Page 14 of Behind the Shadows
“Holland, you can’t tell a soul. Not a fucking word, not even in your sleep. Promise me.” Her lips thinned as she waited for my declaration of silence.
“I swear. Not a word to anyone.” I placed my hand over my heart for emphasis.
“All I know is that Coop came up in conversation a few weeks ago. Baxter was on speaker with his brother and another friend, and they were discussing business for a while. The moment Iheard Cooper’s name, the volume was turned down, and then Malaki, Baxter’s brother, closed his office door. I don’t know what was said, but it wasn’t for my ears. I think something is going on with Cooper, Holland. Maybe consider reaching out to him and seeing if he’s okay.”
“Why would you think he’s gotten into some kind of trouble? My guess is that his gambling finally caught up to him.” Before she could respond, I pressed my lips into a thin line. I broke up with him, he was no longer my problem. “No. Whatever he’s gotten himself into, he can fix it on his own.”
Her brows furrowed. “What do you mean gambling?”
I swore softly, realizing I’d given something away. “Autumn, he was disappearing in the middle of the night, and sometimes I wouldn’t hear from him for a few days. He was distant and refused to talk to me about it. As you already know, when I hired a private detective, he returned with evidence that Cooper had messed up with some shady people and owed them a lot of money. I can’t be in a relationship where I’m not considered a trusted and equal partner. Life is too short to wait to be cherished by someone.”But you loved the twisted games he played before he fucked you senseless.Sinking my teeth into my lower lip until it caused me pain, I discarded the thoughts of what he did to me, like a used car he could trade in without a second thought. I had other shit to deal with, like the monster who showed up in the emergency room last night. I had to stop wasting my time wishing Cooper would change.
“You absolutely deserve better than that, babe. Now that you’ve shared what happened, I’m glad you’re out. Stay away from the piece of shit.” She paused, her expression turning wistful. “I just wish your information wasn’t solid. He seemed like a good guy.”
“That’s the thing, people can present whatever mask they want, but eventually it will have to come off.” I sighed and tuckedmy hair behind my ear. “If you learn he’s dying or something serious, let me know. Other than that, I have no intention of reconnecting with him. My emotions are still too fragile.” I hated admitting it to her, because when I spoke it out loud, I was also admitting it to myself. Cooper had broken my heart. I thought he was the one I’d spend my life with, but apparently, I was alone in that fantasy.
“I know. I’m sorry you’re hurting. You know I’m always here for you.” Autumn rocked the now quieter Krista.
“As soon as I have a long weekend, can I fly out to see you?”
My bestie nodded, grinning. “I’d love to see you.”
“Perfect. I should get some work done. Love ya.”
“Right back atcha, bitch. And for the record … when the right guy shows up, I bet it will all be worth the tears and shitty times.” Her sweet smile spoke volumes.
“I’ll have to take your word for it.” I winked at my bestie as a small wail pierced the air along with Autumn’s ear. “Go take care of Krista, and I’ll text you later.”
We blew each other a kiss, then disconnected the video.
Leaning back in my chair, my mind immediately returned to Draco. If it really was him, he’d probably seen me get into my Mercedes when I left for work or ran errands. I couldn’t take that chance—not if I wanted to stay hidden. I’d need to rent something different.
“Shit,” I muttered. I couldn’t take any more chances, which meant I couldn’t drive my car.
After I tookan Uber to the car rental place, I drove around for a while. Once I’d determined that no one was following me,including Draco, I steered the vehicle toward my destination. Forty minutes later, I directed the car into the alleyway and parked several houses down the street. Maybe I shouldn’t go anywhere with Draco making an appearance, but I couldn’t hide either. Granting him all the power was something I couldn't allow myself to do again, yet part of me hesitated, wondering if there was a way to manage the situation without losing control. I needed to be cautious and remain vigilant, but the pull of past mistakes still lingered.
I opened the driver’s side door and climbed out of the rental before I smoothed out the wrinkles on my blouse. I couldn't shake the feeling of unease as I stood in front of the imposing two-story Victorian home. Every visit was a mixture of love and discomfort. The cracked sidewalk beneath me seemed to symbolize the fragile relationship between myself and the people inside. Squaring my shoulders, I walked, and my heels clicked against the concrete. The freshly manicured lawn tickled my nose, and I wiggled it, willing myself not to sneeze. As I walked up the porch steps and to the entryway, I noticed the outside had been freshly painted a blue-gray. It was a nice change from the dingy white that had started to peel away over the last few years.
I rang the doorbell and waited, my nerves tap-dancing along my spine. Thank God I’d stashed a travel-size deodorant in my purse for occasions like these.
The door swung open and a pretty face with big brown eyes lit up at the sight of me. Her perfectly styled hair and designer slacks and blouse told me she’d taken time to prepare for my biannual visit.
“Holland, it’s so good to see you.” She stood back, her slender frame appearing frail, but she was actually quite strong for her age.
I stepped inside, the lemon scent of Pledge lingering inside the home. The polished, light wood floors gleamed, and I was certain there wasn’t a speck of dirt to be found.
“Hi, Mom.” I leaned down and embraced her, allowing myself to briefly experience a sense of safety and security while she hugged me back. Our relationship was tumultuous with criticism and unsupportive looks, which spiked my anxiety any time I was around her.
“It’s been too long. I know you’re working a lot, but we won’t always be around.”
I looked away, irritated with the manipulation ploy. Granted, it was true they wouldn’t be on the earth forever, but they were both in good health. The last year had been spent with patients and Autumn’s family, who had needed me more.
I broke our embrace and gave her a pointed look. “What did we say about the guilt trips, Mom?”
“Well, honey, if you visited more often, then I wouldn’t need to.”
My jaw tightened. “I can leave. I want to be here, but not if it’s going to be tense and stressful.” At least I’d learned to put appropriate boundaries in place with her.
Her shoulders dropped slightly. “You’re right. As you say, ‘I’ll knock that shit off.’”
