Page 59 of Cash

“Okay, Lolo. Will you stay?”

Stella bent her neck and kissed the top of Cara’s head. “Of course.”

The video ended.

I closed it and opened the next one.

It was short and the date stamp showed it was the same night.

Stella in her bed. Lying on her side. Hands over her face. Her body rocking in silent sobs.

I closed my eyes to block out the sight. I should’ve been there. If she would’ve just answered one of my calls, I would’ve been there.

The next video was like the last. Stella and Cara in Cara’s bed. Stella reading Cara a book. When she finished, Cara asked for more of the King, the Dove, and the Snake. This story was about the King battling a dragon with the Queen. When they’d conquered the dragons saving the kingdom, Cara yawned and once again Stella sat with her until she was asleep.

The next was of Stella sitting on the edge of her bed, phone in hand, staring at it.

“Don’t call him,” she whispered to herself. “He doesn’t want you. He doesn’t even like you.”

She tossed the phone back into the drawer and slammed it shut.

I continued watching videos of Stella putting Cara to sleep then going into her room and fighting her urge to turn the phone on. Some nights she’d given in and listened to the messages. After that, she either curled up and cried or other nights she scowled at the ceiling. I also didn’t miss how she’d checked the phone more frequently the month I’d been overseas for work and couldn’t call her—those nights she’d pace, staring at the phone before she threw it in the drawer with more force than necessary.

What she never did, was fucking call me.

I pulled up the last video, dated two months ago.

Stella was in bed, staring at the ceiling. Then suddenly she rolled to her side and jerked the nightstand drawer open and snatched out the phone.

She listened to the messages. But there was something different about the way she was looking at the phone while she was waiting to move to the next voicemail. Almost like she was pissed.

Yeah, baby girl, that makes two of us.

Until she got to the last message I’d left her. She pulled the covers up to her chin, hit the play and closed her eyes.

I know I deserve your silence. I was a total asshole. I said shit I didn’t mean. There’s no excuse but there is an explanation and I know it doesn’t mean shit to you, and it shouldn’t but I’m sorry, Stella. So fucking sorry. I can’t say I regretted them the moment I said them, because I wasn’t thinking about you, all I was thinking about was me and the pain that had taken hold. Then I heard you talking to Zane and I couldn’t get my feet to move. It was a bullshit coward move. I should’ve stopped you before you left. I should’ve done a lot of shit differently, but I didn’t and all of that is on me. I know you don’t care and it doesn’t mean anything to you, but I need you to know the last thing I think you are is cold-hearted. You are who you are, and you’re brave enough to be honest about it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not perfect exactly the way you are, especially a dick like me. The last thing I needed you to know is the night we connected meant something to me, baby girl. I might’ve turned everything to shit the next morning, and you hate me and want to forget everything we shared, but I can’t. I hope wherever you are, you’re safe and happy and doing all the Lore things. If you ever need me, I’m there, no questions asked. Take care.

When the voicemail ended, silent tears streaked her cheeks. She powered down the phone, tossed it on the nightstand, tucked her knees up to her chest, and her sobs became audible.

I don’t know when she did it, but when I broke down a few weeks later and called, the number was disconnected.

Stubborn fucking woman.

A thief.

She’d called me a fucking thief.

I pushed the chair back and stared at the video icons.

Sometimes giving your heart to someone is the scariest thing of all.

“If you think that’s scary, baby girl, you need to brace. The King’s coming for your fucking soul,” I growled and stalked out of the room.

It was time to end this madness.

The King was claiming his Queen.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN