AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He was sleeping with my friend Emma, and the two of them set me up. She brought Molly into my house and drugged my coffee,” Olivia explained. “They fell out of her handbag and she said they belonged to a friend. When she was called away on an urgent story—she’s a reporter—I stupidly put them in a cupboard so Sammy couldn’t get into them.”
Fletcher shook his head.
“Simon turned up just as the drugs kicked in and called CPC. An hour later, they took my daughter,” she added, emotion rich in her voice.
“Fuck, Liv.” A cry escaped her throat. He pulled her into his arms and, for the first time since it had all happened, she felt supported in a way she didn’t know had been missing.
Like she could let go and truly cry.
And she did.
His strong arms around her felt protective and safe from the harsh untrustworthy world she’d been living in.
She knew it was temporary but let herself go, knowing Fletcher was a good man.
She sniffed and sat up. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Just,” she laughed snottily, “for the hug.”
Fletcher shook his head. “Liv, this is bad. Who is this guy?”
“He’s a reporter,” she replied. “He’s not out of my life and won’t be for another twelve years. My lawyer got me shared custody of Sammy, but it took six long agonizing months, Fletch. Every day he torments me with threats to take her away again.”
Fletcher cursed.
She needed him to understand the seriousness of her situation. Truly understand.
“He saw us together tonight and asked if we were sleeping together. No, that’s incorrect. He accused me of fucking you. I have to be careful. He’ll use anything to discredit and hurt me.”
“No, we have to deal with him. This is no way for you to live, Olivia. Fuck that. I won’t have him doing this to you.” He growled.
We?
She shook her head and closed her eyes.
“You don’t understand. He’s Sammy’s father. He’ll never be gone from my lifeandanything I do could backfire on me... and more importantly, her. I don’t know if he’d hurt her, but I just can’t take the risk.”
Fletcher leaped out of bed and began cursing and pacing the floor. She tucked her knees up and wrapped her arms around them.
“No,” he said. “There has to be...”
She waited for him to connect the dots and realize, as she had, that it was hopeless.
“He’s not above the law. He’s a damn reporter. We’ll...”
It always came back around to Sammy. Whatever they did to Simon, she would be the one to suffer the consequences.
“Jesus,” he groaned.
She didn’t bother lifting her head. She just nodded, staring at the mattress. He climbed back on the bed and pulled her into his arms.
“I don’t have the answers right now, but I am going to do everything in my power to help you. I... I’m not letting him destroy your life any more than he has. I know people. Powerful people.”
She lifted her hand to cup his cheek and smiled sadly.
“There’s nothing you can do, but I appreciate you caring.”
