Page 90 of Stolen Dreams
“I’ll walk you out.” I glance over my shoulder and mouth to Fin I’ll be back. As I open the door, Cameron is on the other side, hand reaching for the handle. A sense of déjà vu hits, and I mentally stumble back.
“Chef,” she croaks, her admiration coloring her pale skin. “Glad I caught you.”
I rub my jaw. “Can it wait a minute?”
She holds up an envelope. “Just came to bring you this. It was taped to the door.”
Every muscle in my body stiffens as I reach for the envelope. My name on the face in a handwriting I’ll never forget. “Thanks, Cameron.”
Passing her, I study the envelope as we move through the dining room, a chill rolling down my spine. “Fuck,” I mutter.
Kaya hooks her arm through mine and guides us to the front door. “What is it?”
I inhale a jittery breath. Clench my jaw until my molars throb. Swallow past my fear and let rage take its place. “Brianna,” I snarl. “I’ve ignored her since the surprise visit.” I wave the envelope in front of us as we step outside. “Highly doubt this is her asking about Tucker.” Irritation forms like a cancer in my gut.
Why won’t she leave us the hell alone?
Brianna detested motherhood, despised beingchained down. Yet here she is again, back for more.
Just crawl into a hole and let us move on.
I owe Brianna nothing. Not visitation. Nor a conversation. And certainly not money.
“Are you going to open it?” A beep sounds as we approach Kaya’s car. She tosses her bag in the back but makes no move to get in.
“Whether I want to or not, I have to.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “She doesn’t care about Tucker and will use him every chance she gets. Do whatever it takes to get what she wants.”
“Money,” Kaya mutters.
I tip my face skyward, blink a few times, then level my expression. “And she has no remorse manipulating or exploiting Tucker to get it.” My stomach cramps at the idea of Brianna committing heinous acts.
“What can I do?”
A simple question, yet it eases some of the agony.
Lifting a hand to her cheek, I step into Kaya and press a soft kiss to her lips. “Don’t let me lose myself.” I swallow. “No matter what happens, don’t let me become someone I’m not because of her.”
Kaya frames my face, her soft thumbs stroking my cheeks as she stares into my soul. “I’ve got you.” Her shimmery gaze holds mine. So steady. So consolatory. “Lean on me. Share the burden.” She pushes up on her toes and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Let me help you carry it.”
I drop my forehead to hers. “Don’t want her to ruin this. Us.”
“Not going to happen.” Confidence laces her words.
And damn, do I want to share her optimism. To believe everything will be okay. Unfortunately, I’ve glimpsed Brianna’sdark side. Seen how low she’ll go to get what she wants. And it terrifies the shit out of me.
“Want to open it before I go?”
I should let Kaya leave for the rec center. Let her play with finger-painting kids and not wreck the rest of her day. But selfish me wants her here, at my side. She asked me to lean on her, and I should. If I want this to work, I need to share the stress and hurt I’ve carried for so long on my own. Let her be part of my support system.
“Yeah.” I nod and ease out of her hold. “Sure.”
On a sharp inhale, I slip a finger under the envelope flap. On the exhale, I tear it open. A dingy, crumpled piece of paper stares back at me, tormenting. Nausea roils in my belly as I slide it out and unfold it.
Need that money.
Three words. One demand. A lifetime of her always lurking in the shadows for more.
Bile burns the back of my throat. Dropping my hands to my knees, I inhale for a count of five, hold it for three, then exhale for five. My rib cage strangles my lungs, suffocating, unrelenting. The thunderouswhoosh, whoosh, whooshof my pulse clogs my ears. The ground wobbles and spins beneath my feet, and I close my eyes to steady myself.