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  Chloe

  Book 3 in the Attainment Series

  J. H. Cardwell

  Copyright © 2014 J. H. Cardwell All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-1495422669

  ISBN-10: 1495422666

  Prologue: Sixteen years earlier.

  “Daddy pwease don’t weave me,” she grabbed at his knees, trying for all she was worth to make her thirty pound body hold him in place. “I’ll be a good girl. I pwomise Daddy. I won’t cry anymore Daddy. I won’t even talk eiver. Pwease Daddy!” Her lip was quivering as she was trying to keep her promise of not crying.

  He knelt down to Chloe’s level, locking his worn out, gray eyes to her vibrant, beautiful blue/green abysses. “Sugar,” he looked away with a pinched expression. His chin was trembling now. “I’ll be back okay? Now you be a good little girl for your Aunt Ronnie, and maybe if you keep all of your promises, I’ll be back sooner than later.” Staring at her one more time, and gently rubbing the back of his hand down her cheek, he quickly stood up, walking out the front door, and out of her life…forever.

  Twirling her long, brown curls round and round her fingers, she watched him leave; her back straight, she wouldn’t cry. No, she would keep her promises. She would be a perfect little girl. She would see her daddy again. She just knew if she kept her promises, he would keep his. If she were a good girl…

  Chapter 1

  May 2013

  UNC Wilmington, my dream college. I wish I could say it was all about the academics for me (although their programs are well recognized). Instead, it was about being near the beach, and the sound of the furious waves crashing to the shore. That’s what drew me. I’d been here for nearly four years, and I was barely pulling off a 3.0 GPA. I surely didn’t get here on a scholarship. Working two part-time jobs, I was trying to save every penny for when I graduated. I was deferring my loans until the month after I received my degree. The problem was, I had changed my major twice, and the bills were adding up, along with the time it would take for me to graduate.

  Part of me wanted to give up, and quit this crap. After all, being a quitter was instilled in me…my blood ran thick with the ‘don’t give a shit’ mentality. My genes were imprinted with lousiness.

  Once upon a time, I lived a fairytale life. I had a sweet mama, a strong daddy, and a cute little, happy baby brother. We lived in a quaint home, with a well-manicured lawn, and a pink and blue playhouse in the fenced-in back yard. All was right with the world.

  Until it wasn’t.

  My mom died while giving birth to my brother. I was seven years old. I heard the story a hundred times growing up. First from my father, then from my Aunt Ronnie. My mom had a brain aneurysm and died hours after delivering my sweet baby brother. She got to hold him once before they swept him away. Evidently my father died, emotionally, that day too. He was never the same laughing, carefree, protecting father again. He became just a walking vessel with no soul. He never smiled again in my presence. He never held my brother…ever.

  Yes, he died that day.

  My Mom’s sister, Ronnie, took us in and cared for us; at least in the physical sense. We had a roof over our heads, food to eat (even if it was mostly Ramen Noodles), and transportation to and from school. Beyond that, we were on our own. Oh, Ronnie was a lot of fun. She loved to have parties and she had a load of friends - but she wasn’t prepared for kids when she inherited us at the young age of 23. She was sure to let us know often how much we were crimping her style.

  Looking back, I get it. Hell, I’m near the same age as she was when my ‘father’ left us with her. I can’t imagine someone dropping my brother’s kids at my house and expecting me to drop everything to raise them. Except, no worries there; that wouldn’t happen. My brother, Noah, my heart and soul, died when he was six years old from Leukemia. I was soon turning thirteen when he died. Little by little I was becoming alone in the world. No parents, no grandparents, no siblings…I was lost. That was the year I changed. I decided if this is the kind of life I’d have for being the perfect little girl, I didn’t want any part of it. I decided to break my promises. After all, Daddy wasn’t coming back, was he?

  But enough with the freakin’ drama! I’m over it, really. Time to move on. Oh wait, I already have. My friends are the main reason for that - Maura, Reese, and Elle. For years they were my reason for existing. Now I’m here at school with Maura. God, I love her. For every dumb, crazy decision I make, she makes a smart, well thought out one. We balance each other well. Thankfully! It’s no secret. I need someone to help me make life choices. After all, I no longer think with my head or my heart. I typically let drive and motivation lead the way. Drive, to be as separated from reality as possible.

  I’ve been cramming for my finals this week. Maura’s been drilling me with questions and making me sleep with headphones on with the pre-recorded notes she dictated into my smart phone. I tell her that doesn’t really help, but I’ll take any chance of brain cell absorption I can get. I keep telling myself to party after school is through, not before. I need to ace these exams. I have to finish college and move on with my life, I’m guessing alone at this point.

  Reese is married now, to her high-school sweetheart, Tate. They are one, big, happy family with an adorable baby boy, Ty. The perfect life, that’s what she has. Elle is engaged to Finn, and they plan to get married at the end of this year. And, I already have the inside scoop on Maura. She doesn’t know it yet, but Harrison is getting ready to propose to her. I’m SO happy for my girl, I really am. Envy is a bitch though. I REALLY want to just soak up their sunshine, but it’s not in my blood. Again, lousiness lies there, remember? True love is a false belief. And even if you think you have it, beware…nothing lasts forever.

  Brett, you ask? Brett is a charmer, a looker, and a great kisser. He’s the only guy I’ve ever been with, been with…ever. Well, most people believe it has to have been more, but I swear…I’m really not like that. However, I certainly know how to grab all the guys’ attention. And Brett, I grabbed his alright. I like the guy, I really do, but…I don’t know. I just don’t have it in me to love like that. Not to mention, he’s had the life of a rich boy; never losing anything important to him. He’s never experienced the loss of something or someone that left him bone-chilling empty and desolate.

  Psychoanalysis, which I’ve never had professionally done by the way, would say it was daddy issues, and a life of loss. But, that’s bullshit! I love my friends, so I know I have it in me, I just don’t want it. If loving someone with all of your heart can crush you like I’ve seen it all too often, I don’t want any part of it. Reese was stripped of love last summer and it almost killed her. John was stripped of Reese’s love, and he almost crumbled to dust at her wedding to Tate. Then the unthinkable, yeah you guessed it, my daddy. His only true love died having the baby she wanted, that my dad hadn’t wanted to even try for. He left everything behind to grovel in a lifetime of grief. My dad only wanted a life with my mom. He would have been happy without kids, or so my Aunt Ronnie says. My mom talked him into having me, then my little brother. He ultimately lost her completely. So, love…It’s SO overrated!

  Chapter 2

  “Chloe?..Chloe? Earth to Chloe.” Maura slammed a book on our small kitchen table.

  “Damn it Maura. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I said throwing my hand over my chest after nearly jumping out of my skin. I breathed in and out deeply to help get my heart-rate back under control.

  “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just talking away for a few minutes before I realized you we
ren’t listening to a word I was saying. Are you okay?” Maura asked, walking over to me and leaning on the edge of the table.

  “Yeah sure, I’m fine. I was just…never mind.” I said stacking up my notes and straightening my study guides, never once looking straight at Maura. She would know. She had witnessed me zoning out more times than I would like to admit to. She never pushed me, but I had gotten tipsy enough… actually on several occasions, only to divulge too much personal information. I mean all of my friends knew about my sucky childhood, but I wasn’t one to dwell. Or at least they thought I was made of steel, and had moved far enough away from those hurtful memories. The truth was, those memories…well, they molded the ‘me’ I am today.

  “Whatever you say Chloe.” She brushed her hand out in the air. “Anyway…I was just trying to make sure you were good with the flight information I sent you? I’m SO excited to go stay with Elle and Finn! I can’t believe we get to stay the summer with them!”

  “Girl! I AM ready! I can’t wait to have no worries, no responsibilities, and endless guys at my feet.” I laughed out loud. “I really can’t wait for it to be US again…all of us. I need that more than you know.” I was looking down again, I’m sure a little too seriously.

  “Um…Chloe, I know you better than you think I do. You’ve been off for a while now. You need a mental and physical break from this life. You know, the one you’ve deemed as man-da-to-ry.” She cleared her throat. “The one where you think we don’t see how much you hurt.” Maura was staring at me now…daring me, in her

  ‘I’m scared shitless if you flinch at me’ way. Little does she know, she scares me to death…scares me for how much of ‘me’ she really sees.

  But, that I will never admit to.

  “You’re right about one thing Maura,” I said in a very calm, matter-of-fact way. “You’re right that I need some time away from reality…from school! Hell, girl! I’m ready to par-tee! I jumped up and grabbed my Coke, and giving a fake cheers in the air I headed toward my room. She was quickly coming up behind me.

  “Chloe, I’ve been meaning to ask if you ever called your Aunt Ronnie back. She’s left you two messages on the house phone now.” Maura gave me a sympathetic smile. “You can’t avoid her forever.”

  Letting out a deep breath I spoke slowly. “I’m not trying to…well, actually I am. But I’ll call her back, I promise.” Maura tapped the door gently and started off down the hall.

  “I’ll keep reminding you in case you happen to forget again.” Her voice trailed after her, slamming up against my conscience. Oh, I haven’t forgotten, I thought. I just can’t bear to drudge through the past right now. My heart won’t let me recover too many more times. I’m sure of it.

  Taking a mental checklist of what I had left to do before my final exam, I heard my phone vibrating on my dresser. Brett’s hunky face was lighting up my home-screen. Not feeling like talking, I let it go to voicemail. Two seconds later my phone pinged.

  Hey smoking hot sex on

  legs. How’s my babe?!

  Call me back. Party plans

  to divulge!!

  Oh Brett…I’m…Ahhh…I don’t know what I am. Anyhow, I decided to text him back later. Throwing my hair back up in a somewhat neater ponytail, and changing into leggings, a long tunic, and flats, I headed to my last lit class for the semester. Time to ace this thing and move on…hopefully.

  **

  Three hours, and two cups of coffee later, I was all but hopping back to our apartment, feeling pretty good about things. School was over for a while, and I was PUMPED to be heading back to California. I needed some damn good girl-time!!

  Just as I was nearing the apartment, Maura was running out shaking her head and all but smashing into me. I dropped my bag and grabbed her shoulders.

  “Oh God, what’s wrong Maura? What happened?” I wiped her tear-stained cheeks. “Why are you crying?” I couldn’t imagine what had happened. If it was Harrison who had hurt her, I was going to kick his ass!

  “Reese…she’s…oh God Chloe,” she said between sobs. I could barely understand her but by God I was going to get to the bottom of this.

  “What! What happened to Reese, Maura? Calm down and tell me!” I was all but yelling at her, shaking her now.

  “She…she can’t find Tyler. He’s…he’s gone Chloe…GONE!” She was looking from side to side making crazy motions in the air with her hands. “One minute he’s in the living room, and the next, the alarm is going off, and the sirens are blaring, and, and she’s screaming.” My heart was racing so fast I thought I was going to pass out listening to Maura ramble on breathlessly. I was imagining Reese’s fear. “The front door was cracked open, and,” she paused to take a breath. “They still can’t find Ty! They think someone took him!” Maura fell into my arms crying.

  “No! Maura, this is crazy! What can we do? We’ve got to help them!” My mind was still trying to catch up with the reality of the situation. “I’m calling Elle right now.” I said with a throaty voice. I couldn’t cry. Not yet. I needed answers first. I needed answers NOW! Where was that sweet baby of Reese and Tate’s?

  After a broken conversation with Elle, we decided to fly out in the morning to California. I needed to lay eyes on Reese and hug her…hard! I needed to…Ahhh! I don’t know what I needed, but staying here doing nothing was not an option. This change of plans would put us leaving for our summer vacation just a couple of weeks early. Although at this point, vacation was the last thing on my mind. After a few calls in to my part-time jobs, I was set to leave. I was sure sleep would never find me tonight…

  Chapter 3

  The long flight and two layovers to California from North Carolina were brutal! I know we booked our flights last minute, but come on!! I mean a twenty minute span of time between arriving in Atlanta at gate C22 and taking the trailcar to A18 is not enough time! Somehow, fate was in our favor and we made it there just as they were closing the aircraft door. On the flipside, having a three hour layover in Houston, was draining and laced with so much fear and worry. It did give us time to check in with Elle, to which there was devastatingly, no change. Ty was still missing. Reese and Tate were still frantic, and we were still an emotional mess! Many prayers and long stretches of silence later, we were hugging and crying with Reese and Elle.

  I was saddened but not shocked at how worn down and empty Reese seemed. I know she couldn’t have gotten much sleep, or food in the past couple of days. I could barely stand to see the look of what appeared to be defeat on her face. She was a zombie of sorts.

  “Elle, we have to do something.” I whispered through clenched teeth. “I can’t believe we’re just sitting around here waiting for news to come in.” I wanted to take flyers everywhere, pound on neighbor’s doors. Whatever it took!

  “I know.” Elle gave me a sincere look, “it’s all over the news though Chloe. The best we can do to help is to just hang here for moral support for Tate, Reese, and their family.” Elle wiped tears from her cheeks while her lips trembled. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said with a ragged breath. “God, they have to find him.” Finn walked over and hugged Elle. His eyes were red and his face solemn.

  Maura was talking on the phone to Harrison. No doubt he was holding her up, even if it was over a long distance call. Just then my phone rang.

  Brett.

  “Hey.” I said with barely a whisper.

  “Damn Chloe! I’ve been trying to reach you for a while. You must have had your phone turned off.” Brett said with a frustrated tone.

  “Yeah. I got sick of turning it on and off for the flights. Nothing’s changed Brett. I’m sure Harrison has filled you in by now. So why are you so pissed?!”

  “Whoa, wait, what do you mean? I’m not pissed Chloe, just worried. I’m worried for all of you, but I hate to think of you being so afraid, and all the way across the country.”

  “Hmph. Save it Brett. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. You of all people should know that. Go on back to
Celeste, I’m sure she wouldn’t want you worrying over me.”

  “Damn it Chloe! I will always worry about you, you know that. But I also know you don’t want me to.” Brett let out a harsh breath. His voice got quieter, “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I…I’m sorry you and your friends are having to go through this Chloe. Call me if you need anything. I won’t hold my breath though. You’re right, you’re a big girl, and you never need anyone…much less me.”

  The hurt was always present in Brett’s voice now. I heard it every time I talked with him. He’d moved on to Celeste. He should back off. We were friends now, and nothing more. I had a lot of fun with Brett over the last couple of years, but I am in no way interested in a long-term relationship. Why in the hell did he have to tell me over Christmas that he was falling in love with me? Brett…Mr. Partier himself. He of all people should know love will only screw up what we had. He was so frustrating! Besides, it took him all of three months to start seeing little Miss ‘I’m even too perfect for my own blond hair and big boobs, and dang it, straight A’s’ Celeste. But, what did I expect? I sent him packing after his declaration. We were great friends who had shared a lot, fun times and all.

  “Brett. I’m sorry. I…thanks for caring, really. I miss you already, and I’ll talk with you soon okay?” I really did miss him already. I was happy when I was with Brett, but I just didn’t love him like that.

  “Okay Chloe. Take care. I‘ll talk with you soon. By the way, John is freaking out. I think he’s working on something behind the scenes with this search for Ty. You know John, he won’t sleep until Reese’s son is found.”

  “Well, at least there’s one thing he’s good for…using his money. I’m sure he would love to be the one to uncover this horrible mystery. Bye Brett.” I hung up still thinking about Brett and Celeste. I knew Brett was a great guy. He would protect me at all costs, but I…I don’t know. I was definitely attracted to him. I mean Brett was sexy as hell. He was a hulk of a male specimen, and with his tanned arms and sandy blond hair he was cocky and rightly so. His looks alone were enough to woo any girl. It didn’t hurt that he had the coolest personality to go with it. I mean he is a known bad-ass and troublemaker. In fact, he was the person that convinced me to try ‘street drugs’ the first and only time I ever tried them. I know, don’t worry…it will NEVER happen again. My friends nearly killed me for that astronomical mistake!