I calmly walked around the side of the table, taking a seat and waiting for James to do the same, but he remained standing. His posture was rigid, and each breath came out as if he was forcing himself to remember to breathe. “Why are you wearing his clothes, Rosa?” James finally turned around, glancing down at my attire. “Are we really going to discuss the clothing that I am wearing?” “You are wearing another man’s clothing,” he spat, “That’s where we are going to start.” “It’s been three years and you’ve not bothered to pay me attention until I’m wearing another man’s clothing. Do you realize how awful that is?” “You are my wife!” James growled, throwing his arms in the air. “And you are in love with another woman,” I whispered, feeling the tears that I’d been successfully keeping at bay sting my eyes. “You don’t understand,” he whispered, running his fingers through his hair. “Then tell me, James. Explain it to me so that I can understand.” He walked over to the edge of
“Dr. Wood, there is another delivery in your office,” Sandra, one of my nurses wagged her brows. It’s been three days since I’d given James back his ring. I’ve not dared go back to the house. I can’t fathom the thought of seeing James or Marina. Not yet at least. After the meeting, Shawn drove me to my condo in the city. My mother and father protested when I’d put my foot down about keeping it after James and I got married, but I’m thankful I refused now. It was my home before I shared one with James. Everything was a bit dusty, but otherwise, it felt peaceful. The entire first night I spent crying and shoveling ice cream into my face. I’d held my tears so much over the last three years, that I cried for hours. I feel as if I’m mourning a loss. It’s tragic knowing that no matter how hard you tried, it was never going to be good enough. When I entered my marriage with James, I had hope. So much of it. I studied him from the shadows. Learned everything that I could learn. I
Falling backwards onto my bed, I groan. My closet at my condo was still stocked full of clothing, but nothing that would fit my mother’s idea of ‘prestigious’. Everything that I owned that would still fit my body was in the closet back at James and I’s home. That was if Marina hadn’t gone in there and shredded everything I own already. There wasn’t a proper amount of time to go shopping to find something, which meant I had to go home. The last thing that I wanted to do was face Marina before I whisked James away for another evening of pretending, though I was shocked to my core when he’d readily agreed to join me at this dinner party. I don’t understand him or his new desire to remain married to me. He still won’t tell me anything. I feel like I’m a stranger in my own marriage. Everything I’ve learned about James has been from watching, not because he’s willingly given me an ‘in’ to his life. After getting ready, I ordered an Uber from my phone, missing my access to Mr. Gre
“What is this dinner party for again?” James leaned down, whispering in my ear as photos were snapped of us climbing out of the car. Mr. Green stood tall, shielding us with his body, despite James being almost a head taller. “Shawn is stepping in for my father as CEO while he and my mother travel the world,” I faked a smile, pretending we were a couple in love. James’ mood shifted and his grip on my arm tightened, “What does a football player have to offer a pharmaceutical company?” The words left his lips with a snarl. James and Shawn didn’t know each other, which meant after our meeting with the lawyer, he researched who Shawn was. “He’s also a business major,” I smiled. Shawn deserved this as much as anyone, “He’s been a part of our family for as long as I can remember. My father couldn’t have picked someone better.” James made a sour face as we walked through the doors of my parents' mansion. Bodies filled the large space, and the sound of chatter surrounded us. Soft mu
That. Bitch. I rounded the edge of the crowd, my eyes never moving from the dress that I knew so well. My favorite emerald green velvet dress was stretched over her body. Black hair cascaded down the open back and as I stood next to my mother, icy blue eyes pinned me with playfulness. She’d come here to taunt me. “Tonight, we are welcoming a new member to our Red Pharmaceutical team. Shawn Pierce, otherwise known as number sixty-two,” my mother turned, winking at Shawn, “Will be stepping in as CEO so that Jeremiah and I can travel the world.” Marina stood with a smirk plastered on her stupidly beautiful face. She held her flute of champagne up as if she were toasting to Shawn, but her eyes remained on mine. Taking a deep, leveling breath, I turned away from her. Pretending as if her presence wasn’t affecting me. Shawn’s eyes met mine and he gave me a lopsided grin. That grin captured so many hearts during high school and has only gotten better with age. My father walk
My heart thumped rapidly within my chest. While Shawn and I weren’t doing anything that would go against my marriage; I didn’t want James to think that. He may be the type of man who desecrates his vows; but not me. Just as I began to crawl towards the door, I heard her. “James, I wanted to see what your life was like now,” Marina sniffled, but her voice sounded anything but sincere. I heard James sigh as I scooted back to sit next to Shawn, who lifted his index finger to his lips, “Tonight was not the night for that, and you know it. I explicitly explained that I have to keep up appearances.” “But why does it have to involve her?” Marina spat the word ‘her’ as if it burned her to say. “We are married!” James shouted, “To everyone here, she is my wife. And I have already explained to you why I married her.” “Everyone here doesn’t matter,” Marina whispered, sounding hurt, “What happened to the man I knew before the accident?” James released a heavy breath that even I could
I spent the last three years taking every chance I could to work from home, but now; it just doesn’t feel the same. Marina doesn’t understand where my head is at. She can’t wrap her head around my decision to step in as CEO. But the entire time she was in a coma, I was using my resources to try and track down the people responsible for the desecration of our pack. My pack. Utilizing those resources takes connections and money. Both of which I didn’t have without my pack. My office at Wood Industries sits on the top floor of a fifty-story building. The floor to ceiling windows allows light to flood in, touching every square inch of the room. Every time I’m back here, I’m reminded of how I’m literally on top of the world. Some days, even the clouds sit at eye level with me. Lately, my mind is stuck on Rosalind. What she’s doing... Where she’s at... Who she’s with.... Ever since that day in the hospital, I’ve grown more possessive. I need to know the answers to all those qu
“Your labs all look to be improving,” I listened to the steady beating of my patient’s heart through a stethoscope, “I think it’s safe to say we will be able to send you home tomorrow.” The woman looked so relieved at the news, warming my heart. I’ll never understand how my mother could look down on my position. Every day I come here excited to be making a difference in the world. Sure, my father’s groundbreaking drug trials are making massive changes in the world, but it has just never felt the same to me. Walking out to the nurse's station, I don’t even get a word out before I hear the dreamy sighs and giggles of my coworkers. Lifting my eyes from my clipboard, I see the reason standing with an awkward smile on his face and a bouquet of white roses. “James,” I furrowed my brows, “What are you doing here?” The whispers around me intensified as did the horrified looks. I’d just addressed my husband by his name and not some endearment as well as not being excited to see him.
“I have to say,” Chris spins around, eye wide with excitement, “I could get used to this. Do you see that fucking view?”This place was like a miniature paradise. The air smelled fresh, like the scent of a frigid breeze during the first snowfall. A serene lake sat in front of a picturesque log cabin. Smoke billowed from the chimney, and mountains stretched across the entire horizon, painting a scene that was nothing short of extraordinary.“It’s a bit colder than I’m used to,” Shawn’s words left his lips on a puff of air. “But Dante has taste. This place feels like its own little paradise.”The three of us headed inside, and I gasped at the warmth in the cabin. The scent of pine and cedar swirled around with a hint of smoke. Everything was bathed in warmth. Stained wood decorated the walls, and deep colors accented the feel of the space.“It’s homey,” Chris glances around, his brows knitted, “Kind of expected something more modern.”“It’s a cabin in the middle of nowhere,” Shawn mutte
“Chris,” I whisper, approaching him on the small aircraft carrying us to the unknown location. “Can we talk?”There is a long silence before he finally pushes his sunglasses to the top of his head, his bloodshot eyes boring into mine, “Sure.”His tone is short and unlike him, but I don’t blame him. Once the relief of finding us alive dissipated, he was left with anger, and despite his normal use of drugs or alcohol to make him forget, I imagine it’s not quite that easy when it comes to Shawn and me.“Before you start,” he whispers, “I want you to know that I’m not interested in excuses. I’m not interested in half truths. I’m on a fucking shoebox of an airplane headed to bumfuck nowhere, and I don’t even understand why.”“Of course,” my voice cracks, “There is no reason to hide anything from you anymore,” I shake my head, “There was never any reason to hide anything from you. I don’t have a good reason for keeping you out of the loop… I guess I just didn’t understand what was going on
“Why does this feel like we’re going into the witness protection program?” Chris groans, his sunglasses balancing on the tip of his nose. I know he’s only got them on to hide the fact that he was drunk last night, but I don’t comment on it.Part of me wishes I had been drunk last night instead of silently sobbing to myself curled in an armchair next to Shawn’s bed.“That’s precisely what this is,” Dante mutters, “It’s just a bit more under the radar than your typical witness protection. Instead of the government, you get me.”“Yay,” Chris mumbles, dropping his head back against the headrest.Guilt eats away at the remnants of my soul, and each day that passes leaves me feeling hollower than the one before it.The windows of the vehicle Dante drives have been blacked out to the point that you can’t see a thing inside of the car, and there is very little visibility from the inside.“Where in the hell are we going to go that no one is going to recognize two millionaires and a famous foot
“Still no word on where they’re at?”I’ve spent the last four days in the hospital, unwilling to leave Shawn’s side while he recovered. They tried to send me home, but I refused. Shawn is in this mess because of me, and I’ll be damned if James or Marina somehow finds their way back to him.Dante pinches the bridge of his nose. He comes by every day, and I see the guilt swimming in his eyes. “I told you he was smart. I’ve not been able to track him through his accounts. Money has been moved from investments, but they’ve got to be using an alias that I’m not aware of.”He frowns, “I’m sorry I don’t have more to go on. Like I said, James is smart. He planned this all out right under our noses and didn’t leave a crumb behind that he didn’t want left behind.”I mull over Dante’s words, my mind scattering in so many directions, my head begins to ache. Dante had said James intentionally bought that warehouse under his main bank account because he knew it was trackable, but why would he do th
My eyes widen as a gasp leaves my lips. The air around us feels instantly stale, and my heart jackhammers in my chest.Neither of us utter a word, unknowing if the voices we hear are there to help. Honestly, in my current state, I’m unconvinced that they’re even real.“Rosa,” Joanne voice breaks through the heavy shuffling of footsteps, and I find the strength to stand, untangling myself from Shawn’s arms.“Oh my goodness,” our eyes meet and hers widen when she takes in mine and Shawn’s appearance. “What has he done?”Her voice is barely above a whisper, but I see the horror reflecting in her normally warm eyes.“I found them,” she shouts, still standing rooted to her spot. Moments later, police and paramedics rush towards us and a few moments after that, Dante and Chris on an ATV.“Rosie,” Chris jumps out of his seat while the vehicle is still moving. He stumbles as he runs towards me. His eyes are a mixture of pain and relief, “Fucking hell, Rosie. You’re alive. You’re both alive.”
Shawn and I ran as fast as our battered bodies could carry us. Pain sears through my body and my muscles scream in protest.I saw a workout shirt once that said ‘Everything hurts and I’m dying’. How fitting would that be to have on at this very moment?“Shawn,” I hiss through my teeth, feeling darkness shroud my vision. “I don’t know how much further I’ll make it.”“You don’t have another choice, Rosie,” he grits out, “We have to make it out of here.”My lungs ache with every breath. It feels as if I’ve inhaled tiny shards of glass, and each breath sends them further through the surface of the organs that aid my breathing.Is this how I’m going to go?Shawn falls back, scooping me into his arms.“Shawn,” I gasp, trying and failing to fight him, “You won’t make it anywhere carrying me.”“If you haven’t realized this yet,” he growls through his pain, “We’re getting out of here together. You should really stop making me say it.”The sound of paws slamming against the Earth sends my brain
I’ve never wanted to kill anyone. Not once in my life had the thought crossed my mind.Until now.I fucked up keeping my heart sealed away from Rosie. I thought I was doing her a favor by keeping my distance. I loved her with so much depth, that I let her go, and I’m going to regret that decision until the end of my life.Rosie was a Red. She was royalty to the world. An heiress. A billionaire. Her namesake was a given, and me? I was Shawn Pierce, son of two drug addicts that didn’t want him, and a hoard of mental issues that were never discussed.I lived with them through my childhood until Jeremy Red found me huddled in a closet one day with my hands over my ears, rocking back and forth. I was sobbing uncontrollably, and my heart felt like it was going to explode.Instead of dragging me out of there and telling me to man up as my father had done in the past, he rushed a doctor to the residence and had me diagnosed with anxiety. I was prescribed medication, that Mr. Red paid for, and
Searing pain rolls through my body. My back arches against the pole, and I feel myself ripping at the restraints.A scream echoes around the warehouse, but I’m not even sure if it’s mine.Everything hurts and I feel as if I have lava swimming through my veins.“Rosie!” Shawn’s voice shouts. “What’s happening?”“It…. IT HURTS,” I scream again, unable to contain it.I’ve experienced pain. In the last year I’ve not only been bitten by a shark, but also a werewolf. Both of which hurt more than I care to admit, but I’d get eaten alive by a shark slowly over this.“JUST KILL ME,” I scream at the flashing light bulb in the corner.“Rosie, what is happening?” I hear him grunt. Something keeps hitting my fingers, but I can’t tell if I’m doing it or if Shawn is.“Please,” I sob as the pain tears through my chest. “It’s too much.”My vision tunnels, and I feel weaker by the second, but the pain eases up, and I finally fill my lungs with a sharp inhale.“Everything hurts, Shawn,” I whimper, feeli
“Are they off our backs?” Marina practically chased James down as he calmly walked us back into the warehouse.She scoffed when she saw me untied and with free will, “You can be so foolish, James Wood,” her voice echoed around me, but I spun on my heel, pinning her with a glare, “I followed through on my end of the deal. Shawn needs food and pain killers.”Marina let out a low growl, stomping towards me, but James stopped her, “A deal is a deal, Marina. Go. I’ll stay here.”“You can’t be serious,” Marina moved in front of James, shoulder checking me.“Dead. Serious,” he snarled, and out of my peripherals, I saw her spine straighten.Good. She deserves that tiny ounce of fear, and so much more if I had my say.The heavy thudding of her boots as she stomped out of the warehouse was like music to my ears.“There are rags and soap in the bathroom. You can clean him up, but he stays restrained,” James walks away, disappearing out of sight.I practically bolt around to see Shawn sleeping, h