visitors. After informing her and several others there must be some mistake, the doctor overseeing her care comes out to fill me in on what’s going on.

“I’m very sorry, Mr.- ?”

“Reece, Tristan Reece. My girl is in one of these rooms but these ladies here,” I say, nodding to the girls at the desk, “won’t let me see her. They said she’s refusing to see anyone, but that’s bullshit. No way would she not be willing to see me,” I reply, frantically.

“I apologize, Mr. Reece, but Miss Celeste has requested no visitors. She’s been through quite an ordeal and I honestly think it’s in her best interest that she be given time to come to terms with what happened to her. She will be released tomorrow, but otherwise, I’m afraid I can’t let you see her.”

I slam the door as I get back in the car, fuming at the shit that just went down. How the fuck could she not want to see me? For a minute I wonder if she knows that it was Cage and I that set the whole thing up, granted that shit didn’t go down like it was supposed to. Bentley was never meant to get hurt, and she sure as hell wasn’t supposed to end up in the hospital with a concussion. Cage’s boy told us it took longer than expected for her mother to bring the funds. Since they weren’t willing to compromise the case and risk the bitch hiring someone else, they kept Bentley in that fucking basement. She stayed down there for thirty-six fucking hours freezing, with no food or water.

It makes my fucking stomach churn knowing it’s my fault. If I hadn’t insisted on ending this shit, Bentley wouldn’t be in the hospital right now. The doctor mentioned several bruised ribs as well as sores all over her body from being kicked while she was unconscious. By the time the deal was done, Bentley was bordering on hypothermic and drenched in piss, which clearly wasn’t all hers. There was mention of someone pissing or throwing piss on her while she was passed out. Hearing shit like that happened to her, it sent me into a blind rage.

I didn’t make it through the conversation before Cage was pulling me off the fucker who had done it. I wanted to beat the son of a bitch to death. If Cage hadn’t got in the way, I probably would have. As it is, I broke his jaw and three ribs. I also dislocated the cocksucker’s shoulder. Even that doesn’t ease the pain I know I caused her. I pray to fucking God she never finds out we did this, because I’m not sure she could ever forgive either of us. I’m not sure I could forgive myself for the shit she went through.

I haven’t even told Dante yet. He had a family emergency he needed to fly back home for. It was perfect timing since I don’t think I would have been able to fool him, and I’m pretty sure I’d be in a body bag right now if he knew this was my fault. The only saving grace making any of this cluster fuck worth it is that the cunt is sitting behind bars, and it doesn’t look like she’ll be getting out in Bentley’s lifetime.