Make Me (Bully Me #2) (11 page)

"Look, I don’t want any trouble, ok?"

"Then I suggest you tell me what happened."

Jessica sighed and sat down. "I didn’t mean to ruin your marriage. I didn’t have a choice. I’m having trouble paying my bills, and I’m behind on my mortgage. I needed the money."

Kaine waited impatiently for her continue.

"I do work with your husband, but not in the same department. I don’t think I’ve ever even talked to him before that day at your house."

"Ok. So why did you tell me that you were pregnant?"

"I am pregnant," she said softly. "It’s not Shane’s, though. It’s my husband, Jake’s. I told Bryce that I was pregnant. I was so excited. He asked me how I was going to pay for a baby on my salary. I realized that he was right. I couldn’t afford to have a baby. My husband works at the Save Mart as a cashier. We can barely support ourselves."

Kaine’s heart started to pound. "Bryce? Bryce Atwood?"

Jessica nodded tearfully. "I was so upset. He told me that he would help me if I just did him one favor."

Kaine stared at her, shocked.

"He offered me $1,000 to text Shane and tell him to get rid of the condom in hopes that you’d see it. I guess that didn’t work, and he offered me another $9000 to tell you that I was pregnant with Shane’s baby. I didn’t want to. I felt horrible about the text. But I did it. On the condition that I quit. Which was fine with me. I didn’t want to ever see him again. And I definitely didn’t want to see Shane after what I did."

Kaine shook her head. "I can’t...I can’t believe it. Why would he do something like that?"

She shrugged. "I asked him why. He told me to mind my own business. Maybe he wanted Shane to leave so he could have you to himself."

Kaine shook her head. "That doesn’t make any sense. He’s never even tried to hit on me."

Jessica stood up. "Look, it’s not my problem. I told you everything I know. I’m sorry for what I did, but I can’t help you anymore. Can you please just leave? My husband will be home soon, and I don’t want him to see you here. I told him I got the money as a severance."

Kaine snorted. "A ten thousand dollar severance for a three month job, huh?"

"I didn’t say he was smart," Jessica muttered. She walked to the door and held it open, staring at Kaine expectantly. Kaine rolled her eyes and left, not bothering to say anything else. She sat in her car and took a deep breath. She desperately wanted to call Shane but needed to tell him this in person. He would be crushed. And furious. She thought about her interactions with Bryce as she drove home. He had always been friendly with her, but not really flirty. He had never made her feel uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and prepared to tell Shane the news.

How’d it go?" Shane asked as she walked in the door. "Did she confess? Did you get it on tape?"

"Sit down," she said softly. Shane frowned at her but sat down. "You’re scaring me, babe. What happened?"

"I asked her to tell me what happened. She said no at first, but when I threatened her with lawyers she told me that someone offered her $10,000 to tell me you got her pregnant."

Shane let out a breath. "Son of a bitch. I’m gonna kill him."

"Shane, it wasn’t Camden."

"What? Are you sure?"

She nodded slowly. "It was Bryce."

Shane shot up. "No fucking way. No way he would do something like that. She’s lying."

"Why would she lie, Shane? I told her I’d never bother her again if she just told me. What would she have to gain by lying?"

Shane rubbed his hand down his face. "Has Bryce ever hit on you?"

"No!" Kaine exclaimed. "I was thinking about it on the way home. He’s never made me feel uncomfortable or anything. In fact, he kept trying to convince me that you and I belonged together. Why would he do this?"

Shane clenched his jaw. "I don’t know. But I’m going to beat the truth out of him."

"Just wait," Kaine said, blocking his path.

"Move, Kaine."

"Not until you calm down. You can’t just go around beating people up when you think they've done something wrong. Sit down for a minute and calm down."

"I need to get out of here. Right now. Because I’m about to flip the fuck out, and Adam is in the next room."

Kaine sighed and moved to the side. "Just talk to him first," she pleaded. "Don’t just..."

She was interrupted by the slamming door.

Jessica watched Kaine leave and let out a shaky breath. "I’m sorry," she whispered. She turned around as Camden came around the corner. "Good job," he said. "You should have been an actress instead of a secretary or whatever you are."

She clenched her jaw. She couldn't believe that this man who had seemed so sweet and caring had turned out to be so evil. "She bought it. I did exactly what you asked. Please give me the pictures."

He reached in his pocket and held the pictures out to her, dropping them on the ground as she reached for them. She bent down and picked them up, trying not to look at them. Not that it mattered. They were already ingrained in her memory. "I like this one," Camden said, pointing to a picture of her sitting on him, her face twisted in ecstasy. "That was a fun night. How about one more for the road?"

She almost gagged. "You’re a fucking pig. I kept up my end of the deal. Is this all of them?"

"That’s all. I mean, I have copies on my computer, but..."

"You said you’d get rid of them if I did what you wanted!" She cried.

"Calm down. I won’t show your husband what you’ve been up to in your spare time as long as you keep your end the deal. If I find out that you told her anything, I won’t hesitate to destroy your life."

"I won’t," she muttered. "Just don’t hurt her."

He rolled his eyes. "You have a lot of demands for somebody in your position. Mind your own business, and you’ll never hear from me again."

She said nothing as he strode out the door. She quickly shut and locked the door behind him and started ripping up the pictures.

Shane pulled up to Bryce’s condo and pounded on the door. "Bryce!" He yelled. "Open the door!"

The door swung open and Shane punched Bryce in the face as hard as he could. Bryce flew back and clutched at his nose. "What the hell, Shane? Are you crazy?"

"Get up," Shane growled. Bryce stood up, holding his nose. "What’s your problem?"

"My problem?" Shane laughed. "My problem is that you paid some skank to tell my wife that I cheated on her, you stupid piece of shit. Did you think she was going to go running into your arms?"

"Wait, what?"

Shane clenched his fist. "Don’t play stupid with me right now. Unless you want me to kick your ass. Because believe me, nothing would make me happier."

"I have no idea what you’re talking about," Bryce said. "Why would I want Kaine to think that you cheated on her"

"You tell me," Shane snapped. "Are you jealous? Did you think you were going to get to have sex with her when I moved out?"

"Dude, no. I have no idea what’s going on. You’re my best friend. Why would I want to steal your wife?"

Shane exhaled. "That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out since I found out. Why would you do something like this? Tell me the truth, Bryce, and I promise you I won’t beat the shit out of you."

Bryce rubbed his jaw. "I don’t want your wife, Shane. I mean, don’t get me wrong. She’s gorgeous, but that doesn’t mean I want her. She’s like a sister to me. Tell me what you’re talking about, because I swear to you, I have no idea."

"Jessica. She said it was you who paid her to tell Kaine she was pregnant."

Bryce shook his head. "I’m telling you, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I barely talked to Jessica. I certainly didn’t give her money or tell her to lie to Kaine."

"Shit," Shane muttered. "Well why the hell would she lie?"

"I don’t know. Do you believe me?"

Shane studied Bryce for a second and sighed. "Yeah, I do. You’re a good lawyer, but I can tell when you’re bullshitting me. I still don’t get it though. But hey, guess what? Kaine took me back."

"Really? That’s awesome," Bryce said, handing him a beer.

Shane took the beer, putting it on the table. "Hold on." He ran to his room and grabbed Kaine‘s rings. "Sorry for punching you. I have to go re-propose to my wife."

Bryce sat down. "It’s cool. I’ll just have to make up a cool sorry about a bar fight or something."

Shane nodded, distracted. "If it wasn’t you, that means it was Camden."

Bryce shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe it was someone else. Just sit down for a minute and relax."

Shane shook his head. "He wanted me to come over here."

"Why would he want that?"

"To get Kaine alone."

"She’s been alone for a month," Bryce said. "If he was going to do something, he would have done it already. I'm sure Kaine is fine."

"Unless he was trying to win her back," Shane said, grabbing his keys. "I have to get home." He ran out the door and jumped into his car, speeding away. There had to be a reason that Jessica lied about Bryce. His best guess was that Camden somehow coerced her into doing it. But how would Camden even know who Jessica was? And why hadn't he tried to get to Kaine before now? He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down but unable to rid himself of the horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Kaine poured herself a glass of wine as she stirred the pasta. She hoped Shane would be home soon with some answers, and that he hadn’t beat up Bryce. "You ok, Adam?" She called. "Yes, mommy," his little voice called back. She smiled and sipped her wine. "Mommy, come here!"

Kaine stirred the pasta again and went to the living room. "What is it pea..." The words froze on her lips as she saw the most horrifying thing she could imagine.

Camden stood in her living room with his arm around Adam.

"Camera likes Yo Gabba Gabba too," Adam said, grinning at her. Kaine watched in horror as Camden ruffled Adam’s hair. "Cute kid," he commented.

"Don’t hurt him," Kaine whispered.

Camden shrugged. "That’s entirely up to you, Kaine."

She tried to calm her breathing. "What do you want?"

He tightened his grip on Adam. Adam frowned and tried to squirm away. "Let him go!" Kaine cried, panicked. "Baby, it's ok."

"I just want you to do something real quick for me," Camden said. He pulled a bottle out of his pocket. "Drink this."

Kaine’s heart skipped a beat. "No."

"You drink it, I’ll let him go. Otherwise..."

She snatched the bottle out of his hand and gulped the foul tasting liquid. "Mommy loves you, baby," she said desperately. "Don’t be scared. I’m really, really tired. If I fall asleep it’s ok. You just wait here for daddy to come home."

"Ok, mommy," Adam said, glaring at Camden.

"You be a good boy for daddy, ok?" She slurred. "I love..."

Camden caught her as her knees buckled.

Shane opened the front door and rushed to turn off the overflowing water. "Kaine!" He called. "Jesus Christ," he muttered, looking at the mess on the stove. "Kainie? Adam?" He walked to the living room and saw Adam sitting in the corner. "Hey, buddy. Where’s mommy?"

Adam sniffed. "Camera took her."

Shane’s blood ran cold. "What?"

"I don’t like him. He made mommy cry."

Shane fumbled with his phone and called the police.

Kaine opened her eyes, feeling nauseous. "Shane," she murmured.

"No, sweetie."

She gasped and sat up. Camden pulled her back down. "Just lay down. You’re gonna feel kind of crappy for a bit."

She sobbed quietly as Camden wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. "Don’t hurt me," she pleaded.

"I’m not going to hurt you, Kaine," he whispered in her ear. "I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to. That’s not what this is about."

She sniffed. "Is Adam ok?"

"Adam is fine," he said softly. "I told him to wait for Shane. They’re going to be fine, sweetie. Don’t worry about them." He kissed her cheek as she flinched. "You’re so beautiful, Kaine. Even more now than back in high school."

She stared straight ahead, not responding. He sighed. "Just try to get some sleep, ok? We’ll talk in the morning." He snuggled against her and stroked her hair. She fought to stay awake, but the drugs took over her body and she passed out.

"I’m telling you, he took her!" Shane shouted at the police officer. "Why aren’t you listening to me?"

Officer Colton watched him with a blank look on his face. "I told you, we’re looking into it. In the meantime, I’d appreciate it if you’d cooperate."

Shane sat down, exhausted. "I told you everything I know. Why are you treating me like a suspect?"

Shane had been in the police station for the past hour, furious that the officer didn’t seem to think that his wife being kidnapped was important. Ever since Colton had caught him watching out for Kaine, it was clear that he didn’t like him. Colton sat down across from him. "Do you ever argue with your ex wife, Mr. Ellery?"

Shane sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Everyone argues. You knew that we were divorced when you came to our house. Of course we argue. What does that have to do with anything?"

Colton ignored him. "Do your arguments ever turn physical?"

Shane clenched his fists. "Are you asking me if I’ve ever raised my hands to my wife?"

Colton shrugged. "We’ve talked to your ex wife’s friends and coworkers. They say that they’ve seen bruises on her arms. How do you explain that?"

Shane laughed incredulously. This couldn’t be happening. "I have a four year old son who grabs and squeezes when he doesn’t get his way. Look, I have them too," he said, rolling up his sleeves. He clenched his jaw in anger when Colton didn’t even look at his arms. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Losing his cool in front of a police officer would only justify the suspicions that he was violent. "I never hit my wife. I love her. And she’s in trouble. I’m telling you, Camden Lawson has her. He’s been obsessed with her over ten years. My son saw the whole thing, dammit."