Page 112 of No Fear

They had moved via tunnels to a secondary house and were staying underground to be safe.

“I agree. Spread the word.”

“The embassy?”

Omar studied his brother. “Exactly as we planned.”

***

CHARLIE WOKE WITH A smile on her face. Lifting her head slightly, she watched the slow rise and fall of Donnie’s chest. She was here, in his bed, and he’d asked her to stay in Coronado with him. A thrill ran down her back. He wanted her. James Donaldson wanted her.

She wanted to move in with him. Be with him every moment she could, but her cautious self warned her to not get in too deep too quick. Get her own place. Have a little space. Let him show that trust he’d been talking about.

Trust. It’s a big deal in any relationship. Did she think Donnie would hurt her? Cheat on her? Leave? Her eyes roamed over his face so relaxed in sleep. The ladies were right. He had been a heartbroken, shocked, nineteen year old when he’d left. He was older now. He had taken responsibility for what he did, and when he promised her last night he would never leave, she believed him. Did she trust him with her heart? Would she trust any man with her heart? In her eyes, trust needed to be earned.

She quietly got out of bed, pulling on Donnie’s T-shirt. From the bathroom, she went to the kitchen to make coffee. The sun was just rising, so she stood at the floor to ceiling window and watched the beautiful orange ball peek above the horizon. Her phone buzzed from the coffee table. As she waited for the coffeemaker to heat, she opened her notifications to see an email from Martin with several attachments.

Glancing around, she spotted Donnie’s laptop next to the TV. He wouldn’t mind if she signed into her email. It would be much easier to read the information Martin had sent over.

She set the laptop on the kitchen island and opened the lid. The screen came to life, showing a scenic mountain picture. Mm, not what she would have guessed for his wallpaper. Moving her finger on the mouse pad, she was surprised to find it wasn’t locked, and an email account came up on screen. Her eyes were drawn to the first email. The title simply read ‘Simon.’ The mouse hovered over it.

Simon? Her Simon? Jeez, she was being paranoid. Donnie probably knows other Simons, and she should not be reading other people's emails. Time to open a web page and log in to her own email account. She moved the mouse and minimized the account, not prepared for what was behind it.

At first Charlie didn't notice him. Too shocked by what was going on in the photo, then wondering why Donnie had such a thing on his laptop. Two men and one woman. She recognized the woman first. Dominique. Her perfectly manicured nails were wrapped around a cock. It was then she saw him. Simon. Dominique had her hands around Simon's cock while another man was riding her from behind.

It sure hadn't taken Simon long to move on. To think he’d been calling her, trying to get her back. She moved the mouse, seeing the arrow indicating there were more photos. Slowly, she scrolled, growing sicker to her stomach. Simon was in each one in different positions and not just with Dominique. There were other women and men. Charlie felt sick. Did this just happen, after they split? A thousand questions flooded her brain, but the biggest one was why the hell were these pictures on Donnie's computer.

No longer caring about privacy, Charlie reopened Donnie’s email account window and clicked the email titled ‘Simon.’

Here’s the proof you asked for. He’s been quite the regular at these parties for years.

I already sent you the emails on the agreement between him and his lawyer. Let me know if you want anything else.

She had a lucky escape.

Regular for years? Simon had been doing this for years? Before they were together and possibly during? No. He wouldn’t have. Why would he ask her to marry him if he wanted this other lifestyle? Maybe she changed him. Maybe she was the one that made him stop his partying.

Charlie glanced at the sender, but the email address was a bunch of numbers and letters, so she had no way of knowing who sent it. She searched the inbox, clicking on another email from the same sender. This one had copies of other emails attached. Reading, her stomach dropped. No. This couldn’t be true. Tears rolled down her face and her heart raced as the words sunk in. She flicked between the pictures and the email until it all became a blur. Nausea rose up her throat. She just made it to the bathroom before throwing up.

“Charlie? Are you OK?”

She ignored Donnie as she continued to wretch. She dry heaved until finally she slumped against the side of the bath, a mix of tears and snot.

“Charlie? What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Donnie stood in the doorway, and she was thankful he couldn’t see her. She grabbed some toilet paper to blow her nose and wipe her face before unsteadily getting to her feet.

He had been looking into Simon. Why? He found out all this shit and not told her? Why would he let her be with Simon knowing what he was up to? None of it made sense.

“I feel a little off. Maybe I didn’t cook the sausages right.”

“Can I do anything?”

“No. I’m going to take a shower.” She needed a few minutes to think.

“Mm. I could join you?” He smiled.

“I’ve been sick. I’d rather shower alone.”