Chapter Text
August 2015
Los Angeles, California
The sunlight glinted off the silver body of the aircraft as it taxied to the awaiting gate. The passengers, having heard their instructions for disembarking, waited patiently for the plane to arrive at the terminal. There were two passengers in particular whose eyes were glued to the window as the plane rolled along.
“Holy shit...” Emily Lawrence muttered. “This is crazy. I knew Columbus was small, but this..."
Her companion chuckled as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Columbus is tiny compared to this monster. Surely you’ve been to other airports.”
“I’ve flown into Dallas-Ft. Worth. The last time was about fifteen years ago for my grandparents’ funerals.” She glanced over at him, their blue eyes meeting. “I guess I didn’t realize LAX was this massive.”
Emily stared out the window at the multitude of planes. In some ways, she still couldn’t believe her life was the way it was. Just three months ago, she was a nobody, a single mother trapped in a dead-end job. And now, here she was about to disembark a plane that had just landed in Los Angeles, California, with Chris Pine, the love of her life, who also happened to be one of the hottest actors in town.
“You ready for what’s about to happen?” Chris’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“I—I think I’m having second thoughts.”
“Just remember, we’ll be all right until we get to the lower level of the airport. They can’t get up to the gates. We’ll have security, so we’ll be protected,” Chris reassured her. “Stay close to me. Ignore what the paps shout. They’re going to say everything to get a reaction out of us.” Chris addressed Mac seated across the aisle. “And you, Munchkin, grab your mom’s hand and don't let go.”
Chris tapped the bill of Emily’s cap. “And don’t take off the hats or glasses until we get into the car.”
Emily squared her shoulders. “Sounds like a plan.”
The flight attendant announced the passengers could once again turn on their cell phones. Chris switched his on and was greeted with a ding. “Good. My driver and assistant are already here waiting for us. Sarah’s getting the bags so we can go right to the car.” Chris texted a reply then put his phone away. He squeezed Emily’s hand. “Angel, you got this.”
“I just don’t want to embarrass you.”
“You won’t. I have faith in you.”
The plane rolled to a stop next to the gate. As the flight attendants readied the cabin, Emily ran through some deep breathing techniques to try and relax. A chime sounded followed by an announcement.
“Thank you for flying American Airlines. We hope you’ve had a pleasant flight. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Los Angeles.”
Emily grabbed her backpack from under the seat in front of her. Chris nodded to Mac for her to stand and wait as he grabbed his carry-on and helped Emily. Together the three of them walked through the hatch and down the jet bridge to the main concourse of the airport.
Emily was astounded at the bustling activity of the terminal. “Holy fuck…” she muttered under her breath.
Chris chuckled. “I know, Ems. We gotta keep moving.”
“Right.” Emily reached for his hand, and the reassuring warmth of his hand encircled hers. As he walked beside her, heads turned in their direction. A confidence she had felt only in Lancaster was slowly replacing her nervous energy. She knew she hadn’t even faced the gauntlet Chris had described, but she was feeling better about being here.
They set off at a brisk pace through the airport. Emily was overwhelmed at the numerous shops and restaurants inside the terminal. Columbus—and even the airport in Virginia—was nothing like she was seeing now. It was like a whole other world.
As they made their way to a bank of elevators, Chris’s phone beeped. He checked it. “Great. Sarah has the bags and is waiting for us downstairs.” They entered the elevator and made their way to the Arrivals Level. Emily’s stomach fluttered with nerves as they got closer to leaving the airport.
“Hey, look at me.”
Chris reached out and lowered her glasses. She locked onto his eyes as he slid his own glasses down. “Just relax. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Emily took a deep breath, nodding. She slid the glasses back onto her face and readjusted her bag. She squeezed Mac’s hand as reassuringly as she could.
The elevator stopped and Chris glanced at them. “Mac, stay close to your mom.”
They stepped out of the elevator, Emily immediately noticing the flashes of multiple cameras. Her chest tightened and she instinctively clenched her teeth, preparing herself for the onslaught of paparazzi. This can't be because of us. Probably another celebrity...
A security guard appeared along with a casually dressed blonde woman, pushing a luggage cart. Emily recognized their suitcases.
“Hi Sarah. Long time no see.”
“Mister Pine.” At his look, she stammered. “I mean, Chris. It’s good to see you again. Miss Lawrence. Mackenzie. Tom has the car waiting out front.”
Chris took Emily’s backpack and placed it on top of the other bags, then set his own on the cart. He reached for Emily’s hand and intertwined their fingers. “You ready?”
Emily squared her shoulders. “Let’s do this, Pine.”
They purposely strode toward the entrance where they were immediately inundated with numerous flashbulbs. A relaxed smile graced Chris’s face as more photographers jostled for position and shouted out questions.
“Hey Chris? Who’s that with you?”
“Where have you been?”
“Whoa, Chris where you been hiding them? Are they your secret family? Is the kid yours?”
They directed more questions toward Emily and Mac after they realized Chris wasn’t going to answer.
“Hey, dollface. What’s your name?”
“How’d you two meet?”
All the shouts blended into one raucous cacophony. Emily’s ears rang with the sound. She pressed closer to Chris’s body to try and drown out the voices.
Suddenly, time slowed.
A photographer stepped in close to snap a picture of Emily before the security guard could stop him. Mac’s hand slipped from her grasp as Emily was separated from her daughter. She watched in horror as Mac was knocked to the ground by the photographer’s bag.
“Chris!” Emily cried.
The security guard barreled through and tried to block the man from taking the photograph. “Back off!” he growled.
In an instant Chris scooped the little girl up in his arms, settling her against his right hip. “Hold on tight, Munchkin,” he whispered into her ear. Mac nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. Chris grabbed Emily’s hand again with his left. “Let’s get out of here.”
They rushed out the automatic doors to the waiting limo. The driver loaded the bags into the trunk as the flashes continued.
Settling back in their seats, the doors closed, cutting off the shouts of the paparazzi. Emily sat Mac on her lap. As she removed the little girl’s sunglasses, her heart broke. Her daughter’s eyes glistened with tears. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Uh-huh.” Mac reached for Chris and he encouraged her to snuggle close. “Thank you for rescuing me.” She kissed him on the cheek.
“You’re welcome, Munchkin.”
As Mac crawled back over to the other side of Emily, the driver got into the car and immediately pulled away from the curb.
“Welcome home, Mister Pine.”
“Thank you, Tom. It’s good to be back. Except for that. That’s one thing I didn’t miss.”
“Are we stopping at the usual place, Sir?”
Chris laughed. “You know me too well.”
Emily perked her eyebrows quizzically at him. “And just what are you up to?”
“Tradition. Sit back and enjoy the ride.” Chris squeezed her hand.
As the car moved through the airport lots and out onto the freeway, Emily sat back, took her hat off and slid her sunglasses back up her nose, letting her eyes close. She couldn’t help but replay the terrifying moments when she had lost Mac’s hand. A nervous breath billowed from her lips.
“Hey, everything’s okay. We’re safe now.”
Emily sighed, opening her eyes. “But what about the pictures? You know that shot of you holding Mac is going to be all over the internet by sundown tonight. I think we just made it worse for you.”
“No, you didn’t. Besides, what was I supposed to do? I love Mac like she was my own. Of course, I’m going to protect her. Just like I’m protecting you.” Chris’s tone was matter-of-fact. “If anything happens with the pictures, I have people who can help us deal with whatever may come.”
She nodded in understanding, closing her eyes again, letting herself be soothed by the rhythm of the road. After several minutes, she cracked an eye open. “Do you do this often?”
“What do you mean?”
“The limo and everything.”
“Not usually, but this is a special occasion.” He winked. “I like to drive myself, but sometimes I have Katie take me. Especially if…”
“…if what?”
“When I came to Ohio. It was spur-of-the-moment, and I didn’t want to deal with any bullshit. She was happy to oblige.”
“Just like a big sister should.” Emily sighed, changing the subject. “So, this place we’re going to, your ‘tradition’. What is it?”
“A little taco stand I’ve been going to forever. Best Mexican food around.” He lowered his voice. “Surely you know this little tidbit about me?”
Tacos…tacos…oh shit… “We’re going to Tacos Delta, aren’t we?”
“Whenever I’ve been away for a long time, it’s the first place I stop before I go home. Unless I come in on a red-eye or something like that and they’re not open. Reminds me of where I come from.”
“I can’t wait, I’m starving.”
“Well, wait no longer…” Chris pointed out the window.
The car rolled to a stop and parked. Before the driver could open the door, Chris opened it and got out of the car. Helping Emily and Mac out, he glanced around. “Feel like stretching your legs a little?”
“My God, yes.” Emily peered up at the buildings and the palm trees. She reached for his hand. “So, are we close to your neighborhood?”
“We’re about ten minutes away from home. Right now we’re in Silver Lake. Los Feliz is up to the north.”
They strolled through the private lot towards the front of the brightly painted stand. Smells of cooking meat and Mexican spices wafted through the air. A few people milled about, waiting for their orders. Laughter could be heard around the back under an awning where there was seating. While waiting in line, they studied the menu.
“Are we taking this home?” Emily asked.
“I thought we could. Today and tonight we’ll just relax. Then tomorrow, we can get some staples grocery-wise, and I can show you guys around. I need to let Katie know we made it in. She already said she’d watch Mac while we meet with John and everyone.”
“Sounds like you have everything worked out.”
“I try.” Chris bent down to Mac’s level. “So Munchkin, have you decided what you want?”
“I want tacos.”
He grinned at her. “I figured you might. A girl after my own heart. How about you Ems?”
“I’m with Mac. I’ll have what she’s having.”
“So, two orders of tacos and two diets? Coming right up!” Chris stepped up to the window and ordered their food while Emily and Mac soaked up the atmosphere.
“Mac, I’m sorry about what happened at the airport. Are you really okay?” Emily brushed a lock of hair from her forehead.
“I’m fine. I just don’t understand why those people were taking pictures of us.”
Emily sighed. “Well, honey, it’s because I’m dating Chris, and he’s famous. Those photographers at the airport make their living taking pictures of celebrities like him. It’s something we’re going to have to get used to when we’re here. In Lancaster, we have it easier. People know us and they know Chris as just my boyfriend. But here? Here is a little different.”
“So, does that mean we’re famous, too?” Mac asked.
Emily knew Mac was having difficulty understanding everything that had happened at the airport. She didn’t even quite comprehend everything that occurred herself.
“I guess it does. People don’t know who we are and when someone like Chris shows up with someone new, it makes entertainment news. They want to know who we are and why we’re with him.” She paused. “I know it doesn’t make sense to you. It barely makes any sense to me. I didn’t know it was going to be that intense. But next time, we’ll have it worked out better. I promise.”
Soon, Chris came back with a couple of white plastic bags brimming with take-out containers. “You ladies ready to go? Time’s a-wasting.”
Emily giggled. “Jesus Christ, Chris! You get enough food?”
“I can’t help it,” he pouted. “I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry. Seriously, I don’t know how your mom coped with you.”
He grinned as they strolled back to their car. “Wine, probably.”
As they approached, Tom waited to open the door for them. Mac slid in first, followed by Emily, and then Chris. Tom closed the door behind them and got into the driver’s seat.
“Home, Mister Pine?”
“And fast, Tom. We’re bushed and starving.”
The scenery zipped past Emily’s window. She thought back to her conversation with Mac. Somehow, she just knew the picture of Chris carrying Mac out of the arrival area of the airport would create a firestorm with not only his fans, but with the gossip sites on the internet and entertainment TV shows. She was worried she had just dealt a misstep to his career.
“You’re quiet.” Chris’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “You’re still thinking about the airport, aren’t you?”
“I can’t help it. I’m afraid everything’s going to be blown out of proportion. They’re going to make up lies about us, about you. I know how that picture is going to be interpreted.”
“Alright. How?”
Emily fixed his eyes with hers. “Like a father rescuing his daughter,” she told him quietly. “People are bound to draw comparisons between you and her. About how you and Mac look alike.” She paused. “Even your mom said something about it. I just…”
“You just what?”
“I don’t want to hurt your career.”
Chris reached out and took her hand. “It won’t hurt my career. But if it’ll make you feel any better, I’ll call John tonight and let him know what happened. He can call my publicist and see if we need to do anything, and we can discuss it tomorrow when we meet with them.”
“It would make me feel better.”
Emily fell quiet as Chris squeezed her hand reassuringly, watching the city fade into the rolling hills of Hollywood. Her eyes widened as they passed mansion after mansion. Finally after about five minutes, the car turned into a gated paved stone driveway. It rolled to a stop and parked. Tom released the trunk latch, then got out of the car and went to the passenger’s side door. Chris got out, then held out a hand to Emily, helping her out.
“Welcome to Casa de Pine.”
Emily didn’t try to hide her astonishment. “Holy shit, Chris! This is beautiful.”
The house was a Mediterranean-style one story, one side entirely covered with ivy. The surrounding hillside was blanketed with trees and other plants that showed Chris’s passion for gardening.
Tom unloaded the trunk while Chris unlocked the front door and stepped inside to disable the alarm. As the last of the bags were placed inside, Chris thanked the driver and promised to talk to him soon. He closed the door as Tom got back into his vehicle and drove off.
Emily wandered inside, absorbing everything. It’s said you can tell a lot by people’s homes, and she could tell a lot by looking at Chris’s. It was neat, but still looked lived in. Family snapshots were scattered throughout the living room along with several different landscapes and some abstracts open to interpretation. Books filled one floor-to-ceiling bookcase and were tastefully spread out on the coffee and end tables.
The kitchen was another dream, very much like the house in Lancaster. Gourmet appliances lined the galley-style space, along with a dining room that opened onto an outdoor seating area.
“Living room is here, kitchen is there.” Chris grabbed Mac’s bags as Emily picked up her own. “C’mon, Munchkin. I’ll show you where you’re going to be staying.”
They followed him to a tastefully decorated guest bedroom. He placed her suitcases on the bed. “This is your room now, sweetheart.” Mac beamed from ear-to-ear, wrapping her arms around Chris in a giant bear hug. It was obvious she was in love. She released him and flopped down onto the bed with a satisfied sigh.
He took Emily’s bags from her. “And you,” he led Emily down a hallway to the master suite, “will be in here with me.” He put her suitcases on the bed as Emily wandered around the room.
The space looked like Chris. Masculine and comfortable. Eggshell walls accented the mid-century modern furniture. An abstract painting with pops of gray and blue dominated one wall, while a window overlooking the Hollywood Hills contrasted with the color scheme. The hardwood floors gleamed against a soft cream-colored throw rug.
“This is gorgeous.”
“Thank you. I’m still not truly done with it, because I haven’t been here all that much, but maybe someday.”
“I don’t think you ever finish making a house into a home. It’s supposed to reflect what you’re into or what you’re doing right at that moment. It’s always changing, always evolving, like us.”
Chris smiled. “I like that.”
Emily followed him out of his room, glancing at the different photographs hanging in the hallway. A beautiful black-and-white landscape of the Eiffel tower caught her eye.
“I figured we could eat first, then unpack and decide what we wanted to do tonight.” Chris tugged her hand, encouraging her to keep moving.
“Good, because I’m ravenous.”
“Your nerves have calmed down, then?”
“…started to.”
Chris pulled her closer. “I know one thing that would really calm them down.”
“Oh, and what’s that?” Emily asked as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“This.” He clasped her head within his hands. “I love you, Ems. I’m so glad you and Mac are here with me.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
Emily let herself fall into the kiss. Her heart beat faster, but the butterflies in her stomach calmed. Chris always had that effect on her. That was one of the many reasons she loved him. She always felt safe with him. And now because of everything they had gone through, she trusted him with her life and the life of her daughter. She pulled away, trying to catch her breath. “I love you too, Christopher.” She rested her head against his chest, hearing his heart beat.
“Mom, I’m hungry!” Mac called from the hallway. The little girl was trying to figure out the floorplan of the house.
“Me too, let’s eat!” Emily beckoned for her daughter to join them, then followed Chris into the kitchen, where he got down some plates. They all fixed their meals and sat down at the table.
With her first bite, Emily instantly couldn’t believe she had ever lived her life without Tacos Delta. “Good Lord, now I know why you go to that place. This is delicious.”
“I’ve never had a bad meal there, and it’s cheap.”
They fell silent as they devoured their food, with Emily deciding she needed to also sample Chris’s burrito. Finally, after dabbing her lips on a paper towel, she pushed back her chair. “I’m stuffed. That was good.”
“I knew you’d like it,” Chris winked.
“Mom, can I go unpack now?”
“Sure, baby.” Emily got up and put all the dishes in the sink. An exhausted wave washed over her—she didn’t know if it was from her travel or the giant meal she had just eaten. She rubbed her eyes and asked, “Would you mind if I lay down? I know it’s probably going to fuck with my sleep cycle but after today, I’m beat.”
“Go ahead. I’m going to wash up here, and then unpack.” He hesitated before adding, “I’ll also call John and let him know what happened.”
Emily nodded silently and walked down the hallway, stopping briefly to peek into the guest room. Mac had already unpacked her clothes and put them away along with the stuffed animal she had brought. She never went anywhere without the bear from Chris.
Emily ducked back out and walked down the hallway to the master bedroom. She unzipped one of the bags and rummaged around until she found a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. Then moving her suitcases to the floor, she glanced out of the window at the Hollywood sign up on the hillside.
“Holy shit. I still can’t believe I’m here,” she muttered.
“Believe it, Angel. You are.”
Chris lounged in the doorway. He walked in, closing the door behind him.
“I thought you were going to call John?”
“Left a message…” He sidled up beside her. “You look so good in my house. Like you belong here.”
Emily winked. “I bet you say that to all the beautiful women you bring here.”
Chris scratched the back of his neck. “To be honest, Ems. There’s been only one beautiful woman I’ve brought here and I’m looking at her.”
“You mean? I thought…”
“You thought what? That every time I was in a relationship or dated anyone, they moved in with me? That’s not how I operate. With all the exes I would go over to their houses, or not at all. I wanted to keep this place all to myself. This was my sanctuary. Until now. Now it can be our sanctuary.”
Chris pulled her closer and made her stand in front of him. “I want to help you relax. Will you let me?”
She nodded slightly.
“Arms up then.”
He pulled her t-shirt out of the waistband of her jeans, then eased it up over her head and dropped it onto the floor. Her eyes followed him as he kneeled in front of her and undid her pants, sliding them down her legs to her feet. Emily put her hand on his shoulders to help steady herself as she stepped out of them.
Their eyes locked as he studied her. She was wearing a deep blue bra and matching underwear that showed off her toned physique to perfection.
“God, if I had known you were wearing these, we wouldn’t have made our flight. I would’ve kept you in Ohio.”
“I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t know what I had on, then.”
“But you’re still torturing me.”
“I could always put my pajamas on.” Emily smirked at him as he stood.
“I have a better idea.” Chris wrapped his arms around her and unhooked her bra, letting it fall.
“What are you…?”
“I’ll be right back. I want you to get on the bed. Face down, alright?”
He disappeared into the bathroom as she pulled the covers back and got in on her stomach like he’d asked. Emily heard his footsteps as he walked back into the room and felt his weight on the bed and over her backside. There was a click of a cap and squirt as Chris hovered over her.
She moaned as his strong hands kneaded the muscles of her back and shoulders with the lotion. She sunk into the bed, relaxing for the first time since they had taken off from Columbus.
His lips nuzzled her neck as he bent over her. “Feel good?”
“Feels amazing,” Emily moaned. “Will I get a happy ending?”
The bed moved slightly at Chris’s chuckle. “Not right now. But later? Most definitely. Now that I’ve had you, you’re like a drug. I can’t get enough.” His hands followed her spinal cord all the way down to her lower back and the band of her underwear. He found all of the knots of tension and massaged them until they released.
Emily sighed with pleasure as he worked. Her eyes closed as she drifted to sleep.
Chris smiled as Emily’s breathing deepened. He knew she'd been so nervous about this trip she'd barely slept the night before. With the fiasco at the airport, it was no wonder she was exhausted.
He wiped his hands on a towel from the bathroom, then leaned down and gently kissed Emily’s cheek. “Sleep well, sweetheart.” Chris got up from the bed, pulling the covers over Emily’s body.
As he left the room, Chris heard his phone ringing in the kitchen. He darted down the hall and grabbed it from the counter.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Chris. It’s John. I’m returning your call. Are we still set for the meeting tomorrow?”
Chris peered in to the guest bedroom. Mac was nowhere to be seen, but he heard the TV on in the living room. Well, Munchkin’s already made herself at home. “We are. In fact, I wanted to let you know—I’m definitely bringing Emily with me.”
“Oh?” John paused. “What happened?”
Running his fingers through his hair, he sat down at the table. “There was an incident at the airport.” He explained what happened, leaving nothing out. “…and then I swooped in and scooped Emily’s daughter up and carried her to the car.”
“First of all, is she okay? I’m sorry. I’ve forgotten her name.”
“It’s Mackenzie, but Mac for short. She’s fine. She got scared and there were some tears in the car. But she’s okay now.”
“And I take it there’s art?”
“Most definitely. I’ve never had that many surrounding me at the airport. Red carpets, yeah. But never at the airport. It was a fucking ambush.”
“Let me take a look.” Chris heard John typing away on his keyboard. “It’s already on the web.” John stopped. “You didn’t tell me she looked like you.”
“I didn’t think it was important. You can see her features that well? It was a pretty crazy scene…”
“Oh yeah. Whatever hit her knocked her glasses down and they got a good shot of her face. I’m seeing dark hair and bright blue eyes, just like a client of mine. Please tell me you and Emily didn’t hook up years ago and have a kid in secret.”
“John, c’mon man, you know me better than that. Mac got her looks from her mother. But back in Lancaster and even in Columbus, we’ve been mistaken for being related. My own mom made the comparison, too.”
John sighed over the phone line. “Well, unfortunately, that’s the conclusions the tabloids are making. According to several ‘sources close to the actor’, you have a secret family and the kid is yours.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“We definitely need to contact Melissa and explain what happened. She’ll know best how to move forward.”
“John, tell me straight. Worst-case scenario. What are we looking at?”
“To be honest, Chris, you might take a little bit of a hit. But after the dust settles, you’ll be fine. Once it comes out that Mackenzie isn’t yours and that you’re dating a single mother, it might just endear you to even more people. She’s a cute kid.” John paused. “I’ll get a hold of Melissa and forward these on to her. We’ll have an answer for you by tomorrow and see if we can nip this in the bud. Maybe we can get them to get the story right or even print a retraction.”
“They better. It’s one thing to lie about me. But to involve my girls…” Ire bubbled in Chris’s tone.
“I know Emily means a lot to you,” John reassured him. “From what I can tell from these pics, she handled herself pretty well. Until the last guy got too close.”
“She did. I’m so proud of her.”
“Don’t worry, Chris. We’ll take care of this. By the way, about tomorrow. We all talked about it and we decided it’d be easier for all of us to meet at Kevin’s office. They have the space for everyone, especially now since Emily will be joining us.”
“That sounds like a plan. Just don’t intimidate her too much.”
John chuckled. “I won’t. One more thing…welcome home.”
“Thanks, John. See you tomorrow.” Chris hung up the phone and set it on the table. He rested his head in hands and sighed. What a day.
“Is Mom asleep?”
Chris startled, whirling to see Mac in the doorway. He motioned for her to join him at the table. “She is.”
“I’m glad. I know she was tired.” The little girl sat across from him. “Chris?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you ever think about being a dad?”
Chris smiled at her, her blue eyes so much like Emily’s and his own. “Why do you ask?”
She shrugged and absentmindedly pushed a crumb around on the tabletop with her thumb.
“To be honest, I never thought about it before I met you and your mom. But now, I think about it a lot.” He tapped the middle of the table to get her attention. “Are you worried about school and the father/daughter thing?”
“A little. I want to go this year.”
“I already told you I would take you, so don’t worry about it.”
“I know.” She stopped, biting her lip.
“Mac, what’s on your mind?”
“I just…I just really want you to be my dad.”
Chris’s heart melted. He stood and rounded the table, gestured for Mac to get up. As soon as she did, he hugged her tightly.
As the evening wore on, Chris talked to his sister and arranged plans for the next day, before they settled in for the night. Mac had eventually fallen asleep on the couch after they decided to watch some television together, and he carried her into the guest bedroom. He glanced around the room after tucking her in and decided maybe it was time to call Flora in and make it a little more Mac-friendly. The time change was finally catching up with him. He padded down the hallway to his room and took a moment to watch the moonlight filter through his bedroom window and land on Emily’s bare skin. The sheets had fallen to her waist, leaving her back exposed to the soft light.
She looked so peaceful, so innocent, so right in his bed as she slept.
Chris silently undressed, leaving his clothes in a pile on the floor. He slipped into bed, pulling her closer, so her head naturally rested on his chest.
“Hmmm…sorry I conked out on you. I didn’t mean to.” Emily’s voice was sleepy.
“Angel, it’s okay. You needed the rest.”
“Mac in bed?”
“All tucked in safe and snug. The alarm’s set. I’ve talked to both Katie and John, and everything’s set for tomorrow.”
“You’re a good man.”
Chris leaned down and kissed her hair. “Go back to sleep. I love you, Ems.”
Emily’s voice faded in the darkness as she fell back asleep. “I love you too, Chris.”
Across the country, the night was still and silent. A dark car made its way down a familiar street, the driver intent on finding his destination. He came to a stop in front of a white Victorian house, a For Sale sign in its front yard. Rolling down his window, he peered through the darkness at the unlit windows, the empty driveway where the white truck was once parked.
Dammit! The slut moved!
His brilliantly executed plan had backfired. He thought for sure ‘Mister Rich Boy’ would leave Emily and her troubles behind, but that wasn’t to be.
He pounded his fist against the steering wheel in anger. Why can’t she see? Why can’t I have her?
His fingers tightened on the wheel of the car, his mind racing. He imagined how incredible it would feel to choke the life out of her, the silky soft skin of her throat being crushed under his powerful fingers. To see the spark of life drain out of her eyes as she suffered one final humiliation at his hands. It would be practically orgasmic.
He pulled away from the curb with one last glance at the vacant house. Tomorrow, he would find out from the private investigator where exactly Emily had moved to. And then it would be time for the next step of his plan.
The notes weren’t enough, he realized. Neither was the brick. That had caused her to run into the arms of ‘Rich Boy’. Scare tactics had obviously failed.
Now, he had to destroy. Destroy everything and everyone she loved, so she would come running back to him.
He made his way back to the dingy motel room. Lighting up a cigarette, he let the nicotine calm him. The smoke drifted lazily towards the ceiling as he contemplated his next move.