Love, Honor, and Betray, Roby, Lawson [i have read the book a hundred times .txt] 📗

and closer to her dreaded destiny. She just didn’t want to do this, and shewondered how long Tom was planning to keep this pathetic game of his going. She also wondered for the hundredth time why hewas doing this. She’d come up with all sorts of ideas, but none of them made any sense. The whole thing was a total mystery,and Charlotte wanted to get to the bottom of it.

After taking the last exit, Charlotte drove down a two-lane street, turned onto a second one, and then drove onto the frontageroad where the motel was lo­cated. It looked just as unglamorous as she’d expected, and she couldn’t wait to be out of there.

She drove around until she found the room Tom was holed up in and parked. Suddenly, though, her nerves got the best of her,and she could barely will her legs out of the car. But she knew Tom wouldn’t be happy about her not showing, and she justcouldn’t have Curtis learning about this. She couldn’t and wouldn’t allow Tom to ruin her life or her happy marriage.

Charlotte left the car and knocked on the door.

Tom opened it, smiling seductively. “Well, don’t you look as beautiful as ever?”

Charlotte walked in and felt dirty already. She had never felt filthier and wondered how many prostitutes had turned multipletricks in there.

Tom reached his arms out to hug her, but she pushed him away.

“Awww. Now, don’t be like that, sugar boo,” he said, taunting her.

Charlotte’s skin crawled.

“Have a seat,” he instructed.

“You know what?” she said. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“What’s the big hurry? Especially since we have all night together.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Oh yeah. I forgot. You have to get back to the good reverend, don’t you?”

“Exactly. So, like I said, let’s get this over with.”

Tom ignored her. “Have a drink.”

Charlotte watched him pour what looked to be some sort of cheap wine into two glasses. “No, I don’t think so.”

“You know, I’m really not liking this little uppity attitude of yours. You’re really killing the vibe in here.”

The television played and the volume was turned down pretty low, but Charlotte kept her eyes glued to it. She pretended tolove whatever sitcom she was watching, but if she could somehow get away with murdering Tom, she would.

Tom sat enjoying himself like he was at a ritzy country club. “Sure you won’t have some?” he said, lifting his glass towardher.

Charlotte didn’t even bother responding.

Finally, after another ten minutes or so, he said, “Take all your clothes off. Every single stitch.”

His tone was angry, but Charlotte still hesitated. She didn’t move.

“Did you hear me?”

“I heard you fine.”

“Then, I suggest you do what I told you. Either that or I’ll send that photo of you to your husband right now.”

Charlotte closed her eyes, stood up, and undressed herself. Then she slid into bed very quickly. Tom stripped off his shirt,pants, and underwear faster than a few seconds and got in next to her. He kissed her wildly, and she wanted to vomit. Then,he did what he’d come there to do, and now Charlotte knew what it felt like to be raped. It was almost as if she was havingan out-of-body experience, so she went to a whole other place, far away from this roach-motel room and was glad when Tom hadfinished and rolled off of her.

He panted like a thirsty bloodhound, and this time Charlotte really did throw up. She’d never felt more sick, and all shewanted was to be out of there and on her way back home where she belonged.

“You were even better this time than before,” he struggled to say between breaths.

But just when Charlotte got out of the bed, someone knocked on the door. They knocked once, twice, and then a third time,and Charlotte was terrified that someone might recognize her. So she hurried to get her clothing on.

“Uh-oh,” he sang. “Sounds like we have a visitor.”

Charlotte didn’t like the sound of that and knew something wasn’t right.

Tom slipped on his pants and then went to the door. Charlotte pulled up her jeans without having a chance to zip them andrushed to put on her sweater. Still, Tom opened the door before she’d had a chance to get on her boots or comb her hair, whichwas scattered wildly on her head.

But none of that mattered anymore when she saw Matthew walking in.

“Mom?! What are you doing? And who is this man you’re with?”

“Oh God, Matt. Who told you to come here?”

“I got a text from a Chicago number saying that you wanted me to meet you here, but that you didn’t want me to tell Dad.”

“What?”

“That’s right,” Tom said with great pride. “It was a Chicago number, and the call came from me. I sent it so your son could see just how slutty his mother is. I wanted himto see with his own eyes.”

Matthew tossed Charlotte a dirty look. “Why, Mom?”

“Sweetie, it’s not what you think.”

Matthew glared at her, and Charlotte had never seen him more disappointed.

“Matt, please,” she said, walking toward him. But he turned and left her standing there. He walked out into the night, andTom shut the door behind him.

“What kind of sick monster are you?” Charlotte yelled.

“Hmmph. Darlin’, this is only just the beginning,” he said.

Charlotte burst into tears.

Chapter 37

There was a time when Valentine’s Day had been one of Charlotte’s favorite holidays of the year, but not this one. Not whenshe’d been forced to have sex with some heartless maniac less than twenty-four hours ago and her son had nearly caught herin the act. She’d tried finding words to describe what it felt like, having your innocent child witness something so crass,but there weren’t any. Your child whom you’d carried around for nine whole months and would give your life for. The childyou’d been trying to protect since the day he was born—the child who hadn’t spoken to you since he’d seen you standing inthe middle of some tenth-rate hole in Wisconsin.

Last night, right after walking inside the house, Charlotte had spoken to Curtis,