Page 40 of Power Play
"This is why you don't date," Jonesy says from the other couch. "Because the minute you have a boyfriend, she tries to steal him."
Jonesy's revelation hits me like a ton of bricks. This is why she only wanted one night. Because she knew if her sister got wind of a relationship, she would try to seduce me. And might have succeeded. Lacey doesn't know me well enough to trust me. I haven't earned it, so she has no idea I would never cheat on her. She was forced into this relationship because of an accidental pregnancy. We've skipped all the normal steps of dating where I can woo her, earn her respect, earn her trust.
"And why you were so spooked when you ran into her as our new social media manager," Jonesy concludes, his voice interrupting my thoughts.
/"Is this true?" I ask Lacey, thumbing her chin and turning it towards me.
"Tracey doesn't just steal boyfriends, she steals everything. Jobs, hobbies, sports, her entire identity," Ben finishes. He's gone from confused to angry.
"But why?" I ask, glancing between Lacey and Ben. Clearly, there's a history here, but I can't quite put my finger on how two identical sisters could be so fucking different.
Lacey is the epitome of selflessly, caring, and grace. Tracey is selfish, mean and... just plain horrible.
Ben looks to Lacey... for permission, I think?
She gives a small, sad nod.
"They had a younger sister that was born with a rare genetic disorder. A fatal one. Except it took years for Savannah to pass. Long, painful years. Lacey harnessed her pain into taking care of her body and doing everything her sister never got the chance to. Tracey used her pain to inflict more pain. She started obsessing over Lacey and everything she did. Honestly, I think that Savannah stole so much of their parents' attention because she was sick, that Tracey became starved of it, and felt the need to hoard it. So any attention they gave Lacey, Tracey felt like she had to steal."
I'm stunned. Lacey's been living a shadow of a life because every time she has something good in it, her sister has to steal it from her or ruin it in some way.
This is her demon.
She doesn't trust that anyone will choose her over her sister - will be faithful to her when her twin throws herself at them. And now she can't even feel safe in her job. A job that takes up the majority of her days. That's all sorts of fucked.
Fuck that. Now Lacey's got three men completely devoted to her. Or at least two, I'm still not 100% sold on Jonesy.
"I'm going to talk to the hotel to see if they have video surveillance of her sneaking into my room," I say. Lacey's eyebrows shoot up in alarm. I shake my head. "Just in case you change your mind. Lace, your peace is important to me. And if Tracey's stopping you from feeling safe and secure, I won't hesitate to get rid of her."
"It'll be your word against hers. The surveillance will show her sneaking into your room after hours with a key. Whose to say you didn't invite her?" Jonesy challenges.
I groan. I know Jonesy's right, but fuck it. Craig, the GM, and I have a solid relationship and would take my word over a new hire's every time.
"My word's enough."
"She lives in the apartment next to Lace's." It's Ben this time. "When we move you out we need to make sure she doesn't see us."
Lacey nods sadly, and curls up in my lap, resting her head on my bare chest. I hate that she's feeling small and sad, but I love holding her like this. Even at five foot five, she's small compared to me, and I love how I can wrap both of my arms around her and protect her from her demons. I just hadn't realized her demons were her twin sister.
"Stay with me tonight," I whisper into her hair. We haven't gotten the chance to sit down and hash out everything with us and the other two - how this relationship, or multiple relationships will work. I need to bring this up to Siobhan, too, so she's aware of the unusual situation we find ourselves in.
But tonight, I can feel Lacey's feeling hurt and vulnerable and the caveman in me is demanding to protect her, to protect what's mine.
I look to Ben and Jonesy. Not for their approval, per se, but to judge their reactions. Ben's in love with her and not going anywhere. Jonesy? Their relationship is something I haven't figured out yet. But when I look at the soft look on his face, the feeling, the compassion I see there, I know he's in this too.
"The couch is a fold out?" I offer, not really sure why.
"Got it," Ben says, motioning for Jonesy to get up. I usher an almost completely shut down Lacey into the bedroom, and leave the doors open as Ben and Jonesy argue about the fold out and sheets and what side of the bed they prefer. I'm grateful they're willing to sleep on an uncomfortable fold-out for our girl.
Our girl.
Fuck that feels right. As I tuck a deathly quiet Lacey under the comforter and slide in behind her, holding her close to my chest, I realize that this woman is my family. This woman and those two knuckleheads out there are my family. And there's nothing I won't do to protect my family.
Chapter twenty-one
Ben
Jonesy's humming the mission impossible theme song. In the beginning, it was annoying, but even I have to admit he's growing on me.
