Page 101 of Retribution

‘You’ve just made a huge mistake’

I swallow, the blood rushing from my face.

Blinking at the card and flipping it over, checking out the envelope for some sort of reasoning behind it.

I would assume that the card was meant for someone else, but it was clearly addressed to me, and it used my now married name.

‘Indie Margot Breckenridge’

I check again for any sort of signature as to who it is from, nothing.

The lump in my throat rises and I can’t decide what to do with the card.

Do I show Reed?

This feels threatening in some form, rather than a warning. I shake my head and tuck the card back into its envelope, placing it at the bottom of the pile of the rest of the cards. I want to enjoy my honeymoon.

I stand up and return to my seat, pushing the thoughts of the card out of my memory for the time being.

“Everything okay?” Reed asks me, cocking an eyebrow.

“Of course, why wouldn’t it be?” I smile and take a sip of my champagne. I feel like it’s all I’ve drank the past few days.

“Mr. and Mrs. Breckenridge, we are going to begin our descent now.” The crew member informs us.

I blush at the use of of ‘Mrs. Breckenridge’ and Reed chuckles, seeing the reaction across my cheeks. I tap his leg playfully and shake my head laughing as he holds his hands up in defense.

“You’re going to have to get used to it, dimples.”

“I’m sure I will.” I respond, the image of the envelope ingrained at the forefront of my mind.

* * *

Reed

The honeymoon is short-lived but perfect in every way possible.

I think we only slept for a total of four hours. We made love in every room of the villa, twice in the pool and once on the jet on the way back. I can’t get enough of her, as my wife. Seeing her wear her ring with pride, ignites an overbearing love that I’ve never felt before.

It’s more than I’ve ever felt for anyone, than for Allie.

I can feel the words becoming easier in my head, preparing for me to say them out loud, to provide her with the same devotion and respect she has given me. She has accepted me with every one of my flaws, taken on my daughter and given her a much better life than anything I could have offered her, alone. It’s the least that I can do.

I grasp her hand on the drive back, setting it on my leg. She looks exhausted, dressed in her cute Levi shorts and thin t-shirt, her nipples popping through slightly from the air-con on full blast. She has a slight redness to her skin tone from the blazing sun in Mexico for twenty-four hours, it really wasn’t enough time, but I don’t think any amount of time with her will ever be enough.

She looks lost in her thoughts, so I take this as my opportunity.

“I love you,” my voice sings, it rolls off my tongue with desperation, the primal need to let her know how much she means to me.

She looks at me with her jaw open and her eyes wide.

“You what?” she gasps, her eyes already beginning to well with tears.

I feel the need to allow her more of my attention and pull off into a road lay-by, the car skidding to a halt. She grips the dash as her body pushes forward from the force of my sudden halt.

“Jeez, are you trying to kill me?” She breathes, placing a hand on her chest.

“With the car or with my words?” I joke.

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