Someone Else's Shadow

“I—”

“Answer the question!” I yell, not in the mood for excuses.

Will smiles happily as my pain seems to please him.

“Yes.”

Tears of anger sting my eyes as I shake my head, disgusted. She sits on a throne of lies. I hang up, refusing to listen to another word because one word has amounted to ten.

I pass Will his phone, the fight in me dying because I don’t know what to believe anymore. Stella has said she’s done everything to protect me, but protect me from whom?

“Does Cayden know you’re here?”

Will grins as he pushes off the counter and walks toward me. “That’s the thing about amnesia. You have no other choice but to believe what people tell you. I mean, you can’t remember, so you’re taking their word that what they tell you is the truth.”

“No,” I argue, shaking my head violently. “I don’t believe you. Cayden wouldn’t lie to me.”

“He has, and he would,” he contradicts. “I wonder how his meeting with Benny went?”

Oh, God. The walls close in on me as I wrap my arms around my middle. How does he know about Benny? And what does that mean for Cayden? Benny and Will, it appears, just may be on the same side.

“Stop it!” I cry, my lower lip trembling.

“You were always running after him like a pathetic little puppy. You were merely a plaything. When he got bored, he pushed you away, but you kept coming back for more because you’re weak,” he spits, lowering his face inches from mine.

I stand my ground, however, challenging his claims.

“He got Hazel knocked up because he was sick of you. He didn’t have to try hard because that Hazel sure loves the Coachman cock.” He reaches down and cups his junk while I almost gag in horror. “The truth is, Ellie could be either of ours. Or anybody’s really. But I suppose Cayden is a better man than me and took care of her.”

“No! You’re lying.” I cover my ears because this filth is not true. There is no way it’s true.

But a niggling voice, down low, scratches at the surface. I’ve been presented two contradictory stories, and Will, no matter how much it pains me to admit, is right. With amnesia, I have to believe the retelling of my life because I can’t remember. I can’t remember who I was. Or if I was the person I want to believe I was.

A tear scores my cheek, a tear which Will sweeps up with his finger. He samples my sadness and relishes the taste. “You always tasted so sweet.”

I blanch, horrified. How would he know of my taste?

He’s messing with my head, I reason with myself. I can’t let him see weakness. “Did I really throw your body in the lake?”

His nostrils flare, hinting I have hit a nerve. “Yes, you did.”

I cover my mouth, disgusted. I have so many questions, but the truth is, I can’t believe anyone. “Where is Cayden?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

A door slamming outside has both Will and I riveting our attention to the front door. When he grins, it’s clear he thinks it’s a friend and not a foe. I use this opportunity to desperately search my surroundings for a weapon.

I’ll settle for anything, but when I see a butcher’s knife tucked away under a Chinese takeout box, I don’t think twice and lunge for it. I’ve caught Will unawares, but I’m not quick enough to inflict any injury because before I have a chance to use it, he punches me in the face, winding me.

I stagger back, stunned and gasping for air as I cup my bleeding nose. The knife drops to the floor with a miserable thud.

“Don’t make me hurt you,” he warns, eyes wild.

He grips my biceps and drags me through the kitchen and into the living room. I try to fight him, but it’s no use. I’m pretty sure he just broke my nose, so if he doesn’t call that “hurting” me, then I’m frightened to find out what’s the worst he can do.

He forces me to face the entrance so whoever is about to enter can see me bleeding all over the white Persian carpet. When Stella rushes through the door and sees me cupping my bloodied nose, she stops dead in her tracks. I should be angry with her, but honestly, I’m relieved, something I never thought I’d ever be.

“What did you do to her?” she exclaims, running to my aid. But when Will quickly reaches behind him and produces a gun from the small of his back, both Stella and I freeze.

“That’s far enough,” he snarls, waving the gun at her.

“What do you want, Will? I’ve done everything you wanted. You promised you wouldn’t hurt her.” If I wasn’t delirious from being punched in the face, I’d think I heard concern in her voice. But that’s impossible.

“And I haven’t. Well, not much.” He snickers, clearly loving the limelight. “I’m here to settle old scores.”

Stella swallows, tugging at her pearl earring. “No, don’t. I beg of you.”

Stella Lane begging? I never thought I’d see the day.

Will steps forward, hurling me with him as he pins Stella to the spot where she stands. “It’s time she knows the truth. The real reason you wanted her to stay away from Cayden and me.”

“Wh-what’s going on?” My attention bounces between Stella and Will, beseeching someone to tell me what the hell is going on.

“You really are an asshole,” Stella spits, knowing that her secret is moments away from being revealed.

“Sticks and stones, Star.”

“Star?” I utter, confused. But when Stella averts her gaze, I’ve finally uncovered the truth.

“Cayden told me Stella ridiculed you. Is that true?”

The grinding of Will’s jaw confirms that fact. “Yes, Little Miss Perfect wouldn’t be seen dead with scum like me. But when no one was looking, that was another story, wasn’t it, Star?”

My nose has stopped bleeding, but I still feel unsteady on my feet because an epiphany hits. “Oh, my god.” I gasp, eyes wide. “You liked him?”

Stella’s chin snaps up as the truth has whipped her into submission. “I was young. Stupid,” she says, defending her actions, which confirm my claims. “He tricked me into thinking he was a good man.”

“No one tricked anyone, sweetheart,” Will argues smugly. “You slummed it voluntarily. I even think you liked it.”

“Shut up!” she cries, running a hand over her flawless hair. It seems she needs to ensure her outer mask isn’t crumbling, just how her inner one is.

“People like us don’t fall in love with the Cayden Coachmans of this world.”