Chapter 17
The alarm wakes me the following morning, with a groan I get out of bed. After a shower, I quickly finish getting ready for work. I am not ready for this and I know it, but I told Mr. Thomas that I would be there today, and I want to keep my word.
Mychal is in the kitchen, coffee waiting for me, when I join him. “I really wish you’d reconsider.”
My reply comes with a sigh. “I know, but I need to do this.” When he tries to interrupt me, I hold my hand up and continue. “It doesn’t mean I will stay, just that I am going to see how it goes. I promise you, I will look for other work, but I gotta be honest with you, now that I’m pregnant it will be harder to find someone willing to hire me.”
“That’s just it… Baby, if you can’t find another job, it doesn’t matter. We will be more than fine on my income. If you want to go back to work after the baby is here… fine, I’m sure with your qualifications you won’t have any trouble finding work.”
“Mychal, it does matter, it matters to me. I won’t be a burden on you. I need my insurance, I’m sure my doctor’s appointments and delivery aren’t going to be cheap.”
“A burden? Would you listen to yourself? YOU are not, and could never be, a burden to me. I’m not even sure how you could think like that. And as far as paying your medical care? You let me handle it. You do realize that is my baby too, right?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It would just be easier if I keep my job and my insurance until the baby gets here.”
He runs his hands through his hair, the way he always does when he is frustrated. “You are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met. You drive me crazy.” He says exasperated.
“I thought you liked that I drive you crazy.” I try to be funny.
“Not when it comes to this. I don’t know why you insist on putting yourself in a dangerous situation, day after day.” He isn’t humored in the slightest.
“I will keep my distance, I won’t be alone with her at any time.”
Knowing I am not giving in, he sighs. “You’re lucky I love you.” He smiles before continuing. “Call me after you set up your appointment?”
“Of course. Any days that won’t work for your schedule?”
“No, if it interferes with anything, I can reschedule work. The sooner we can get you in, the better.” He kisses me softly, sweetly, and we both set out in our own directions.
Upon arriving at work, I decide to call and set up my appointment before I head in, not wanting Tara or anyone else to hear why I am calling. I am only on the phone a few moments and have an appointment set for 11:00 am Wednesday. I figure with any luck Mychal and I can have lunch together after. I call him on my way into the office, wanting to give him enough time to plan at work, if needed. He answers after just one ring.
Mychal: Hey Baby, miss me already?
Me: Of course, I always miss you. Anyway, I just got off the phone with Dr. Mason’s office and wanted to let you know the appointment is set for Wednesday at eleven.
Mychal: Perfect. I will make sure I have everything squared away here so I can be there with you.
Me: Thank you.
Mychal: Of course, there isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be.
Me: I love you.
Mychal: I love you, too.
Ending the call, I seek out Mr. Thomas’ office to check in with him.
After assuring him I am fine, and ready to get back to work, I settle into my cubicle. It feels strange being here now, almost foreign as if I belong no more. I know this is no longer where I am meant to be; I just need to bide my time until the baby is here, and I can actively find other employment. With everything that has taken place the last couple weeks, I know I cannot stay here.
Feeling dread and rethinking Mychal’s logic, I try to focus on my work. Attempting to settle back into my once familiar routine. It doesn’t take long for me to immerse myself into the world of numbers to which I’ve always been so comfortable.
When my stomach alerts me that I am ready for lunch, I head for the kitchen. I quickly heat my food and return to my desk, doing the best I can to avoid my colleagues’ stares and questioning glances. I eat in the quiet confines of my work area and get back to my task.
It is almost five, and I have begun shutting things down for the evening when I realize I have not had a single encounter with Tara. For that I am thankful. If I can keep this up, staying here will not be too difficult. After all, I love what I do.
It is eerily quiet in the parking garage as I walk to my car, and I have a strange feeling I’m being watched. Wanting out of here as quickly as possible, I walk at a faster pace. Just as I turn the corner, seeing my car, Tara steps into my line of vision. Startled by her sudden appearance, I freeze. Shit! Now what!?
“Tara, what can I do for you?” I ask, wanting nothing more than to get the hell away from her.
“What can you do for me?” She repeats, the corners of her mouth twisting into an evil grin. “Well, Piper, we are going to go for a little drive.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Oh, but you are.” She smirks, pulling out a gun.
“Tara, what the hell?”
“Just shut up and get in the car!”
“Why are you doing this?” I begin walking towards my car when she points the gun at me. My hand is in my jacket pocket and on my phone, wishing I could make a phone call. Just one phone call.
Her eyes light up. “I promised Drake we’d come for a visit.”
“We’re going to the jail?”
“No, you idiot!” She huffs. Reading the confusion on my face she goes on. “You haven’t heard yet? Well, let me be the one to give you the wonderful news. He’s out, I picked him up this morning. It was such a fun, overdue reunion.” She says licking her lips.
“What? How?”
“There is this little thing called bail. I put the money up for his bail, and he is out… at least until he goes back to court.”
“You are even crazier than I realized.”
At this she shoves me into the side of my car. “Get in, you stupid bitch!”
I open the door and just as I’m sliding in, I feel my phone vibrate with an incoming call. Praying it is Mychal, I swipe my thumb across the screen hoping I’ve connected the call and not ignored it. It only takes a second for her to get around the car and into the passenger seat.
“Where are we going?”
“Enough with the questions. Just drive, get on Main Street and head north. I will instruct you where to go.”
I want to keep her talking, but I don’t want to further piss her off. “Tara, Mychal is expecting me. If I’m not home soon, he will come looking for me.”
“You think I don’t know that? We know he will come looking for you. That doesn’t mean he will find you. Of course, it would be more interesting if he did.”
“Well, if you want him to find us, why don’t you have Drake go get him?”
“It’s more of a game this way. If you haven’t noticed, Drake likes his games.” She arches her eyebrow, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.
“But I don’t want to play the game. So, how about I drop you off and head home?”
“You are hilarious, you know that? Turn left at the light.”
I do as she says, keeping quiet. Hoping the connection is still open on my phone, and that whoever called can decipher the directions.
After a few more turns, I realize we are just outside of town, not far from my dad’s house and where Mychal and Kenzie’s parents still live. Where the hell is she taking me?
“What’s wrong, Piper? Why so quiet all of a sudden? It sucks not being able to control what happens in your life, doesn’t it?”
“What’s the point, Tara? Nothing I say is going to matter to you anyway. You are still going to force me to go wherever it is you are taking me. I do have one question though, something I’ve been curious about since our last little chat.”
“Yeah? Enlighten me, what are you so curious about?”
“If you’ve been with Drake for the past, what did you say, five years? It doesn’t bother you that he is so determined to have me, even if it’s unwanted? That he is having you hand deliver me to him? That’s just sick, if you ask me.”
“You don’t know shit! Drake and I, we have an open relationship, an understanding of sorts.”
“So, while Drake was out screwing all those women with Mychal, the ones in the photos…” I am forced to swallow past the lump in my throat to continue, trying not to vomit at my words. “Where were you? How many men were you with? Or were you sitting at home, fantasizing about Mychal, while waiting for Drake to return?”
“That’s enough! Shut up! Turn right up here and park behind that tree. We’ll walk the rest of the way.”
“That’s it, isn’t it? It was only open on Drake’s side. He’s allowed to screw anyone and everyone he wants, but you have to be a good little girl and only sleep with him. That’s a horrible relationship.”
“Get out and start moving!” Once we are out of the car, she is right behind me, the gun at my back.
“Tara, all I’m saying is, you deserve better than that. Drake is using you, it isn’t right.” She shoves me again, harder this time. I stumble and fall forward, landing on my hands and knees.
“Get up and don’t say another fucking word! I will kill you!”
Out of fear she may use that gun, I keep quiet and do as she demands.
It seems we are in the middle of nowhere when she speaks again. “We’re here.”
She looks up; I follow her gaze seeing an old tree house that has long ago deteriorated.
I get a feeling this is not just any tree house.
It is the Tree House!
“A tree house? Why are we here, Tara?”
Just then Drake steps out from behind the tree. “Well hello, my two beauties.” He quickly kisses Tara before turning his attention to me. “Miss me?”
“Not in the slightest.” I say making him chuckle.
“There’s my sassy girl.”
“News flash, I’m not your girl. Never have been, never will be.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Tonight, you’re mine. And if you cooperate like a good little girl, I won’t have Tara shoot you.”
This seems to irritate Tara. “Enough, up the stairs.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Drake says sarcastically, earning a disapproving glare from her. He laughs saying, “After you, ladies.”
We climb the battered rope latter, me first, followed closely by Tara and then Drake.
Once inside, I realize I have nowhere to go. There is nowhere to run. I panic and resort to pleading. “Please, just let me go home. We can pretend none of this happened.”
“I love it when a woman begs.” He begins rubbing himself. His erection forming a bulge in his pants.
This cannot be happening. Not again.
Judging by the look on her face, Tara is enjoying the show he is putting on.
“First, I want to watch the two of you make out.”
She begins slowly walking toward me as if she is trying to look seductive.
“What? No! I am not going to do anything with her.”
“Oh, come on, Piper. Let’s have some fun.” She says with a wink.
“Well,” he sighs, “if you don’t want to play nice with Tara, I guess that just means you are ready for the main course.” He continues rubbing himself while thrusting his hips into his hand.
“Please, don’t.” I cry.
The next thing I know, Tara is kissing me. Her lips are soft and small. Not Mychal’s and not what I want at all. I fear the alternative is worse however, so while I refuse to kiss her back, I don’t force her away either. Giving the illusion I am playing along.
Seeing this as some sort of victory, she nudges me back onto the floor. I cannot stop the tears that are streaming down my face. Giving up on me returning her kiss, she moves her lips from my mouth down to my neck, leaving an icy cold trail in its wake.
Her hands are gentle as they explore my chest, and when she pushes my shirt up to expose my bra, I try to plead with her. “Please, don’t do this.”
“Just shut up, relax and enjoy it.” She says, not giving a second thought to my tears. She reaches for the cups of my bra, yanking them down. My tits are now on full display for both of them. When I try to cover myself, Drake grabs my wrists, pinning them to the floor. “No, you don’t.”
Tara is giving him quite the show as she takes my breast into her mouth, I hear his moan and I cry harder. She seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself when I feel her rolling her hips, grinding her pussy against my thigh.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I want to and because we can. No more talking or I will gag you.” He says.
When her mouth leaves my tits only to continue its journey lower, I can’t take anymore. Turning my head to the side I throw up. My body’s way of rebelling against what they are doing, what they plan to still do to me.
This gets their attention.
Releasing my wrists and backing away, I hear Drake’s voice. “What the fuck!?”
Followed by Tara’s. “That’s fucking disgusting. I’m done. I’m not going anywhere near that now.”
“You will if I tell you to!”
I hear them continue to argue for a moment longer as my stomach continues to expel its contents. Thankful for the reprieve, I cover myself.
“Are you finished?” His tone dripping with sarcasm.
When I look up, Drake is staring at me, pissed. “Look sick or not, I’m still fucking you. I don’t care if I have to bend you over and fuck you doggy style. I’m hitting that pussy!”
“Please don’t!” I beg.
“Please don’t!” He repeats, mocking me. “Don’t you ever get tired of repeating yourself.”
Growing tired of his own game, he reaches for his belt. Tara comes over and unbuckles it for him, followed by the button of his jeans. “Here, let me help.” She purrs.
I turn away as she pulls his dick out of his boxers and slides her mouth over him.
When I hear his deep moan, I risk a look at his face, hoping with everything in me that his eyes will be closed, lost in the moment. They are. Seizing the opportunity, I slowly try to inch my way toward the makeshift door.
I am almost there when a board creaks, his eyes go wide instantly, “Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”
Shit! I try to run for it, but he pushes Tara away, making it to the door before I do. “I don’t fucking think so. The fun is just getting started.”
“Let me go!” I shout when he grabs my arm, turning me roughly so my back is now to his front.
All I know is I cannot let him do this. When he leans in to kiss the back of my neck, I lean forward, then throw my head back as hard as I can. I connect with his face, but I fear I have hurt myself more than I have him.
“You bitch!” He shoves me. I land in the center of the floor on my hands and knees. Looking back, I see blood pouring from his nose. “After I’m done with you, I’m going to let Tara kill you!”
“Are you always going to let him run the show?” I ask Tara.
She looks back and forth between the two of us, not saying a word.
“It’s obvious he’s only using you. Did you see how fast he pushed you aside to come after me. He could have just let me go and enjoyed being with you. But you weren’t good enough. You’ve never been good enough.”
“Shut up!”
“See, he knows it’s true, and he doesn’t want you to realize it. He wants to keep you his little puppet.” Tara still isn’t speaking, she is just holding the gun looking back and forth as if Drake and I were an interesting tennis match. I need to keep her focus.
“He controls every move you make. You deserve more than that. You deserve better.”
“Tara, don’t listen to her. You know I love you.”
“Love? If he loved you, why is he doing this? If he loved you, he wouldn’t be fucking all those other girls for all these years. There is no rationalizing it. That isn’t love. Think about it, he had you force me to come out here, he wanted to rape me in front of you, essentially making you watch while he fucked me. How is that love?”
“She doesn’t know how things work between us, baby.”
“He’s right, I don’t. But I know love. And if he loved you, instead of being here, he’d be home making love to you right now after being locked up and away from you. He got out today, because of you, yet here he is, proving that you are just his little puppet. Aside from that, you mean nothing to him.”
“For fuck’s sake! Enough of this, Tara give me the damn gun!”
Just as he is lunging for her, I hear shots ring out.
Screaming, so much screaming.
Blood, so much blood.
Realizing I need to get out of here, or I could be next… I jump up, making the short trip to the door. Taking the rope ladder as quickly as I can, I try not to fall.
After what feels like forever, I finally reach the ground. I turn toward my car, ready to make a break for it. But I run straight into what feels like a brick wall. I scream when that wall closes around me.
I push… fighting, trying desperately to get away.
“Piper, Baby, please stop fighting me. It’s only me.” Mychal’s pleading voice breaks through the ringing in my ears.
“Mychal!?” I cry, crumbling into him.
“It’s me, Baby. I’m here.” He holds me tighter.
When I take in my surroundings, I see that there are police officers, seemingly everywhere. Two are carefully, quietly climbing the rope ladder, guns drawn.
“Mychal! Drake... I think he’s dead.” I try to speak around my sobs. “I think Tara shot him!”
He shakes his head. “I shot him.”
“What? But how did…” I let my question fall off.
“Are you okay?” He steps back, holding me at arm’s length to look me over.
“I’m a little shaken up, but I’m okay. How did you know to come here?”
“I tried calling you as I was leaving work to ask what you wanted for dinner. When the call connected, I almost hung up because it was muffled and I thought we had a bad connection.” He pauses, pinching the bridge of his nose. “But then I heard her voice. All I could do was stay on the line and hope she said something that would give up the location she was taking you to.”
He is still holding me close when he continues. “I rushed to my car and got on Main Street heading north, hoping she would say something, anything, that would give me a clue. I just kept driving, making guesses as to where she was having you turn left and right. I was getting nowhere, that is until you gave it away by asking her why you were at a tree house.”
“I had no idea who was calling, or if the call had even connected. But I hoped it was you and you were still on there. I knew you would know where to find us if you knew we were at a tree house.”
“You did good, Baby. I knew instantly. Not wanting to disconnect the call, I put it on speakerphone, pulling over long enough to send Kenzie a text to call the police and send them out here, letting her know I’d have to explain later. Then, I rushed here. I tried waiting for the cops; I was here waiting and listening. I knew you were somewhat in control of the situation when I heard you talking to Tara. It wasn’t until I heard him demand that she give him the gun I knew I had to do something fast. He was still standing in the door, I knew I couldn’t let him get that gun, so I fired mine.”
“I didn’t even know you had a gun. I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you. If I’d have just stayed home, like you asked, none of this would have happened.”
“Ssshhh. It’s not your fault. If it didn’t happen then, they would have found another way to get you alone. You can’t blame yourself.”
I don’t say another word, letting Mychal be my strength. I can hear people talking and moving around in the tree house. I see more officers moving around here on the ground. I know it’s only a matter of time before they ask for our statements, a sense of déjà vu overcoming me.
I look up as I hear a car rushing down the dirt road; The car is barely put into park when I see Kenzie jump out. She runs over to where Mychal and I are standing. “What the hell is going on?” She asks as Tyler steps up behind her, placing a comforting hand on the small of her back.
Just as Mychal opens his mouth to explain, we see two EMTs carefully removing a body bag from the tree house. I hear Kenzie’s sharp intake of breath when we see two more EMTs extracting a second body bag. I look up at Mychal who has the same look of confusion on his face.
When an officer, one of the first to originally go up, joins us. “Sir, can I ask what happened? We were expecting him to be coming down in a body bag, but two?”
The officer looks at us for a moment before he explains, “Look, we are still investigating, and we need a statement from both of you, but off the record, when you fired your weapon it did hit Mr. Nichols. However, it would appear you weren’t the only one that fired a shot. Apparently, Ms. Messing fired off her own shot.”
When none of us speak, he goes on. “Her gun was equipped with a silencer. By the time we got inside, she had already turned the gun on herself. You shot him, but it wasn’t a fatal wound. This is now a kidnapping investigation that ended with a murder/suicide.” He turns his attention to me, “Ms. Pearson, I am very sorry; I know you have been through a terrible ordeal this evening. I will send a couple of my men over to take your statements shortly.”
We remain in a stunned silence as the officer walks away. I turn, burying my face in Mychal’s chest. “Is it really over?”
Rubbing my back, he tries to calm me. “Yeah, it is, Baby. They can’t hurt you anymore.” He pulls back looking deep into my eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay? I mean really okay?” I catch his eyes travel to my stomach before returning to mine. I know he is asking if I think the baby is okay.
“Yeah, I think I am.” I give him a small smile.
“Oh, my god! Drake and Dani… they’re dead!? What the fuck happened tonight?” I turn to see Kenzie looking at us like we have suddenly grown another head or third eye.
I continue holding onto Mychal, allowing his strength to carry me as he retells tonight’s events to her and Tyler.
I only temporarily let go of him when Kenzie pulls me into a hug. “I am so sorry this shit happened to you. They won’t ever be able to get to you again.”
All I can do is nod.
It takes about an hour for us to give our statements, and then they allow us to leave.
We promise Kenzie to call her tomorrow and we set out for home. It is a quiet ride, as I expected it to be. I don’t know what to say, my words escaping me.
As soon as the door closes and we are safely locked away in the apartment, he has me in his arms. Holding me gently, but firmly against him. In his arms is the only place I truly feel safe anymore. Not even trying to hold back, I let my tears flow. Allowing his shirt to absorb my pain as I soak up his strength. I’m not sure how long we stand there holding one another, but when I pull back, I see that I am not the only one who cried.
“I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head, pulling me over to the couch and onto his lap.
“I’d give anything for you not to have had to hear the things that went on in that tree house.”
“I’d give anything for you not to have had to endure the things that went on in that tree house.”
I say nothing, how can I?
Holding me tighter he continues, “What went on in that tree house is repulsive, and if I’m being honest, I’m glad they’re both fucking dead. They can burn in Hell together, although even Hell is too good for them.”