Infinity Chapter 74 - Truth Hurts

[itztigress3]

Chapter 74 – Truth hurts
POV:  Emily
Word count:  3255



I gathered the dishes and went downstairs, taking our bowls with me and I stood there at the sink far too long, it was Zander that laid his hand on my shoulder.

“Are you ok?”

“I feel fine.”

“It’s hard to hear what he said, but Emily he may believe it for now but he will get better.”

I smiled at him and after washing the two bowls I went to the living room. Alexander was playing with his blocks, sitting in the center of the floor with dozens around him. It was something else he shared with his father. A father that was very close to asking me for a divorce because Ian had made him believe that I was like Kate, that I didn’t love him. A father who believed his entire family didn’t love him. Adam was brutal when it came to Zac, determined I would forget him but they never went after my brothers or family.

Taylor and Isaac weren’t here, just my two younger brothers and Zander.

“Where is Craig? Casey?”

“He’s in Oklahoma City for a few days, Comptech got a big contract there and they sent him and Colton to fix things.”

“Casey went to clean up downstairs; Alexander woke up before him and got into something.” Aaron said.

“Jacey ok?”

“She is. No more problems and the last doctor’s appointment went very well. She kind of misses you but she understands you’re busy and then everything that happened.” Christopher said.

“Ask Emily, you’re asking random questions but you want to ask.” Aaron said.

“Hey, you don’t ask about my private life, I don’t have a right to ask about yours.”

He looked at me. “Bullshit, you are dying to ask. So ask.”

I looked at him. “Fine. Christopher you want to hear this? You seem to shy away when sex comes up.”

“Honestly, I’m as curious as you are.”

Zander sat back on the sofa and waited and I looked back at Aaron. “I’m going to assume you’re the submissive in this relationship, but you’ve never struck me as that type of person honestly. So, did you really meet him on Hanson.net?”

“That is actually true yes. Basically everything is I just left out that he brought up the whole idea earlier.”

“Why?”

“Anger issues.” Zander said.

“Little things would piss me off; he brought it up as a way to help control those little outbursts. It’s not all about sex, but he got me to open up about David and how I felt about everything that happened. It helped honestly to have that consequence in place when I got mad, it let me realize that sometimes the anger is misplaced and I don’t need to blow up because of it.”

Casey came into the room and paused, looked between everyone and declared he was going to shower since I was there. He then hopped the gate and went up-stairs.

“So, basically you’re more a therapist?”

“Oh no, but it helped.”

Alexander’s head turned and he smiled widely before getting up and running across the room to Zac standing in the dining room.

“Why do I feel like this conversation isn’t about me for a change?” Zac asked.

“We were learning more about Aaron.” Christopher said.

He came over in his jeans and button up shirt and sat down with Alexander in his lap.

“About the bdsm stuff?” Zac asked.

“Yeah. Apparently Zander helped with his anger issues.”

Zac looked at me. “Anger issues like yours or worse?”

“Uh, mine were worse. I actually didn’t mind stomping someone’s ass, needed or not.”

“Oh, I don’t know Aaron she hasn’t much minded slapping the taste out of Eliza a few times.”

“Well, pregnancy hormones can make her a bit loopy. But, mine was just sheer anger, most from what David did to us as kids.”

I gave him a quizzical look. “Explain that a little more.”

“You know we hated that he hit us. I got my anger from him honestly. But, the deep issues were mostly related to you and Christopher, because as your older brother it’s expected that I protect you. Yet, I failed to do so. He hit you both as much as me, I was angry toward our older brothers because they didn’t do anything. Him making us hold you was probably the worst feeling and honestly Ems, it’s why I don’t feel bad that he’s paralyzed.”

“I can see where the anger would come from.” I said.

“Where are the agents?” Zac asked.

“Three are on the property, one by the gate and Agent Stewart left to report the address and they may actually see if he’s there.”

Zac nodded and a moment later he put his phone on my leg and I was confused for a moment, was he trying to tell me he would seriously warn Ian? Zander smiled.

“That’s a good idea Zac.”

“I don’t have the need to call him and warn him but I would rather be safe than sorry.”

Casey came down in jeans and a blue and teal stripped shirt. He went to the kitchen to fix lunch for everyone. I sat back and just watched the men here. Zac’s phone vibrated on my leg and the song Broken Angel began to play. Zander looked up at us and Zac looked down at the phone.

“Emily I think you should review them first, it’s a suggestion.”

I picked it up and looked at it, he chose to get Alexander and change his diaper.

Zachary? I am sure by now you have read my earlier message. I am expecting a return message to let me know when to expect you. Do not just randomly show up.

“Should I reply?”

Zander shook his head. “It’s best that neither of you reply to him anymore for any reason.”

“But…” Zac started and then stopped.

“He’s not a good man Zac, its best if you cut him off. Remember that the only reason he wants you to come over is so he can find out what you’ve done and hurt you for it. Is that what you want?” Zander asked.

“No.”

“Then don’t reply.”

I watched the interaction and closed the message, I felt bad because this had gone so long. Had I simply gone to him when he first acted weird and pushed a little more then perhaps Ian could have been cut off much sooner. Instead, I’d believed the false clues and actually doubted him. Now he was broken and I didn’t really know how to fix him, Casey was sure that Alexander and I would be the ones to help him but it didn’t seem that way, least not for me. Alexander had the golden touch in this case. He was actually talking more, his word choices were expanding little by little and Zac was really good at talking back.

Casey finished lunch and we all ate in the kitchen, afterwards Zac took Alexander up for his nap, said he was going to lie down with him. He left his phone with me.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Casey asked.

I only nodded and I had no answers beyond that. Zander demanded to check my blood pressure which it was slightly elevated it wasn’t alarming and he said they were going.

“Zander wait…can I talk to you alone?”

“Sure.”

He and I stepped into the office. “What do I do Zander? We’re familiar with the lighter stuff in this, handcuffs and whips. But, this…”

He put his hands on my shoulders and rubbed them gently.

“What did he want to do therapy wise?”

“He wants to wait through April and if nothing changes he’d go. I think he’s just hesitating. I don’t know what to do Zander.  I’ve never seen him this way. Sure, he’s had doubts and issues before but this is beyond that and it’s beyond what happened to me.”

He smiled slightly. “Eventually this is what would have happened to you as well; honestly if they hadn’t brought Zac to you then you would have eventually believed them or at least done what they asked because you wanted to avoid the consequence.”

He lead me to the chair and we sat down, he sat in the same position they had sat in.

“I’m going to level with you; I think that between you and a therapist, you would do the best for him. I understand that having this feeling that he doesn’t love you, that he was planning to ask for a divorce has hurt. But, Emily deep down inside of him he does love you. His actions show that it’s just letting him remember that on his own. Alexander was easy because he clung to him, his dad helped and he could see through that. Based on his story Ian is most afraid of you.”

“Ian is not afraid of me!” I said.

He laughed. “Yes he is Emily.”

“Why the hell would he be? I can’t stop him and it’s evident. I’m a woman that’s pregnant and can’t do shit.”

“Calm down.”

He wouldn’t let me speak again until he was happy with my heart rate, which he kept track using my wrist.

“Let’s go back to when this started, yes it’s Zac’s fault for not saying anything to anyone. But, what was his reason? He didn’t want you to be upset, to need 24/7 protection, or to be scared. I am sure Ian did his homework and he knows what you mean to Zac and what he means to you. He would know that Zac would want you to be happy. He directed his messages to Zac and not where you would see them easily. Zac kept it a secret because he thought it was best for you. Ian got to have the seeds of doubt planted with you without trying, as time passed Ian realized Zac wasn’t telling you and he used that.”

He paused and appraised my wrist for a few moments. “He used you against Zac, because he knows Zac loves you and Alexander. He used Alexander to hurt both of you. He’s done everything he could to separate Zac from you. I believe he intended for you to die in that wreck and he didn’t care if anyone else did. He targeted you when he had him, he spent a lot more time degrading you and bringing him to that point. But let’s face it Ems, if Zac truly and honestly believed everything he said. He wouldn’t have come home with you when he came back. He wouldn’t have stayed. When you fainted, he wouldn’t have cared. He still loves you; he’s just confused because Ian says you don’t care about him.”

“So, what do I do?”

He smiled widely and gave me this goofy look. “You don’t have to really do anything but be yourself, don’t treat him any differently then you normally would. Although you might want to work on the self-esteem issues a bit, but you just be you. Show him what he already knows. He knew Alexander loved him, that’s why it was so easy. Alexander doesn’t know any better than to act like he did before which is to love him.”

“Is there anything I should avoid?”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t venture to spankings or anything that could be seen as punishment. Don’t hold the phone if he wants it, don’t make him stop. He will contact Ian again Emily and it’s imperative that you don’t try to stop that unless he goes to leave. Don’t let him go back because I can guarantee you if he goes back now, Ian won’t let him go again. Beyond that, act normal. Well, as normal as you can be. No getting upset, if you come back for fainting again I’m bed resting you for the rest of your pregnancy in the hospital.”

“You can try.” I said.

He smiled and got up. “You’ll be fine.”

He left with Aaron and Christopher went shortly after, Taylor called Zac’s phone at 1:30 and I answered.

“You’re not Zac.”

“Sorry, he’s laying down with Alexander.”

“Ah. Is everything ok?”

I gave him a very brief and condensed version, no details but just let him know Ian had done a lot of damage and that it was best if nothing changed but to be a bit more aware of how they’re giving criticism. He said he’d pass it on. Casey didn’t seem happy either but I told him the same thing. It wasn’t going to be easy, but we had to be there for him even if he thought we didn’t care or love him.

I was about to go up-stairs when the gate buzzer went off and I walked over, I saw her on the monitor and given everything that was going on I just couldn’t deal with her still. I pressed the button on the speaker before she could say anything.

“Look, I get it Eliza you want to talk. I don’t know about what and right now I don’t care. I have a husband that needs me and a son who needs me and an unborn baby that needs me to take care of him until he is born.”

“Step off the excuses sis.”

I laid my head against the wall, I could already feel the slight change so I just walked away from the intercom and went up-stairs, they were both still asleep but I went ahead and got a clean diaper for Alexander and then I sat in the chair and just watched them sleep. About 2:30 Zac’s phone went off again.

I am very disappointed in you Zachary. It’s obvious that your wife has convinced you or found messages. The FBI raided my home again; thankfully I wasn’t there at the time. Respond to me, immediately.

Zander said not to reply and I didn’t, I did alert Agent Stewart though because I was sure they had and he confirmed it, they’d raided the house an hour earlier and only one person was there, a young boy who refused to talk. He wouldn’t give me details but I was pretty certain the young boy was hurt as he said he went to the hospital. I hung-up from him and a few minutes later Alexander sat up in the bed. I moved to the bed and he was fine to be changed, he was still waking up.

“uice.” He said.

“We’ll go down for juice.”

I fixed the clothes he had on and then took him downstairs, letting Zac sleep. I fixed a cup of juice for Alexander and got him a snack, he sat in my lap with his snack and cup, and then he ran off to play. I sat in the living room with him while Casey watched some program on TV. I missed being busy honestly. Casey and I both jumped when Zac screamed out Alexander’s name. I got up and went to the steps.

“He’s down here Zac!”

He came down the steps looking terrified and he stopped at the gate and I got his face.

“It’s ok Zac; he’s fine he woke up two hours ago.”

“I just…he was…”

He came over the gate and had to see for himself. Then he relaxed his posture and looked at me.

“I woke up and he wasn’t in the room, I just freaked. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

“It’s ok. I’ve done that a few times. But, he’s fine. Are you ok now?”

“Yeah. You could have woken me up.”

“Naa, you were sleeping well. But, Casey has just informed me he wasn’t fixing dinner so what do you want?”

“Whatever is fine, do you want me to cook?”

“No I’ve been resting all day I’m ok.” I did however kiss him before I went to the kitchen. Act normal, normal for us was a lot of contact.

I went with beef tips and rice with steamed vegetables. I fixed Alexander’s plate first and let it cool down before calling them in.  We sat down like we had thousands of times before. It was quite for a bit before Zac chuckled some.

“What is so funny?” Casey asked.

“I was just thinking about the last time we actually sat down to dinner, it was in Canada when we skydived and it was technically lunch.”

“It hasn’t been that long; we had dinner over the holidays.”

“Not like this, not when it was just us.”

“Robert was there then.” Casey said.

“Have you spoken to him since we saw him in the studio?”

“No.” Casey said.

Zac laid the fork down and looked at him. “Why not? I thought you two were pretty close.”

Casey glanced at me and I nodded, there was no point in lying about anything now.

“I am your friend and I love you. I care about the things that have an affect over you as well. Ian told me that Robert drowned Alexander in that lake and left him. Obviously it’s not true but I cannot get that image out of my head yet. I know your upset with Robert because he didn’t tell us. But, honestly I’m not sure I can really forgive him and I don’t know if he really is telling me the truth.”

“I’m not upset with him Casey.”

“You got pissed off at him at the studio.”

“Not because of what he didn’t stop, because he was putting Ian down and everything he said was negative toward him. It conflicted with what I believed. I don’t hate Robert; I can’t blame him because there is no evidence that says he was involved.”

Casey smiled some. “Maybe once things are back to normal I’ll consider it. My priority right now is not myself but you and Alexander.”

“Which isn’t right Casey, we’re here for you too. Even if Ian is certain you’re only with me to get to my
wife.”

Casey giggled. “You do have a hot wife Zac, but I much prefer your ass over hers.”

Zac kind of chocked on his bite of rice and then his face went red. I wondered how that felt to him but he smiled.

“I think I’ve heard that before, maybe a few times.”

I giggled. “I have several times.”

“Hey I can’t help it. He prefers you, I prefer him.”

Zac chose to clean up after dinner and then he did the nighttime routine with Alexander, saying they both needed a bathe, which I think was just playtime for them. I just hoped normalcy would help. We went to bed about normal and I didn’t think he’d cuddle or be close, but he slid over and for a bit he just ran his hands over the little bump.

“You don’t have to question if I believe that he’s mine Emily, I know he is.”

“I know he is too.”

“I can’t wait to meet him.”

“It won’t be much longer; you know Nadine is due soon.”

“I know did you want to go out there?”

“I would, yes. But only if you’re ok with going.”

“We’ll make plans after they arrive. It’ll be good to let Alexander be around little babies.”

I smiled, left his hand on the little bump and before long he was asleep. I was a bit concerned by the excessive sleeping but the day before and today had been long, so as long as he wasn’t getting sick I’d be ok. I fell asleep with my own hand over his.