Fidelity by Aleatha Romig
“Mmm,” I hummed as the spicy broth warmed my mouth, bringing my taste buds to life. “That is amazing.”
“I told you,” he said with a grin.
“I promise, Bryce and I weren’t married. Remember when I told you that Bryce threatened to…” I didn’t want to say the words again.
“Yes.” The vein in his forehead throbbed.
“That was Friday night, the same night Pat and Cy showed up at the manor. Do you think it would have only been threats if we were married?”
Nox covered my hand. “No, and even thinking about this makes me want to kill the motherfucker.”
“Stop saying that. Besides, I’m not sure if it would be better to speak to the detective or the attorneys.”
“The police can’t make you talk to them. A subpoena would come from the attorney of the court.”
I nodded, again dipping my spoon in the soup. “It could come from either side. But I doubt it’s been long enough. Today’s Sunday. A prosecutor probably hasn’t been assigned. Not officially,” I added.
“On a case like this, I’m sure the state is mounting its offense,” Nox said. “Nevertheless, the attorneys told us that Spencer is stuck in jail until after his first appearance. Assuming they still believe they have enough to convict, then he’ll officially be charged. They’re waiting on the report from the medical examiner.”
My hungry stomach twisted. “I can’t help wondering where they found her. How long was she dead?”
“We don’t know anything. My guess is that they don’t either or it’d be all over the news outlets.” He reached for my hand. “Deloris is concerned that no matter what they find or come back with, he’ll be released on bail. It could be high, but his mother or your stepfather will more than likely pay it.”
I exhaled as my shoulders sagged. “I don’t want to see him.”
“I don’t want you to. If we go to Savannah tonight, you and Chelsea could speak to the police and even his attorneys if you want to. Then we can be back here before he’s out on bail.”
I lowered the sandwich to the plate. “Chelsea’s face.”
Nox nodded. “It will help the prosecutor’s case. If the attorneys see it, they might realize the uphill battle they have in front of them.”
“Wait a minute,” I said. “You said we… if we go to Savannah?”
“Oh hell yes. You’re not going on your own. We’re taking the Batplane and flying as low under the radar as possible.”
“Thank you.” The delicious soup and sandwich churned as I contemplated Savannah. “We won’t be under the radar if we show up at either Hamilton and Porter or the police station.”
“No, but we don’t have to announce our presence until we arrive.”
My gaze went behind Nox to the windows, bright with sun through the now-opened shutters. I took in the clear blue sky. I couldn’t see anything else from my angle, but the blueness reminded me that today was another day. Yesterday was finally over. “Thank you.”
Nox leaned over and kissed my forehead. “For what?”
“For everything.”
“Don’t you get it?” he asked.
“Get what?”
“Alexandria Collins, I want to be your everything. There’s nothing you can tell me or confess to change my mind.”
My cheeks warmed. “You are my everything. That doesn’t mean that I’m not still mad at you and Deloris for involving Chelsea.”
“It wasn’t supposed—”
I touched his lips. “I know. Chelsea and I have talked about it.”
“Deloris will help her get out of Infidelity. Once she does, we can find something for her at Demetri.”
“I’m not sure if she’ll—”
This time Nox touched my lips with his. “How about we let her decide? There are a few other things we need to talk about, things I’ve recently learned.”
I took the last carrot stick from my plate and eyed the empty bowl, wishing for more of whatever kind of soup I just ate. It reminded me of vegetable soup, but spicier with some noodles. “I would love more soup, but first, I want to see my mother.”
Nox reached for the tray. “Maybe it would be better if she explained some of the things.”
Wrapped in a towel after a shower, I entered the closet. It was the same place I’d found Nox’s belt so many months ago. Built-in dressers and racks lined what could be a room. One section was filled with my clothes. They weren’t mine from New York or Savannah, but they were all in my size. “When did these get here?” I asked.
“Earlier today. Deloris had them delivered. I brought them in here while you were sleeping.”
I shook my head as I searched the nearby drawers. “Did she send me any underwear?”
Propped against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his wide chest, Nox’s blue eyes sparkled as he watched me search. “What if I told you that I told Deloris you didn’t need any?”
I spun toward him. “What?”
His laugh rumbled through the small room as he took two steps and reached for my towel. I swatted his hand. “Stop. I want to see my mom.”
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“That may make your work and my school difficult.”
He reached for the platinum diamond-dusted cage. “This never comes off.”
I nodded. “Underwear?”
He pointed to one of the drawers. After I finished dressing in jeans and a soft white sweater, I braided my hair, pulling it all over one shoulder. For a moment I stared at the woman in the mirror. For the first time in nearly two weeks, my eyes weren’t filled with worry.
“You’re beautiful,” Nox whispered, his handsome face coming near my ear.
I spun toward him. “Did your dad really say my mom would be downstairs and out of the hospital bed already?”
“That’s what he said.”
I shook my head, recognizing an emotion I hadn’t felt in nearly two weeks.
Happiness.
In this home, under Nox’s protective gaze, and with my mother safe, I was happy.
More than happy. I was excited—almost giddy. It was as if sometime during the morning, a seed of anticipation had cracked open deep inside my soul. Its roots were spreading through me, pushing away the stress and gloom. No longer entrapped, I was like a young girl on Christmas morning, eager to go downstairs and see what was under the tree. “I can’t believe she’s that much better. I was so scared.”
A strong arm surrounded my waist and Nox pulled me against his chest. “Never again. No more scared.”
I leaned back, our hips touching, and my lips in a full grin. “What if I told you there’s something else that scares me?”
“Tell me and I’ll make it go away.”
“That’s the thing. I’m not sure I want it to go away.”
Nox’s brow furrowed as his lips quirked to the side. “I’m confused.”
I lifted myself up on my tiptoes and brushed my lips to his. “Me too. That’s what you do to me.”
As I began to pull away, Nox brought me closer. “Tell me what scares you.”
“You.”
His embrace stiffened. “Me?”
I looked down and ran my fingers over his belt buckle before looking back up through my lashes. “This… last night you said…”
“I said your ass is mine,” he said, finishing my sentence. “And it will be. Is that what scares you?” His question was laced with concern.
“Part of it.”
“Princess, if you want to go see your mom, stop talking in riddles.”
“The idea scares me…” The warmth I’d felt earlier in my cheeks burned hotter. “…because as much as I shouldn’t want what you described, I do. I trust you.”
His smile returned as his phone vibrated.
“I want so fucking bad to ignore that,” he said as he pulled it from his jeans.
DELORIS flashed on the screen.
“Where are you?” Nox asked.
I s
Spinning a full circle, I looked about the room. “I’m not sure. I had it when we got here. Why?”
“Deloris wants to know if the phone your stepfather gave you is in it.”
The happiness that had sprung to life evaporated as dread filled its place. “Shit, it is.”
“She’s been listening to audible surveillance. They know where you are and are speculating that your mom is with you. She believes they’ve tracked your phone.”
“YOU DON’T NEED to carry me.”
Adelaide’s voice might be weak, but the sparkle in her eyes wasn’t. The blue was glowing—electric—as if her eyes were telling their own story. They were saying that her body would still need to heal, but inside she was alive.
The reality was that I’d carry her anywhere—everywhere. As it was, I was only carrying her down the steps to the first floor. Dr. Rossi had said it was good to get her out of bed. I’d told Lennox that she’d be downstairs.
This morning, after she’d awakened, after we’d talked and kissed, I gave her privacy. It wasn’t that I wasn’t willing to be with her as Dr. Rossi disconnected her from the different tubes and helped her bathe. But I hadn’t earned that right.
Stealing a woman—even one I love—didn’t give me the right to take what she wasn’t willing to give. With her in my arms and the memory of our kiss, I was content to accept anything she offered. Who was I kidding? I’d push for more, as I had the kiss, but not too much. She deserved to make the decisions. After all, she’d been the one to send me away.
While Liz and Dr. Rossi helped her, I’d made my way to another room and showered. Through the night and morning, sleep had only come in small snippets, but I wasn’t complaining. Having Adelaide safe and with me gave me more energy than hours of rest.
After Adelaide was disengaged from her connections and showered, I’d joined her again as she tried to eat. It wasn’t much, just broth and Jell-O, but it was food, it was in her stomach, and thankfully it stayed there.
With each passing moment and instance, I appreciated Eva Rossi’s candor. Subjects I would have preferred to avoid to shelter Adelaide, Eva attacked head-on. She was straightforward about Adelaide’s heart stopping and the CPR. Then as Adelaide nibbled her first meal, Eva explained that the DTs should be done but her body needed help to heal. She recommended daily vitamin shots and lots of rest. She also emphasized that from this point forward, Adelaide would need to consider herself a recovering addict. She didn’t beat around the bush. She said no wine. No alcohol of any kind. Even painkillers were discouraged. The high dosages of alcohol and opioids her body had been forced to metabolize had left her liver enzymes too high. The only way to a full recovery was without further assault.
As the doctor spoke, I noticed Adelaide’s grip of her spoon tighten. In that moment, I vowed to join her on this journey, if she’d have me. I’d give her the encouragement and support she needed.
Though that was my desire, I was a realistic man. I didn’t have the illusion that we were finally a couple or that we could even pick up where we’d left off. Besides, I didn’t want to pick up where we’d left off. I wanted to go back further to before she told me to leave and never contact her again.
Adelaide’s arms tightened around my neck with each step.
“Just down the stairs,” I said. “I’m sorry if this hurts your ribs.”
Her shoulders moved up and down. “It does, but apparently pain medicine is out of the question.”
I brushed my lips over her forehead. “Just squeeze tighter. Give it to me.”
Adelaide’s chin dropped to her chest. “Oren, you don’t need to…”
I stopped with only a few steps to go. “I don’t need to. I want to.”
Her eyes met mine. In that moment I hoped she could see the sincerity in my stare, the same way I saw the wonder in hers. Perhaps the first time I looked into the life of Adelaide Montague was out of a sense of obligation, but that pretense ended once I truly knew her. Obligation was not the reason she held a place in my heart. Having her there, keeping her there, wasn’t something I could control. She was there and always would be, because of the woman she was, because at one time she’d loved me too, a poor boy who’d worked the docks in the city, someone who’d never dared to dream of a lady like Adelaide.
She’d loved me when I’d thought myself unlovable.
Maybe it wasn’t gone?
Adelaide settled her head against my shoulder as I stepped as gingerly as possible. She was light, too light. We were on our way to the dining room so Adelaide could eat whatever it was that Silvia had prepared. Dr. Rossi had said to take eating slowly, but damn, I wanted to find lasagna. I wanted bread. I wanted ten courses of never-ending food. I wanted Silvia’s cooking to return the fullness to Adelaide’s cheeks and pad the bones I was able to feel through the nightgown and robe she wore.
Liz smiled up from the bottom of the stairs with her hands upon the back of a wheelchair.
As I turned, Adelaide saw the chair. “Dr. Rossi said I should walk.”
“Ma’am, we don’t want you to overdo.”
I lowered Adelaide to her feet near the chair. As I did, her hand reached for mine and tightly gripped. Trembling rattled through her as she fought to stand. Though I knew her unused muscles added to her shakiness, I feared it was also the pain of her ribs.
“Maybe you should sit,” I encouraged.
“No. I’m tired of being an invalid.”
My grin broadened, taking in her strength. “You heard the lady. We’re going to walk to the dining room.”
“Yes, sir,” Liz responded, dropping behind, but not going away.
She needn’t worry. As Adelaide and I walked slowly, step by step, through the house, if Adelaide so much as faltered, I wouldn’t hesitate to scoop her back into my arms.
“Your home is beautiful,” Adelaide said as we navigated the hallway. In front of us was the back of the house, my favorite view, the reason I’d built this house here. It was one of the things Angelina adored.
Through the windows, the sound sparkled with the beauty of a million diamonds.
It had been years since I’d appreciated the view, but now, with Adelaide’s petite hand gripping mine, I did. “I’ve always loved the view.”
“We’re in New York. What is that?”
“It’s the Long Island Sound. That’s Long Island across the water.”
She shook her head, her freshly washed and dried hair skimming her shoulders.
I helped her to a chair in the formal dining room. The house as a whole was rarely used by anyone but Silvia. The dining room was one of the safest rooms. Though the pocket doors at each entrance were ajar, the room was interior. The windows and sound were a distance away.
“I can’t believe I’m here and we’re here,” she said, gazing up. “But I’m beginning to doubt that my daughter is here. I still haven’t seen her.”
“She is. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Silvia appeared. “Ms. Montague, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Silvia.”
Adelaide reached out, cupping Silvia’s hand between both of her own. Her eyes glistened as she spoke. Immediately, I knew she was thinking back to the stories we’d shared. “Silvia, please call me Adelaide. It’s so good to finally meet you. My dear, you are as lovely as I’d heard.”
Silvia’s eyes fluttered from Adelaide to me and back as her voice stuttered. “A-as you’ve heard?”
There was so much about me that even those closest didn’t know. I usually wasn’t the sharing type. Adelaide brought out another side to me.
“Yes,” Adelaide said, her honesty bringing our past to light. “Oren always spoke highly of you. And seeing you, I understand why he loves you like a daughter.”
Silvia took a step back, her lips forming a straight line. Never could I recall seeing her speechless.
“Ma’am, I believe I’m at a disadvantage.” An
Still standing, I found my tone, the one that hid the fact that I was overwhelmed at seeing Silvia and Adelaide together, of witnessing what I hoped would be a budding friendship, perhaps like the one Silvia had shared with Angelina. “I’m not going anywhere. Silvia, I’ve been talking up your culinary skills. Don’t make a liar out of me.”
“As if I can impress with the diet restrictions Dr. Rossi gave me.”
“Let’s give it a try.”
She shrugged, sending a smile to Adelaide as she walked back to the kitchen. Once she was gone, Adelaide’s gaze met mine. “I’m sorry. Did I say something out of turn?”
I shrugged as I sat. “Maybe I’ve never actually said those words to her.”
She reached out to my hand. “But they were true?”
I nodded. “I’ve never lied to you.”
“Then it’s time. Life is too short. Now, you were still trying to convince me that my daughter is here and yet it’s after three and I haven’t seen her.”
“She is,” Silvia said as she brought us glasses of water. “Lennox took lunch up to her about an hour ago.”
Adelaide’s back straightened. “Lennox? Your son?”
I nodded.
“Oh,” she sighed more than spoke. “I’m relieved to hear that. I had memories of something about someone else.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what was real.”
“We have a lot to sort out,” I said. “I spoke with Lennox before he took Alexandria her lunch. He said she didn’t sleep well. The last few weeks at Montague have been difficult. According to him, she may be married.”
Adelaide’s eyes widened and she set the glass of water back on the table as the liquid sloshed upon the shiny table. “No, please don’t tell me she married Bryce.”
“He doesn’t think it’s legal. She’s denied it.”
“Then why would he think she was?”
“Your husband had a marriage license shown to him while they detained him in Savannah.”
“They detained him?”
Silvia came back in with bowls of soup, something with noodles and a wonderful aroma, and then just as quickly, she stepped away.