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There is laugher on our lips, wicked amusement that dissolves into heated sighs as I take her against her apartment door, then bent over the couch. I imprint her screams on my heart. I watch the way she looks when I pull her hair as I fuck her, the helpless devotion in her eyes, and it both stuns and humbles me. When we tumble into bed, I hold her to me and observe her sleep.
This is the kind of happiness one rarely finds in their lifetime.
There is nothing I won’t do to secure it.
16
Lana
Dr. Terrence Gray is a pleasant man. I have to wonder how he befriended Oliver, who shifts between broody silences and sadistic teasing. As he finishes talking to my father, I lean against the window.
Aside from my father and me, Fred is also there.
I haven’t exchanged a word with him over these past two weeks, deliberately choosing to keep my distance. The hurt is still present, and I honestly don’t believe that things will ever be right between us. The only time I talked to him was when I handed him the check that would clear all his debts.
He had opened his mouth to say something, but I’d simply walked away.
My family chose to keep my father’s illness a secret from me because they didn’t want to upset me, but bartering me off like a piece of meat was not a moral concern for them. I’m sure they don’t see it that way. From their initial explanations, they had thought they would be securing my future my throwing me at a man from such a rich background.
I don’t buy their bullshit.
Even to my ears, that’s a flimsy excuse.
But if they can’t appreciate my worth, that’s their problem. Aside from this, everything else in my life is going exceptionally well. I’m in love with a man who is ready to move mountains for me, which is something I’ve never experienced. To be loved so openly with nothing asked for in return. I also have job security for the next twenty years, something which Oliver raged about to Caleb, who just smirked and said he had never said he couldn’t use this to his benefit. Oliver immediately hired Lucas to break the contract. That started anther escalation. I finally dragged my man away when I saw that he and Caleb were near to blows.
Honestly, I don’t regret signing the contract. Working under Caleb provides me a lot of freedom since he trusts me. The only thing that eats at me is that now when Oliver leaves, it will be it. He hasn’t discussed his future plans with me, and I don’t know how to bring them up without getting my heart crushed. So, I’m taking this one day at a time, enjoying the feeling of being in love.
“Well…” Terrence glances toward me. “The treatment will start tomorrow. It should be easy enough.” He starts discussing medicines. Most of it goes over my head. But Oliver trusts him, which means I trust him.
“Thank you for this, Terrence.” When I smile, the man’s lip curve, his eyes lighting up. “Of course. When Oliver told me about you, I was so taken aback. But I’ve never seen him this happy. I almost didn’t recognize him when I saw him on coming here. Whatever you’re doing, it’s working.”
His words warm me from the inside as I walk him out.
I return to retrieve my purse. “All right, Dad. You’re settled?”
My father nods weakly, and I touch him lightly on the shoulder. “Then, I’ll leave.”
He opens his mouth, then glances at Fred. I understand his intent, and I shake my head. “Later, Dad.”
I walk out, brushing past Fred, almost as if he doesn’t exist. The sentimental part of me that still holds on to memories of the past recoils in pain, and I wonder how easy it would be to just let go of everything. To give him a hug so things can go back to normal. I wish it were that simple, but things between us can never be the same again.
I can see the pain on his face, but I stomp on my heart and walk past him.
I know Oliver is working from home today. It makes me all tingly inside to think he’s waiting at home for me. He barely lives in the apartment the company gave him. Half his clothes are at my place. He spends nearly every night on and inside me.
I have to do some grocery shopping on the way, then decide to pick up a pizza. After I park my car in the garage, I take the elevator to my floor. Humming under my breath, I’ve just stuck my key in the lock when something cold and metallic presses against my neck and a familiar voice murmurs, “Not a sound.”
I freeze. Matt grabs me by the upper arm, then whirls me around until my back hits the door with a thud. Heart clenched with fear, I stare into the harsh lines of his face. There is a cruel glint in his eyes as he whispers, “Hello, Lana.”
“What the hell do you want?” I hiss, forcing down my terror. “My family’s debt is cleared!”
His eyes rake over my body, his smile holding no warmth.
My blood runs cold.
The gun is now buried in my abdomen. I hear the slow deliberate click of the safety being removed.
“Do you know how long I’ve had my eye on you?” he questions, his tone oddly contemplative. “The first time I met your brother was when he came to ask me for a loan. When I came to demand the first payment, you answered the door. That was quite a few years ago, so you probably don’t remember. I asked for you at that time, but he refused. He fought me. Then he came back, begging for more money. I made sure to extend his payments so he kept taking more and more until he was drowning in debt.”
