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Chapter Twenty-Six

LACIE

The feeling of someone rubbing my knuckles has me opening my eyes slowly, only to find MeK’s large hand wrapped around mine.

Sitting in a chair next to the bed, his head is lying next to my arm, turned the other way, and for a moment, I allow myself a brief second to enjoy his presence.

I appreciate the fact that he is here with me and that they found me in time.

Even though I’m sore all over, I will live another day thanks to their efforts to get me out of there.

Then the memories hit, and I pull my hand away. Immediately , his head turns, and his bright eyes are glowing as he stands up, towering over me, as he reaches up to brush a stray hair out of my face.

“ How are you feeling?”

“ Like I fell off a rock.”

He closes his eyes, and I can tell he is fighting an internal battle. “ Lacie , we need to talk, but all that matters right now is that you get better.”

“ You’re right, MeK . We do need to talk, and that’s what I’m going to do while you stand there and listen. Then , when I’m done, you can do your famous walk-off when things become too difficult for you to handle.” Standing , he crosses his arms and steps back.

I had a lot of time to think when I was stuck on that rock, MeK .

You know they say your entire life flashes before your eyes right before you die.

And they were right because memories, wants, needs, even dreams, and hopes all bombarded me all at once.

But I learned something about myself as well.

I am worth something too , and I promised myself that if I survived, I would never forget those words.

You let your mother talk to me like I was white trash.

A whore who was only trying to better herself by taking you into her body.

You didn’t say a word … Simply let her assume whatever she wanted even while your cum was still running down my thighs.

You discarded me like I was a nobody, and that’s unforgivable in my world.

I’m a living, breathing person with feelings and emotions who never asked for anything from you.

Did I want more? Yeah , I think I did, but now …

I wish I had never seen your face, since things were hard enough before I added you to the mix.

You took something from me that I don’t know how to get back, my confidence in how I read people.

I saw you, the man you truly are. The one who doesn’t like crowds but still wants to be invited.

The man who needs to be number one in someone’s eyes, and that’s why your work is so important to you because it’s about recognition.

It took me a bit to come to the understanding that I would’ve never been enough because it’s not my approval you need.

In your mind, it’s your mother’s. MeK , you have to know you won’t ever live up to her expectations, but really, the problem is you.

You’ve never been comfortable with who you are, so you’re still reaching and searching for where you belong.

Unfortunately , I crossed into your path, and here we are.

MeK , you will never please your mother. A person that miserable has only one goal and that’s to bring you and others down. The moment you step over the wrong lines, she will wash her hands of you, and then where will you be?

I wish things had been different, but they’re not … you’re still MeK , and I’m just plain little Lacie . So now that I’ve said what’s on my mind, go ahead and walk away, MeK . I have nothing else to say, and you have nothing to say I want to hear.”

He reaches out, and I push his hand away. “ Lacie , please don’t give up on us … on me. I know I’ve made a royal mess. I know that now, but you are my mate.”

“ The hell I am! If this is or heaven forbid that’s your version of love, …

leave me the fuck out of it. There is no US , MeK !

You made damn sure of that. Why would I want or even subject myself to that kind of life?

A place where you’re ashamed of who or what I am?

I pale in comparison to that beauty that was presented to you.

Her eyes devoured you and with her, you can finally be all you’ve dreamed of.

Mother’s pet. Now , get out because I really don’t have the energy for you any longer. ”

“ Lacie , I will find a way to make this right. I know I do not deserve your forgiveness, and I am not asking for it, but please do not push me out of your life.”

“ You poor, beautifully tortured soul … you really don’t see it, do you? I didn’t push you away, MeK … you did that to me.” He backs away from the bed, and you would have thought by the look on his face that I’d just slapped him.

The door suddenly flies open and in strolls Briar . She looks at me and then MeK . “ Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on?”

MeK closes his eyes, and for a second, I think that all of this just might have changed him a little. But nope, without even looking back at me, I watch as he does his famous walk-away once again, and this time, he takes my heart with him.

Briar frowns when he slides past her, but within two steps, she’s crawling up the bed to sit beside me. “ You had me worried sick, and you look like hell.”

“ I love you too.” I no more than get those words out that I completely fall apart. Briar curls up next to me, gently rocking me back and forth. I can feel her own tears mixing with my own.

“ Lacie , sweetie, what’s wrong?”

I shake my head. No matter how many times they ask, I’ll never tell them what I did. I pull her closer, needing her friendship and love, as she runs her fingers through my hair.

“ Lace , cry it out, baby. I’m not going anywhere. We’ll get through this together, no matter what it is. Just tell me who to kill?”

I feel her kiss my head and the next thing I know, darkness envelops me, and my mind goes quiet.

Briar

Gently , I lay Lacie back down, wiping the tears off her face once I have her settled. “ Thank you, ANDI , for sedating her. She was crying so hard she was having a hard time breathing. Now that she’s back, do you know what happened?”

“ I fear it’s not my story to tell, Mistress Briar , but she will need your friendship now more than ever. A broken heart takes time to heal.”

“ Well , there’s only one person I know she was stuck on, and he just walked out. Did MeK put her in here? Did he hurt her?”

“ No Mistress , as I told him, if he had damaged her in any way, I would eject him out an airlock before allowing him near her again. Master MeK was one of the three who found her. However , I believe some of her tears are a direct result of the things that led to the near disaster of us losing her.”

“ Where is he?”

“ Outside , pacing the hallway.”

Getting up, I ease out of the bed and as I tuck the blankets around her, the madder I get. “ ANDI , I’ll be right back.”

MeK turns when he hears the door open. Marching right up to him, my anger at the condition Lacie’s in overrides my common sense. Rearing back, I slap the hell out of him. “ What the fuck did you do to her Glow Worm ?”

His eyes flash, then turn solid black, but he doesn’t react. He looks through the door at Lacie , now resting peacefully, then back to me. “ You ask what I did? I lost everything before I knew I had it.”

Before I can say a word, he walks off, and I stand there with my hands on my hips, clueless on how to help either one of them.