Betrayed (9 page)

28-
         
Tatum

              “I can’t say enough how sorry I am that I wasn’t here for you, Molly.” I said, resting my forehead on hers. I felt like I always needed some type of physical connection with her. It wasn’t good enough to be next to her, I needed to be touching her.

              “I know, Tatum. I know how sorry you are, but even if you were there the outcome wouldn’t have changed. I have forgiven you, you need to forgive yourself.” She said with determination to make it true.

              I chose my next words carefully. I didn’t want to spook her, but she needed to know that we weren’t out of the dark yet. Nothing had been done yet about the note I received, not with the events of this past weekend weighing down on us.

              “You know. When you were in the hospital after what Brian did to you, I walked in the room to see you for the first time and freaked out. It took my dad finally opening up and treating me like his son in order for me to walk back in for you. I was so afraid that by being mine, you would end up getting hurt far worse than you would without me.”

              She watched me quietly, letting me speak.

              “The pain I felt after I left you was the second worst pain I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I don’t want to feel that again. I’m so fucking worried about this whole Delany situation, and I can’t shake the feeling that something awful is about to happen. All because of me.”

              “Don’t you dare say that, Tatum. This is not your fault.” She shook her head.

              “It’s not. I agree. It wasn’t me that put him the car the wrong way. It wasn’t me who ran the red light. It WAS me, though, who let her leave when she was obviously upset. It was me who let him go with her in that car. I could have fought, but I didn’t.”

              “You need to stop blaming yourself, Tatum. What happened was not any part your fault.”

              “The Delany’s seem to think differently. Why else would they send me that note, and his blanket?”  I couldn’t stop the feeling that this was just the beginning of a bigger battle. I hated being in the dark. I think it was time to call the old man again.

              “Call your dad, Tatum.” She said, as if she could read my mind. This woman amazes me every single day. I nodded and excused myself to make yet another phone call for help. It’s funny, I thought when I left a few months ago we wouldn’t have to cross paths ever again. Come to find out, I’ve needed him more now than I ever have before. Strange how things work out.

              I called his cell first, hoping to catch him before he got home to my mom. I knew I was going to get grief for not coming home this past weekend, but it wasn’t even an option I was going to run by Molly. Thankfully he answered on the third ring, right before his voicemail picked up.

              “Hello, boy. I got your e-mail. I hope everything is alright.” He liked Molly, I could tell from the worry in his voice.

              “Yea dad. Things are ok, considering the circumstances. It stinks, but it’s nothing we can’t work through.”

              “You know, your mother miscarried three times before your brother came along, God rest his soul.” That was new news to me, but I know my mom is a quiet woman when it comes to personal matters. Without any daughter’s to talk with I’m sure she is holding in all kinds of stuff.

              “I didn’t know that Dad. That’s terrible.”

              “It’s a way of life. Sometimes, it just isn’t meant to be.”

              I grunted in response. It might not have been in the master plan, but damned if I wasn’t still upset about it.

              “Anyway son, what did you need? You don’t typically call to chat.”

              “No. I don’t do I?” I should fix that. Maybe my dad and I could fix our strained relationship once and for all. “Listen Dad, some funny things have been happening lately. I need your take on it.”

              I then proceeded to fill him in on the note, the blanket, Molly’s connection with the Delany family, and the fact that Robert Delany was Candace’s brother and we didn’t know anything about it. He knew bits and pieces of the story behind the note, but when I put it all out there in one conversation it seemed outrageous. Jesus, this all seems so messed up. I finished up and the line was silent, all expect for a low whistle coming from my dad’s end of the phone.

              “Wow. Tatum, those Delany’s…they are dangerous. Very. Dangerous.”

              “I know dad. I don’t know what to think. You think the note and blanket were from him?”

              “I do. I think you and Molly both need to lay low for a few days while I have some people look in to this.”

              “I would say you are right, but Molly has a wedding shoot this weekend for a Delany boy. Rob will be there, as he is the cousin of the groom.”

              “Don’t do it, Tatum. Don’t let her go.”

              “Believe me, Dad. I’ve tried. We settled on me being by her side the whole time.”

              “Then don’t let her out of your sight, and I mean it. I’ll contact you soon.” And with that he hung up. Well shit, when my dad is that worried I know this is big. It felt like he was holding out information, though. Like he knew more than he was letting on. Whatever was the case, I now had my dad and all of his powers on my side, helping me get to the bottom of yet another fucking revenge escapade.

29-
         
Molly

Tomorrow is the big day. Well, the first of three big days. Rob kept us on as photographers, but he isn’t happy about it. He has only stopped in the studio when he knows for a fact Tatum isn’t there which is really unnerving, and he has been getting way too close for comfort these last few times. Luckily there are only four more days of dealing with him and his crazy family until I am free from all of their drama. The money will be nice, but I’ll be happy when this is all over and we can continue unpacking the boxes that are taking over my house. Everything had to go on hold when the wedding was moved up, so we still have two rooms that are full of boxes from his place in Texas and my leftovers from my parents in Washington.

              Tatum said he had a few errands to run before the day ended, so he has been gone about an hour now. I don’t know where he went, I don’t know when to expect him back, but I do know that the quiet it nice. I sit down at my desk, everything prepared for the wedding this weekend, and sigh. Man these past few months have been hard, and this last weekend really put a damper on my spirit. Before I know what I’m doing, I’m pulling up the pictures on my computer that I’ve cried over many times. Going through, I delete every picture of Brian that I have. He is a part of my past I’d rather not remember. What I don’t delete, though, are Alice’s memories. I scroll through dozens of times, looking at myself before tragedy struck. I looked so happy, so naive. Would I trade any of what happened, though? If I could have kept everything as it was, would I have really wanted that? Brian was a drug lord, for Christ’s sake. He was never the man I thought he was. Was raising a child in those circumstances a good idea? And if things hadn’t played out like they did I would never have met Tatum. I’m not sure if I like the sound of that. There are no tears as I close out of the file I’ve double clicked on hundreds of times in the last five years. Just perfect clarity. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m broken, but I am still able to love. Tatum loves me for me, no exceptions. He does ugly business for his father, but he doesn’t hide it. I’m sure if I asked him he would tell me just exactly what he did…but I don’t want to ask. I trust him. I trust him more than I ever trusted Brian. I love him more than I ever thought I loved Brian.

              I feel like a new person, sitting at the same desk I’ve sat at for years. I have a wonderful boyfriend, a strong job, and a livelihood to take care of myself if I ended up alone. Let’s face it though, I’d rather not have to.

              Tatum walked back in shortly after my revelation. He was all smiles, and in the most playful mood I’ve seen him in in a while.

              “Why are you so giddy, mister?” I ask, laughing as he nuzzles into my neck.

              “Oh nothing. No biggie. I’m just so awesome and it makes me happy.” He said, his arms reaching around me, grabbing my ass, and lifting to sit me on my desk.

              “MM, yes. You are pretty smug aren’t you?” I smile at him. He runs his hands up and down my arms for a moment then pauses. As quickly as I’ve ever seen him move, he runs to the front door, locks it, and he’s back in front of me, wrapping my legs around him. I can’t stop laughing at the ridiculousness of all of this. I like playful Tatum.

              “Now. Where was I?” He groaned as I reached down and started massaging him. God this man. I’ll never get used to how quickly his body responded to being around me. Already ready to go, he groaned into my neck as he placed tiny bites all the way down my shoulder. I was starting to like the hot weather we have been having recently, it means less clothing between us. I kept friction between us best as I could as he stripped me of my tiny bits of clothing. Suddenly I had an amazing idea.

              “Well, mister. Looks like you have a few articles of clothing left to loose. I’ll just…leave you to that. You can come find me when you are ready.” And just like that, I took off through my studio, sans clothing, towards the darkroom.

              I hear him laughing behind me as I ran, trying to get there before he caught me. I went through the revolving door and into the room. The lights were off, there was no way he was going to find the light switch either. I knew this room so well I could maneuver my way around without any help from light. Tatum will have to rely on his sense of touch, something I’m looking very forward to.

              I hear the door turn, knowing he is just a few feet away from finding me. I’ve never run from him before and my nerves are on high alert right now. While I know my way around the room, I can’t see worth a damn where he is. He could be right in front of me and I wouldn’t know it.

              “I know you came in here, Molly. There is no escaping me, you know.” His voice was deep, almost growling. It was a little to my right, so I could tell he was following the walls to find me. I wasn’t going anywhere, though, perched on the counter waiting for him as I was.

              “Guess you will just have to catch me, then, Mr. Savage.”

              “mmm..I like the sound of that.” He said, his voice growing nearer.

              Almost as soon as he finished talking I felt him. His hand reached my knee and started caressing. Up and down. Then there was nothing. I wanted to reach out and grab him, but I didn’t. I was giving him full control and he knew it.

              I was not sitting very ladylike, but in a perfect position for him to taste me without having to move my legs at all, and that’s exactly what he did. The man knew what he was doing, I’ll give him that. I finally moved my hands to his hair just to have something to hold on to as I rode out the first explosion. He began kissing a trail up my body, nipping and sucking on my nipples when he made it to them. I was breathless, and each nip brought more and more need to have him.

              “God I love these.” He said, squeezing them with both hands and kissing them loudly before moving on to other parts of me. It was wonderful only having a sense of touch to rely on. Never would he have been this thorough in the light of the bedroom, but in the dark he was making sure there wasn’t an inch of me he missed. His kisses kept creeping up until he made it to my mouth. Finally I was able to kiss him back, show him how much I’ve been wanting him.

              “Jesus Molly, it’s been less than a week since I’ve tasted you, but fuck if it didn’t feel like a lifetime. I can’t go without you, that’s too fucking good.”

              I smiled, but as soon as I went to respond my words turned into a moan as he entered me unexpectedly.

              “Oh fuck, baby. It’s like we were fucking built for each other you fit so perfectly around me.” He was deliberately slow in his retreat. The pressure and pace of it was killing me, I don’t know how he was holding off so well. Once he was fully inside me again his forehead rested on mine and his hands came to rest around my head.

              “Jesus Molly, I love you so fucking much.”

              “I love you too, baby.” The sudden change of pace made me gasp as he quickened his movements. This is the Tatum I was looking forward to. This is exactly what I wanted. He is exactly what I want.

30-
         
Tatum

When she ran from me I was more shocked than anything. Then when she didn’t come back I knew she meant it and the hunt was on. God it was so fucking hot finding her perched on the counter like that, in a pitch dark room where all I could do to find her was explore every part of her. Jesus just thinking about it is making me need to adjust my pants.

              I need to switch gears. As fun as it is to think about her body, I have a few other pressing issues to handle right now. I am so pumped that my surprise for her is turning out to be even more amazing than I could have imagined. It’s taking a little more time to plan so it won’t be until tomorrow night after the wedding shoot is over, but I can wait. I’m a pretty patient man.

              The wedding is a whole other fiasco. I don’t want her to leave my sight the entire three days, but I know how unrealistic that is. Weddings are nuts, I’m sure as a photographer they are even more nuts and having an assistant there that can’t leave your side isn’t really helpful at all. I’ve resolved to spend as much time around her as I can and to try and not freak out when we are apart. Rob seems so worried about his cousin’s big day that I doubt he’d try anything that would ruin it. I’ll play it cool, but if he so much as looks at her wrong he’s going down.

              My dad still hasn’t gotten back to me on the situation about the note. It is starting to worry me that this is bigger than I thought. Normally he is pretty fast with returning phone calls and getting information out of people. I thought about calling him, but I know he will call when there is something to inform me about. For now I can sit and wait. I feel like a fucking pawn. Not knowing why this is happening, not knowing who it is, just pisses me off. I am constantly on guard that something is going to happen to us when we are out and about. That’s what this whole thing is about anyway, isn’t it? The note said revenge. If it truly is Rob pulling these strings, then he wants revenge for his sister’s death. One he believes is my fault. The phrase on the back of the note makes me believe he wants to take my loved one away as payback. Does he not understand I lost a loved one that day, too? My hurt trumped his ten-fold, but whoever sent that note doesn’t seem to care. Either way, I have a sinking feeling that Molly is in for a world of danger when it comes to Robert Delany. One that I’m going to try my best to stop before it happens.

              Molly and I finished up things in the office about an hour ago and decided to make the short walk back to her place. The evening air wasn’t as humid as it was and for being the first of May it wasn’t too incredibly hot. This place had nothing on Texas when it came to heat. That is one thing I really don’t miss about that state.

              We got back to her house a little after eight after stopping for a quick bite to eat, as both of us were too exhausted to actually cook something for dinner. She changed into her shorts and tank top for bed right away (something that will be coming off later if I have my way with her) and hopped on the couch. I noticed the blinking light on the answering machine and headed over to press it, ready to delete it right away when a very familiar voice came over the speaker. Molly froze and listened to the message from the couch, not moving a muscle. We both were expecting this call, but neither of us really wanted to hear what he had to say. Maybe if we stayed oblivious it all wouldn’t be real.

              “Molly. This is Al Savage. I have some very urgent news you and Tatum both need to hear. However, I am uncomfortable leaving this on your answering machine. You need to call me back, Molly.”

              She turned and looked at me. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and called him back. Putting him on speaker phone, he picked up the before the first ring was over.

              “Tatum. Is Molly with you?” What the hell, he was so worried about her.

              “Yea dad, she’s here.”

              “Hi Mr. Savage. I got your message. Can you tell us what’s going on?” Molly spoke up.

              He sighed so loudly that we could hear it clear as day through the phone. My dad wasn’t a stressed man. He wanted something, he got it, and he didn’t feel bad about it. The only emotion I’ve ever seen come out of him was the night he had the accident. Tonight was starting to freak me out, though. He almost seemed on edge about something.

              “Listen, you two. This has been a long time coming. Our family has not been on good terms with the Delany’s for well over 25 years, so this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m getting ahead of myself, though…let me explain…”

              Then he went on to tell us what we didn’t want to hear.

              Back when my father had just gotten his hands wet with the family business he met a girl. That girl is now my mother. That girl was engaged to a Delany when she met my father. You can imagine the bad blood that came from that. Add in his son having an illegitimate child with a long lost Delany and it just made it worse. One might think that because she didn’t grow up one of them that they wouldn’t care as much, but blood is blood. They had just found her a few months before she died so naturally the crime filled family has been trying to avenge her death ever since. Unfortunately for Molly, it came at just the right time for them. I had just popped into town, showed interest in her job, and boom. She landed the biggest contract of her career, unbeknownst to her that it was all to get at me. To make me pay for what I apparently did to their little girl. Word in a small town spreads quickly when you don’t add in the power of the Delany family. I’m sure they knew I had the job with her before I did. More than likely their plans changed as Molly and I became more serious, making her the target so I would have to live with the heartbreak. He then explained what I already know about Robert Delany’s past. In Texas, Rob was known as a player. Not just one night stand type of player. One that left women near death from the abuse they went through. Everyone was tight lipped, but secrets slipped every now and then. We knew enough to know that if he got his hands on her it wouldn’t end pretty.

              Molly sat next to me on the couch, staring at the phone as my father continued talking. When the line went silent on the other end of the phone she spoke up.

              “Well that fucking sucks.” She said in full seriousness. I couldn’t help but laugh at her tone, it was too damn cute. My father didn’t find it funny at all, however.

              “You could put it that way, Molly. Any way you put it, though, you need to know that working the wedding this weekend is not a good idea.” Shit we have been through this dad! I can see her face getting redder, her hands balling up, and I know my father is about to conjure the wrath of Molly Ward if he doesn’t watch it. “Listen to me dear, you don’t know when this family is going to strike I have tried my hardest to get any drip of info I can, but every lead is coming up dry.” I know the true meanings of my father’s words and suddenly understand why he feels so strongly about this. The strong arm technique didn’t work with this case. My father is always able to get information out of people if he has them beat long enough. I saw Molly about to unleash so I jumped in before she exploded on my father. As cute as that would be, I’m not sure he would appreciate it.

              “Dad we can’t pull out with the wedding weekend mere hours away. Robert would know something was up. It’s not going to get us clear form this fiasco.” He was quiet for a moment, then grunted. He agreed, but he wasn’t happy about it. We had to play it cool, act unsuspecting. Put on the best act we could, then catch him before he’s able to strike. Whatever he has planned, I have an awful feeling about it.

              We hung up the phone and sat on the couch together, coming up with a plan for the next three days. My dad was sending a few guys to help us if need be, but I hoped it didn’t come down to that. There has been too much blood shed in the last few months. I’m ready for a vacation. The only bright spot of the next three days is knowing that tomorrow night, after my surprise to Molly, I’ll officially be off the market for good. At least, I hope.