Face-Off at the Altar Read online

  “But I feel healed. I’m over it.”

  “Okay, but can you talk about it without getting upset?”

  He paused. “I mean…kinda. I just don’t talk about it.”

  “Yes, but you are dating your abuser’s sister. That’s Mekena’s family. No matter how mad she is at her, they might one day work it out. Will you be able to handle that?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, right now, it’s just us.”

  “I know, but that could change, and then what? Are you prepared for that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Have you forgiven her?”

  Markus scoffed. “God, no.”

  She nodded, a grim look on her face. “And that’s okay. I wouldn’t have forgiven my abuser either, especially after what happened. The anger is still there, and it’s only been a week of knowing the truth. But Markus, I need you to realize that this may take time. As much as you want to move forward and leave it behind you, you aren’t all the way there, and that is completely okay.”

  He didn’t want to hear that. He wanted to hear that he was cured, that he was healthy, and that he and Mekena would be great. “So what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying this is going to take time. But with that being said, you are doing everything right. You are talking about it, you are getting help from me, and you seem to have a great relationship with Mekena. It is new, I understand that, but I feel you two can use each other to heal. This affected you both, you were both broken by this person’s actions. You just need to keep communication open.”

  He nodded once more as he cleared his throat. “I don’t want to lose her. I love her.”

  “I understand that, and as long as you are honest and don’t let this eat you alive, you should be fine.”

  “But what if she can’t handle it?” he asked suddenly. He hadn’t realized that was a fear of his until that moment.

  She pressed her lips together and slowly shrugged her shoulders. “I’m here for anyone who needs me. Send her my way. But, Markus, I can’t promise you it will last. Not only am I not a psychic, I’m also not the best at believing in true love,” she added with a laugh and he smiled. “But please don’t think I don’t believe that you love her. I do. Love just isn’t for me.”

  He nodded. “I can respect that.”

  “Thank you. But I understand where you are coming from, and I understand your fear. This was a very traumatic event, and I need you to realize that both of you are healing. If you aren’t honest with each other, it could be your downfall.”

  Swallowing hard, he looked up, meeting her blue gaze. “So when will I be over it?”

  She slowly recrossed her legs as she shook her head. “I don’t think I can answer that.”

  He held her gaze. “Can you try? I need a goal. Like I said, I’m a visual learner. I need to see my goals and crush them.”

  She smiled, and he decided he liked her. She got him, and he appreciated that. “Okay, Markus, but you know this could take months, or even years?”

  “I understand that, but I need goals.”

  “Okay, so I think when you are confident in your relationship, with being honest about how you are feeling—”

  “I don’t have a problem with that—”

  “You do. You are worried she can’t handle it,” she reminded him, and he paused, pressing his lips together. “I know everything is a bit up in the air, love and all that, but you have to be confident in what you feel for her and what she feels for you. You can’t be scared to hurt her feelings. You have to know you two can bounce back and be stronger. So that’s the first step. The second is when hearing your abuser’s name doesn’t hurt you. And the third is when you can forgive her.”

  “Okay,” he said slowly, knowing he could crush those.

  That together he and Mekena could do anything.

  “The thing that is hard, Markus, is that usually, male rape victims are children, not men. So the long-term effects on those victims are more traumatic because they were so young and they trusted their assailant. But it is different with you. Not only are you strong and older, but you knew this person as an adult, and she’ll be around because of who you’ve chosen as your partner.”

  “Are you saying I shouldn’t be with Mekena?” he asked, ready to get up and leave.

  “No, not at all. I’m saying that you’ve got yourself a mess, but I have all the faith you’ll clean it up and be happy. I think you are going to be fine. But to be totally honest, I haven’t experienced a case like this, so we are both going to have to figure this out. The main thing I need you to remember is that door right there is always open for you,” she said, pointing to the door. “That I am always here for you—and for Mekena, if she wants to come.”

  He nodded as he cleared his throat. “Thank you.”

  Flashing him a smile, she asked, “How do you feel?”

  “Good,” he said, nodding. “I’m ready to put this behind me and live my life.”

  “Great, so we have goals.”

  “We have goals.”

  “Fabulous. So I want to see you once a week, maybe every Monday, for the next three months. How does that sound?”

  He nodded. “Good. I’ll be here.”

  “Awesome. I’ll have my receptionist get a schedule made for you,” she said, standing and holding her hand out to him as he stood. “If at any moment you feel you aren’t handling things, we will revisit a different treatment plan.”

  “I think I’m good. I like what we’ve done. Or you’ve done.”

  She smiled. “Good, but remember I’m here for you.”

  “I understand that, and thank you.”

  “Of course. It was wonderful to meet you, and I’m excited to watch you grow.”

  “Thank you, it was great meeting you,” he said, taking her hand and shaking it. After making his next appointments, he walked out of the Assassins’ offices feeling good. Great, even. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to talk to someone who didn’t love him or care about him already. Everyone else babied him, but Dr. Lemiere was honest and gave him a plan. A plan he was going to crush.

  With Mekena by his side.

  As he pushed open the door, he had his phone in his hand to call Mekena, hoping she would be done with her meeting since he wanted to tell her everything Dr. Lemiere had said. He hit her name and his phone started to dial, but when he looked up, he found her in front of him, a few feet away on her phone, typing away like crazy. She looked gorgeous, like always. Wearing a tight dark blue shirt that hugged her breasts and fastened at her wrists, she’d paired it with a high-waisted floral skirt that flared out at her knees and a pair of ankle boots. Her hair was blowing in the October breeze, and she wore thick black glasses that were low on her nose as she continued to type. That was, until she saw the call from him.

  Her face lit up as a grin covered her pretty lips, and she answered.

  “Hey, you. I was just texting you. Wasn’t sure if you were out yet.”

  “Oh, yeah? Where are you?”

  “Standing outside the Assassins’ offices. I just got done with my meeting with Elli.”

  His lips curved as he tucked his hand in his pocket and walked toward her, drinking in his beautiful girlfriend. “How’d it go?”

  “Great! I got the job, and she’s paying me way more than I made in Florida! It’s working out. We’re going to be together.”

  His face broke into a bigger grin as he hung up and then wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck as she shrieked, almost smacking him until she realized who he was. “Markus! You scared me shitless!”

  He laughed as she turned in his arms, kissing him hard on the lips. Losing himself in the kiss, he closed his eyes as he held her, their mouths moving together while his heart thudded in his chest. He wanted this so badly, and everything was coming together. The stars were aligning, and damn it, he would make her happy. He’d loved her more than he loved anything else, and they would be happy.

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