Provoke

Chapter Twenty-Two

Leeta

Now we were getting somewhere. I’d expected Mace to put up a much bigger fight against me being the bait, but he had relented pretty damn quickly.

This was going to work. It was perfect. With me there, I could pick up so many clues that I just couldn’t get from those damn videos. And if Tim could track their IP address, we had such a good chance at catching them.

And then what?

The little voice in the back of my head kept asking those three little words. Once this is all over, then what? There was no way things could go back to normal, but could I forgive him? Did I want to forgive him?

I did. Every time I thought about this whole mess I found myself trying to think up reasons to defend his behaviour. And I actually admired his devotion to his family. I just wished it wasn’t occurring at my expense.

“Tell me what is going to happen,” I asked him as he set Chinese down on the table. He passed me my sweet and sour pork, frowning.

“You’ve seen the video’s, Leet,” he said quietly. “You know what to expect.”

“There is nothing missing from those videos that might shock or surprise me?” I asked nervously. God, I didn’t even want to know.

He shook his head. “Not really, I mean, walking in there you’re probably going to be terrified. The house is scary, old and abandoned, but that’s nothing compared to the feeling of walking into that room.”

I shuddered just thinking about it, setting my food down on the table. Suddenly I wasn’t that hungry.

“I’ll be there with you every step of the way, okay? Just remember that.” He sighed, reaching for my hand. “You don’t have to do this, Leet.”

But I did. What were my choices? Force him to give this up? Let him fuck another woman? I did have to do this.

#

I slept alone in the bed while Mace slept on the couch. By slept I mean I tossed and turned all night, stressing about Wednesday. Every time I closed my eyes I imagined myself in that room. Only it wasn’t Mace there with me. It was that voice.

I need a drink. Creeping from the room, I snuck into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Glancing over at Mace I watch as he stirred then rolled over. I pulled out an orange juice and carried it back to my room.

Picking up my phone, I checked the time. Four a.m. What time did that make it in the U.S? Not that it mattered. Laura was incredibly hard to get a hold of. I pressed dial anyway. Maybe today was my lucky day?

No such luck. The tone ran out, and then went to her message bank.

“Hey Laura, I know you don’t check your messages like ever, but if by chance you get this, call or email me. Anything. I really need to talk.”

“Are you okay?”

I looked up to see Mace standing in the doorway. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes took in his body. Except for a pair of briefs, he was naked.

He was also half asleep.

“I’m fine.” I smiled. “Couldn’t sleep.”

“Yeah, I thought I heard talking,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

“I was just trying to get onto Laura.”

He nodded, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Hope you get some sleep.” He turned and began to walk out.

“Mace?” He stopped at turned back. “Will you…can you hold me?” My face flamed. I felt like an idiot. He smiled and walked over to the bed, climbing under the covers.

Sighing, I snuggled back into his embrace, my body relaxing.

“Course I will. Anything I can do, I’m here, okay?” I nodded, cupping his hand in mine. The warmth from his body, and the strength from his arms around me was all I needed. My heavy eyes began to close as I drifted off to sleep.