Pure Illusion (29 page)

“Isabel.”
His gravelly voice breaks my trance.

My
eyes snap to his that twinkle like dark sapphires.

Damn
!

I’ve
been caught gawking at Mr. Knight.

I’m
going to die a million deaths.

My
entire face heats and I’m thankful that’s mostly dark inside.

He
gazes back with open curiosity. “Did you come all this way to stare at me?”

“I
came to…I come…” I trail off, stuttering like an idiot.

Damn
him and his good looks.

His
gorgeousness is scrambling my mind.

“I’m
thrilled to know you came, but you look rather flustered. Are you sure I can’t
offer you a drink? I have juice in the fridge.”

My
throat does feel like sandpaper. I nod, licking my dry lips.

He
eyes drop to my mouth before he sits his cup on the table and saunters out of
my line of sight.

God,
it feels like every inch of my skin is tingling.

Why
am I here again
...?

“Cranberry or orange?”

“It
doesn’t matter.”

He
strolls back out with a jug of juice and two glasses. Caleb flops down beside
me, placing the glasses on the table. “Orange it is, then.” He smiles over at
me as he fills my glass and then his own. I sip down the refreshing juice and
he quickly chooses a flask with a clear spirit, ripping the cork out with his mouth
and thins his drink with it.

“Mr.
Knight, I came to talk about a few things.”

He
spews the cork from his mouth and knocks back the entire glass in one gulp.
Then he swipes his glistening lips with the sleeve of his shirt. “I’m
listening.” When he attempts to pour more liquor into his glass, I stop him and
snatch the flask away. He
tsks
. “Am I not allowed a drink?”

“Not
when you’ve already had several,” I mutter, determined.

He
narrows his eyes in such a way I feel it my core. The Knights could stop a thief
with that glare. “Is
my
business really your concern?”

“It
is when I’m with you,” I whisper.

Then
something strange happens: I watch in utter fascination as his face gets soft.
This is truly a sight to take in, considering his face doesn’t get soft often.
He settles further into the sectional, solemn eyes on mine. “Ask away.”

I
inhale deeply. Hunter is truly his father’s son. “I found pictures of you and
my mom and your brother, Smith. My dad was with Grace. The photo album was well
hidden. Why would they want to conceal high school pictures?”

He
shrugs. “Maybe they were ashamed.”

My
brows knit. “Why would they be ashamed?”

“Who
would want to willingly admit they knew us?”

“Did
you and Smith date my mother?”

His
eyes shift to the window that twinkles with the town’s skyline. “We loved your
mother very, very much.”

“And?”

His
eyes flicker back to mine. “And she was and still is the most beautiful woman
I’ve ever seen. I miss her every fucking day.” He eyes me for a long moment. I
hold my breath as he lifts a hand and sweeps my hair over my shoulder. “You
look just like her.
So beautiful.”

“Thank
you, sir,” I murmur.

Something
close to arousal flashes in his eyes.
Again.
There is
no doubt that Hunter is his father’s son. “So what else do you want to know?”

“What
happened between the four of you?”

He
sighs heavily. “Smith loved your mother so much; he loved her more than his own
heartbeat. He actually told me that a few times. I loved her, as well. But our
love for her was on two different axles. What he thought was best for her and I
what I thought were two completely different things. Smith was so intense,
everything he did was extreme. He would wake with these horrible night terrors.
He couldn’t sleep…until one night he snuck out the window and brought Isabelle
home. He was ten and she was eight at the time. She calmed him and they slept
peacefully. He’d always say it was the best sleep of his life. Isabelle and I
naturally grew close and formed something extraordinary over the years that I
will never forget.” He pauses and rakes his hands down his face. “So, Isabelle
and I make it to Cherry Creek High. Smith was already a junior and we were only
freshmen, but the entire school respected us because Smith told them to. Smith
had a best friend, Ivan. They were around the same age and played football
together. Ivan was irrationally in love with Grace. You couldn’t keep those two
apart from one another. But what happens when the girl you can’t
fucking
sleep without falls in love with another that isn’t
you? As you can imagine, Smith and Grace were devastated. I, on the other hand,
was disappointed. Like I said, Smith’s love for Isabelle and my love for her
were on two different axles. I wanted what was best for her; Smith just plain
and simple
wanted her
.” Caleb takes a deep exhale. “We grew up. Grace
and I went the Ivy route. Your mom got married and pregnant. Smith never got
over her. Smith had…issues. He would call me at the strangest hours and tell me
odd things. He followed her, he knew her day-to-day schedule. Before I knew it,
he told me she was pregnant again. That winter break I went home to care for
Smith. He was very peculiar and had these outrageous claims that Isabelle still
loved him…that she wanted to be with him, that Ivan was holding her back and
keeping them apart. That was very far from the truth. Isabelle was happily
married with a husband and a family she adored. I don’t think she bothered to
look our way…that drove Smith mad. Smith couldn’t help himself, though. He was
sick and I was young and didn’t know what to do. I should have gotten him help.
But it was too late when Ivan called me.”

His
eyes dim, his voice lowers to a tone that ices my skin. “You father killed my
brother. Your mom was still very pregnant at the time, and Grace and I were
just beginning to torture each other, she already had given birth to Hero and
Hunter was still so young. Smith was going to murder your mother if Ivan didn’t
divorce her. He showed Ivan his plans and everything. Ivan killed him.” Wetness
rolls down his cheeks. “He murdered my brother, who was ill and I helped bury
his body. Let’s face it, the south is the south as injustice as it is and Ivan
would’ve got the death penalty. Ivan and Isabelle didn’t deserve that after what
my brother put them through. I was so fucking broken, I told Grace everything.
She told me she had a plan. She told me it was the only way.” He takes huge
lungful of air. “Grace…she made your mother give up one of her babies to
restore some stupid fucking balance.”

My
entire world starts to spin, but Caleb keeps on talking. “My mama didn’t give
up one of her babies.”

He
nods. “Yes, she did. Isabelle was pregnant with twins the second time around.”

All
the breath leaves my body as his words sink in. “Naya?”

He
nods again, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “She looks just like
you…just like Isabelle.”

Fury
and bile rises in my throat. “So you beat you wife and kids because you can’t
live the fact you let your brother down.”

His
brows furrow as his gaze locks on mine. “I’ve never laid a hand on my children.
And what I did to Grace, she fucking wanted it. It’s all an illusion, Isabel.
I’m no woman beater. Grace fucking begged me to manhandle her. I knew that
Hunter saw a scene and got the wrong idea. We always played rough, but I never
broke her bones and she never had any hospital visits. Grace loved every
fucking second of it. She’s the one who
begged
me to do it.”

“You
didn’t beat your wife?”

He
makes a face. “Not in the manner you think. I would never harm Grace or my
children. I am a weak man when it comes to my desire, but I would never stoop
as low as you may think.”

“Then
why
is Naya’s
back—”

Caleb’s
head jerks back, forehead creasing, eyes narrowing. “Wait. What’s wrong with
her back?”

“I
think your children are in trouble Mr. Knight. I don’t think they’re safe with
Grace.”

I’m
startled when he jolts up.
“Fucking Grace!
I’m getting
them right now.
RIGHT FUCKING NOW!”
He dashes off
within the dark confines of his plush penthouse and then returns with a set of
keys.

“Mr.
Knight, you’re in no condition to drive. Let me take you where you did to be.”

Air & Water

Once
I pull into the lot, Mr. Knight runs to the front door and almost breaks it down.
He rushes inside, past a bewildered Grace. Mr. Knight comes back out, clasping
Naya’s hand and Hero in the other. Mrs. Knight is furious. She is yelling and
cursing, shoving Mr. Knight’s back, trying to block his path. A black glossy
town car pulls up beside me.

That
must be Mr. Knight’s driver.

Grace
grabs Naya’s free hand, harshly yanking Naya towards her. Hero shouts at Grace
and Naya is in a deadly tug-of-war with her parents.

That’s
my sister.

That’s
Taylor’s twin sister.

Unclipping
my belt, I open the door. Caleb told me to stay inside my car, but this scene
is just too horrifying to idly stand by and do nothing. When I march over to
them, a huge muscular man sprints out the car and blocks my path. When I
attempt to move past him, his heavy arms shoot out, grabbing my waist.

“Let
me GO!”

“Mr.
Knight told you to stay in the car.”

“MOVE!”

“I
can’t let you get near Grace. Those are my orders, miss.”

I
thrash wildly in his grip but he simply hoists me over a bulky shoulder and
carries me to my car. I claw his skin and kick and scream but nothing deters
him from his task. It’s like I’m fighting a brick wall. He takes my keys from
my ignition and then shoves me inside the town car, slamming the door after.
Shaking and gasping, I scramble across the leather seats and try to pry the
door open on the opposite side. No luck. It’s locked from the inside. The
windows are so darkly tinted. I can hardly see what’s happening. The more I
strain to peer out the black windows, the more frustrated I become. I can still
hear, though. Naya is screaming her head off and Grace is shouting at the top
of her lungs.

“You
can’t take my babies! A drunk can’t get custody of my children!”

The
screaming fades until it vanishes all together. I slide and tumble across the
smooth seats as the car begins to move and accelerate. A million thoughts race
through my head as the car speeds through the dark streets. I hold my breath as
I hear the raging sounds of rushing rapids. The car swiftly rushes over The
Suicide Bridge. The bridge pole lights transform into yellowish streaks of
blurry color.

We’re
leaving Cherry Creek?

Where
is he taking me?

After
a while, I give up and settle into the cushiony seats, slipping in and out of consciousness.
The car slows and then stops completely and harsh white florescent lighting
floods the inside compartment as the door swings open. Mr. Knight holds out his
hand and helps me out of the car. I squint as I rise from the car. We’re at a
small gas station off the side of the freeway. The gas station is within a
complex complete with a vacant motel and an aged lime green diner that has seen
better days and rows of semi-trucks parked in a lot. There is no other car in
sight. Mr. Muscle Man is oblivious to everything as he fills the tank.

What
happened to Naya and Hero?

Caleb
tilts his head towards the diner with a red flickering OPEN sign lit within the
glass door. “Have a cup of coffee with me?”

Nodding,
I follow behind him along the cracked pavement. Inside, the walls are covered
with green and white striped peeling wallpaper. We slide into a sticky worn red
booth. Before the waitress could hand us a menu, he declines and orders just
coffee. She comes back with two white steaming mugs. Caleb begins to converse
only when she leaves.

“I
know you must have a million questions for me?” I watch him a moment as he
stirs his coffee and causally sips. After what occurred, Mr. Knight seems oddly
at ease.

“How
can you be so calm after everything?” I half snarl.

He
scoffs. “It’s all about control, Isabel. I’m far, far from
calm
.”

“Where
are they?”

“Safe.
For now, I’m taking them with me.”

“And
where is that?”

He
observes me briefly. “I rather not say. You’re welcome to come along. Cherry Creek
is not a safe place for you, either.”

I
glance around at all the truck drivers and lower my voice to barely a whisper.
“Did Grace hurt them?”

“That’s
rhetorical.”

“Why
didn’t you stop her? I don’t understand.”

He
takes another sip of his coffee, eyes on mine. “How am I supposed to fight
something I cannot see?”

I
lean forward. “You didn’t know?”

“Again,
that’s rhetorical,” Mr. Knight snaps.

“I’m
sorry. This is difficult for me to process and I’m trying not freak out right
now.” I drink down some coffee and almost gag. My rumbling stomach can’t digest
anything at the moment.

Caleb
caresses my hand. “The world continues to spin, even when yours has just
shattered. The kids know nothing. In time, I’ll tell them the parts they need
to know. My main concern is their safety.”

“I
understand,” I murmur into my cup.

He
glances down at his shiny watch,
then
looks out the
plate-glass windows. He seems anxious to get back to them.

“Are
you going to get custody?”

“It’s
going to be difficult, but there is no way I’m going down without a fight.”

My
brows snap together. “Why will it be difficult? Why can’t you just present the
case as child abuse and win?”

His
sober blue eyes lock onto mine. “It’s not that easy…nothing is ever that easy.”

“So
she could take Naya away?”

“Naya
isn’t going anywhere near her. Relax. Let me handle it. As for Hero, he’s
legally an adult. He doesn’t have to be somewhere he doesn’t want to be, but
he’s still attends high school and
needs
a guardian.”

“Did
you love her?”

He
eyes me critically before he answers, “Who?”

“Grace.
Did you love Grace?”

His
gaze shifts back to the windows. “I’ve learned throughout my years that there
are really two great loves. There is the love of your life and then the person
you’re supposed to be with. The love of your life will be very, extremely
passionate. It’s full of fire and heat and romance. That love will be unsteady
and erratic at times but that’s what makes it so great…so worth the risk. The
person you’re supposed to be with is on the other end of that spectrum. Their
love is cool, refreshing, and blissful. The person you’re supposed to be with
will keep you balanced and steady, but it’s no less passionate than the other.
It’s just a different kind of passion, one that will wash over your soul like a
heavenly wave of the most beautiful, tranquil sea. Choosing between the two is
nearly imposable. It’s like choosing between air and water—you need both to
survive.” He makes a face, expression revulsion. “Grace was neither for me.”

My
heart plummets to my stomach with sadness for Caleb. “Which was my mother?”

He
smiles at me, eyes going out of focus. “Your mother, she was my air. I couldn’t
breathe without her.” He glances at his wristwatch again,
then
he pulls a crisp hundred dollar bill from his wallet, slapping it on the wooden
table. “We should go now.”

Two
town cars are parked at the curb of the diner.  Mr. Knight walks me to one
of them. “I’ll have your car dropped off. Where do want it?”

“Umm,
my house is fine. Do you need the address?”

He
opens the car door for me, giving his head a slight shake. “I’m aware of your
address, Isabel.”

I
step halfway in and then pause to ask him, “Is your water still out there?”

Cable
gives me a slow, beguiling smile only intended for me. My breath catches in my throat.
Hunter is his father’s son. “She is.”

A
gust of wind sends wisps of my hair across my face. “How do you pick between
the two?”

His
smile broadens. “It’s not a matter of choosing. It’s a matter of which one you
can’t survive the longest without. You know, your mother has a sister. Lily
Stewart. You should find her; she may have the answers you need. Take care of
my Hunter. He needs you.”

With
that, I sink into the car. Right before we turn onto the highway, I notice
Caleb retrieving travel-sized bottles of liquor from the car compartment and
smashing the glass bottles against the curb of the sidewalk where they burst on
impact.