Page 3 of Possessing Her

“Santi.” She loosens her hold. I squeeze her one last time and pull back. I’m making a scene, and that’s the last thing I want, especially if she’s having a Sunday-type shindig.

“Isla, at least let her get out of the car before you tackle her more.” Johnny’s mom lets go of me, and while I could have held on to her forever and a day, I really do need to get everything squared away before my time comes to an end. The clock is ticking, and while I have a few hours, I still need to be back in Georgia the sooner the better.

“Fine, fine. Sorry, no, no, no. I’m not sorry our girl is home, and more than a hug is due.” Isla wipes the wet away from my cheeks and looks over my shoulder. “Where is Sebastian?”

I fold out of the car, my body protesting between the drive and the emotional upheaval. Well, I’m tired, sleep hasn’t come easily to me for four years, and when I do get some rest, I constantly wake up with from the slightest of noises, on high alert and in a panic in case of the inevitable happening and having no control of the situation. Santiago moves around aftershutting the passenger door and does the same to mine once I’m cleared from the area before he’s on my other side. Isla’s arm is looped through mine, and we’re taking small, slow steps up the driveway.

“That’s why I’m here. I have less than a week to get everything in order, or I’m going to lose him.” God, I could really kick my sister in the ass right about now. She left me to deal with so much red tape, and as much as I tried to help her get on the straight and narrow, Melanie is, well, Melanie.

“Oh, honey, what do you need us to do?” Isla asks. This is where things are about to get tricky. Santiago opens the front door, ushering us all into the house. Everything is the same as it was before I left—the furniture, the décor, and even the wedding picture of Johnny and myself. A part of me is ready to rush toward the framed photo, pull it off the wall, and crush it to my chest.

I’ve seen pictures of Johnny here and there on social media, and when I do a search of him online, he pops up with how successful his business is. I’ve seen him with his friends, their businesses as well, and recently, I’ve seen him with a woman on his arm. It hit me hard. My stomach sank to my feet, but I have no reason to be a crazed woman with a possessive and jealous side of her. Especially considering I’ve not been a monk, so how can I expect him to be?

“I need to know where Johnny is. I’m really sorry to even ask you of this, but I have to get this done, or I could lose Seb.” Santiago lets off a rapid-fire litany of expletives in Spanish one after the other. He starts walking back and forth, the entire length of the living room. Pacing, that’s what he’s doing.

“Oh, Winnie, mi Niña.” Isla covers her mouth with her hand, the other squeezing me closer to her once again.

“He’s at Asher’s, but first, where’s Sebastian?” Santiago wants more information. I close my eyes, worry hitting me once again.

“He’s with a sitter at the hotel. I should have just brought him with me instead of using one of those apps to find a qualified person in the area.” I take a deep breath. “I didn’t know what would or could happen, and he’s been through so much already.” The last thing I want to do is bombard Johnny at his friend’s house. I’m trying to calculate what I have in my bank account. Maybe I can afford a motel for a second night. The one we’re in now on the outskirts of town is not the best, to say the least. If we do that, I’ll have to skip a few meals, but at least there’s a hot shower and a bed. Then again, if I didn’t have Sebastian, I could sleep in my car, eat something of the fast-food variety, and wait for Johnny until tomorrow morning. Either way, I’ll still be strapped no matter what, but I’m pretty sure having a place to live is a top priority in keeping Sebestian. Running water and power are a necessity, not a choice.

“Okay.” I’m going to stick with option two. I’ve packed a small cooler that should have more than enough to feed Seb, and if I ration myself, I’ll have plenty to hold me over.

“I’ll give you the address, but first, you’re going to eat. We’re going to talk, and you’re going to tell us everything,” Santiago states. There’s no changing his mind.

“Yes, food first.” Isla detaches herself from me, bustles through the house, and heads straight for the kitchen. My stomach makes its presence known in the form of a growl. Santiago’s gaze sharpens on me. I can see what he’s thinking without saying the words. I’ve gotten myself in a pile of shit, and the Gonzales family is going to figure out a way to help my fix the problems I never should have gotten involved in. Then again, if I didn’t follow my sister, who knows where Sebastian would be now?

“Come here, Winnie.” Santiago opens his arms. I rush toward him. I’m an asshole, the worst of the worst. I should not be on Johnny’s parents’ doorstep asking for any favors and taking up their time.

“I’m so sorry.” Johnny is the spitting image of his father, and when his hand cups the back of my neck, I’m once again falling into a fit of tears and silently cussing myself for the millionth time for the pain I’ve caused everyone, including myself.

“Nothing to be sorry about. You got dealt a shit hand. Message the sitter, let her know I’m going to be picking up Sebastian. Isla and I will go. We’re checking you out of the motel, too. You’re staying here, and if Johnny has something to say about that, he can answer to me.”

“I can’t ask that of you,” I mutter into the quiet room.

“You didn’t. I told you what we’re doing. The motel is a hit, you driving down here is a hit. Let us help you. I know my son. This is gonna take time. You two need to talk and, if nothing else, get a bit of closure.” He lets go off me yet still holds the outside of my arms, dips his tall body until we’re on eye level, and waits me out.

“You’re right. I just hate that I’m putting you two between things. He’s your son, and I’m, well, I’m me.”

“You’re our daughter, no matter what happens. He knows this, mija.” Isla comes back into the room, hands on her hips. “Now, food, yeah?” I nod, unable to deny them anything.

2

JOHNNY

“You have got to be shitting me.” I drop my gaze from one drama to the motherfucking next. Kennedy, Trent, and Asher are going head-to-head with her dickhead ex, who happens to drop in when he sees fit, and while Kenny will usually deal with him, her brother, Asher, will grumble. And Trent? Well, he’s the wild card, ready to beat some ass and take names. Which is why the last thing I want is to have my own issue reappear after years of her being a fucking ghost.

“Oh fuck,” Tysen breathes out right beside me. Asher’s place is the usual meeting place unless we have it in my office; that’s only when business is involved. When it’s time to let lose, it’s at someone’s house, and since Ash and Lennie have a pool, this is where we land more often than not.

“That’s about the size of it,” I return, my feet taking me toward the woman who ripped my world to shreds. Though, I’m not that much of a dumbass to know ultimatums have repercussions and this one was one hell of a colossal fuck-up. My brothers will have my back no matter what. Everyone except Jagger with this subject matter, and he’s not here, probably agood thing because if anyone has a soft spot for my wife, it’s him. He’d be the first one out here to welcome her with arms wide open.

“Be cool, man, yeah,” Tysen says as the others join me. Apparently, the baby daddy drama has ended, and now I’ve got everyone at my back.

“Not gonna be a dick. Done that already. She’s back, and there’s a reason. I’ve got a mind to figure it out.” I watch as Winnie steps out of the same car she left with, the only thing she took minus her clothes, rings, and one of my shirts. I’d have never known if it wasn’t the one I’d worn, thrown to the bed only to see it was gone and not in the laundry hamper. Her phone became disconnected a few days later. When I finally got my shit somewhat together, I texted Winnie, and when she didn’t respond, I called her. That’s when I got the notice her phone wasn’t in service. I left work and went straight home to find her gone. Not at my best, I called my parents. My mom cussed me up and down, Dad got in on the mix, and then there was a litany of words even I didn’t expect to come from them.

Still. I didn’t go after my wife. I figured if she didn’t want to stay and work on the life we were building, then she could stay gone. I didn’t say it was right, but in that moment, I thought it was.

“That’s good, man. Real good,” Tysen says, staying on my six. Fuck, figured that’d be Trent, but seeing as how he’s making sure Kenny is good, it’ll be a minute. What I do notice is all of the others are right there with me—Tysen, Luke, Jude, Crew, and Matthew. Trent would be here, too; except he’s getting his woman and her daughter inside and away from this shit.

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