“I can feel you staring, Mom,” I sigh. We’re supposed to be watching the film, but every five seconds I feel her gaze flick to my face.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. It’s just when I think about what could have happened…” Her voice cracks, and I shuffle along the couch and reach for her hand.
“But it didn’t. I’m okay, Mom. I’m going to be okay.”
“I know, I just keep thinking what if Ace hadn’t got there. What if—”
“Mom, you’ve got to let it go. I don’t think Bexley would have taken it any further. I just think he got all messed up in his head and—”
“Do not excuse him, sweetheart. He harassed you. By all accounts, he got aggressive with you on more than one occasion. That is not okay, Remi.” Tears stream down her cheeks. “Time and time again you tried to tell me what that boy was like, and I was so blinded by the Danforths’ reputation—”
“Mom, stop.” I let out an exasperated breath, and she slides her eyes to mine. They glitter regret and shame and other things I don’t want to see. “You can’t do this to yourself. What’s done is done. I’m not sitting here crying to myself, and you shouldn’t either.”
“Gosh, baby, you’re so strong. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Because I’ve had to, Mom. Michaela, the kids at school, they made me grow thick skin. And Bexley… well, I refuse to give him any more of my tears. He’s leaving Sterling Prep. Whatever James said worked. The Danforths feel it best that he finishes his education elsewhere. He can’t hurt me anymore.”
“That is… good, baby, but when I think about what he could have done to you,” she breathes, her body trembling.
“Mom.” I reach for her hand. “It’s okay.” The Danforths are rich, and in a place like Sterling Bay, money talks. Maybe Bexley does deserve worse, but for someone like him, taking everything from him—football, his life, his reputation—is enough.
It has to be.
“There’s something else, Mom… something I should have told you a long time ago.”
“Remi?” Fear washes over her, and I know this going to be a hard conversation. But she deserves to know the truth about her ex, and I need to cleanse that part of my life.
“This is going to be hard to hear, Mom…” I clasp her hand tighter and take a deep breath. “But it’s about Johnny.”
By the time I finished telling Mom about her ex-boyfriend’s seedy ways, she was a blubbering mess. In the end, I called James to come get her.
She left about thirty minutes later, wrapped in his arms, the two of them talking in hushed whispers. They asked me if I wanted to go with them and spend the night but the truth is, after everything, I need some space to process.
I wasn’t lying to Mom when I told her I’m done shedding tears over people who don’t deserve them, but it doesn’t change the fact that Bexley harassed me and Michaela tried to destroy me. It makes me wonder what I’ve done to deserve such a shitty life.
People talk about fate and destiny and some grand plan; well, if that’s the case, I want a refund, because the last five years have been nothing but heartache and disappointment.
But I also know I’m stronger now. I know my worth and what I deserve out of life. I have friends I trust in Hadley, Conner, and maybe even Cole.
And I have Ace.
I have a guy who will pick me up when I fall and hold me when I cry. A guy who would start a war for me despite the consequences.
A guy I’m excited to walk into the future with.
I’m not naive though. I know there’ll be road bumps along the way. It would be a boring kind of life if there weren’t.
Every scar on my heart, every betrayal and disappointment and heartache, only makes me stronger.
Fearless.
It makes me feel determined to go after the things in life that I want.
No more hiding.
No more regret.
No more shame.
Our past shapes us, but it doesn’t define us.
My cell pings, and I grab it off the coffee table, smiling when I see Ace’s name.
Ace: You didn’t want to stay over?
Remi: I just needed some space…
Ace: Are you saying I’m overbearing?
Ace: I’m coming over.
I chuckle. Ace’s protectiveness is one of the things I love most about him, but I can’t deny I like to tease him.
Remi: Hang out with your brothers or something.
Ace: Is that code for… keep an eye on Cole?
Remi: Cole will be okay…
Ace: Yeah, how can you be so sure?
Remi: Because he has you for a brother and you’ll never let anything happen to him.
Ace: I love you.
Remi: I love you more.
Warmth spreads through me, and I’m almost ready to ask him to come over when I hear something in the kitchen. “Hello?” I call out, my heart crashing in my chest.
My fingers clutch my cell phone as I search the hall for any signs of life.
Get a grip, I scold myself. There’s nothing here. Bexley is on house arrest until he’s shipped off to another school. He’s stupid, but he’s not so stupid as to try anything again.
But fear snakes through me, taking root in my chest, and before I know it, I’m texting Ace back.
Remi: I was thinking maybe you should come over after all.
Ace: Yeah? I’ll just check on the twins and I’ll be there.
I can’t help but smile when another text comes through, but my stomach drops when I scan the words.
Unknown: Hello, Remi… it’s been a while.
The world grows small as I re-read the message. It wasn’t Bexley. All this time I thought he’d been the one texting me, hanging around the house… but it wasn’t Bexley.
Which means, if it wasn’t—
Someone grabs me from behind, a gloved hand smothering the scream that tears from my lungs as I’m yanked backward.
“It’s been a while, sweetheart.” His hot, rancid breath drifts over my face, making my stomach churn.
“J-Johnny?” It comes out muffled as he yanks me into the kitchen.
“Figured it was time you and I had a little reunion. You’ve grown up real nice, Remi, girl.”
I’m paralyzed with fear. It vibrates through me as blood rises between my ears.
Johnny.
My mom’s ex.
All this time it was him.
He wrestles me into a chair as I thrash and kick, but he’s too strong, and before I know it he’s cable tied my hands behind my back, and my ankles together.
I take him in, the man who almost ruined mine and Mom’s lives.
Time hasn’t been kind to him. He’s a mess. Shaggy, greasy hair falls into his eyes and an unkempt beard covers half his face. His eyes are shot, dark circles ringing them. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s strung out on something.
“W-why are you doing this?” I whimper, my muscles protesting at being restrained.
“You filled out nice, real nice,” he drawls, pulling a small knife out from behind his back.
Oh God.
My spine stiffens, a violent shudder ripping through me as bile washes in my stomach. He’s going to kill me. He’s going to kill me and nobody will even—
Ace.
Ace is on his way over.
“You finally connecting the dots?” he asks, and my brows furrow.
“What do…” The words dry on the tip of my tongue as I narrow my eyes at him. There’s something in his expression.
Something I recognize.
Something in the recess of my mind that I can’t quite reach.
The rumble of Ace’s bike distracts Johnny, but he doesn’t look worried. He looks… pleased.
“Oh good, your boyfriend is here. Time to really have some fun.”
My blood runs cold as his lip curls. He looks depraved, a monster waiting to strike.
Ace appears at the French doors. The second he finds me, the blood drains from his face. “Remi,” he yells, bursting through the door.
“Oh, look what the cat dragged in.”
“Y-you,” Ace staggers back as Johnny steps out from the shadows.
“Hello, Son.” The words ring in my ears as the pieces slam into place. Ace still hasn’t realized, confusion clouding his frosty gaze.
Johnny is Charlie.
My mom’s ex is Ace’s uncle.
Fuck.
“You are not my father,” Ace snarls, his eyes darting wildly between me and Charlie.
“That’s right, kid, I’m not. I’m your worst fucking nightmare.” He moves behind me, gently dragging the knife along the neckline of my tank top. My breath catches as I try to press my back into the chair, pain ricocheting through my shoulder blades.
“Please, don’t hurt her. You can do whatever you want to me, but don’t hurt Remi.”
“My, my, how the mighty have fallen. I’ve watched you, kid. Watched you grow, all that anger and rage and bitterness at the world. I almost wondered if you were mine for a second. But then I saw you chasing our sweet girl around town and I knew there was no way in hell you could be. Letting a piece of hot ass call the shots,” he spits out with disgust.
“Our girl?” Ace grinds out. “What the fuck aren’t you telling me?” His gaze drops to mine, splintering my heart into tiny shards.
This will kill him.
If Ace finds out the truth, it will completely destroy him.
Maybe even us.
I smother a sob, screwing my eyes shut as I silently pray to wake up from this nightmare.
“Tell him, Remi, girl. Tell him how I used to sneak into your room at night and—”
Tears drip down my cheeks as my eyes flutter open and find Ace. He’s pale, his body vibrating with rage.
“It’s you… you’re Sarah’s ex… you’re the one who… fuck.” Ace fists his hands against his face as if he can’t handle the revelation.
“Surprise.” Charlie presses the blade closer to my skin until I feel the razor-sharp edge lick my throat.
“What do you want?” There’s no mistaking the tremble in Ace’s voice. He knows one wrong move and I could be sliced open.
“The only thing I’ve always wanted… to make James pay. He stole everything from me. Everything.” His hand trembles, the blade slashing tiny cuts into my throat. I whimper, pleading with Ace to do something.
Anything.
“Maria was mine first. She was mine and he took her. He fucking stole her. He ruined my life. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, he tried to have me killed, but the fucking idiot couldn’t even get that right. I stayed gone for a while. Let everyone think I was dead. But time is a dangerous thing.
“When I finally came back to town, I had my sights set on only one thing—destroying him.”
“So what happened?” Ace inches closer, trying to keep his uncle’s attention.
“Some things won’t stay buried, that’s what. Donny caught wind I might be alive, so I had to lay low. Shoulda left town then, but I didn’t.” His gaze burns into the top of my head. “You know, you can thank James for everything. That’s how I met your momma. Of course, neither of them know. I was following him one day and he led me right to her. She looked so lost, so sad… She made it so fucking easy.”
My heart clenches at his cruel words. “And look how perfect things turned out. Written in the stars, baby,” he chuckles darkly. “James stole everything from me, and now… now I’ll steal everything from him.”
“You think you’re the only one he stole something from?” Ace asks coolly.
Charlie relaxes his hand and I sag in the chair, desperate to check my throat for damage. But my hands are still tied and Charlie is still right behind me.
“What did you say?” he grits out, his focus solely on his nephew now.
“Yours isn’t the only life that fucker ruined. He thinks he can just do whatever he wants, that money gives him power. But fuck that.”
Charlie edges around me. “What are you saying?”
“I’m in. Whatever you’re planning, however you want to take him down, I’m in. But you’ve got to let her go.” Ace inches closer, keeping his eyes firmly on his uncle. “She isn’t a part of this.”
“Oh, you’re good.” Charlie points his knife in Ace’s direction. “You’re real good. A right chip off the old block. You almost had—”
Everything happens in slow motion. Ace lunges for Charlie, the two of them slamming into the wall behind me. My blood-curdling scream pierces the air as Ace grapples to force the knife out of his hand.
“Motherfucker,” he roars as Charlie stabs him in the chest.
“Ace!” I yell, straining and bucking against my restraints.
But Ace’s hand flies to his uncle’s throat as he smashes his head into Charlie’s nose. Blood explodes everywhere, pained grunts filling the air as Charlie staggers back, the knife no longer in his hand.
Ace picks it up, advancing on his uncle. “I should gut you with this. I should slit your fucking throat and feed you to the sharks.”
“But you can’t, can you?” Charlie’s blood-stained face twists into an evil grin and he chokes out a dark laugh. “You don’t have what it takes because of her. You’re weak… all for a piece of pus—”
Ace’s fist crashes into his face, sending Charlie flying backward. “I’m giving you a head-start, so I suggest you start running. If I ever see you in the Bay again, I’ll fucking kill you.”
Charlie narrows his eyes for a second and then takes off, scrambling out of the kitchen and disappearing into the darkness.
“Oh God,” I cry, relief flooding me.
“Remi, fuck.” Ace rushes to my side, dropping to his knees and brushing the damp hair from my face. “You’re okay, baby, you’re okay.”
“Charlie… your uncle… he’s—”
“I know. I know. Shh, here, let me untie you.” Ace makes quick work of the cable ties, pulling me into his arms and sinking to the floor.
“You’re hurt…” I press a hand to his blood-soaked t-shirt. “It’s just a surface cut. I’ll be okay.”
“What about him?” I flick my eyes to the door and shudder.
“If he knows what’s good for him, he won’t show his face here again. But just to be sure…” Ace digs out his cell phone and dials 911.
I curl against him, listening as he reels off our emergency. When he hangs up, a garbled sob spills out of me.
“I’ve got you, Remi. I’m here, I’m here.” He kisses my head, his arms locked tightly around me as if he’s never letting go.
And I silently beg him not to.
