The Sinister Silhouette-D2D, page 31
I look up when I spot Jules out the corner of my eye. I smile when I see her sleepy expression. I left her in Aria’s room an hour ago, not wanting to disturb her when she looked so peaceful.
“Hey,” she says with a yawn.
I pat my lap and she walks over. Once she’s close enough, I pull her down so her back is against the arm of the couch and rest my hand on her thigh.
“She still sleeping?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“How are you doing?”
She thinks for a moment, her lips pursing together. “I want to maim Theo for what he’s putting Aria through, but other than that, I’m okay.”
“I sent him a message,” I tell her quietly, and watch her expression. Her eyes move to mine, but she doesn’t give anything away on how she’s feeling. “As much as I hate the bastard, Aria needs him.”
She smiles bitterly. “I know.”
“I’ll never let him near you again though. I don’t even want his eyes on you.” I need her to know that just because Theo will be in Aria’s life, and more than likely mine, he won’t be in hers.
Her smile softens, and she relaxes deeper against me. “I know that, too.”
I grab her hair and pull it over her shoulder and up to my face. I breathe in deep.
A smirk curves her lips when I pull the hair away.
“Did you just sniff my hair?” she asks playfully.
I chuckle. “I love the smell of your hair. I love the smell of you.”
She’s so fucking adorable when she wrinkles her nose. “What do I smell like?”
“A field of wildflowers and sunshine.”
Her mouth opens on a rushed inhale of air. The smile she gives me is breathtaking. She’s entirely way too beautiful to resist, so I lean forward and settle my lips against hers. Her mouth is just as sweet as the rest of her.
She wiggles on my lap and one of her hands clutches my shirt, as if she’s trying to bring us closer. My cock stiffens in my jeans, and I have no doubt she can feel it. My hand travels under her shirt until I reach her silk-covered breast. I tweak her nipple through the soft fabric and swallow her moans.
We make out for a while before I rip my mouth from hers. I want to devour her whole, but know it’s not in the cards tonight. I won’t take the chance of Aria waking up and finding us in a situation she shouldn’t.
I rest my forehead in the crook of her neck, trying my best to calm the raging need in my body. From the rapid beat of the pulse in her neck, I know Jules is fighting the same need. I smile, pleased as fucking punch that she wants me just as strongly.
After several moments, both of our breathing is back to normal. My cock is still a steel pole in my jeans, and I know I’ll be jacking off in the shower later, but my hormones are now in check.
When I pull back and look into Jules’s eyes, my resolve almost crumples to dust.
“You better go to bed before I don’t give a shit about anything but taking you.”
The smirk is back, and Jesus fucking Christ, it does nothing to help my current situation.
“Good night,” she whispers before dipping in for another kiss, this one not so passionate, but still just as good.
“Good night.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Another torturous kiss.
“Mmm… hmm,” I mumble against her lips.
“Sweet dreams.”
She licks her lips only inches away from mine, and a growl leaves my throat.
“Sweet dreams.”
“I wish you were sleeping with me.”
Fuck me, but I do, too.
Her ass wiggles more, and I groan deeply.
“Jules….” My tone is a warning.
She giggles and gets up from my lap. “I’m going. I’m going.” Before she walks away, she bends for one more kiss, and my will cracks wide fucking open. I reach for her, but she’s too quick and is out of my reach in a flash.
Her laughter is soft, but I hear it all the way down the hall. I throw my head back against the couch and close my eyes.
The term “she drives me crazy” doesn’t even come close to what Jules does to me. She completely unmans me, but at the same time makes me feel more like a man than I’ve ever felt before.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Jules
I SIT IN THE DOCTOR’S office parking lot in Luca’s truck, having just finished my appointment. He left it for me to use while he drove his motorcycle. I had seen the tarp covering a large mound in the far corner of the garage, but never put two and two together that it was a motorcycle. Now that I’ve seen the big black machine, I can totally imagine him riding it. I plan to ask him to take me for a ride this weekend.
Dr. Leverton said everything was fine, although he did say he’d like me to reconsider therapy. Just as the doctor at the hospital did, he made sure to let me know of the chances of it not working, but he seemed very optimistic. I gave him a noncommittal answer and just said I’d think about it. As I told Luca last night, I’m not so sure I want those memories back. I do, but I don’t just as much. I’m scared what they’ll do to me.
My decision on whether or not to try therapy gets overrun by another choice I need to make. I chew my thumbnail and tap my foot on the floorboard as I contemplate what I should do.
Luca took Aria to school this morning then left for work after lunch. Having Aria around made the ache to see my sister more pronounced. It gets worse every day that I don’t see my family, but more so with Teresa.
With a fierce need, I went in search of my locket that has her picture on one side. The other side is blank, but it feels like there should be something there. After searching through all my bags with no success, I remembered taking it off a couple of nights before Luca came and got me, but I can’t recall where I placed it.
And therein lies my dilemma. Should I go get the locket?
Luca said he was stopping by after work to grab Mr. Waffles, but I would hate to ask him to search for the locket when I can’t remember where it is. If I go get it myself, I could grab Mr. Waffles and have it with me when I pick Aria up from school. I know the stuffed giraffe is one of her favorites and will lift up her spirits.
I have no doubt Luca would flat-out refuse for me to go to Theo’s house alone, and I don’t want to myself, but I’m already out, and I know he’ll be tired after working so late. If we waited for Luca to get Mr. Waffles, it would mean Aria wouldn’t have him until tomorrow because she’ll be in bed by the time he gets home. Luca has done so much for me already. If I can lighten his load even just a little, I want to. Besides, one of Theo’s neighbors that Luca is friends with said he hasn’t been home since the falling out. The chances of him being there today are pretty slim, and I’ll only be there for maybe five minutes max.
Coming to my decision, I shoot Luca a message to let him know. He’ll probably be angry with me, but, well, he’ll just have to get over it. Seeing the look on Aria’s face when she sees Mr. Waffles will be worth his displeasure.
I don’t know the area that well, but thankfully, Luca showed me how to use the maps app on my phone. Once I have Theo’s address plugged into the app and the directions pop up, I start the truck and pull out of the parking lot.
It’s not long before I’m pulling into his driveway. I shut the truck off and just sit there a couple of minutes, gathering my nerve. Even though he’s not here, anxiety still grips me at going inside.
Only the strong need to see my sister’s face and the knowledge of how happy Aria will be gives me the courage to open the truck door. I look at the neighboring houses as I make my way up the walkway to the porch. My hands shake as I wipe away the leaves from the fake rock that holds the spare key.
The steps creaking as I walk up them does nothing to help my nerves. I feel like I shouldn’t be here, like I’m doing something wrong by going into his house. I guess according to the law it’s technically partially mine, but it still doesn’t feel right after everything that’s happened.
The house is quiet when I walk in the door. Not the normal silence, but the creepy kind that sends shivers down your spine and dread rushing through your veins.
Ignoring the eerie feeling, I close the door behind me. I take a moment to look around, and my eyes widen at the destruction of the living room. It looks like a madman has been in here. Couch cushions are ripped apart and thrown across the room, the end table is knocked over with the lamp smashed beside it, the screen on the TV’s been busted, and there’s trash all over the floor. A glance at the kitchen shows it in no better condition.
Suddenly feeling like this was a mistake, I quickly leave the room and walk down the hallway. I spot Mr. Waffles on Aria’s bed and snatch it up before going into the bathroom. The locket isn’t on the counter or in the cabinet.
Theo’s room is next. I’ve never felt truly comfortable in this house. Being around Aria was the only time I felt serene. But this room… Theo’s room, I hated. It was the one I dreaded walking into the most. That feeling hasn’t faded with being away. If anything, it’s much worse. Cold slithers in my veins, and I shudder.
I immediately walk to the dresser and check the surface. I move stuff around and still don’t find it. Next, I move to my side of the bed and check the nightstand. No locket. I pull open the drawer, and my shoulders slump when it’s not inside either. I move around to Theo’s side, not really expecting to find it, but still disappointed when I don’t.
I look down, and as a last-ditch effort and sending up a silent prayer, I decide to check underneath the bed. Dropping to my knees, I put Mr. Waffles down beside me then bring up the flashlight app on my phone, another nifty piece of technology Luca showed me. I shine it under the bed. I find a pair of Aria’s shoes, a couple of hair ties, a few wayward papers, and a box. It’s the box that catches my attention. Or rather, the gold chain that’s partially sticking out of it.
It’s pushed far under the bed, up against the wall where the headboard is, so I fall to my stomach and shimmy until my fingers reach it. Sliding out from underneath the bed, I bring the box with me, then get to my knees, dropping my phone beside me. I finger the chain, already knowing it’s the one my locket is attached to.
How did it end up in the box? Theo must have put it there. But why? He knew how much it meant to me, so why would he hide it?
I pull the lid off the box then frown down at the contents. Pictures. A bunch of them. And a cell phone, a manila envelope, the locket, and some other papers.
I pull the stack of pictures out first and suck in a sharp breath when I get a closer look and see that it’s me. It’s a far-off image of me standing in front of a familiar house. It takes me a moment to realize it’s Luca’s. It looks different, like the house has since been repainted and the porch behind me updated.
I look at the next image and it’s another one of me. This one is taken from outside a window looking in. The sheer curtains are only partially open, but it’s still easy to see me standing in front of a mirror. Through the reflection of the mirror, I can see the smile on my face, my eyes trained on something behind me that’s out of view of the camera. I’m only wearing a black V-neck T-shirt that goes halfway down my thighs. Given the size of the shirt, it’s obviously not mine.
Bile rises in my throat when I look at the next image. It’s another window shot, but at a different angle. The quality isn’t as good, but it’s easy to see I’m lying on a bed, naked, with a man on his knees between my legs. At first, I think it’s Theo, but then a surprised gasp leaves my lips when I realize it’s Luca. It’s hard to see, but there’s no mistaking the gauge in his ear. The tattoos, not as many as he has now, are another giveaway.
The surprise of me being naked in a picture gets pushed to the back of my mind, although that is a shock. What takes forefront is the fact that I’m in bed with Luca. What in the hell is going on? Why am I in bed with Luca? Through the fuzziness of the picture, I can tell from the look on my face and the way my body is relaxed that I wanted to be there. I wasn’t being forced.
I push that thought aside for the moment, because it totally confuses me, and look at the next image. This is one I’ve seen before. Or rather, I think I have. It looks exactly like one of the ones Theo has shown me, but with minor differences. It’s a close-up of Theo and me, except in this one, there’s a gauge in his ear and an eyebrow ring. Theo doesn’t have either of those. I have my face toward him, and I’m kissing his cheek, while his lips tip up into a smirk. His arm is thrown over my shoulders as if he’s pulling me toward him. He’s obviously the one taking the picture. His shirt is sleeveless, and I spot an eagle tattoo on the top of his arm. The same one I touched up for Luca.
A strangled sound rips from my throat.
I flip through to the next picture and it’s another one of us. And so is the next one, and the one after that. They all are either pictures of me and Luca or just me.
A sinking feeling forms in the pit of my stomach as I look over each image. Realization dawns, but I’m too scared to believe it. I want to believe it, I want it to be true so damn much, but if it is, that means Theo is more of a sick bastard than we all thought.
I set the pictures down, my body beginning to shake, and grab the phone next. I bring the screen to life and see five missed calls, along with the voicemail icon. I jerk when I notice the missed calls are from my phone number. I press the icon for the voicemail, and with a trembling hand, bring the phone to my ear. The electronic sounding voice says there are five messages, and I press the number one to listen to the first.
I throw my hand over my mouth and a sob escapes me when my voice comes over the line.
“Mom, Dad?” my voice sounds weak. “It’s me. Jules.” There’s a sniff then, “I miss you both.” I hear myself release cry. “P-please please call me. My number is…” There’s a pause, and I know that’s when I look at Theo for the phone number to the cell phone I was using, then repeat it. I finish with “I love you.” Before the line goes dead.
Tears streak down my face and my heart feels like it’s being beaten by a battering ram. I go to the next voicemail, already knowing what it’ll say.
“It’s me again.” I clear my throat over the line, but it still cracks when I speak again. “I’m so sorry for everything.” A pause, then a whispered, “Please call me.” I give them my cell phone number before hanging up.
I move onto the next one and it’s another voicemail from me to my parents. All five of them are. They never got them. I wasn’t even calling them. I was calling a random phone number to a phone that was hidden in a box underneath a bed.
I don’t know what hurts worse. Being lied to by someone who supposedly loved me at one point in his life, my husband, or knowing my parents never got those messages. Actually, I do know what hurts more. From the moment I woke up from my coma, I’ve felt a deep ache with my parents’ absence. I’ve grieved for them, missed them, needed them, and wished they were there for me to talk to and have comfort me. And if I’m truthful, I’ve resented them for disregarding me. But it wasn’t them ignoring me. It was the twisted mind of a man doing evil things.
My hatred for Theo grows until it’s nearly suffocating. My blood runs both hot and cold, chilling me, but also leaving me feverish. The phone bites into my hand as I grip it hard. I force my fingers to relax and set it back down in the box before pulling out the manila envelope. After pulling the metal tabs up and opening the flap, I reach inside and pull out a document.
It’s a marriage certificate. When I see the names printed on it and the signatures at the bottom, my whole world rocks on its axis. Blood rushes to my ears and my vision blurs. I close my eyes and pull in several deep breaths. It has to be a mistake. It has to be. There’s no way someone can be so cruel.
I tell myself this, but I know it’s not true. The truth is so blindingly in my face now after seeing all those pictures. My throat feels tight, like someone is choking me, and it hurts to pull in air. I try to take in a calming breath, but it just doesn’t work. Each breath I take is more painful than the one before.
I open my eyes and they catch on the names.
Luca Daylen Hendrix and Jules Nora Rozero. Married on August 10, 2011.
The paper drops to my lap as I clutch my heaving stomach. I’m married to Luca. Not Theo.
I’m married to Luca. Not Theo.
How is this possible? Theo showed me his and my marriage certificate while I was in the hospital. He showed me pictures of him and me together. The few small clips I’ve had in dreams never suggested he was lying.
I look down at the paper lying on my legs and run a finger over the embossed stamp. It could be a fake, one of them has to be, but something tells me it’s this one that’s real. But why forge a marriage certificate? What did Theo gain by doing so?
I bend over and clutch my stomach, the sudden urge to puke rising in my throat.
Oh, my God, I moan in my head, unable to believe someone is so capable of something so sinister.
“I see you’ve found my little secret.”
I look up at the dark voice and freeze when I see Theo standing at the corner of the bed. He looks terrible. His hair is unkempt and dirty, his eyes are red, his face is pale, and it’s apparent he hasn’t shaved in days. I glance quickly at his balled hands before moving my eyes back to his face. There’s a slight twitch at the corner of his left eye.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” My voice is dry and cracked from crying.
A slow smile appears on his face and it scares the crap out of me, because it’s not a nice one. It’s full of menace.
