37. Reed

Chapter thirty-seven

Reed

“What?” I’m stunned speechless. Where the fuck is she getting this information? I don’t know how to start this conversation.

Her voice wobbles. “I understand it’s gotta be chaotic and difficult, but Jesus, Reed. You didn’t think that’s something I deserve to know?”

“Oh, Petra. I’m sorry. She’s not. It’s complicated.”

“Meaning she’s your ex -wife, or it’s complicated? Because those are two very different answers. Why wouldn’t you mention that?”

Because it makes my blood curdle. “We had one week together. I need time to—”

“I slept in your bed. I told you about Natalia,” she says, sucking in a harsh breath. She’s trying not to cry, and I hate it. Hate that I’m the one who upset her. “I cracked my chest open for you. Where were you today? Why do you sound okay while I feel violated , Reed?”

I should’ve gotten this response last month when I took her privacy and her words by stealing her diary. But we’ve moved past that. I can’t figure out what happened to change us so drastically from our sweet goodnights on the phone to the terror gripping my chest now. “I didn’t mean to hide anything from you. I needed more time. How did you—where is this coming from?”

There’s a ding as a text comes through, and when I check, it’s from Petra. It’s a photo: Kinley’s hand wearing that cursed fucking ring.

Anxiety and dread both settle heavy in my stomach, anchoring it to the floor. “Kinley found out about you? Did she threaten you? ”

Petra’s voice goes completely flat. “She texted me. From your number.”

I scroll up, but the texts aren’t there. “Fuck. Goddamn it. My phone was stolen today—there was a break in at the park. It never crossed my mind that it could be Kinley. It seemed random.”

“At the park? And she didn’t hurt you? You’re okay?”

I sigh in relief at the affection creeping back into her voice. She’s a stark contrast to my past and the constant blow ups, arguments, and miscommunication that came before her. “I’m okay. I was at lunch with Amanda and left my bag in the car. She broke into a dozen cars…Fuck, probably because I was in a rental and she couldn’t target me. Petra, I had no idea it was her.”

“Doesn’t change that she has your last name!” The hurt in Petra’s voice shreds me. “Honesty, Reed. That’s what we built this on, remember?”

“What?” But then I see it. Kinley Alexander , in bold print. Bile climbs up my throat, and I reach for the one thing she might understand. “Bambi. Please. Bambi. I need us both to take a breath.”

Petra gulps down her tears, and I take a moment to compose myself, hands shaking.

“This isn’t how I wanted to tell you, and I hate that I have to say it over the phone.” Petra is quiet, but doesn’t argue. “That night I was tattooed, I also ended up with a marriage certificate. I had plenty of evidence against Kinley, and it was all legally scrubbed, like it never happened. She is not and has never been my—” The word burns in the back of my mouth.

“Oh my God.” Petra gasps. “I never imagined—I was scared and angry, but I should’ve considered— Tesoro mio. I shouldn’t have considered her story for a minute. I’m sorry. I don’t know how you survived her.”

My skin crawls with the reminder of the past. I want it gone. I want Petra here with me. “The same way you did. You’re not the only one who came alive over the course of a week, Pet. ”

“That day in Mulberry’s, I never would’ve guessed we were both injured birds. How did she get her name changed? Isn’t there a rule that your stalker can’t change their name to yours?”

There’s a numbness creeping up my arms, the warning signs of an oncoming panic attack. I rest my head against the steering wheel to take deep breaths. “I don’t know. She missed her parole check last month and trashed my sister’s porch. When Amanda reported it they didn’t say anything about a name change.”

There is a long pause. Petra sniffles, while I focus on deep breaths to keep myself together. “You don’t sound okay,” Petra says.

“I’m not.” I huff out a laugh that’s not funny. “You don’t either.”

“I’m getting better. I thought she hurt you and there was nothing I could do about it. Can I just…have Amanda’s number or something? Is that okay?”

“Of course.” It’s an easy request. While I don’t want Kinley anywhere near Amanda, I want Petra fully integrated into my life. I want to build one together. “I’m texting it now, and my Mom’s. Grant’s number, too. We don’t talk much, but I want you to have as many points of contact as possible, baby. I won’t let this happen again.”

“You can’t control her, Reed. But thank you for explaining.”

I’m too far away to hug her. To hold her and tell her what she means to me and that all of this is a smokescreen for Kinley to get her way. I want to wrap myself around her and explain the full truth of that night and how it still haunts me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about her when I was there. I should’ve.”

“What do we do about her?” Petra asks. We . We’re still we. “Kinley is there , and she knows about us. She called you her husband. She —oh God— Reed, she listened to our recording in Portland.”

“It was on my phone. Fuck, fuck, fuck. It kills me that she listened to my scenes, much less—” I open the car door and vomit root beer all over the asphalt.

“Reed, I’m so sorry. I wish I were there. You’re not in this alone anymore. You have me, and my siblings. Darin can help. We’ll get through this together.”

My hands shake so hard that I can barely hold on to my phone. “No, I’m glad you’re not here. I don’t want her anywhere near you.”

“Can she get to you?”

“No. I’m in a hotel, but— damn it. Amanda. My mom. She knows where they are.”

“Protect your family,” Petra says. “We’ll talk later.”

I hesitate to hang up. I don’t want to cause her any more pain. I’m in freefall over Kinley listening to one of the most amazing, transformative experiences of my life. My stomach turns, and I swallow hard so I don’t puke again.

“I want to be with you, Pet, but I have to check on my family before I can go.”

“I’d do the same,” Petra says, but her voice is hoarse. “Take care of them, but keep in touch, okay? I’m still worried. If you decide to fly out, I’ll pick you up in Portland—just give me a date and time.”

I don’t say it, but I’m worried too. “I’m going to fly out as soon as possible.”

It’s the wrong time to add in words of affection we’ve never said, but I want to. Petra and I are both quiet for a moment. She’s wrestling with something and I’m falling apart. I wish we could crawl under the sheets together and block out the world, the way we did before.

“I wish I could’ve protected you from her, Petra.” Grief sweeps through me, ice cold and burning. “I didn’t want her to stain your life. She’s determined to destroy all my relationships, but I hoped that by starting over in Oregon, she wouldn’t follow. If I could turn back time and prevent her from hurting you, I—”

“Don’t.” Petra cuts short my apology. “I choose you anyway. You don’t have to walk alone because her darkness might touch the people around you. You deserve the light, Reed. ”

She believes it, but I don’t. I see a million ways to mess this up further, but none to make it better. “I’ll see you soon, Pet. Promise.”

I hang up and immediately call Amanda. As it rings, I shift the car into drive and speed for the freeway. “It was Kinley at the park,” I say as soon as she picks up the phone. “Lock the doors, call Mom, and have her come over. I don’t know what Kinley’s planning—”

“What? How do you know?”

“She called Petra—” An unknown number crosses my screen. “I think this is her. I gotta answer.”

“Wait, don’t—”

I ignore her, switching calls. “Hello?”

“Hello?” Kinley asks, surprised.

Her shy act throws me off. “You stole my phone.”

“It was time for an upgrade.” She laughs. “Now you have the newest model. Isn’t that better, Pooki?”

It’s all a game to her. Months of rage builds hot in my stomach.

She ruined my dream house back in LA. She drove a wedge between me and Amanda. She annihilated my friendship with Holly. She tattooed me and ripped me apart. I laid down and took all of it. But not this. Not Petra.

“Why the fuck do you have my last name?”

She giggles, but it’s saccharine and fake. “Knew that would get your attention. I earned your name, Daddy. Divorce won’t make it go away.”

She’s lost her grip on reality, fixated on a guy I’d only pretended to be. I grip the steering wheel as my vision shakes, and red bleeds in from the edges. “It wasn’t a fucking divorce. It was never real. You can’t play with someone like they’re a doll and call it real life.”

“You’re only mad that I spilled our little secret. I wouldn’t have, if you’d called your phone. Tracked it, even. I was waiting for you. You’re so sexy in those jeans, Daddy. Are they new?”

Horror wells up inside me. I’m naked again, waking up in a foreign bed with Kinley beside me. The scent of her rose perfume fills the car, and my stomach churns. I’m gonna be sick again .

“You would’ve gotten your phone back. We could’ve had a nice steak dinner,” she continues, planning her fucked up date.

“How did you find me?”

“That’s not nice,” Kinley growls. “Makes it sound like I’m hunting you. You shouldn’t post where you are if you don’t want anyone to know.”

Amanda. Damn it. “Is that how you knew to call Petra? From my story?”

“She called me first. I can’t believe you had her in your bed, you dick. You’re mine.”

“I’m hers. ”

“Fuck you,” she spits out. “You can pretend we aren’t endgame. You can lie and hide from the truth, but we both know deep down that we’re meant to be.”

“You are the vilest mistake I ever made,” I grit out. “We will never be anything .”

“Daddy, how could you say that to me?” She’s on the verge of tears, but she’s also an excellent actress. “We were good together. Don’t you remember the night on the balcony? When I crawled under the table—”

If I wasn’t driving, I’d slam my fist through a wall. “You don’t understand that ignoring my boundaries didn’t make it sexy or fun. I was in the middle of dinner with Holly!”

“Holly,” she snarls. “I wasn’t going to lose you to some whore—”

“Holly is a thousand times the person you are.”

“She wanted you, Daddy. C’mon, you think she just wanted to be friends? But she learned the only vacancy for a woman in your life has been filled. Your new little pet will too.”

I go clammy all over. “What will it take to get you to go away? Money? Therapy? A recording purely for you?” I hate myself, even as I offer it. “Name your price.”

“My price is you,” Kinley says, voice cold and harsh. “I’m not going to step back so you can replace me with Petra. No way.”

I hate how Petra’s name sounds in Kinley’s voice. She’s desecrating an altar—destroying something precious and holy. “ Leave Petra alone. She stays out of this or, I swear to God, you will regret it.”

“I finally found your button, Reed,” Kinley notes, amused. “Wonder what will happen when I push it.”

“Don’t you fucki—” Three beeps cuts me off. Kinley hung up.

Not if. When. I don’t know how she found Petra, or how much she knows, but it’s imperative I get her out of Swift River.

I call Amanda back with a rundown as I pack up all my things and head for the airport. “I’ll sleep there and see if I can get a standby in the morning.”

“I’ll hold down the fort here. Please be safe, Reed,” Amanda begs.

“I will. I’m sorry to leave you like this, Manda. Love you.”

“I love you too. Text me constantly.”

I call Petra from the terminal and explain my plan for the night. I worry that telling her what Kinley said will scare her, so I keep it to myself. Kinley has pushed a lot of buttons before, and my cities burned in the wake of her fire. She’s never been this determined before, and though Petra promises to be safe, it does nothing to allay my fears.