Bad Habits Part 83

She turned and was gone. Cain put aside his shock for a more overwhelming sense of dread as he followed, closing the door behind him. Andrew Hollingsworth had struck again. Cain would kill him. This among everything else proved the man was beneath sc.u.m.

"Maryanne, wait. What are you doing here? Why did you leave the facility?" Cain stopped. What lay before him left no room for an explanation from his wife. No, this would require just the opposite. On the coffee table were the pictures, fanned out in grim display. Images of him with Simone, images with him holding Simone, images of him kissing Simone and the forbidden shots no wife should have to see. Maryanne paced. Her hands were red and inflamed from the way she wrung them tightly. She was crying again, shaking through the urge to sob miserably.

"s.h.i.+t," mumbled Cain.

Maryanne stopped. Her glare was absolute heartbreak. It was then that Cain stood before the other side of the coin. Liberation would not come without its casualties.

"Daddy came to the hospital. He said, I didn't belong there and that you put me there to further your own l.u.s.tful needs. I told him he was a liar. I said I hated him and I was going to get better and we were going to leave Castle Rock, together when I was better. I told him I'd never have to see him again. I was going to try my poetry again, and you were going to be an architect. Remember, Cain, that's what we were going to do?" She looked down at the pictures. "Before he showed me who you really are."

"I can explain."

"SHUT UP!" she screamed. Maryanne forced both hands to the side of her head, covering her ears. She shuddered deep and sucked in deeper breaths. "Shut your f.u.c.king lying mouth! Daddy said you were lying to me. That you put me there so you could run away with another woman. That you were plotting against all of us. He said that he was the only one that understood me. Oh, G.o.d, help me." Maryanne sat. "Maybe he is."

Cain took a step forward but the look his wife gave him stopped his feet as well as his heart. She shook her head no to him. There would be no opening, no justifications, no nothing.

"I've done things, Cain, bad things. I never did any of it to hurt you. I did it to hurt myself. But what you did, you did this on purpose." She pointed at the pictures. "You did this to hurt me. Didn't you?"

"I'm so sorry," he said.

"Were you with her? When I called you, were you with her? While your wife was in a mental inst.i.tution fighting for her sanity, were you with that black b.i.t.c.h f.u.c.king her brains out?"

Cain shoved his hands in his pockets. He wanted to respond, but he couldn't hurt Maryanne any more than he'd already done. So he dropped his eyes. He stared at the photos. Each one told a story, from his smiling at Simone and her at him, to the bittersweet goodbyes they would share behind that dirty b.a.s.t.a.r.d photographer's lens. Each time he took Simone to bed, he felt no guilt. In fact, he felt justified in his feelings, urges, desires and longings for her. After all, he was owed the stolen happiness, right? He'd given up so much to gain Rachel's love, to earn his wife's father's respect. Wasn't it time for him to be happy?

"So you were," Maryanne answered, responding to his silence. She wiped at her eyes. "You hypocrite. You walk around here like the victim, and you're worst than all of them. You are worst than Gerald or Daddy. At least they don't pretend to be what they aren't. You hustled me from day one. Just like your f.u.c.king con-artist mother!"

"You're right," he finally spoke. "I'm not going to justify the affair."

"d.a.m.n right you won't!"

"I'm not going to stand here and shoulder all the blame either, Maryanne. We turned away from each other long before there was a Simone. We both lost our way in this marriage. We both failed."

"No. It was you."

"Yes, Maryanne, me. I've tried to be what you needed, and you, you tried in your own way to do the same with me. It never worked, no matter how much we wished it would. We never fit," Cain said.

"Go to h.e.l.l!" she shouted.

"Maybe I will. But this isn't just about our marriage. Your father's abuse is where the real problem is. He's using you to get to me."

"Don't twist this around to make it about him!"

"It's true!" Cain shouted at her. "Taking you to the hospital to get help was the only thing I've been able to do for you in this marriage that was selfless. Andrew is the cancer that's eating away at you. Blame me, hate me. I cheated and I did it before I knew there was a Gerald. I own that, not you, Maryanne. You have to get well, get solid again. You have to go back to the hospital. You know I'm right."

Maryanne laughed. She laughed so hard more tears fell. She shook her head through her pained laughter, her eyes red and raw. Finally, the laughter eased and her eyes fell upon her husband once more. "Oh, sweetheart, you're good," she said bitterly. "I'm not going back to the hospital. I don't need you. I don't need Daddy. What I need to do is get the h.e.l.l away from you both." She rose, walked around to the coffee table toward the door. Cain quickly countered by sidestepping into her way. Maryanne slapped him hard, driving his back molars through his tongue. "Get the h.e.l.l out of my way!" she hissed.

It was then he saw her bags packed. "Where will you go?"

"Oh don't you worry. I'm rich, spoiled, and a little crazy. There are plenty of places for me to go."

"No!" Cain went after her. Maryanne picked up her purse, and then took the handle of her suitcase. He stood between her and the door. "I don't want to hurt you, but I won't let you hurt yourself either. Let me help you. Don't do this. Not now. Together we can figure out how to help you through this."

Maryanne stared into his eyes, unblinking. For a moment the hard lines of anger slipped from her beauty. For one brief second, he saw how scared and lonely she was. Her vulnerability tore at his heart. He was no longer in love with her, but he cared for her deeply. She was his wife after all.

"I never want to see you again, Cain," she said softly, but plainly. "I'll file for divorce. Don't ever try to contact me. I don't know if I ever loved you. I know I can never forgive you or myself. Good luck with Daddy. You'll need it." She then grabbed the handle of her suitcase and pulled it toward the door. Cain stepped aside and watched her walk out of his life.

"Where the h.e.l.l have you been?" Keith's voiced boomed. James Madison stepped off the elevator. He wore sungla.s.ses, but the bruises to his face were unmistakable. Keith frowned. "What happened to you?"

"I fell," James mumbled, his head turned away. "Come with me. We're late."

"Wait." Keith pressed a hand to James's chest, stopping his retreat. "What the h.e.l.l you mean you fell? Looks like you were beaten."

James Madison knocked Keith's hand away. Was he mad? Keith didn't understand, and didn't give a s.h.i.+t because he was dealing with enough. The last thing he needed was some out of character tantrum from his attorney. Besides, down the other end of the hall was the office of Sue Bailey. Beyond the doors waited Simone. He would have charged forward, but he needed James to confirm that the protection order was truly dropped. He didn't trust the sneaky b.i.t.c.h to not be setting a trap.

"Out with it. What the f.u.c.k is going on?"

James removed his sungla.s.ses. His left eye was discolored a darkish purple with the top of his lid swollen and puffy. Keith's impatience lessened as he saw the evident pain his friend and co-conspirator was in. "Tell me what this is about?"

"It's like this. I spoke to Sue. Simone is willing to meet, but you have to keep your cool. Let's hear them out first. Don't speak. Let me do all the talking, and then I have somewhere else you will need to be."

"No dice," Keith snipped. "While I was waiting on you, I got a call from the office. The partners have been called to an early meeting. Andrew Hollingsworth will go before them this afternoon." Keith checked his watch. "This couldn't have happened at a worse time. I got Cain Gatlin on it, but still I have to be at that meeting."

"If you can't make this meeting, then you have to sign some doc.u.ments. Stuff that I forgot to get your signature on." James swallowed, again, avoiding Keith's eyes. Keith looked him over suspiciously. There was something to this mood. His phrat brother was always confident and deadly manipulative. He never lost his cool. But Keith knew so little about his personal life. What kind of trouble could James be in that had him looking like he spent a night with Mike Tyson?

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Don't agitate her. Keep your cool. Let me handle this meeting. And, yes, for the last time, I'm fine."

"James?" Keith pressed.

James forced a smile. "Haven't I always had your back?"

Keith shrugged. "f.u.c.k it. I can handle Simone. This s.h.i.+t is crazy, man. I just want to get her a.s.s alone. I guarantee you I can cut out all this bulls.h.i.+t."

The door to Sue's office opened. "Mr. Livingston? Mr. Madison? Will you both come with me?"

"You cool?" James asked.

Keith straightened his tie. "Yep, cool."

The door eased open. Cain listened to the muted sounds of another's approach, as they grew solid with purpose. He didn't bother to look up. He knew of Andrew's arrival the moment Maryanne walked out. With his face in his hands, and his elbows to knees, he sat in his chair and waited.

"You brought this on yourself, son. Taking my daughter to that place, going after that woman in New York and conspiring with Keith Livingston against me? Don't deny it."

Why would he deny it? Cain Gatlin was beyond denial now.

"Maryanne, where is she?"

Cain's head lifted. He directed his eyes to the door she'd left through, then back to the photos left on display. Andrew noticed.

"I didn't want to show her those pictures, son. She's a stubborn one. Wouldn't even listen to me until I did. She's upstairs, right?"

Silence.

"Serves you right. I told you not to f.u.c.k with me. She's a Hollingsworth. f.u.c.k, for that matter you are too. There are ways we handle things. No one commits my Maryanne to no f.u.c.king looney bin. Now get dressed. We have a flight to catch." Andrew smirked at the puzzled glare Cain fixed on him.

"You think I was going to let you and Keith Livingston call all the shots? The board is convening today. My call. Get dressed. We got a roasting to go to. Private jet is waiting."

"My request?" Cain croaked. He had just drove in from New York. He sure as h.e.l.l wasn't up to flying back.

Andrew paused. He cast a questioning look over his shoulder.

"My mother?" Cain asked. "I told you I'd help you bring down Keith Livingston if you agreed to help her."

"Move her? It's the best I can do. She'll have a hearing. We'll have her moved to an inst.i.tution here in Castle Rock. It will be as it should. You'll have both girls to look after. Your mother, and my daughter." Andrew smiled, then headed for the door.

"And what of your legacy, Andrew? The grandson you won't ever have. Considering your track record, things are as they should be, no future grandsons to carry on your legacy."

Andrew hesitated a moment, and then walked out. Cain dropped back in his chair. He put a hand to his brow and closed his eyes. He was ready for it all to come to an end.

She looked through him. That was the worst part. She was his wife! She sat there as if they were complete strangers. He felt humiliated having others discuss the terms of their marriage. Plus, he hated her haircut, and her clothes. She wore a green and white summer dress that showcased her bosom and bare arms. She was barely recognizable to him. Those almond shaped eyes that used to look at him with such adoration were vacant of anything he once found endearing in them. Surprisingly, that hurt more than he was willing to admit.

"You put a protection order out on me?" he said through clenched teeth.

Simone blinked, but gave him nothing.

James patted his shoulder to remain quiet. Well, that wouldn't be easy. His eyes went to the Asian woman at her left, and the guy that looked like a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys standing behind her. He looked to Simone again, but instead of anger, he gave her a wink.

She rolled her eyes and looked away. Finally, he got something from her, even if it was close to hate.

"Thank you, gentlemen, for coming on such short notice," Sue Bailey said as she sauntered through the gla.s.s office doors. A Hilary Clinton cut-out, Keith sized her up. He knew her type, the kind of b.i.t.c.h that wanted a man's b.a.l.l.s because she wasn't born with a pair. He loathed mouthy, know-it-all, feminist b.i.t.c.hes like her. It explained a lot about his wife's boldness in challenging him the past few weeks if this b.i.t.c.h was whispering in her ear. First order of business would be to separate Simone from this one. James should have seen to that sooner.

Keith s.h.i.+fted in his seat as Sue took hers. When he looked over at his wife, he saw her reading papers before her. Keith realized he was to do the same. Just as his eyes lowered to the stapled sheets of a contract, James Madison finally spoke.

"What is the meaning of this, Sue?" James asked, as he finger flipped through the thin pages.

"Truth or dare," Sue answered coolly.

Keith noticed the second sheet immediately. It was his vasectomy confirmation. The doc.u.ments he'd taken from Stacy personally. "Where did you get these?" Keith asked.

"Stacy," Simone finally spoke.

Keith's eyes cut upward to his wife. "That's a lie."

"You still think what you do in the dark won't come to light? Stacy told me everything. EVERYTHING." Simone smirked. "Turns out she and I have more in common than either of us thought."

"You f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h!" Keith snapped.

"Another outburst like that and this meeting is over. A copy of this doc.u.ment will go to the judge to reveal your deception of the courts and another copy will be sent to the New York Times. The Livingstons will be on the front page before your father can say the word, Mayor."

"It's a bluff! Bulls.h.i.+t!" Keith shouted.

"Keith!" James silenced him. Keith looked to his wife. Six long f.u.c.king years and he had everything he wanted in Simone. But now, he didn't know her at all. She stared back never blinking. His woman was never one to fight back. Never.

"What do you want, Sue? The annulment?" James pressed.

Sue smirked. "Page four explains my client's pet.i.tion in detail."

Keith quickly flipped to the page. He scanned the agreement. Simone wanted out, but she wanted everything she had when she walked into their marriage. Plus she requested the return of her sister's deed. She had the nerve to think this would erase them and cast him aside as if they never meant a d.a.m.n thing to each other. She wanted to ruin him.

"Not going to happen, sweetheart," Keith said. "You hear me? Not going to happen. Till death do us part, babe. YOU GOT THAT? You won't get a f.u.c.king dime. Oh, I know about your affair. Tell them, James. State of New York won't take kindly to you whoring around, then playing victim. Tell them, James! You want to sit there as if you been robbed when you've been f.u.c.king that cop!"

"Keith, let me handle this." James gave a weary sigh.

"Handle it then!" Keith leaned forward on the conference table. The man behind Simone stepped forward as well. "You think I didn't know that you were nothing but some tramp, playing the 'desperate housewife' routine? You think you can play me?"

Simone looked over to Sue. "Are we done?"

"Don't you dare look away from me! You hear me talking to you?" Keith yelled.

"Mr. Livingston, sit down sir," The bodyguard ordered.

Sue rose. "Gentlemen this meeting is over. Heath." She nodded to the bodyguard. The giant pulled back Simone's chair. Keith slammed his fist on the conference table. Sue smirked. "Mr. Livingston, you have an hour to sign the deal before you. After that we will see you in court. Madison, we're done."

"The h.e.l.l we are!" Keith reached for Simone but his swipe couldn't cross the distance between them.

Security walked in. Men twice his size approached him from both sides. James rose to keep the peace, but Keith didn't care. He'd go through them all to reach his wife. He would not be cheated, dismissed. Their marriage would not be cast aside. Despite all the craziness, Simone kept him sane. He understood that now. Whether that understanding had come too late, was debatable. Right now, right then, she was still his wife. He wouldn't let her forget it.

"I want to talk to you," he panted desperately as Simone was escorted to the door. "I want to talk without them. Listen to me. Wait, listen! Wait, d.a.m.n it! Just you and me. You owe me that much!" he shouted after her. Simone continued on, ignoring his pleas. "Simone! You owe me! You owe me that much! I'm your f.u.c.king husband! Your husband!"

Keith struggled to get free, but one guard took the liberty to slam him face first on the table. The hard smack knocked his gla.s.ses from his face.

"Unhand him. Let him up! Now!" James Madison demanded.

Keith's chest burned with rage after his release. He wanted to turn and swing on everyone, but even in his anger he was blinded by something stronger. Humiliation. He rose, with James trying to a.s.sist. "Get your f.u.c.king hands off me! What are you going to do? Do something, d.a.m.n it! Now! Get her back here. We aren't done!"

"Be reasonable!" James shouted him down. "Listen to me. It's over, Keith. Sign the papers or we go to war and it'll be worse. Much worse. You get the press involved and they will tear you apart." James sighed. He looked to the security men.

"Can you leave us please?"

The guards walked out. James went over to make sure the door was closed. Keith paced with both hands to his head. He kicked out the chair in front of him. "Stacy, the crazy b.i.t.c.h. She turned on me."

"Enough of that," James said. "Do you know who Sue Bailey is?"