AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Cord,” his name falls from my lips in a whimper. He tightens his hold on me and kisses my forehead.
“I know, baby. I told him he can't show up again unless you give him permission.” He strokes a hand up and down my back, trying his hardest to soothe me.
“How would I give him permission? I don’t have a way to contact him.” I frown into Cord’s chest. I hate all of this.
“I gave him my business card. He’ll be calling me tomorrow.”
“Why would you do that?” I sit up in bed so quickly I almost fall over.
“Hey, calm down. It’s going to be fine.” Cord slides up the mattress until his back is resting against the headboard.
“You don’t need to be involved in this, Cord.” I’m not angry, I'm just confused. What person would willingly get involved in this shit show?
“I knew I’d only get him to leave if I promised him something. I said I’d talk to you and let you know what he wanted, but he couldn’t contact you. He has to go through me.”
“Why?”
“Because then I can protect you. I can be the middleman and make sure he doesn’t overstep boundaries.”
“And if he does?”
“Then I’ll have a team of lawyers so far up his ass, he won't know what happened to him. He’ll wish he were back in prison,” Cord growls. “I won't let him hurt you again, Macy.”
Cord tugs me back into his arms and I go willingly. I’ve never felt safer than I do wrapped in his embrace. We’re quiet for a few minutes before I break the silence.
“I haven’t seen him since the night he almost killed Liam,” I whisper. “I was so scared, Cord. I could hear him beating my brother. I could hear each point of contact he made, but I couldn’t do anything about it. Liam made me promise to stay in my room.”
“What happened? How did you guys get out safely?” His words are hesitant and measured. I pull back enough to gaze up at him with furrowed brows. Why is he asking this? “You’ve never talked about what happened. Not about that night or any of the other nights your dad lifted his hand to one of you. You’ve made comments and I’ve made assumptions, but I don’t know the whole story.”
I nod my head and settle back into his arms. Getting lost in these memories is going to be painful, but if I want a real shot at a future with Cord, he deserves to know the good, the bad, and the painful ugliness.
“I’ve told you how after my mom left, my dad kinda went off the deep end. He threw himself into work and stopped caring about us. I think part of it was to drown himself in anything that would keep his mind off of his wife leaving and part was so he wouldn’t have to look at us and constantly be reminded of how his life had changed. Then, when that wasn’t enough, he drowned his sorrows in a bottle.”
“That’s why you don’t drink much, isn't it?”
“Yup. I rarely ever get drunk. I limit myself to one or two drinks, because I know what type of addiction runs in my veins and I don’t want to be anything like him.”
“You’re not, Mace. You’re so much better than him.”
I squeeze my eyes shut knowing the next part is going to be a bit harder to get through. Nothing hurts quite like losing someone you love to something like alcohol, but still having them right in front of you.
“It started out with him getting drunk and yelling at the TV during a football game. That turned into Liam and I getting yelled at for something stupid. One night, he tried to grab me, but Liam stepped in the way. He pushed Liam into the wall and punched him in the stomach. Liam mouthed ‘run’ to me and I listened right away. I was terrified.”
“How old were you?”
“Eight.”
“Damn, baby. I'm so sorry.”
“Every time he got drunk, it got worse. Liam worked to keep me out of the house as much as possible when he was home. We came up with game plans on what to do if he was home and was drinking. I would lock myself in the bathroom to shower after cheerleading while Liam would distract him. I slept in Liam’s bed with him, and he’d move his dresser in front of the door to make sure our father couldn’t get in.”
Cord holds out his hand and I link my fingers with his. He caresses the back of my hand with his thumb, silently encouraging me to keep going.
“One night, he saw Miranda drop us off at home. He was livid. He kept making comments about how Liam was dating her because she was rich and he just wanted to get away from his current life.” I shake my head, remembering how upset Liam got about that. He was in love with Miranda already, but he didn’t care about her money.
“Is that why you resisted me for so long?”
“It probably had a little bit to do with it,” I whisper. “I didn’t want anyone to think I was dating you for your money.”
