Desolate (Empathy #2)

I pin her face to the side, free my cock and whisper against her ear, “Let’s give them a show.”

I part her cheeks and line my cock up to her ass, thrusting past the ringed muscles. She sobs out in pain and then tells me to go harder. She’s getting off on the men outside who have all moved over to the window to watch close up. I should toss her to them afterwards; she’d probably let them all have a go. I ram into her so hard I hear a creak from the window and have to pull out. I spin her around and push on her shoulders to force her to her knees. She’s reluctant to suck it and it stinks of her ass so I’m not surprised, but she doesn’t get an option here. I bark at her to open and she obeys. The men outside cheer me, and Isabella looks up at me for approval. I stroke her head and then push it on my cock until she gags on it.

I’m still on a high from fucking Isabella and the throb in my ribs is acting like a top me up drug. It’s addictive, giving into urges, and against better judgment I decide to pay Sean a little visit before my appointment.





THE SCHOOL IS BUZZING WITH activity, including students and parents trying to see what’s happening. News channel vans and police cars scatter the parking lots and grass verges and I’m pretty sure my own reporters are here somewhere. I try calling Blake’s cell again but receive no answer and I’m sent to voice mail. I scan the crowd for Cereus but keep coming up empty I grab at a few girls and receive weird looks and then whispers. I locate Stacy who rushes over to me and hugs me like we’re friends. I’m not keen on the influence she has on Cereus but she’s motherless like me so I feel compassion towards her that Blake can’t understand. I embrace her and asked if she’s seen Cereus.

“No. I tried her cell but I haven’t heard from her since last night. Did she get in trouble for coming in so late? I’m sorry it was my fault.” She scrambles to get her words out and I vaguely remember Blake talking with Cereus last night when I woke up.

“It’s okay,” I tell her because at the moment all I care about is finding her. My cell rings and I nearly drop it trying to answer it when I see it’s our house phone.

“Cereus?” I ask, desperate to hear her voice

“Yes, Mom. I’m sorry, I guess I freaked.”

“It’s okay, don’t move. I’m coming home.” I hang up and turn to Stacy. “She’s at home. Do you need a lift home? You shouldn’t be here.”

She points over at Matt and tells me he will take her home.

I duck out of there before the kid sees me and comes over. I don’t have the time or patience for the awkwardness. Cereus was supposed to be out with Matt last night on a date, and then at Lucy’s. I’ll need to have a word with her and Blake to find out what went on.

I still feel severed from him, from my life, from reality. Nothing is making sense and yet something felt all too familiar at the same time.



I drop the keys on the table and call out to Cereus. I can hear music playing in her room so I knock and enter. Her room is empty and one of her favorite bands play from her iPod dock with the sound of the shower in the background. I gently open the door to check on her and see her bundled on the floor of the shower, crying. My heart breaks. One thing I can’t bear is seeing my girl cry. She rarely does so it hurts even more to see her break down. She’s tough and has Blake’s demeanor. She doesn’t really get affected by much and doesn’t empathize with many people or situations but I know she has a warm gentle soul inside her. I could sense it when she was a baby and she would nuzzle into me for comfort and smile whenever Blake sang to her. No one could resist melting when Blake sang to her; it was an extraordinary sight and one I never pictured sharing with him but he was incredible with her. He’s an amazing father. The pain of his lies sting every time I think of him but he owns every part of me and all my best memories so I’m in a constant state of pain.

I open the door to the shower and she doesn’t even react. She knows it’s me and her not yelling at me to get out tells me my baby needs me. I grab her robe and guide her to her feet and into the robe. I pull her against my chest and stroke her wet hair. I’m terrified to ask her this but I need to because this is a strong reaction for her to have, even if she did like her teacher.

I escort her into her bedroom with her still clinging to me, and sit on her bed. She nuzzles into my side and sniffles.

“Cereus, did something else happen that you want to talk about?”

She looks up at me with bloodshot eyes and a red nose. “What do you mean?”

“Just last night you went on a date and ended up coming in late and . . .” I trail off.

She laughs and shakes her head, knowing what I’m getting at. “No, Mom. Matt is in love with you. He wouldn’t try that on me.”

“So why so upset? Did anything else happen?”

“Apart from someone caving my teacher’s skull in?” she asks sarcastically.

“Okay.” I squeeze her and she sniffles a couple more times and then speaks.

“I don’t really care much.” She gazes up at me with a look of guilt and insecurity. “He was being a douche to me lately and apart from him teaching my favorite subject there is no connection that ties me to him so I kind of don’t care.”

I lift her chin so she’s face to face with me. “He was murdered,” I state and she shrugs.

“I know and that’s a crime and it’s horrible that someone died that way but apart from knowing that I don’t feel any different and it scares me that I don’t care.”

I pull her into me and hug her as tight as I can without cutting of her air supply. “Get dressed and come downstairs. I’ll fix us something to eat.”



After eating homemade hamburgers in front of the TV we sat and watched two movies, letting the world outside slip away. It was nice to spend mother/daughter time together. I just wish it were under different circumstances. My new chief editor called my phone a couple of times to run me through his plans for what he was going to print in the evening paper about the death, and I was pleased he called me to confirm it was okay before doing his job and just running the story. He’s proving it was good decision to hire him and I actually feel like I have someone I can rely on. I always had dreams and high goals when it came to work but when I fell pregnant before my dreams for a career could even take off, I planned to be a success at being a Mom and I was lucky enough to have the resources financially to make that happen.

Blake’s feet carry across the tiled floor in the kitchen and he drops into a chair, throwing down his phone and keys. He rubs his hands down his head, his shirt is ripped and there’s some blood staining the fabric.

“What happened?”

He looks up and exhales. “Nothing. I got too close to some evidence. I need to shower.” He exits as fast as he came in and heads up stairs. I fight with myself for ten minutes just staring at his phone before I pick it up and brush my thumb across the screen. I hated myself for being this insecure, for us coming down to me looking at his phone. I try telling myself I’m checking to see if it’s on as all my calls earlier went to voice mail but if that’s so, then why have I clicked on the messages and why is my heart pounding so loud in my ears and my hands shaking, blurring the screen?

Inbox

Message from: Jenna

That’s fine. I have an hour free this afternoon albeit my munch hour. Meet at Elfrados?

I exit the screen and place the phone where he left it, forcing back the beckoning tears.

Ten minutes later he’s showered and in clean clothes.

“What did you find out about Mr. Wallis?”

“Won’t know much until forensics are back and the autopsy is carried out but it was messy so there’s bound to be some evidence that will help us get the guy.” He walks over to me and attempts to kiss me but I feel sick “What’s going on Mel? Why do you flinch every time I touch you?”

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