Deception, page 13
I know you have an infectious laugh and smile but I can’t stand anymore to see all of the guys begging for your attention, and you don’t even see it.
Does it mean you don’t see my feelings for you? I hate having to share your attention with everyone else. What I wouldn’t give to have that smile be just for me.
Someday, it will be. I just know it. Soon enough you’ll know how I feel.
I love you, Grace.
* * *
Yours forever, Charles.
A knot formed in the middle of her chest and hardened as it grew, until pain throbbed around it.
“Oh, Charles.”
The letter seemed harmless. A sweet declaration, but was there more?
Whispers in the back of her mind made her focus keen on reading through the lines. Did she have something to worry about?
He’d attacked Blaze, after all.
She rummaged through what was left on the floor, desperate to see if there was anything else from him.
A sigh floated from her lips when there was nothing more. “Thank God.”
Grace picked up the two letters and tucked them away, inside the box of dead roses. She left it sitting at the table as she went back to her mail organizing.
Her boxes had arrived and she was working to get as much packed up as she could, as fast as she could.
Blaze had promised he’d call after his rehearsals, so she was expecting to hear from him anytime. When the phone rang, it was unfortunately short and sweet.
“Hey, babe, I miss you.”
Just hearing his voice filled her with so much emotion.
She’d told him of her past, her fear of loving someone, and it hadn’t scared him away. Even though they were just starting out, he wouldn’t let her give up.
He made her want to live.
Grace could feel her guard going up. It made her think of the flowers. Worry threatened to take her over.
“I made it back to my apartment and got my mail but I should tell—”
“BJ!” someone in the background yelled. “Just because we’re finished with rehearsing, doesn’t mean we’re done with you!”
“I gotta go, babe, but I’ll call you, later.”
He was gone before she could even say goodbye.
Grace sighed; her apartment would keep her busy.
Over the next few hours, she got much of her kitchen packed up, leaving only a few things she’d need to use until she left.
She’d gone through her apartment and made a list of the things that couldn't get packed until the last moment, like towels and washcloths, and other important essentials.
Grace turned her tunes up to a nonintrusive level, and danced around while she put things in boxes.
If she wanted to take an hour off tomorrow, to watch Blaze and his group perform live on the Ellen show, she needed to keep her ass in gear.
She ordered dinner from her favorite Chinese restaurant and busted open a bottle of wine she had been holding on to, saving for a special occasion. “I can’t think it anything more special than the adventure I’m about to embark on.”
If she only had one glass a night, she could enjoy the bottle every night before she left.
Finishing the wine would be like finishing her life in Denver.
Bittersweet.
Fatigue from the day caught up with her, and Grace crawled into bed. She rolled under her covers, her stuffed tiger in her arms and reached for her phone to make a call. She wanted to hear Blaze’s voice before she went to sleep.
She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed her own bed until she was lying curled up with her favorite comforter.
She missed Blaze more.
That scared her.
He made her ready to live, to try. To be willing to give her heart away. It had been just her for so long, but now as she lay in bed alone, she felt… incomplete.
“Just a more days babe, a few more days and I’ll see you again.”
She smiled as comfort from his words washed over her.
Grace could survive a few more days.
“Actually, I get to see you tomorrow! Or would that be today, since it’s after midnight?”
“Tomorrow, it’s only 11:47 here. But that’s just on TV, it’s not the same.”
“I know.” She let out a tired sigh. “Can’t believe how much I miss you, and Hope; even Nick, too.”
“Speaking of Hope, did she tell you she’s coming to watch the show tomorrow? Nick’s gonna bring her backstage. I’m sure she’ll call you tomorrow night and tell you all about it.”
Grace let out a tired sigh. “I wish I could be there to cheer on. I want to support you.”
“No worries, baby, you’re doing what you need to do. And soon I’ll see you every day, so it won’t matter anymore.”
Her answer was taken by a huge yawn.
“Grace, go to sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay, baby?”
“Okay,” she managed to say through another big yawn.
Grace had lost track of how many times she’d moved as a child, and packing was just another part of life. In all those years, she’d never been nearly as motivated to pack as quickly as she was to leave Denver.
She had to be on the road by Saturday morning at the latest, but her goal was to be out by Friday. The sooner she could have everything in boxes, the sooner she’d be back with Blaze.
“Blaze.” She said his name again and let it roll over her tongue.
If anyone had asked her, even a week before, where she thought her life would be, it definitely wouldn’t have been where it was headed.
She’d sworn never to love, or even put herself in a position where love could grow. There she was, having her heart stolen by a man who’d broken a million.
I’m absolutely terrified, and really excited. What the hell?
Grace was looking forward to each and every day ahead of her, ready to leave her past and her fear behind her.
Her dream had come true, she’d become a successful actor, and now would be a permanent part of a theater company. Most importantly, a dream she thought she never wanted, had been presented to her and she’d hesitantly accepted it.
Blaze.
I know you are busy with rehearsals and getting ready for the show, but I just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you
She sent him the text message and put her TV on NBC, the channel the Ellen show would be on. She’d never miss it.
The rest of her time flew by; she was just that motivated. Just before three, she stood in the center of her living room and scanned the mountains of boxes. If she could pick up the trailer sooner, she could leave in the morning. Maybe she could check on it?
After the show?
Grace dashed to the kitchen and grabbed a bag of potato chips and French onion dip, with a Mountain Dew from the fridge and sat on her half buried couch, ready for the show to start.
The show began, and the audience—no doubt crazed girls—were already screaming.
“I’m Ellen. But you already knew that. I can’t wait to tell you about my guests for the day. The awesome band, Razor’s Edge. Once a year I do a live show so people can see how hard it really is hosting a talk show. There’s no delay, no pausing the show, so even though I do my best to prepare my guests so they wouldn't screw anything up, something always happens.”
She asked the guys to come on stage and introduced them one by one. They looked so dapper in their matching outfits. All five of them wore black and rust. On each guy, the piece they wore was different; Blaze had on rust-colored pants, but Nick had on a rust-colored jacket.
“So, what have each of you been up to lately?” Ellen prompted. “We’ll start with Thomas.”
The audience screamed.
“What have I been up to? About 5’ 8. I think I'm shrinking.” He smiled and sobered after the crowd’s laughter. “We’ve been working on the newest album, that should come out just after Christmas.”
“Dwaine, here. I, uh… I’m about to become a daddy, again.”
“Hi. I’m Scott,” member number three said, in a voice so rich and smooth. “I’m just glad to be rejoining my brothers from another mother. I needed some time to reflect. But here I am.”
Ellen turned to Blaze next.
“What have I been up to lately? Well, I fell in love.”
Grace’s heart cantered, all the girls on the TV screamed even louder.
Instead of looking at Ellen, Blaze faced the camera nearest him. “Hey baby, I know you’re watching.
“I miss you, and I just want you to know, I’ll never break your heart. I love you.”
Grace melted into the couch.
What the fuck!
Hadn’t she just told him her fear of loving someone?
What did she truly feel? She didn’t expect to discover that for a long time. She needed time.
How can he love me?
Her moment ended when Nick smacked her man with the back of his hand across his chest. Her irritation melted away and she fell into giggles.
“Dude, not cool. I was going to talk about how I fell in love.”
Ellen, the comedian she was, jumped right in. “And your fans are okay with the two of you falling in love with each other?”
Nick stuttered and turned bright red. He pointed off camera. “A girl a girl, I promise! I fell in love with a girl. She’s standing right over there.”
The camera whirled to reveal Hope standing with band management. She was as bright crimson as Nick had been. No doubt she was embarrassed.
Grace beamed; half-jealous and half-relieved she wasn’t there.
“Well, then. I think it’s time to hear if these boys still have it going on. So, what are you going to sing?”
“We’re gonna treat ya’ll to something from our new album, a song called Peach,” Scott announced.
Grace watched in absolute awe as they performed and danced together. They were a perfect team, brothers from another mother as they called themselves. There was no doubt they had millions of fans. They were beyond amazing.
One of them was hers.
She was so wrapped up in watching, she almost missed the continuous knock at her door. She glanced at the clock on her cable box. It was just a little after three. Richard was supposed to send her keys. No doubt it was them.
She hated to miss any of the performance but she had to answer the door. Grace threw open the door, intending to grab and dash.
She never got the chance.
Something was shoved in her face, and an odd smell overtook her senses; burned her lungs.
Then the world went black.
Chapter 20
Grace was afraid to open her eyes; she was afraid of what was before her. One of her silk scarves was wrapped around her mouth and panic snaked around her spine and inched up, constricting.
She couldn’t cry out.
Using senses other than sight, she tried to assess what was going on. She was in one of her antique dining room chairs, the head chair that had the armrests. Her legs were bound to the legs of the chair with packing tape, and so were her hands to the armrest.
The TV was still on, and she could hear Blaze’s voice in the background.
She listened to the deep sound of his voice, letting it resonate through her and bring her comfort. The words didn’t matter. Just his tone helped.
Grace took a deep breath through her nose and instantly regretted it.
He was close, so close she could smell him.
His cologne was musky and it mixed with his own personal smell so well.
It had once been an aroma to bring her comfort, and now it was filled her with dread.
How could my dearest friend do something as horrendous as this?
“Open your eyes, Grace.”
His voice was still beautiful and familiar, but now sounded ominous.
“Open your eyes, Grace. I know you’re awake.”
Her stomach churned with unease and dread. But she still refused to do as he asked.
“Damn it, Grace, why can’t you look at me?”
She opened her eyes and glared.
Charles took a step back.
She noticed the green around his eyes and the splint on his nose from where Blaze had broken it. It made him look even more deranged.
I really hope that hurt.
He took a step closer to her and ran the back of his knuckles down her cheek.
She recoiled from his touch.
Rage dominated his expression. His cheeks were flushed red and there were beads of sweat on his forehead. He grabbed her cheeks then, squeezing hard, causing her mouth into the shape of an ‘O’ behind the scarf.
Grace tried pulling her head out of his grasp, but his grip was too strong.
“I wouldn’t do that, Grace.” His voice was sickly sweet.
Although her mouth was full of her silk scarf, she still bitched him out, but her words didn’t come through clear.
His eyes hardened even more; so maybe she’d been successful, after all.
Before he had a chance to respond with his newfound anger, there was a knock at the door.
Thank God, it has to be the FedEx guy.
The knocking continued, despite no answer.
Charles growled and narrowed his already beady eyes, then stalked to the door, putting his finger over his lips to tell her to be quiet.
Yeah. Right.
If she could manage to get attention, she was going to do it.
Grace started rocking her chair back and forth, trying to make as much noise as possible. She screamed as hard as she could, which wasn’t very loud with the fabric shoved in her mouth.
The knocking stopped.
Dammit.
She glanced back to the television screen; the five men were still singing and dancing.
If she didn’t answer her phone for the next few days; if she didn’t show up in L.A. soon, would they come looking for her?
Will I still be alive?
Charles noticed she was watching the television, and must’ve realized what was on the screen. He grabbed the remote off the coffee table and turned off the tv.
Her heart broke just a little bit as he took her comfort away.
He prowled back to her and raised his hand, remote still clutched in his fingers.
He wouldn’t—
Agony exploded in her face and took over her senses. The hard plastic only added to the impact. Her vision blurred. Something warm trickled down the side of her head.
“He can’t have you! You. Are. Mine, Grace! You have been since the day we met.”
Her head spun, and she struggled to focus.
His face was in triplicate, but she locked onto his eyes.
They were all brown now, not a hint of the beautiful golden ring he used to have.
Charles rushed back to her, gripping her cheeks again, but this time gently.
Grace still winced and tried to move from his hold.
“Oh, Grace! I’m so sorry!” He ran to the kitchen and rummaged through the empty drawers.
“Damn it! Where are your towels?”
She glared.
I can’t answer; you gagged me, asshole.
He grabbed paper towels from the counter and she heard the faucet turn on and off.
Charles dabbed at her temple with the semi-wet paper towel, apologizing over and over, that he hadn’t meant to hit her. “This is all BJ’s fault. If that bastard hadn’t...”
Blaze. He means Blaze.
“I really am sorry, Grace.”
The pain in her head hadn’t dissipated. If anything, her headache had gotten worse from listening to his apologies.
After he had cleaned her all up, and the bleeding had stopped, Charles leaned down and kissed her temple, then her cheek.
Goosebumps erupt all over her form. It wasn’t pleasure, like when Blaze kissed her, but more like repulsion. Her body prickled and she squirmed on the chair, she couldn’t help it. Once again she tried to pull away, but it angered him.
Charles grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back, exposing her throat.
Grace froze and swallowed. Twice. She ordered herself not to move, but ice froze her blood and she didn’t think she could anyway. She shut her eyes. She felt his hot breath against her neck.
He trailed kisses across her throat, down toward her collarbone.
Tears stung her eyes, and she crushed them even tighter. Couldn’t let him see her cry. Grace tensed, going tight all over.
Charles must’ve felt it, too.
He let go of her hair and moved away.
She kept her eyes sealed shut, just listening to assess.
He sighed, picked up her keys. “I’ll be right back, Grace, don’t move.” Then the door to her apartment opened.
She let out a deep breath when the key turned in the lock. She wrenched her hands, trying to break the tape.
All she did was rub all the hair off her wrists. Grace had seen enough scary movies to know that knocking the chair over did no good.
This chair was as solid as they could get.
There was no hope of it breaking.
She glanced at the time on the cable box. It was after four now.
Blaze would call soon.
Please! Let him call before Charles returns.
Not that it would do her any good. Her cellphone was on the table in front of the couch. She’d never be able to reach it.
If I don’t answer, will he keep calling?
The silk scarf was drying her mouth, and the salty chips she’d eaten before Charles had arrived, didn’t help either.
Grace tried to push the fabric out of her mouth with her tongue, to no avail. She put her head on her left shoulder, pressed her cheek down, and did her best to work the scarf out of her mouth. It still wouldn’t be moved.
He’d tied it too well, and too tight.
Just as her tears of frustration fell, her cell rang. Even from her seat, she could see the name on the Caller ID.
Blaze.
A short time later, the alert for voicemail chimed.
Please, call again, and keep calling.
