Reed's Reckoning

No, no, no, please don’t tell me this is happening. I look at my sister who is holding her cheek with tears flowing down her face. Her gaze is focused behind me, and I turn to see Davis staring at her through the glass door. When he starts to cry, my protective instincts kick in and I find my voice.

“Please tell me this is not fucking happening!” I scream and see my mom go to Cara.

Katy scrunches next to me and lays her hand on Ari’s head. “Son, she needs to be in a bed. I will stay with her while you deal with this.”

I lift her up and take her to our master bedroom. When I lay her on the comforter, she wakes up but immediately cries. It’s not a quiet cry but a ripping wail, and Sophie runs in and lunges in the bed between us. Katy and Sophie cage her in and all I can do is kiss her forehead.

“She’s back, she’s back…and he’s gonna leave me again.” I hear her scream as I shut the door. I want to go back and comfort her, but I have to get answers. That woman is my life and something fucked up has just happened.

When I walk into the living room I look immediately for Davis, but he is still on the patio with Jack. Luke is tense but hanging out to try and soothe my son. I walk outside and tell them to give me few minutes.

My sister is sitting on the couch crying hysterically. My mom has a wet cloth to her cheek and is whispering. My first instinct is to go to her, but I remember the broken women upstairs and I need answers.

“Mom, I had no idea. Alex was in Orlando for business and called me. I decided to ride up here with her to surprise you and Reed.” Cara tells mom.

“Cara, look at me.” She doesn’t look but moves closer to Mom. “I said fucking look at me! Now!”

My mom scowls but lift’s Cara’s chin; then moves it my way. “Why did Ari call you Bailey? Why is my woman upstairs bawling her eyes out? My son is outside scared to death, and you are here looking guilty. Tell me it’s not what I think.”

“I-I-I’m so, so, so, sorry. I had no idea. I thought I was helping you by getting rid of her.” Her voice is so soft, I almost don’t hear it.

“You fucking pretended to be my girlfriend and threatened her?!”

My mom moves forward so she can see Cara’s face, which tells it all.

“Get the fuck out! And where is Alex Moore? Get her out too!”

“Oh, Reed, you don’t mean that. Let me explain. It was for your own good.” Cara begs.

“NOW!” I lose my temper again.

At that moment, Alex saunters into the room from somewhere unknown. She grins seductively at me and I want to slap her. I’ve never wanted to hit a woman so badly in my life.

“So I see she was trying to saddle you, a kid and all, he’s cute.”

My mom snaps. “Get out of our home, you floozy! That’s my grandson! Cara, how dare you bring her here knowing how she feels about Reed! I was too lenient during your life. You’ve been given everything even when you had disrespect for everyone around you. How could you? How could you do this to him?”

“You don’t understand, I had to. Besides, I was doing it to protect him. It wasn’t like he was serious about her. His career was about to take off and she was still going to be in school. I couldn’t let her use him.”

“Use me?! You thought she was using me? What the fuck do you know, huh? You were so goddamned wrapped up in yourself you didn’t even think to ask me about my girlfriend? She was everything to me. I was in love. She obviously wasn’t the one I needed protection from.”

“Reed, I know all about her. I heard about how she would spend her nights with you but her days with some other guy. She saw you as a way to soar into money and fame.”

“Look, this little family reunion has been a blast, but I’m gonna bounce. Too much shit going on here. I’m not interested in all this drama.” Alex says over her shoulder walking to the door. “I’ll put your bag by the door Cara.” She walks out but not before she smiles widely and winks at me.

My blood is boiling, that fucking bitch. As soon as the word ‘blast’ came out of her mouth, I knew it was her. She’s the one who wrote the note and put it in my bag. If Ari wasn’t in such shock and pain, I would have Sophie go after Alex and beat her ass.