Read Online Broken Illusions (His Agenda Volume 3) by Dori Lavelle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Dori Lavelle
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a time, holding tight to the banister. With each step I remembered my past here. The many times I had climbed these stairs on the way to our bedroom, praying that Jude would be asleep, that he wouldn’t want to have sex with me, to rape me, to torture me another night. I remembered the day he had dragged me up these stairs when he’d brought me back from Serendipity. I remembered limping up and down the stairs, in too much pain to walk normally after he had hurt me in the worst possible ways.
I reached the landing and took small steps past many closed doors, toward what used to be our bedroom. My hand trembled as I pushed the wooden door open. The room was empty, but when I walked around it, I heard my own screams, his evil laughter, and his groans of pleasure as he pushed himself into me. I halted in the center of the master bathroom and closed my eyes as if I could block out the horror that way. But the sounds got louder inside my head.
Then, amidst all the noise, I heard footsteps coming from the stairs. My heart almost exploded as I spun around, feeling him, hearing him, fearing him. On trembling knees, I walked out of the bathroom in time to see the bedroom door open. I almost collapsed with relief when I saw Loyd standing there, a confused expression on his face.
“Are you okay, Miss Bradley? I heard screams.”
I blinked several times, confused. Had I been screaming out loud?
“Yes,” I said, avoiding his eyes. “Yes, I’m fine.” I looked up again and forced a smile even as a wave of hot humiliation swept through me. Did he see the horror mirrored in my eyes? Could he hear my heart thumping?
“Erm… Do you want me to show you the rest of the house?”
“Actually”—I cleared my throat—“I knew the previous owners. I visited once. They showed me around.”
He lifted an eyebrow, looking both surprised and relieved. “Is that so? I thought…”
“We lost touch. I wondered why they had left.” I paused. “I want to see a few other rooms. I’ll give myself a tour.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be downstairs.”
There was only one other room I wanted to see. I held my breath as I went down the stairs and approached the room that used to be Jude’s office. The closer I came, the weaker my knees became.
At the door, I halted and touched the cool doorknob.
“This is it,” I whispered and opened the door.
The room, empty of furniture, looked much bigger than I remembered. I crossed it and approached the wall that interested me, ran the palm of my hand along it, then pushed against it. It budged and gave way. Did the realtor even know this room existed?
I stepped inside until I was right in the middle. It, too, was bare. The photos on the walls were gone.
I took a deep breath. “I will no longer let you scare me. Jude Macknight, this is where I leave you.” I blinked back tears and then turned to leave.
The realtor was disappointed when I told him I didn’t want to buy the house after all. But he lightened up when I assured him I would refer the offer to my wealthy friends.
My drive back to Serendipity was permeated by an eerie calm. I had done it. I had willingly come face-to-face with the past and walked out alive.
Chapter Eighteen
Dustin was back from Dubai and I planned to prepare a romantic evening with a home-cooked meal. He would be moving in next week, so we needed to celebrate. Also, it was kind of an anniversary for us. For the past two years, we had celebrated the day we became a couple back in high school.
Around eight, I went to my bedroom to shower and change. Dustin would be here at nine. Forget cooking. I would order in instead. I slipped into a red and black mesh babydoll lingerie dress with a matching G-string, and went downstairs in search of one of the takeaway restaurant brochures I kept in the kitchen drawers. I opted for a fancy new Italian restaurant.
I reached for the house phone that hung on the wall. I hadn’t seen my cell phone since the morning.
I reached the landing and took small steps past many closed doors, toward what used to be our bedroom. My hand trembled as I pushed the wooden door open. The room was empty, but when I walked around it, I heard my own screams, his evil laughter, and his groans of pleasure as he pushed himself into me. I halted in the center of the master bathroom and closed my eyes as if I could block out the horror that way. But the sounds got louder inside my head.
Then, amidst all the noise, I heard footsteps coming from the stairs. My heart almost exploded as I spun around, feeling him, hearing him, fearing him. On trembling knees, I walked out of the bathroom in time to see the bedroom door open. I almost collapsed with relief when I saw Loyd standing there, a confused expression on his face.
“Are you okay, Miss Bradley? I heard screams.”
I blinked several times, confused. Had I been screaming out loud?
“Yes,” I said, avoiding his eyes. “Yes, I’m fine.” I looked up again and forced a smile even as a wave of hot humiliation swept through me. Did he see the horror mirrored in my eyes? Could he hear my heart thumping?
“Erm… Do you want me to show you the rest of the house?”
“Actually”—I cleared my throat—“I knew the previous owners. I visited once. They showed me around.”
He lifted an eyebrow, looking both surprised and relieved. “Is that so? I thought…”
“We lost touch. I wondered why they had left.” I paused. “I want to see a few other rooms. I’ll give myself a tour.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be downstairs.”
There was only one other room I wanted to see. I held my breath as I went down the stairs and approached the room that used to be Jude’s office. The closer I came, the weaker my knees became.
At the door, I halted and touched the cool doorknob.
“This is it,” I whispered and opened the door.
The room, empty of furniture, looked much bigger than I remembered. I crossed it and approached the wall that interested me, ran the palm of my hand along it, then pushed against it. It budged and gave way. Did the realtor even know this room existed?
I stepped inside until I was right in the middle. It, too, was bare. The photos on the walls were gone.
I took a deep breath. “I will no longer let you scare me. Jude Macknight, this is where I leave you.” I blinked back tears and then turned to leave.
The realtor was disappointed when I told him I didn’t want to buy the house after all. But he lightened up when I assured him I would refer the offer to my wealthy friends.
My drive back to Serendipity was permeated by an eerie calm. I had done it. I had willingly come face-to-face with the past and walked out alive.
Chapter Eighteen
Dustin was back from Dubai and I planned to prepare a romantic evening with a home-cooked meal. He would be moving in next week, so we needed to celebrate. Also, it was kind of an anniversary for us. For the past two years, we had celebrated the day we became a couple back in high school.
Around eight, I went to my bedroom to shower and change. Dustin would be here at nine. Forget cooking. I would order in instead. I slipped into a red and black mesh babydoll lingerie dress with a matching G-string, and went downstairs in search of one of the takeaway restaurant brochures I kept in the kitchen drawers. I opted for a fancy new Italian restaurant.
I reached for the house phone that hung on the wall. I hadn’t seen my cell phone since the morning.
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