Chained Hands (Chained Hearts Duet 1)

“Hello.” My voice is raised due to the busyness and noise level of the street.

“I’ve been trying to call you all week. Why haven’t you answered?”

My mother has bipolar disorder. She has her good days and her bad days. And by the sound of her voice right now, it doesn’t sound like it’s one of those good days. Not the right day to answer her call, that’s for sure.

“Sorry, I’ve had a lot going on.”

“Oh, I know. I spoke to Dillan yesterday, and he said you ran out on him with another man. Really, Sailor, how could you?”

My feet stop moving, and I have to remember to take a deep breath.

He’s dead.

I shouldn’t be mad at him, but I am.

Dillan always lied to my mother.

I used to think it was to protect us, but now I see it’s because he never wanted to be in her bad books like I always am.

“I didn’t!” It’s all I manage to reply.

“Sailor, you are lying. Stop it! We’re driving up there, so you better be home tonight. Your father and I will talk to you both.”

My heart rate picks up, then misses a few beats, as I think about what to say. “No, you can’t come,” I yell at her through the phone.

“We’re already halfway there. We’ll see you later. Bye, sweetie.” Then she hangs up.

Ellie is looking at me, trying to work out what’s going on.

I have no words.

Not a single one.

“He’s still following us,” she leans in and whispers in my ear.

“No one is following us.” I roll my eyes at her paranoia but then freeze when I see Joey leaning against a building half a block behind us. He smiles when our eyes meet and nods his head just the once.

“Stay here.” I leave her in the middle of the sidewalk and make my way back to Joey.

This day started off badly, and it’s just gotten a whole lot worse. How am I meant to be the normal person I want to be with everything that’s going on around me? How am I meant to grieve my husband properly when my world won’t stop spinning?

I want it to stop.

I want to curl up in my bed and stay there, remember the times that were good. Because, believe it or not, there were some good times. But as I look back over my shoulder and see my husband’s fiancée watching me, I wonder if I’m even thinking clearly. Turning back around, I continue toward Joey.

“Are you lost or following me for a reason?”

“You could run,” he says simply.

I cross my arms over my chest. “I had many opportunities to run, yet here I am, like an idiot,” I say, throwing my hands up in the air. I chose not to run because not only did he threaten to kill my husband, which he ended up doing anyway, but also everyone I love. I may have issues with my family, but I would never want to see any of them dead.

“Does he plan to kill Ellie after what she saw?” His eyes take on a squint as he looks at me.

“What did she see?” he questions.

“Nothing.” I answer.

“You should keep it that way, he’s debating on whether to shoot her yet, I would make she sure keeps her mouth shut, unless she wants to end up like your husband.”

“You are a dick, get lost.” I huff and turn.

“That’s great, but I’m still going to follow you.”

“Why?”

“Boss’s orders,” he says and shrugs.

“Do you do everything he says?”

“Yes.” He doesn’t hesitate to answer, and I guess that rings alarm bells, but I still can’t hold back and state, “What a boring life you must lead.”

“If you say so,” he remarks.

I huff and walk back to Ellie. I can tell she wants an explanation, but I keep on walking because right now I just can’t bring myself to discuss this shit with anyone. When I get to the first house, I turn back to see Joey still standing there watching us.

“He works for him, right? Is he watching me now?” Why on earth would they be watching her? “I mean, he knows Dillan and I were engaged. Is that it?” I could lie to her because, clearly, she doesn’t have a clue.

“No, they’re making sure the apartment sells so they get their damn money. Just remember to never talk about what happened and we should be fine,” I add.

“Oh,” she says, working it out now. “So, if I left, they wouldn’t follow me?”

“No, feel free to leave,” I reply in a cheerful voice.

“I don’t think I should leave you. What if you don’t sell and they come after me?”

Oh, gosh, I just can’t right now. Was I this stupid with Dillan? I mean, I believed a lot of things he said, let him handle all the money and clearly that was a mistake, since he blew it and had to borrow money from the damn mafia.