Chapter 27

Jake

I could tell that line got to her , I felt that slight shiver that ran through her body. They were still sitting there, looking at us.

“ Ha, of course. Now it makes sense you're his little fuck toy and his wife probably gave him permission ”, the cousin said laughing.

“ And?. Let me guess Dear cousin you're wishing it was you?. You'll never know the truth. I've always let it go but not this time. I suggest you run along and go back to William as it is you're his Fuck toy, you probably shouldn't let Clarissa find out you're fucking her husband ” , she said smirking at her cousin.

“ Get out ,All of you now. Landon?”.

“ Yes Boss?”.

“ Get these fucking ingrates out of here and make sure they leave “. I said holding my wife closer to me.

“ Yes Boss”.

Their eyes held all I needed to see. They weren't going to give up. Especially her cousin.I guess it was time to clean house.

“ This isn't over ” ,The stepmother said walking out. After they were gone she let out a sigh of relief. I knew she was trying to hold it together. I spun her around to face me.

“ You okay princess?”. I asked, nuzzling her neck. I heard the contented sigh.

“ I am now”. She leaned into me, holding me tighter. Fuck. Just being next to her and comforting her was all she needed.

“ Can we go home Jake?”. I pulled away and looked at her. Usually when she uses my name she's scared, worried or something serious. She rarely calls me by name.

“ Look at me, princess. I don't want you to think about anything they said to you. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere okay “.

“ Okay”. That reply was too Fucking quiet. I sat in the chair and pulled her down onto my lap and just held her. She was quiet too fucking quiet and it was a problem for me. When Landon walked back in he stopped and turned around.

“ Sorry boss “.

“ It's fine. Where are they?”.

“ Gone. Teo made sure no one stuck around”.

When I looked down at her she was asleep. “ Landon, find everything and I mean everything, phone calls, messages, relationships, affairs , Business ventures, every single detail. Resa McLean, Janice McLean, Alexis, Renee and Garrett Anderson. It's time I make sure they understand “.

“ Yes Boss. I'll start the car”.

I got into the car with her and Landon drove the short distance over to our place. When we walked in, Irene saw us . I tucked her in bed and headed down to my office. I called Irene to my office. I explained what transpired.

“ What do you know about the McLean Family Irene?”.

She just smiled and Locked the door, she took a seat and looked at me.okay I guess Irene was waiting for this chance.

“ Rory McLean's first love Died in a car crash. Janice fell in love with Rory When she was twenty one but Rory only had eyes for Ciana. Rumors Are Glenda, Garrett and Janice's mother helped get rid of Ciana because Janice was in love with him “.

I sat back and looked at her. I nodded for her to continue.

“ Janice went to work for Rory,she became everything He wanted she molded herself to that person he wanted. It wasn't even a year after Ciana passed that Janice became pregnant and they got married. Resa was Born. Year's into their marriage Rory realized that Janice wasn't the person he thought she was. She was over at Garrett's house . It was shortly after Nadine had passed away. When Rory walked in Janice was beating the hell out of Avery and his daughter was sitting there laughing “.

“ When he stopped her, that's when Janice showed her True color. Rory began despising her and Resa ,he was going to File for divorce but unfortunately he had a car accident and didn't make it. The entire McLean fortune was left to Janice and she's in control of the entire McLean family “.

“ God Damn Irene, you know everything”.

“ Not really,That day was the day I was fired. Resa McLean is a walking motel. She looks for wealthy men , especially the ones that are married and the ones whose wives are never seen. What are you going to do Mr Woods?”.

“ Well , I'm about to stir shit up. I'm going to make the McLean family become beggars”.

We both heard the faint sound of screaming. I sat up and listened carefully. I heard it again , I jumped up and opened the door, running straight up to our room. I had left the door open. She was asleep having a nightmare. I ran over to the bed. I stroked her face Gently.

“ It's just a dream princess. Come on baby open your eyes “. I continued gently speaking to her and caressing her face. When she opened her eyes and saw me ,she grabbed onto me and began Crying. I looked at Irene who was standing by the door. She shook her head and closed the door.

“ I've got you princess. It's okay I'm here “. I stroked her back to Calm her down. I wanted to ask but didn't,I didn't want to trigger her or anything. After what felt like hours she fell asleep again,I put her down and tucked her in. When I walked out of the room Irene was standing there, so was Sherry and Esther.

“ Can someone explain what just happened to me?”.

“ Only when she's mentally stressed out does she have that nightmare. The last time Garrett beat her black and blue when she couldn't go anywhere for two whole weeks. She had that nightmare almost every night, ” Sherry said.

“ What is it about?”.

“ She confided in me. It was the day her mother died. Only in the nightmares Nadine isn't at the bottom of the stairs,She is hanging on a rope in the middle of the living room and Avery is trying to get her down “. Esther said .

Jesus fucking Christ.

“ Don't let her meet them ever again Mr Woods. Seeing those people and their taunting words affect her . She spent her entire Childhood being Ridiculed, tortured,Embarrassed, Bullied and put down by them. It's engraved in her mind that she's not worthy of anything good or happy “. Esther said.

“ Thank you for letting me know. I'll get her help. It's already late, why don't you all close up and head to bed”.

I went back into our room and stood looking at her. She's been through so much in her young life.

“ Jake ?”.

“ I'm here princess “.

I got into bed with her.
“ Can you hold me please”?.
I pulled her into me and wrapped her in my arms.

“ I've got you princess, I'll always be here. It's going to be okay. Stop thinking and go to sleep now.”.

I laid awake most of the night making sure she was okay and getting the much needed sleep she deserved. I needed a therapist for her. I'd let her go back to work. If she was locked away at home it would get to her.

When the Alarm went off at six I was still awake,I hadn't slept a wink last night. When I looked at her ,her eyes were open and she was looking at me.she didn't smile and that just fucking pissed me off. I pulled her into me.

“ Morning baby. I don't like the way you are. What do you need me to do? Tell me and I'll do it for you.”. I pulled her in closer to me ,but she pulled away and sat up.

“ Esther, Sherry, Irene and the Dean. I can count the amount of people that have ever been kind to me on one hand. They'll never stop, they'll make sure I'm never happy. Your life will become complicated and miserable. You said you would give me anything I desired. Let me Go Jake “.

I grabbed her by her neck,throwing her back onto the bed. I leaned over her and looked down at her. There was no fear in her eyes, just helplessness.

“ Let this be the last time you ever ask me to leave you, I mean it Avery . You belong to me , you're not going anywhere and I'm not letting you go Never “.

She began crying,“ I don't want to leave you but they'll never stop “. She said through tears. That was the moment I realized what she was feeling. She wasn't scared of them, she was scared of me leaving her. She needed me to reassure her to prove to her that I wasn't going to walk away from her. I leaned over and kissed her.

“ You've got me Avery. You always will for the rest of your life. I'm not going anywhere, I'll always be yours baby girl, just yours. If you want me to, I'll announce it to the entire world that I'm yours. I'll give you everything I have, I'll make it so I can't ever leave you, all you need to do is say yes and I'll do it”.

She shook her head,No “ I'm sorry, I just.. I don't “.

“ It's okay princess”.