Family Matters Book 3

Jana

Growing up, I believed my life was picture-perfect. I was blessed with parents who adored me, supported my every endeavor, and were as in love as the day they first met.

They gifted me a childhood brimming with joy, optimism, and affection.

I had dreams of finding a wonderful man, creating a loving family, and living out my own happily ever after, just like the fairy tales my mother would read to me at bedtime. Or, like the fairy tale that was my life back then.

But as I grew older, I discovered that life was far from those bedtime stories.

My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was just eight, and she passed away shortly after my twelfth birthday. My father, heartbroken at losing his soulmate, spiraled into a deep depression.

My paternal grandparents and I did our best to help him through his grief, even as we grappled with our own, but it wasn’t enough.

On the first anniversary of my mother’s death, he attempted to end his life with an overdose of pills, hoping to join her. Thankfully, my grandfather found him in time and dialed 911.

He was rushed to the emergency room, where they managed to save him. He was then admitted to a psychiatric hospital, and was discharged six months later.

He began therapy after his release, and slowly, he started to resemble the cheerful, loving father I remembered.

When I graduated from college, we embarked on a cross-country road trip to celebrate. During our stop in Reno, I met Michael Davis, a handsome and charismatic businessman.

He was a decade my senior and owned one of the area’s most popular clubs. While we were in Reno, he treated my father and me to dinner and showed us around the city.

I was instantly smitten with him, but my father wasn’t as impressed. On our drive home, he warned me to be cautious around Michael.

He had a gut feeling about him that he couldn’t shake. I dismissed it as overprotectiveness, but looking back, I wish I had heeded his advice.

Over the following months, Michael and I spoke daily. He would video chat with me every night before bed and text me first thing in the morning.

He would check in on me throughout the day, and sent me flowers every week with handwritten notes expressing his feelings for me.

Despite this, my father remained skeptical and urged me to forget about him.

He presented strong arguments for his distrust, and while they were valid, I couldn’t judge Michael without concrete evidence.

Then one day, Michael showed up at my doorstep unannounced, armed with a large bouquet of red roses and a marriage proposal.

My father was less than thrilled when he returned from work to find Michael mid-proposal.

Truthfully, I wasn’t thrilled either. We hadn’t known each other long, and we hadn’t even been on a proper date, yet here he was, asking me to commit to a lifetime with him.

It was a monumental decision, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to make it.

I didn’t give Michael an immediate answer and asked for some time to think. He said he understood, given the suddenness of it all, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes.

That night, after a lengthy discussion with my father, I decided I wasn’t ready for marriage. I called Michael to let him know, and to my surprise, he took it well.

He invited me to dinner the following night before he returned to Reno, and I agreed.

Dinner with Michael was a mixed bag. As we got to know each other better, there were moments when I felt like he was telling me what he thought I wanted to hear.

His responses didn’t feel genuine or sincere, and I began to understand my father’s reservations about him.

But then there were moments when I felt a deep connection with him, like we were on the same wavelength about life and our future.

By the end of the night, we agreed to continue seeing each other and see where things led.

When he dropped me off that night, we were met with two police cars parked outside my house.

I felt a wave of panic when I didn’t see my father’s car or any lights on in the house. I stepped out of the car and was met by two police officers.

They informed me that my father and grandparents had been involved in a hit-and-run accident, and there were no survivors. The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

My world was crumbling around me. I couldn’t believe it. I had lost my entire family in one night.

The time following the accident was a haze. Michael didn’t head back to Reno the next day as planned. Instead, he stayed with me, helping me navigate the funeral and the complexities of the estate.

I tried to convince him it wasn’t necessary, but he was adamant. He refused to let me face this alone, and truthfully, I was grateful for his presence.

Eventually, though, Michael had to return to Reno for work. He wanted me to accompany him, but I couldn’t. There was still so much to deal with regarding my dad’s and grandparents’ estates.

As it turned out, my dad and grandparents had left me their house and a comfortable sum of money. I chose to sell the house and start fresh.

I attempted to live in the house for a bit, but the memories were too overwhelming. I found myself sinking into the same despair my father had after my mother’s death.

Michael convinced me to move to Reno and work at his club. For the first time, I felt the oppressive darkness beginning to recede.

Upon moving to Reno, I found an apartment close to Michael’s club. The first few months went smoothly.

I started working as a waitress at Michael’s club, waiting for a management position to open up.

I didn’t mind at first. Michael assured me it was temporary, and then he’d promote me to management. This way, it wouldn’t seem like he was favoring his girlfriend.

However, as weeks turned into months, I realized there was no management position coming. Michael’s promises were empty.

I decided to look for another job. When Michael discovered this, he exploded in a rage I didn’t know he was capable of.

He became increasingly aggressive and controlling. His threats and occasional physical abuse scared me into submission. I felt trapped, unable to leave him or the club.

He wouldn’t allow it. The spark of hope in my eyes, the one that once promised a fairy-tale ending, began to dim.

Just when I thought I was completely lost, I discovered I was pregnant. With the birth of our daughter, Athena, I found hope again.

Michael changed when he learned about the pregnancy. He became less domineering and more affectionate.

He was the Michael I had first fallen for, the charming and loving man I once thought I’d spend my life with. We were happy again.

But that happiness was short-lived. As Athena grew older, Michael spent less time at home, claiming the club demanded more of his attention.

When I returned to work after Athena’s birth, I overheard the waitresses discussing their nights with Michael.

I confronted him, but he would only get angry, blaming me for his infidelity.

He claimed I hadn’t regained my pre-pregnancy figure quickly enough, and I was no longer attractive to him. I think that was the day the last bit of light inside me extinguished.

For Athena, it was different. As a baby, she would light up at the sound of his voice or his presence, even though he was rarely around.

When she learned to draw, she would create pictures for him and proudly present them in his home office. Initially, he would smile and shower her with kisses.

But then, he began to dismiss her efforts, placing her drawings on his desk without a second glance.

After being ignored by her father a few times, I noticed the light in Athena’s eyes starting to fade. Something inside me snapped.

I couldn’t let him do that to her. He had already extinguished my light, and I wouldn’t let him take hers.

I resolved to leave him, find a new job, and file for divorce. A friend from the club, who wasn’t fond of Michael, offered to let Athena and me stay with her until we found our own place.

I used her computer to apply for a job at a new casino, ensuring Michael wouldn’t find out. I also met with a divorce attorney.

Hiring him would deplete my inheritance savings, but it was worth it.

Michael would undoubtedly have the best lawyer for the divorce, and I needed someone equally competent.

When I secured an interview at the new casino, I was overjoyed. I told Michael I had a doctor’s appointment on the day of the interview and asked him to watch Athena for a couple of hours.

He agreed, and I thought everything was finally falling into place. That was until the day of the interview.

I had just parked at the new casino and was getting out of my car when Michael pulled up beside me.

He got out of the car, took Athena from her car seat, and stormed towards me, already berating me for lying about the interview.

The terror reflected in my little girl’s eyes as he hauled her towards me was gut-wrenching. She released his hand and darted behind me, seeking refuge.

He then seized me by the arms, shouting accusations of betrayal and vowing to never let me escape.

I screamed back, demanding he release me, his actions terrifying our child. Thankfully, he complied. But I could see the readiness in his eyes to resort to violence again if I refused to accompany him.

Our heated exchange was interrupted by the arrival of four men, inquiring if everything was alright.

Their eyes radiated kindness, and they positioned themselves protectively beside Athena and me. I’d never experienced such a sense of security from a stranger, let alone four.

One of them, Kyle, positioned himself as a shield between Michael and me.

I was grateful for his intervention. I could sense Michael inching closer during our dispute, and I was certain he was on the verge of resorting to violence again.

As it turned out, these four men were the proprietors of the new club where I was due for an interview.

They were incredibly understanding about the situation with Michael. When they suggested taking Athena to their office for safety, I knew I could trust them.

As they departed, I noticed two of them, Ethan and Austin, keeping a watchful eye on us from the window. For the first time in a long while, I felt secure.

After Michael’s departure, I met with the four men, Xavier, Ethan, Austin, and Kyle. They hired me without conducting an actual interview, which, as strange as it was, provided some relief.

Another step towards cutting ties with Michael. After a casual chat with them, Athena and I took our leave.

They each bid me farewell with a hug, but there was something unique about Kyle’s embrace. I felt a bond with him that I hadn’t experienced with the others. I believe he felt it too.

At least, I hoped he did. Athena had also taken a liking to him. Since that day, Athena had resumed her hobby of drawing pictures for Kyle, Xavier, Ethan, and Austin, mostly for Kyle, though.

It was heartwarming to see the spark return to her eyes.

Over the ensuing months, while we prepared the casino for its grand opening, Kyle and I grew closer.

We developed a beautiful friendship, something I never imagined possible since relocating to Reno. In fact, Athena and I had formed a wonderful bond with his entire family.

After losing my own family and experiencing years of loneliness, it was comforting to feel a part of a family again.

The casino was set to open in a fortnight, and we had just completed the final preparations.

Austin decided to reward the staff with a two-week break for their hard work and invited me to join him, Chelsea, Rodney, and Kyle for a celebration.

Initially, I was hesitant due to the need for a babysitter for Athena, but Ashlie had already arranged for her boyfriend’s parents to watch her.

After collecting Athena from her daycare, we headed home for me to change for dinner and pack some essentials for Athena. As I applied a touch of makeup, my thoughts drifted to the evening ahead.

It had been a while since I had gone out dancing, and the prospect was making me anxious, though I couldn’t pinpoint why.

I was going out with familiar faces, people I had dined with on numerous occasions: Austin, his wife Chelsea, Ashlie, her boyfriend Rodney, and Kyle.

My eyes widened as realization dawned, and I immediately reached for my phone to text Ashlie.

I perched on the edge of my bed, staring at Ashlie’s lack of response. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. When I opened them, panic began to set in. Kyle is going to lose it.