Abi comes face-to-face with her past...

We went over to The Blue Moon and had a few drinks and some food. After riding the mechanical bull, I returned to my seat beside Zach. I kissed him and took a drink of water. He praised me on my bull-riding skills and got up to use the bathroom.

Moments after he stepped away, I was startled. My spine straightened and my breathing ceased when I heard the voice of the demon.

Close in my ear, he said, “Mm…Abi-gail Win-ter-field.”

I turned apprehensively, knowing who it was. It was indeed Dr. Epps. I was immediately overcome with fear. My heart was beating fast and out of my chest. I couldn’t think as I just zoned out. He looked different. His hair was no longer long, and he’d done away with the goatee.

He continued, “You’re here, all grown up, sexier, and with my stepson. My eyes must be deceiving me.” He sniffed me as he walked around me. “Mm…you still smell so good…so sweet.”

I was timid. But I threw what remained of my glass of water in his face and hissed, “Get away from me!”

He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his face with it, and countered, “Now is that any way for you—my fa-vo-rite patient—to treat your favorite doctor? Huh, Ms. Winterfield?” He put his handkerchief back in his pocket and leaned against the empty chair across from me. “Seeing you up there riding that bull like that—yum!  Had I known you were such an amazing rider, mm…I would’ve exploited that a long time ago.”

“You filthy, diabolical son of a bitch,” I hissed. I tried to slap him, but he grabbed hold of my wrist, which made my skin crawl. “Get your filthy fucking hand off of me,” I snarled, yanking my wrist from him. I slapped him across his face with my free hand.

“Mm…that feels really good, and it still turns me on. Reminds me of old times—and you know how great they were. I see you still love to fight. And I still know how to handle a little fighter like you.” He looked at me licentiously and licked his lips. “See what you do to me,” he said, looking down at his zipper.

I don’t know why my eyes betrayed me, but they did, as they followed his in the direction of his filthy crotch. “You sure know how to get me hard as a rock,” he said, pulling the seat close to me.

That look and creepy talk was the same as nearly twelve years ago. I couldn’t believe I was in his presence again and feeling the way I had when I was fifteen years old—scared and helpless. It sent chills down my spine.

Jumping out of my seat and backing away from him, I blurted, “You’re an abysmal pig—a total waste of genetics.”

Just as I was backing farther away from him to run to the men’s bathroom to get Zach, Zach reappeared, leaping onto Epps, knocking him out of the chair and onto the floor.

A customer and employee pulled Zach off Dr. Epps while he shouted, “You stay the fuck away from her. I’ll kill you if you ever come near her again. You understand me, you fucking rapist pig?”

Getting up from the floor, Epps straightened his clothes and walked up to Zach. “I thought I taught your wimpy, namby-pamby ass a lesson the last time you thought your balls were big enough to step to me like this. And you do remember what happened the last time? Don’t you?”

Epps turned his attention to me, stared at me as if he was swallowing me up with his eyes, shook his head, and said, “Mm, mm, mm…look at you, all grown up and voluptuous. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you when I saw you riding like that. You picked a real fine one, stepson—a nice feisty piece of ass, isn’t she?”

Zach cursed and punched him, sending him to the floor.

I retorted, “You sleazy, cocky motherfucker!”

Getting up with blood pouring copiously from his nose and mouth, he laughed. “And that it is,” he said, looking down at his zipper. “Isn’t it, Abigail?” He raised his brows at me brazenly, taunting me.

You sick fucking monster!

I kicked him right where his mind went, hoping to release upon him the years of pain that he had caused me. And if he could never use it again, then all the better.

“Ah! You…fucking…bitch!” he screamed and howled, clutching it tightly, as he fell crippled to the floor. I would’ve kicked him in his groin again, but he had both hands covering it while he rolled on the floor.

Zach crouched down beside him, yanked him up by his collar, and gritted through his teeth, “You know what you did to her, and I’m going to make you pay for that.” He released Epps’s collar and threw him back to the ground. “You’re a piece of shit!”

“I’ll see you in court!” Epps promised, yelling from the floor, still writhing in pain with jewels in hand.

“Yes, you will,” I hissed.

Enraged, Zach drove fast and negligently while scrolling through his cell phone.

“Zach, pull over, please,” I said.

“For what?”

“You’re going to get a ticket, get us killed, or kill someone else because you’re driving recklessly. Now pull over so I can drive.”

He ignored me and continued his sloppy driving.

“Goddamn it, Zach. Pull the damn car over before you kill me!” I yelled, looking at him with both my hands planted firmly on the dashboard.

He looked at me, saw the fear in my face, and finally pulled off the road. “Slide over,” he said, getting out of the car and slamming the door behind him.

I scooted over, adjusting the seat and mirrors. “Don’t forget your seat belt, babe,” I said. He put it on, and I drove off.

Zach eventually got Stan on the phone and advised him of the altercation we had had with Dr. Epps.

“I understand all of that, Stan. Trust me, I do. I’m willing to run that risk. I want this motherfucker on a meat hook, pronto! Stan, I’ll take care of that; just set up the meeting with Smithson at the DA’s office for the earliest date possible. All right, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Zach grabbed my right hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry for scaring you with my careless driving.”

“Already forgiven, babe. So what did Stan say?”

“He’ll scan the database and reach out to some of his contacts to see if Henry files any charges.”

“Do you think he would file any?”

“With Henry, anything’s possible.”

“Babe, what was he talking about when he said he already taught you a lesson?” I pried. I needed to know. The way Zach had stood toe-to-toe, measuring testosterone with Epps when he was reminded of the “last time,” made it seem like there was a score to settle. There was undeniable bad blood in the air between them, and when Zach had punched Epps, it looked like Zach had only scratched the surface at trying to even that score.

“We’ll talk about it later, Abi.”

“OK,” I replied, even though I knew he meant we weren’t going to talk about it ever.

What the hell happened between the two of them? Why is Zach so secretive about his past? What did Epps do to him?

The Pleasure Palace...

Zach and I went to the pleasure palace, formerly known as the fuck-pad, to explore. To relax, I had a few glasses of Royal DeMaria Icewine and a couple of shots of Perfect Angel.

“Are you nervous?” Zach asked, kissing my neck.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Don’t be, baby—I promise I won’t hurt you. Do you believe that?” he asked, lifting my chin so that my eyes met his.

Looking deeply into his gorgeous eyes, I answered, “Yes, I believe it.”

“Good, baby. Good girl. Now you do know that the foundation of what we are consenting to is trust—complete trust. It’s knowing that I won’t intentionally harm or inflict any pain on you. The moment you utter the safe word, I stop immediately, no questions asked. Do you trust me, Abigail?”

“I’ve trusted you, for some strange reason—given my past—since day one, when you took control over this hand here.”  I locked my left hand with his right hand, and continued, “You refused to let it go. Do you remember that?”

Kissing my hand, he smiled and said, “How could I forget that, Abigail? You made me very happy that day. You could’ve pulled your hand away from me, but you chose not to. And do you remember me stroking your wrist and lower arm like this?” It was the same sensual way he had stroked my arm that day in the conference room. It made my blood rumble again, and my pussy started melting.

Smiling and biting my bottom lip, I nodded, uttering, “Mm-hmm!”

He pushed me back on the couch and was quickly between my thighs with both his hands on either side of my face.

Grinning, he said, “Oh, baby. You know how turned on I get when I see you with your bottom lip in your mouth, clenched beneath your teeth. That gesture, to me, says you want me so badly. I get excited knowing that.”

I kissed his soft, luscious lips and responded, “I know, baby. It brings out a seductive, impish look on your face and in your eyes that makes my body scream for you. I get all wet, and it takes my breath away.”

He put his strong hands in my hair, gripped tightly, and kissed me with a desirous hunger. He moaned and grew hard against my heated pussy that was longing, aching for him.

“Mm, baby. Are you sure you want to do this?” he panted, referring to the role-playing.

“Yes,” I moaned, immediately and unhesitatingly.

Standing up, he looked down at me and said, “If you’re sure about this and you trust me, take my hand.”

I placed my hand in his and stood in front of him with a wide smile.

He slowly peeled off my clothes, taking in and teasing my body as he did so. Sternly he said, “Don’t forget the safe word. OK, love?” I nodded, and he countered, “Open your mouth when I talk to you. Do you understand me, Ms. Winterfield?”

“Y—yes,” I stuttered, looking at him intensely.

“Good girl. Now show me your hands, palms up.” I put my palms in front of me, and he quickly secured my wrists with a set of Black Label Esse cuffs.

Oh, God, he looked so sexy with that devilish look on his face. I always loved when he was so controlling and dominating in the bedroom—it turned me on so much. I bit down on my bottom lip again and sighed deeply.

“Good thoughts, I suppose?” he asked, walking behind me.

“Mm-hmm,” I answered, following him with my eyes.

Slap!

“Ouch!” I cried. I hadn’t been expecting that. Fuck! That must’ve been Palmer’s evil twin, Palmero.

He had slapped my ass far harder than ever, and it left a long-lasting sting. I turned to face him, and he quickly blindfolded me with a lace sash. The last glimpse I had of Zach was him devilishly beaming with a zealous expression that could only be described as him seemingly happy to finally being back in his element.

Who the hell is that man? He obviously likes this more than he let on. Bit off more than you can chew, huh, Abigail?

“That…was…a…warning,” he said darkly.

If that was a warning, then how the hell does punishment feel?

“Good thoughts, I suppose?” he asked again in a more dominant tone.

“Yes,” I answered, getting hotter.

“Good girl. You are a very quick learner.”

Zach led me into the bedroom. There he bound my wrists by both sides of my head to the Black Label Esse. Raised in the air, my ankles were bound to the restraints that hung from the ceiling and the pulley contraption.

          Oh, God. What did I just consent to?

Abi and Gabe...

Gabe came to the office, and security gave him the third degree before calling me to ask if it was OK to let him up.

When Gabe finally got up to my office, he was angry as hell and asked, “What the fuck is going on? Why as soon as I said your name all of the damn security in the building surrounded me? And since when is it a problem with me coming up to see you?”

“Gabe, what do you want to talk about?” I asked before offering him a seat.

“I don’t want to sit, Abigail. What the hell is going on? Did that motherfucker put his hands on you or something?”

I frowned. “No, Gabriel.”

“Then what’s going on?” he asked with his arms across his chest in a defensive posture.

“Someone’s threatening her,” Zach said, coming from out of nowhere and startling us.

Someone from security had obviously called Zach to inform him of Gabe’s presence. And given what had happened the last time Gabe and I were alone—that near kiss—there was no way in hell Zach was going to leave me alone with Gabe so that Gabe could put his sexy hot lips on mine.

They stared at each other until I broke the dark silence in the room. “OK, you two! Both of you sit down, please.” Gabe cut his pretty blues at me, and I said, “Please. It’s very important, Gabriel. Zach will fill you in. And try to keep your voice down. I don’t want my employees overhearing what we are talking about.”

I looked at Zach, who took his phone from his pocket and called Stan, who came up right away. Stan had been putting in overtime at the office since the threats had started.

“These letters and packages were addressed to Abi. They started coming on Monday,” Zach explained to Gabe, showing him some pictures that he and Stan had taken and the threatening letters.

When Gabe saw the pictures of Gabi leaving school with Karen and Erma, he went ballistic.

“Somebody is following my fucking family?” he yelled.

“Gabe?” I cried with a tight face, knowing how angry he could become over his daughters. “Please bring it down. My employees are still here, and I don’t want them knowing what’s going on.”

“I don’t give a damn about your employees,” he hissed. “That’s my fucking family in those goddamn photos.”

Stan waited for Gabe to finish. “Mr. Goodman, sir. I understand your rant and rave, and trust me, you have all the right to do so. I want you to know that we’ve already assembled a team of security to monitor Gabrielle around the clock. There are four guards monitoring your house twenty-four-seven, as well as five at the school. These men are military trained and have worked for the secret service, guarding some of the top national and international political figures.”

“So whoever is sending Abi these threats is following my daughter?” Gabe asked.

“It appears that way,” Zach replied.

“Any idea who it might be?” Gabe asked.

“It could be a number of people, and we are checking them thoroughly,” Zach replied.

Gabe looked at Zach with anger and then cut his gaze at me. “Can I talk to you? In private.”

I turned my eyes to Zach, who already had his eyes steady on me. I nodded, and Zach frowned in response. He crossed his legs and steepled his fingers over his lips, and in response I raised my brows.

“Oh, there’s no need to silently negotiate. The request is nonnegotiable, and I need to speak with Abi, alone. Now!” Gabe demanded, looking square at Zach.

Stan was the first to leave my office, while Zach hesitantly left after kissing me long and passionately. It was his way of reiterating to Gabe that I was his and only he could kiss me. He wanted to stick it to Gabe.

“I told you to get rid of him, and now look at what you’ve gotten yourself into by being with him. You know it’s one of his exes he probably treated like trash—he leaves a trail of broken hearts everywhere he walks. And now my daughter is dragged into the middle of your drama,” Gabe scolded.

“Gabe, please. I don’t need a lecture from you right now. I’m not happy about the situation any more than you are. And if you really want to help, stay away from Taylor Sanders. I know you fucked her while we were together and within the past couple of months.” I elevated my brows knowingly. “I believe she’s the one sending the threats and following Gabi. You know she has a past with Zach, and whatever she told you was probably a lie. She came here, to this office, back in October, pretended she had a meeting planned with me, and threatened to do harm to both Gabi and me if I continued a relationship with Zach. And she vandalized the Cadillac that same day.”

Gabe looked at me inquiringly. “Does he know you think it’s her?”

I nodded. “So now that you know this, what did you come here to talk to me about?”

Looking at me hardheartedly, he placed some papers in my hands. I opened the document, and after skimming over it, I looked up at him with pure abhorrence.

“So you’re serving me fucking custody papers?” I hissed him through clenched teeth.

“Ab—”

“This is what was so fucking important?” I asked, throwing the papers in his face.

“Ab—”

I cut him off, rose to my feet, and with grit in my voice and tears filling up my eyes, I cried, “I’ll call it off. I’ll call off the fucking wedding if that’s what you want. OK? Just not my daughter, Gabriel. You can’t take her from me.”

“Ab—”

“You’re trying to take my baby from me? Why, Gabe? Why? Because I finally moved on and let someone in enough to love me? Because I am in love with someone else, and not you? Let me remind you that I’ve been pretty much raising her alone since she was born. The first seven years of her life, you barely saw her, while you found plenty of time to engage with those bitches in Cambridge, cheating on me, fucking God knows who. And the cheating got worse when GSG was started.”

          I snatched up the document from my desk and grabbed my handbag. Glowering at him, I hissed, “I fucking hate you.”