Page 141 of Burning Ember

“After Will was born, Sunny was reluctant to hold her. When we got home from the hospital, it got worse. She’d hand Will off to me every chance she got. And when Sunny was well enough, she’d disappear for days, only to come home hungover and looking like death. She was in no condition to be a mom and she didn’t want to be. So until a year ago, I raised Will as best as I could mostly by myself.”

“How old is she?”

“Five.”

I look over to see concern flitter through his eyes. “Where is she now?”

“With Sundown.”

Concern becomes confusion.

I explain, “Sunny finally snapped out of it about a year ago.” I don’t tell him what caused her to change because that’s not my story to tell anyone and I don’t know much. “She asked me if she could stay and start being a part of Will’s life. She cleaned herself up, got a job, and started helping with Will. Together we were making more than enough to pay the bills and it was a relief to have some help. We worked opposite schedules so Will didn’t have to go to a daycare, which also helped us save money. And for first time in a long time, we weren’t struggling.”

“What happened?”

“Warner. He made it even better for those first two months. He spoiled us. Them and me. He bought me things I never had. Took me places. Gave me money to pay rent. I was living a dream. I feel stupid saying that because it was a dream.”

I pull in a deep breath and shake my head. “But it wasn’t. It was more like a mirage. I didn’t see how he was manipulating me in small degrees. Like quitting my jobs, distancing myself from my friends, agreeing to move in with him. He knew I felt guilty for still acting like a mom to Will, when her real mom was right there living in the same house. He used that against me until I felt like stepping out of the way was what was best for Sundown and Will. It took me some time to realize that he was trying to isolate me. But by the time I did, it was too late. He had me exactly where he wanted me.”

Mav’s hand slides over my stomach to my waist. He pulls me closer as if to protect me and asks, “Was he abusive? Did he hit you?” His face muscles are tight and I can tell he’s upset. But right now, I have to get this out. He needs to know why I can’t be with him the way I’ve seen him with the girls at the club. Tied up and powerless.

“Not at first. It was more subtle. And honestly, the hitting wasn’t the worst part. His need to control me was. He didn’t want me leaving the house. He wanted me to look a certain way. Act a certain way. After I moved in, I started to see a different side of him. He lost his temper more times than not. He’d kiss me aggressively, but not in a passionate way, it was almost like he was angry with me.”

“Did he . . .” Mav’s voice is hard. His eyes, fierce. And I don’t think he realizes it, but his fingers are digging into my skin at my waist.

That night comes back to me. Looking away, I say, “I don’t know what set him off. All I know is he was angry and he wouldn’t take no for an answer.” I take a deep breath and finish, “I fought back. I pleaded for him to stop. I just . . . I couldn’t reach him. I’ve never felt so weak in my life.”

Luce appears in an instant. A savage fierceness flashes over his features and I watch as he fights the rage building inside of him. He growls, sits up. “Who is this guy? What’s his last name?”

I grab him and hold on to his arm. “Mav . . .”

His fists clench and unclench. “Who is he?”

“Why? What are you going to do?”

His biceps and his jaw pulse at the same time. “Do you want the truth?”

“Of course I do.”

“I want to know who he is because I plan to pay back every bit of the pain he’s caused you.”

My fingers tighten on his wrist. “Mav! It’s done and over. I just want to forget it ever happened.”

“Which is what you can do after he pays for how he hurt you.”

“We weren’t even together then.”

“Doesn’t matter.” He pulls away from me.

My temper and tongue get the best of me. “What are you going to do? Beat him up? Kill him? You can’t do that. He has cops and powerful people, even judges in his pocket. His father’s a state senator. That’s why I ran instead of going to the cops. And I don’t want you getting locked up because you think you need to avenge my honor.”

He finds his jeans and yanks them on. “Babe. You’re underestimatin’ me and the powerful people I got in my own pocket. He won’t even see me comin’.”

I glare up at him with an exasperated look that has him smirking. “Where are you going?”

He zips up his jeans and buttons them. “I’m gettin’ away from you and your gorgeous body so I can think straight. I want to know what I can about this guy. Where he is. What he does. Where he goes. And who his friends are.”

He comes back and kisses me, lays me back down, and pulls the covers up to my shoulders. “You stay here and keep my bed warm.”