Pure Illusion (33 page)

“Let
her make the decision.”

“I
think you should take her home with you. She doesn’t look so good.”

“Where
are you going?”

A
phone buzzes. “It’s Rex. We’re leaving town. I had enough of Cherry Creek for a
lifetime. I’m searching for my mother. I have clues and I’m going to follow
them. Rex wants to help…He’s afraid of
him
.”

“Okay…Right.
Leave as soon as you can.”

“Keep
her safe, Hunter. She’s the only family I have now; she’s all I have left.”

“I
got her, Taylor. She’s gonna be fine.”

“I
just don’t want to leave her here like this. It doesn’t feel right.”

“Go,
Taylor. You
don’t
have a choice.”

Small
cold fingers bunch my mine together. “Isabel, stay strong. Breathe, even when
you feel like it’s impossible. We will see each other again.” With a quick kiss
on the cheek, I hear the soft click of her heels fade.

“Isabel,
I’m getting you out of here.” Hunter picks me up, cradling me to his chest once
more like a wounded pet. It was like this in the beginning—him saving me.

Will
there ever be a time where Hunter Knight wouldn’t be my rescuer?
 

After
a while I feel the cool winter breeze on the skin of my clammy face. It’s very
cold but it feels so pleasant.

“Put
me down.” It comes out so low, it’s a miracle he even hears me.

“No.”

“PUT
ME DOWN!”

I’m
not prepared to be slammed on my feet so I wobble a little. Hunter tries to
balance me but I refuse, leaning my back against the frosty door of his truck.
I gaze at him, but he stares beyond me, at the hotel. “We have to get out of
here, Isabel.”

“Max
has the tape.”

He
squints, eyes still focused somewhere at a point behind my head. “Yeah, we have
to leave.
Now.”

“No.”

His
darkening gaze drifts to down to mine, the shimmering white twinkle-lights
dancing across his face. “No?”

“Yes.
No
. I’m not going anywhere until I see that tape.”

“Look—”
he clenches his jaw “—we are leaving right now, even if I have to drag you by
your fucking hair.”

“I’ll
scream,” I warn quietly.

Eyes
on mine, he moves extremely close, so close that his warm breath fans across my
lips and cheeks, making me dizzier. “I don’t care. I’m fast.”

“Why
are you doing this, Hunter? Max has the tape. Why can’t I just see it?”

“Don’t
make this more difficult than it has to be.” He opens the passenger door and
then grasps my upper arm, harshly urging me inside the cab of his truck.

I
narrow my eyes, scrutinizing his impassive expression. “Why can’t I see the
tape, Hunter? What’s on the video?” He gives my arm sharp yank. “Ow. You’re
hurting me, Hunter.
Stop!”
I’m helpless from stopping
the current of tears that flow down my face.

He
gives me a sharp jerk and I yank away. Pain from the tugging radiates all over.
“
FUCKKKK
!
Why are you
making this so fucking difficult?! Just get inside the fucking truck, Isabel!
I’m losing my fucking mind here!” The fierceness of his booming voice awakens a
deep fear inside of me that I’ve never known. For the first time in my life,
I’m really petrified of Hunter Knight.

Is
there no end to his cruelty?

“HELP
ME! HE’S HURTING ME! HELP ME! PLEASE! MAX! MAX!” I don’t recognize the
high-pitched screeching voice.

That
girl sounds terrified.

That
girl sounds traumatized.

That
girl is me.

A
gang of men happen to be in the parking lot. They all pounce on a disorientated
Hunter, who stares at me as if I somehow betrayed him, as if I destroyed
something sacred between us. He doesn’t even bother to fight as they wrestle
him to the ground.

“…Miss,
are you injured? Do I need to call the police?”

Before
I can respond, Max steps beside me, wrapping a supportive arm around my back.
“No. I’ve got it. Thank you.” Max gives me a sympathetic look.

I
continue to stare at a defenseless Hunter Knight that lies face down on the wet
pavement. Hunter’s hands are wrenched behind his back and his face is smashed
to the ground, his cheek scrapping the asphalt. “It’s an illusion, Isabel.
Everything is an illusion.”

“Illusion:
a false mental image produced by misinterpretation of things that actually
exist. I don’t think I’m misinterpreting anything, Hunter. I see everything.”

“That’s
it: you
don’t
think
much. You don’t see much.
Blinded
first by the beauty that killed her.
Invisible.
Someday you’ll fall in love with me
.” I’m struck with a brutal ache that
spreads like fire in my chest. Those words sound familiar. But how would I know
them? “I need you to see with your heart, Isabel. What does your heart tell
you?”

I
swallow past the tears, past the pain, past the love, past reason. “That I love
you enough to finally let you go. Goodbye, Hunter Knight.” I turn sharply,
moving in the direction of Max’s SUV. I understand the deep look of betrayal
and devastation in his eyes now. It’s there because I fully and completely let
him go when I vowed to keep him in my heart forever. That look will no doubt
haunt me until the end of my days.

It
looks like Hunter Knight isn’t the only one who can break promises
.

Conclusion

“Why
am I doing this again?” I ask Max, scrolling down a website on Tyler’s laptop.
We both sit on his comfortable rug on his living room floor, still in our
formal attire.

“You
need to be informed about Hunter. Maybe you’ll see what everyone else sees.” He
peers at the screen over my shoulder. Max wanted me to Google traits of a
sociopath. “Now read them.” I begin silently reading in my head. “Uh-uh. Out
loud, Isabel. Read them out loud.”

I
grit my teeth. It’s like I’m being chastised and reprimanded or something that
isn’t entirely my fault. “Will you show me the tape after?”

“Yes.
Now read.”

Sighing,
I tap down on the mouse.
“Manipulative and conning.”

“They
never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as
permissible. They appear charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering.
Check one. Next.”

“Shallow emotions.”

“When
they show what seems to be warmth, love, and compassion it’s more feigned than
experienced and serves as an ulterior motive. Check two. Next.”

“Need
for stimulation.”

“Verbal outburst and physical
punishments.”
He gives his head a slight shake with mock amusement. “Didn’t he spank you and
assault you on more than one occasion? Check three. Next.”

I
force myself to swallow.
“Poor behavioral and impulsive
nature.”

“Rage
and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an
addictive cycle for abuser and abused. No sense of personal boundaries, no
concern for their impact on others. How many times has he made you feel that
way? Check four. Next.”

My
hands are trembling. I try to hide them in my lap.
“Lack of
remorse, shame, and guilt.”

“They
do not see others as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of
friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end
result is always justified that means they let nothing stand in their way—”

“Enough Max.
Please.
Enough.” I slam the laptop shut and recline my back towards the couch. A severe
sweat breaks across my skin, my chest is heaving, and my heart is pounding in
my ears.

“Oh,
but wait…this is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s the pathological lying,
superficial charm—”

“Max, stop.
I get it.”

He
stands and drops in an elegant crouch in front of me, assessing eyes gauging my
reaction. “But you still love him, though.”  

My
brows furrow, expression bewildered. “I can’t stop loving him, Max. Is that
what you’re asking me to do?”
Because that’s impossible
.

He
looks guilty but it’s only briefly; Max’s anger rages on. “You want to see the
video? Okay.
Fine.”
  Max stands and yanks a
remote from the coffee table. He presses a button, powering on the massive flat
screen. A plain blue screen comes to life. He presses another button, but the
image is so dark that I have to squint to see it clearly. There, on The Suicide
Bridge, I make out two figures in black coats that are standing in the
never-ending rain. As the video begins to play, I realize that it’s Tyler and
he is talking to…No. I scoot up until my nose is practically shoved against the
TV screen. There’s no mistaking it. The person he’s talking to is Hunter.
Hunter appears to be yelling at him. Tyler takes a few cautious steps back,
afraid of Hunter. Hunter then grips him by the labels of his raincoat, yanking
him off the ground.

I
screw my eyes shut and sniff, attempting to stifle the swelling of a hysterical
wail, but it’s useless. I burst into sobs.

“Checkmate.”
Max flicks off the TV and squats, scooping me up from the floor. He takes me
into his bedroom and lays me on the bed. Max lovingly strokes my hair. I cling
onto him with everything I have.

Hunter
did it.

Hunter
killed my brother.

God,
how was I so blind?

“I
knew this was going to be hard for you.” He kisses my tear-stained cheek and
stretches his arm out, grabbing something from his stand. “Here, this will help
you get through tonight.” She pushes an open bottle of vodka to my lips. I
drink the scorching liquid through woeful sobs and hiccups. It doesn’t take me
long to drain half the bottle.

“Why
did he do it? I loved him so much. This can’t be happening.”

“I
know. I’m so sorry. He’s just really sick, Pumpkin. I found that tape
well-hidden in my father’s safe at home. I think my dad was protecting Grace. I
have to make a few calls. We have to catch him before he does something else
drastic and dangerous.”

“Why
would he be protecting Grace?”

“My
dad has been in love with Grace since before I was born. They were really close
once. It was years ago though. Something huge happened between them. They don’t
talk much at all now.”

“What’s
going to happen now?”

“I’m
going to hand over the tape to Chief. He’s going to take it from there. My dad
will disown me, but I don’t care.”

Max
is my prince.

He’s
betraying his own father for me.

He
chooses me.

“Why
are you doing this, Max?”

He
shrugs. “I thought the alcohol could help knock you out for a bit. You’re going
to need your rest.”

“No, not the vodka.
Why are you
choosing me? Am I really worth what you’re risking?”

His
eyes narrow and his head jerks. Max inclines very close, gazing into my
tear-brimmed eyes. My brows snap together because what I see in their depths
has me mystified and horrified all at once. We breathe in each other’s air for
what seems like an endless moment suspended in time. He gingerly smoothes out
the deep wrinkles between my brows and presses his index finger into the soft
spot there. “He really messed you up inside of here. Isabel, you’re worth every
damn risk in the world. Furthermore, love is the biggest factor here.”

“You
love me?” I sniff.

He
gives me mournful smile, wiping the snot from my nose with the edge of his
dress shirt. “It’s kind of difficult not to love you. I’ve loved you for a very
long, long time now.”

“Max,”
I breathe. A bunch of tulle, lace, and stain from my gown moves with me as I
snuggle closer into Max, leaning completely into him. I’m so close to him right
now. If I shift just a tiny bit, I can actually kiss him.

Glistening
eyes stare back at me. “Pumpkin,” he caresses the side of my face, “you don’t
have to do anything but breathe. You owe me nothing. I didn’t do this to gain
your affection. We can let things take their natural course, if you think there
is even a course to be taken.”

“Kiss
me, Max.”

His
burning gaze drops to my lips, he swallows nervously. “I don’t think we—”

I
smash my mouth against his, running my tongue at the seam of his lips. He
moans, and my tongue dips inside his sweet mouth. I drank him in. It’s like a
having a refreshing glass of chilled lemonade after a long, tiring day. Max
rejuvenates my heart that has been obliterated so many times. My hands are
frantic as they fumble and tug on his belt buckle, desperately trying to undo
it. I don’t fully understand why sex means so much to me, why it’s essential to
my romantic love life.

I
just need him inside of me.

He
wedges himself between my legs, planting gentle but ravenous kisses down the
side of my neck. He kisses me right behind my ear and I shudder. “Max, please.”
When he attempts to undress, I stop him. “Leave it on. I can’t wait that long.”

Something
in him awakens. Max stares at, his chest heaving and breathing labored. He
shuts his eyes as if pained and our foreheads meet. He slides his nose down
mine and kisses the corners of my mouth, sending tingles and heat everywhere
throughout my body. “We don’t have to do this. You’re really wasted right now.
I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage of you in the most vulnerable
moment of your life.”

Do
good guys like Max Gabai really exist?

I
guess my answer is looking me in the face.

He
kisses me on the cheek like something cherished, like something that means the
world to him, as if I just might break if not handled with care. The familiar
wail is building in my chest again. “Stop treating me like I’m precious, Max. I
am not.”

He
smoothes wisps of hair from my sweaty face. “But you are, Isabel.” His lips
lightly brush against mine. Through the tears, I inhale sharply. His supple
lips move delicately over mine as he talks, looking intently into my eyes.
“You’re so incredibly precious to me.
So unbelievably
precious.
You are loved. You are treasured. You are cherished. I can see
treating you like this makes you uncomfortable, but I have to warn you that
your uneasiness will only peak from this point onward, because I’m going to
break down every barrier and I’m going to remind you every chance I get that
you’re worth more than my weight in gold.”

My
heart hurts.

We
gaze at each other.

A
second later, I burst into more tears until I black out.