Page 89 of The Woman I’ve Become

As for the rest of her story, nothing but lies. Absolute lies.

Twenty Years Ago

39

Julia

Norwalk, Connecticut

“You’re sure she won’t be able to get away.” I need to be absolutely certain.

“What are you worried about?” Casey stretches out on the sofa, pulling me down next to him. “She’s gone for good, trust me.”

I pull away from him and give him my best glare. “I am not playing here, Casey. I waited all morning for you to get back. I need to know for sure.”

“I left her with the guy I told you about. The one who likes the girls who know how to be a little freaky.”

“If you mean trashy, you nailed it.” The idea that Wendy and Casey . . . I can’t even think it, much less say it.

“Julia.” He pulls me to him again. “Wendy is gone. Now all you have to do is exactly what I tell you, and this will all be over. You tell the police your story about being kidnapped and stick with it, no matter what. Then the Judge will be gone forever. The whole game has changed. I promise. From now on, it’s just you and me.”

I should feel bad for Wendy, but I don’t. Just like I didn’t feel bad for that little bitch who ruined my fourteenth birthday. She cried and whined until her mother spoke to my mother and forced me to invite her to my swim party. My mother had rented the whole fitness center with its supercool heated pool just for my special day. Then that little witch wanted to show off her diving technique. Being the best on the swim team didn’t mean she could be the best at my party. It wasn’t my fault she fell off the ladder as I was about to take my turn. She should have waited and maybe she wouldn’t have gotten that broken shoulder.

I learned a long time ago if you don’t take what you want, you won’t ever have it. And you have to make anyone who dares get in your way wish they had not. I lean into Casey. Wendy should never have twisted the things I shared with her about my time with Casey and tried to say he was a psychopath.

I stare into his eyes, my body draped over his, every part of me wanting him. I love him. I always will.

She should not have made me choose.

Now

40

Westport, Connecticut

The doorbell echoes through the house, and I force myself up. I suddenly feel very tired. For the past ten or so years, the idea that I might have to face this moment one day has haunted my last thought as I went to sleep each night. Most mornings it was the first impression of awareness when my eyes opened. But as the day went on, it evaporated like the lingering morning fog beneath the sun.

It was always one of those things you worried about but somehow secretly thought it wouldn’t happen. But here we are and it is happening.

The cover story we gave Helen is the same one we will present to Rick. I fear he won’t be as easy to convince, but hopefully the explanation will buy valuable time. Somehow time always seems to be my enemy.

As promised, Helen and Alicia returned promptly. The two are armed and taking a walk around the property. I’m not completely comfortable with Alicia being armed, but the decision was not mine to make. I’m not in charge here, at least not on the surface.

But I still have the hidden gun and the threat they all believe is imminent.

I open the door and force a smile onto my face. “Thank you for coming, Rick.” I step back for him to come inside.

“I’m glad you called. How many times have I told you that I am always here for you.”

I certainly know this. He repeats the line in every conversation. Twice sometimes.

He shakes his head and chuckles. “But I have to tell you, the timing was good for more than one reason. There were six reporters at the gate giving your security guard trouble. He’d called the locals, but no one had arrived just yet.”

Damn. That’s all we need, reporters showing up in the midst of all this. The possibility that she wanted reporters to find the two of us isn’t lost on me. I wonder how her little friend Alicia would feel about that.

“Don’t worry.” Rick winks at me, drawing me back to the moment. “My credentials look exactly like the ones I had while I was active. One flash and they were out of here.”

I manage a smile, a real one. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”