Reaching Rachel (12 page)

Checking herself out one more time in the mirror to make sure she couldn’t see any remnants of the bruises, she walked out to the kitchen to get her coffee. Justin was standing there in his work attire, looking like he was ready to head out as well.

“Morning,” she mumbled, because she knew he would want her to. He smiled, stepping forward and embracing her.

“You look beautiful,” he said, nuzzling her neck. She clenched her teeth at his touch. “Let me see that face.” He stepped back and scrutinized her, running his fingers along her face where he knew the bruises were. “You did a good job, babe. You make me want to take you right here.” He pushed himself against her, showing that he in fact was quite ready.

“I have to go,” Rachel answered, stepping around him to go to the coffee pot.

“Hey,” Justin grabbed her by the arm, turning her back to him. “What’s with the attitude this morning?”

She bit her cheek, knowing she had to be very, very careful. “Babe, I don’t have an attitude. I’m just tired and nervous about going to work. I’m okay.”

His eyes narrowed on her face. “Do I need to remind you to keep your fucking mouth shut today?”

Rachel shook her head no, her legs quivering. She had to keep him cool. “Justin, I’m just going to work. That’s all. I told them I had the flu, so it’s very believable.”

“What time will you be home?” He was testing her and she knew it.

“I get off at 5. If I’m going to be later than 5:30, I will call you.”

“No lunch with Kayley or that girl Jessica. If you follow all directions, I will give your mouth a reward tonight and let you take a little taste.” He pushed against her again, causing her stomach to roil at his words. Really? Like that was some damn prize.

Just like every time, she wished that her life had never gotten to this point. She was better off alone, having casual relationships. If she ever got out of this one, she would never be serious with anyone again, just like she had promised herself years before.

“I know, Justin. I’ll see you later.” Rachel smiled her flirtatious smile at him, the one that got through to him. She stepped up and pressed her lips to his, and he pulled her tight to him, causing her to whimper.

“Sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I just care about you so much,” he murmured, tracing her lips with his tongue. At one time, that would’ve ignited her insides. Now, however, it made her want to knee him in the groin. She knew, though, that it was only a matter of time. “I love you, Rachel. I hope you have a great day today.”

Justin watched Rachel get into her car and head off to work. Running his hands through his hair, he breathed out a sigh of relief. He had done it. He had convinced that red-haired stallion that she had been broken. He wondered if she really would keep her mouth shut, but he would just have to watch. He doubted she wanted any more of what happened last week.

He felt bad about that, he really did, but it had been a necessary part of breaking her down. Him following through on his plan was the number one goal. That news story that had been circulating had died down, though he still saw the posters around town sometimes. Wearing a hat and sunglasses most of the time kept many people from giving him a second glance. Plus, he was friendly and good looking and even if someone had seen the resemblance they would’ve dismissed it.

Leaving his apartment had been step 1 of taking over Rachel’s life. While he still felt he had a ways to go, she was changing. Smiling, he grabbed his lunchbox and headed for the door. He would show up and surprise her today at lunch too, and make sure she was keeping her damn mouth closed.

Rachel sat behind her desk, in disbelief how much work she had in front of her. She knew missing a week would put her behind, but it was like none of the other office girls had done anything while she was gone.

Beginning to create piles, she looked longingly at the phone next to her computer. She wanted to call Kayley badly. She knew that she could—he would never know. But she also knew that Kayley would know something was wrong if she talked to her, and Rachel didn’t have her plan ready yet. It started with doing some research on her boyfriend.

Bringing up the Google homepage, she typed Justin Stevens in the search engine. When the page popped up, she realized that Justin Stevens was a very popular name. Going back to the search screen, she typed in Justin Stevens, Alabama construction foreman.

“Hey, Rachel! Welcome back.” Jessica’s voice came from behind her, and she quickly exited the search window. She would have to look at that later.

“Jessica!” Rachel stood, hugging her friend, but not too tightly. “How are you?”

“I should ask you the same thing! Girl, are you okay? That must’ve been some flu!” Jessica sat next to her in an empty chair. “I have a half an hour until my next patient, so fill me in. What’s been going on?”

Rachel hesitated, knowing it would be that easy, to just let the words roll out of her mouth and tell Jessica everything. She would help her, she knew she would. Justin’s menacing, threatening eyes flashed in front of her face. Who knew what he would do to Jessica if he knew she told her. It just wasn’t worth the risk. “I’ve never been that sick in my life. I’m still pretty weak.”

Jessica smiled. “I can tell, you still look a little pale. But boy, do I have stuff to catch you up on! Want to go to lunch together?”

Rachel blew out the breath she realized she was holding. “I can’t, Jess. Look at this desk. I don’t think anyone did anything the whole time I was gone. Rain check?”

“Sure, girl,” Jessica answered. “How’s Justin? Still hot as hell?”

Rachel winked at Jessica, the only thing she could think of to cover the real expression that was fighting to come out on her face. “You know it.”

Jessica stood, heading back for the door to the therapy center. “You’re so lucky. I need a hot guy to keep my bed warm.”

No you don’t
, Rachel thought, as she outwardly laughed.
Not that guy
. But of course she let Jessica go out the door without telling her one single bit of the truth.

Kayley parked in the lot of her previous employer, a small twinge of sadness coming over her. She missed her work. She would never take back the time she had gotten with her family, but she did miss being here at work. Rachel was back to work today, and Ben was off, so he was keeping Benji and Cierra so she could surprise Rachel with lunch.

She knew she would probably be up to her eyeballs in work, so she stopped at their favorite sub place and grabbed some sandwiches and chips. Walking in, she immediately saw Rachel, the phone pressed against her ear and papers covering her desk. She didn’t see her.

The receptionist, a bubbly college student named Bailey, saw Kayley and jumped up, squealing. “Kayley! I’m so glad to see you! I’ve missed you so much!”

Kayley hugged the young girl, and saw that Rachel had turned to face her, looking like she had just seen a ghost. Not understanding the look on her face, she stepped away from Bailey and walked up to the window.

“Rach?” Kayley questioned. “Are you okay?”

Rachel recovered quickly, smiling and standing up. “Come in, Kay! I’m so glad you’re here!” Kayley walked to the door, watching her friend’s face. There was something wrong. She could read it all over her face. “What are you doing here? Where are the kids?”

Kayley embraced her friend, holding her tightly. Rachel pulled back after a small noise of pain came out of her mouth. “Rach, what’s wrong?”

Rachel breathed in and out.
I’m so dead
, she thought.
Kayley is here. Justin will find out. He will kill me before I ever get to tell anyone. I should tell her now. She can help. Ben can help
. Then she thought of those precious babies, and she knew, she couldn’t tell her and put her in jeopardy, too.

“I’m good! I’m just still a little weak from being so sick.” Kayley searched her face, and Rachel pulled the mask she had worn for over five years into place. She was good at this. She could do it. “Where are your kids? I want to squeeze them!”

Kayley smiled, and Rachel breathed. She had to get her out of here, and quickly. If Justin came by and saw her, she didn’t want to think about what would happen. “Ben’s home today. Lexi is at school, and Benji and Cierra were napping so I escaped. I brought lunch from our favorite place.”

Rachel looked at the bag in her hand. “Freddy’s! Yeah!” She looked at Bailey. “I’ll be in the break room, okay? Don’t let anyone add to my pile while I’m gone.”

Bailey promised, and Rachel and Kayley headed to the break room. She felt a little safer back here. Maybe Justin wouldn’t find out that she had been here.

The friends sat down and started eating, a comfortable silence settling in between them. Rachel’s mind raced with the possibilities of this lunch.

“Okay,” Kayley began, setting down her sandwich. “Spill it. What’s going on?”

Rachel chewed slowly, contemplating her answer. “Kay, I’m okay. I’m sorry if I’m acting weird. I’ve had a crazy morning and I’m still not 100%.”

Kayley put her hand over hers. “Do you need Ben to take a look at you?”

Rachel couldn’t help it—she laughed out loud. “Really, Kay?” They both began laughing, tears rolling down their cheeks.

“Sorry, sorry,” she giggled, wiping her eyes. “That’s
not
what I meant and you know it.”

As their giggling dissipated, Kayley looked at her friend seriously again. “Is everything okay with Justin?”

What a loaded question. “We’re fine. First, I had to take care of him because he was hurt, and now he had to take care of me because I was sick. Oh—one thing you will be happy to know is that we moved in together. Well, he moved in with me.”

Kayley’s eyes opened wide. “Wow, Rach. That’s progress! How’s it going?”

“Pretty good. It’s strange, since I haven’t lived with anyone in a really long time.”

Kayley’s eyes searched her face, and Rachel tensed when she stopped right where makeup was covering her bruises. “Rachel.” That was all she had to say, and she knew. She had to get away from her, or she would tell her everything. She saw through her. This is exactly why Justin didn’t want her to see her.

“I have to get back to work,” Rachel stood abruptly and turned away, willing the tears to stay away. She could do this. She was strong.

“I have one thing to ask you,” Kayley said, her voice soft. “Where’s Justin from?”

Not knowing where she was going with this, she turned back around. “Alabama. Why?”

Kayley shrugged. “Have you heard the news story about the guy they are looking for that was reported to be in this area?”

Rachel shook her head. She hadn’t been watching television at all. “No, why? What does that have to do with where Justin is from?”

“I don’t know,” Kayley answered. “The other night, Ben and I were watching the news and they started saying that this guy named Mark Stevenson had been spotted here. It was apparently nationwide news. He’s wanted in Alabama for a ton of things, but mainly attempted murder of a woman and a police officer. I guess that this woman was someone he might’ve been in a relationship with, and he beat her so badly she’s been in a coma for two months.”