Chapter 33
"Okay," Kristin looked
at her husband nervously, "I'm ready...I think."
Kevin coddled her cheek.
"You'll do fine honey. Just keep her distracted long enough so I can
search her place for those drugs she used on me. If I can find
them..."
"I know."
They stepped out of the car and
quietly walked into the apartment building. As the elevator ascended to
the 4th floor, he sent a quick but pleading prayer to God that things would
work out for the best. Just give me back my life...that's all I want.
The elevator doors suddenly opened and hand in hand, they stepped out and crept
up to Rachel's door.
Kristin squared her shoulders and
shot Kevin a wary, but determined gaze. He gave her an encouraging smile
and went to make himself inconspicuous by hiding behind a giant sized plant at
the end of the hall not far from Rachel's place.
***
Ugh! Who the hell could it
be?
Rachel got off the couch and lazily strolled to the door. Maybe it's
Kevin! Her ruby red lips curved into a sly smile. Maybe he's
come for a
It was his wife.
Her eyes narrowed. His
EX wife as far as I'm concerned. "What do you want?"
Kristin crossed her arms and shot
her a scowl. "To talk...I guess."
"Look," Rachel put her
hands on her hips, "Kevin is mine now and you have NO claim over him
whatsoever so BACK OFF."
She rolled her eyes.
"Like I want that jerk after what he did to me. Frankly, I think you
two deserve each other."
Rachel laughed. "Hey,
it's not my fault you don't know how to treat a man. It's nothing to do
with love Kris. It's all about one thing. Good, hard
S-E-X. And that's what he gets from me."
Kristin's face contorted in
disgust. "What kind of person are you?"
"A smart one," Rachel
shrugged, "I'm not stupid enough to believe that love conquers all.
That is pathetic." She saw the sudden pity in her eyes and she
scowled. "Don't you look at me like that! If there's anyone to
feel sorry for it's yourself. You lost Kevin. I won him. Fair
and square."
Kristin cocked her head to the
side and she scrutinized her. "Did you now?"
Rachel suddenly grew wary. Does
she know the truth? No...she couldn't. She turned away.
"I'd like you to leave now." When Kristin brushed past her and
made herself comfortable on the couch, anger clouded her insides.
"How dare you! Get out!"
"We need to talk!"
Kristin bit back.
"About what?!"
"I'm getting a divorce from
Kevin."
Rachel's eyes widened in
shock. A divorce? Her shock was soon replaced with utter
glee. A divorce! She did it. She won! She gave
Kristin a victorious grin and gloated in her triumph, unaware that her
boyfriend, dressed all in black had snuck past her through the door she'd left
open and silently crept into her bedroom.
***
C'mon...c'mon... Kevin searched
through each of her drawers, desperately seeking the proof he needed to rid his
life of Rachel Malone for good. He moved into her closet and searched
through every nook and cranny, every pocket.
But to no avail.
Dammit! He nearly
slammed the closet door shut, but the last thing he needed was for him to get
caught. Just a while longer Kristin... He slowly opened the
door and peeked his head out to hear Rachel blabbing to Kristin about how easy
it had been to steal him away, how much she loved him... He rolled his
eyes. He doubted he even knew the meaning of the word. Besides, did
she not just say that she didn't believe in love? He shook his
head. Quit wasting time
And still there was nothing.
His frustration was mounting and
at the moment he felt ready to explode. Where dammit?!
Where could she have hidden those damn pills?! His hawk eyes wandered
from the Advil bottle to the perfume bottle to her lipstick holder...
Her lipstick holder.
A strange feeling grasped his gut
as he took hold of it. He'd seen Rachel apply her lipstick several times.
But he'd never seen her use a
lipstick holder.
He shook it slightly and gasped
at the rattling sound. Slowly he opened the innocent looking item and he
stared at his contents before his green eyes began to twinkle with
victory.
Bingo!
***
Nick removed the wig, cap and
sunglasses and took in the familiar surroundings. The smell of the ocean,
the pictures of his family that rested on the coffee table, the vast amount of
awards that plastered the walls...and the dusty Playstation that rested on the
floor next to the television. Tears welled up in his eyes as Brian put
his arm over his trembling shoulders.
Home.
"Welcome back buddy,"
Brian said cheerily while observing the nicely kept place. Obviously,
Jane couldn't part with it.
"I...I don't even know what
to say Bri..." Nick took a deep breath and continued to let his eyes
wander, "I missed this place so much..."
"Well, you won't have to miss
it anymore."
Nick cast him a light
smile. "I guess I won't." He moved into the
kitchen. Everything was spotless in here. Clean sink,
dishes... I guess Mom really gave this place a good scrub. He
could distinctly remember the pile of dishes that he'd left behind, thinking
that he'd take care of them once he got back. He shook his head.
Life was very unpredictable.
From there he strolled back into
the living room and up the stairs to his bedroom...well it was actually his and
Rachel's. He frowned. Where was she anyway? "Yo Fri...
Brian!" He just wasn't used to saying that nickname anymore.
Brian walked into the room a few
moments later. "What's up?"
"Where's Rach?"
He shifted uncomfortably from one
foot to the other. "Uh...she lives in L.A now."
"Why? I thought she'd
be stayin' here or something."
"Look Nick, there are things
you need to know about Rachel that you're not going to believe."
Nick sighed. "To be
honest man, I don't even care." His thoughts immediately went to Katarina. "I stopped caring about her a long
time ago."
Brian gave him a knowing
glance. "Katarina's only about 40 minutes
away Frack."
He bristled at the nickname but
said nothing about it. "Yeah..."
"Well..."
"I'm not going Brian."
He sighed. "Obviously
you haven't changed. Still as stubborn as always."
Nick moved to the window and
stared out at the sunlit ocean, Brian's words bothering him. He had
changed. He was not Mr. Hyperman, he was not
Kaos...he was certainly not Frack.
So what was he? Where was
he?
Where had Nick Carter gone?
***
"Rina!"
Katarina stepped out of
the shower and covered herself with a towel. "What?"
"Brian's on the phone for
you!" Billie's voice wafted into the steamy room.
Her heart immediately quickened
its pace. Nick! She wrapped her dripping hair in another
towel and rushed into her room, her skin slowly forming goose bumps from the
cooler air. She grasped the phone. "Hello?"
"Katarina?
It's Brian."
"Hi, how are you?"
"Happy. You?" he
whispered excitedly
"...I'm all
right." She raised an eyebrow. "Why are you
whispering?"
"...Well, Nick's around...I
don't want him to know that I'm calling you."
Nick... Her heart
wrenched with pain. "You found him."
"Yeah. I couldn't
believe my eyes when I saw what had happened to his face..."
"I told you he'd be
different."
Brian sighed. "I
know...and he is. Not just physically, I mean. He's
so...quiet."
Katarina could hear the
worry in his voice. She wished she could tell him that Nick would be
fine, but she couldn't.
Not when her dreams kept telling
her differently.
"I brought him back to
Ruskin last night."
She gasped. "He's
back?!"
"He's back...and I think you
should come see him."
She bit her lip. "I
don't think so Brian."
"Why not? I know he
misses you."
"I can't...I'll only get him
in tr--"
"Katarina,
before I left for
Lord she did. But what if
Kris finds out? He'll ruin Nick's life. But there's a
restraining order...he can't do anything now...right?
"Katarina
are you still there?"
She took a deep breath.
"What's the address?"
***
Rachel shot Kristin another smug
grin before moving to the door. "Well thank you for the wonderful
news. You can go now!"
Kristin stared at her for a
moment before her lips curved into a satisfied smile. "No, I think
I'll stay. Just to see the show."
Now she was confused.
"What the hell are you..." her words died as a very tall, very angry
man appeared out of nowhere in front of her. She blinked. "K...Kevin? How
did... I don't under--"
"Keep you mouth shut!"
Kevin growled. "Did you HONESTLY think I wouldn't find out
Rachel?"
She kept staring at him in
bewilderment.
"HOW STUPID DO YOU THINK I
AM?!?"
"Kevy...baby,
why are you..." She watched as slipped his hand into his pockets and
pulled out her lipstick holder...
Her stash!
Shit!
Her eyes widened.
"Uh...it's not what you think..."
Kevin laughed bitterly.
"You've got to be kidding me."
No dammit!
This can't be happening! Not when I am so close! "I never
used those on you Kevin. I swear!"
"Quit bull shiting me Rachel! I had all the symptoms...I left my
drink unattended..." he shook his head, "you are the epitome of the
word PATHETIC."
"I did it for us
Kevin! I know we belong together I know it!" She forced the
tears to come. This has to work! "Kristin could never love you
the way I do!"
"Love? You nearly
ruined my life and damn well could've killed me with these stupid pills and you
claim to LOVE ME?" He sneered. "I should have you
arrested!"
"NO!" Rachel felt fear
for the first time in her life, "don't put me there! Please don't
put me there! I'll do anything! Anything!"
Kevin glared at her for a good
minute before smiling. "If you so much as come within a foot of me
or my wife, you'll be in jail so fast your head will spin. Do I make
myself clear?"
What about the money?! She
panicked. Without Kevin, she couldn't keep this place!
"But..."
He grabbed his cell phone.
"NO! I'll do it!
I'll stay away!" She decided to try to tears one more time.
"But Kevy, you can't leave me. I love you
baby!"
"I don't give a damn
Rachel. I never did." He turned his gaze to Kristin who had
been enjoying the scene silently, although she felt a tiny shred of pity for
the woman.
She obviously never knew love of
any kind.
"Shall we go Mrs.
Richardson?" He held out his hand to her.
Kristin grinned. "We
shall." She took his outstretched hand and walked out together,
ignoring the cries of the defeated Rachel Malone.
Hand in hand Mr. and Mrs.
Richardson walked off into the warm summer day, fully believing in the power of
the devotion to their marriage...
And to each other.
***
