Rags to Riches

Chap 4 "A Dark Past"

Lorie's POV

Will didn't push me after I told him I didn't wanna talk about it. I went to 51, the next day, where I felt I would be safe. "Hey Sylvie," I stated.

"Lorie," Sylvie stated as she looked at me. "What can I do for you?"

"Is there some place we can talk? Privately?" I asked. She nodded. "Thanks."

"Hey, Vi, I'll be back," Sylvie stated. I followed Sylvie to the conference room. She closed the door. "The floor is all yours."

"I think Will still has feelings for Natalie, I think I rushed into this marriage and I think my adopted brother might be stalking me," I sighed. Sylvie seemed like she was thinking. "Uh, Sylvie, I kinda need you to help me out here."

"I'll have to go with your adopted brother might be stalking you," Sylvie pointed.

"What?"

"What? You're not playing two truths and a lie?" Sylvie asked. I threw my hands up in frustration. "Okay, Lorie. I'm just messing with you, but what makes you think that?"

"Will and Natalie have worked side by side for years. A lot longer than her and I have been together," I nodded. "Will and I aren't clicking like we were when we were on our honeymoon. He's distant."

"And your adopted brother?"

"Me and him don't really see eye to eye," I replied as I sat down. "I didn't tell anyone about him. His name is Rylan."

"Okay," Sylvie sat down.

"I was molested and raped by him," I looked at Sylvie. "He was arrested. I think he was released from prison."

"Well, we can check," Sylvie replied as she got out her phone. "Here."

"Thanks," I sighed. I looked up his information. "He was released on good behavior and he's come to Chicago." I looked at Sylvie. "No one knows I'm in Chicago except for — Dad."

"Do you think he went to see your dad? Is that possibly why he's here?"

"Probably," I nodded. "I have to go." I was walking out to my car. I felt eyes on me. I got into my car and drove to the 21st District. I walked in. "Hey, Trudy. Can you buzz me up to Intelligence?"

"Sure," Trudy rolled her eyes.

"Thanks," I replied. I went up to Intelligence. I went to Jay's desk. "Hey, Jay."

"Lorie," Jay looked at me. "Why are you here? And how did you get up here?"

"Trudy buzzed me up, and I need you to go with me to Turner," I looked at him. "I'll explain it on the way."

"Okay," Jay replied as he grabbed his jacket. "Let's go."

"Thanks," I stated. We got into Jay's truck and he started driving. "The guy you saw on the camera, I think it might be Rylan, my adopted brother. I think he's looking for me." Jay nodded. "He's been in prison but he was just released on good behavior. No one knows I live in Chicago other than my dad. I'm afraid he's hurt my father."

"Lorie, I need you to tell me what's up with this guy," Jay stated. I confided in Jay, a lot more than I confided in Will. We got to Turner, he pulled up to my house. We walked to the front door and it was cracked open. "Wait out here."

"Jay," I stated as he went inside. I waited for probably five seconds before walking in. "Dad?!"

"Lorie," Jay turned to look at me.

"What?" I asked. We heard muffles coming from the kitchen. We walked in and Dad was tied to a chair and gagged. "Dad." I untied him and took the rag out of this mouth. "Did Rylan do this?"

"Yes," Dad nodded. "He was going after you. I'm so sorry. He saw your wedding invitation on the fridge." I sighed. "I am so sorry."

"It's fine, Dad," I replied. "I figured he was out."

"How'd you know?" Dad asked.

"Jay has a camera posted outside in the hallway of our apartment," I stated. "It's so he can keep an eye on our place if anything were to happen. Rylan happened to show up in the camera."

"I regret ever letting that monster into our lives and now he won't leave," Dad nodded. "I wanted to believe so bad that he could be a good man, but after what he did to you, I just couldn't."

"I'm just glad you believed me when you did," I replied. "Who knows what would've happened if I hadn't told you."

"Yeah," Dad sighed.

"I gotta get back to Chicago, in case he's there when Will gets home," I stated. I gave Dad a hug. "I love you." Jay and I went back to Chicago. "What do I do now?"

"Well, I can have patrol sit outside for protection," Jay sighed. "If anything, we can have an eye on you and we can grab him if we see him."

"Jay, I don't want to live my life in fear," I nodded. "I can take care of myself. I just had to make sure it was him." Jay walked me to my apartment. "Thank you for going to Turner with me. I'll see you later." I walked into my apartment and Will was sitting at the table. I closed the door. "Hey. We need to talk."

"Can I do it first?" Will asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "Go ahead."

"I haven't been fair to you," Will stated. "You deserve someone as committed to you as you are to him, and I haven't been that person." He put a manilla envelope on the table. "Those are annulment paperwork."

"This is about Natalie, isn't it?" I asked.

"How'd you know?" he asked.

"Will, it's not that hard to put two and two together," I nodded. "You should've been upfront about this since the beginning."

"I don't know if she has feelings for me, but I have feelings for her, and I can't go on pretending."

"All this time? Pretending?"

"I do care about you, Lorie," Will stated.

"Forget it," I nodded. I opened the envelope and sighed the papers. "I'll get my stuff out of your apartment." I went to the bedroom with tears falling down my face. I packed up my suitcases, took off my ring, left it on the table with my keys, and left the apartment. I went to my car and sat there just crying for what seemed like hours. I pulled myself together and got out my phone. I called Sylvie. She picked up. "Sylvie?"

"Lorie, it's like one in the morning," she sounded like she was sleeping.

"Sorry, I didn't know who else to call," I replied.

"Lorie, are you okay?" Sylvie asked. "You sound like you've been crying."

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Come on over," Sylvie stated.

"Thank you," I replied. I drove to Sylvie's place. I grabbed my travel duffel and went to her apartment. I knocked. She opened the door and I just broke. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Sylvie stated. She hugged me and closed the door. She brought me over to the couch. "What happened?" I told Sylvie everything that happened. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I think I'm going back to Turner tomorrow."

"What about your brother?" Sylvie asked.

"I don't know," I sighed. My phone rang and I picked up. "Hello."

"Hey, Lorie," Jay stated. "They have an unidentified male being pulled out of the river. I'm going to send you a picture. I need you to tell me if you can identify him."

"Okay?" I asked. I put him on speaker. The messages popped up. "Jay, that's Rylan."

"That's Rylan?" Jay asked. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive," I nodded.

"Alright, thanks," Jay hung up.

"My brother isn't an issue anymore," I shrugged. "He's not a problem I'm going to solve."

"Okay," Sylvie stated. "You promise you'll still come and visit though?"

"Yes, I'll come visit from time to time," I nodded. "Thank you for being here for me when I need you."