The Stand-In Wife Chapter 05

The Stand-In Wife Chapter 05

Three days passed. I didn’t hear from Leah. 

But I got a call from Dad’s caregiver. 

Dad’s condition had taken a turn, the caregiver said. 

Could I come back? 

I booked a train ticket that same day and went back to 

Ash Creek. 

Dad was in rough shape. I didn’t sleep that night. I stayed by his side. By morning, thank God, he’d 

stabilized. 

Around noon, the caregiver told me to go get 

something to eat and rest. I was walking out of the 

hospital when someone called my name. 

I turned around. “Brianna?” 

“Wow, it really is you.” Brianna came over, smiling. “I 

almost didn’t recognize you.” 

My eyes flicked to the prescription in her hand. “Are 

you- 

“I’m pregnant,” Brianna said with a grin. “Just found 

out. But the doctor said things are a little iffy, so I’m on 

some meds.” 

“Congratulations,” I said with a smile. After a pause, 

“Are you still working at 

” 

“I quit,” Brianna said. “How could I keep doing that kind of work while I’m pregnant? Besides, I want a fresh start somewhere else. This town’s too small. 

Everyone knows everyone. I don’t want that for my 

kid.” 

I nodded. 

“Haven’t seen you in forever. Want to grab a bite?” 

I hadn’t slept all night and was pretty tired, so I shook 

my head. “Rain check.” 

“Just a quick meal.” Brianna grabbed my hand. “I’m leaving soon. Who knows when you’ll be back here? We might never see each other again.” 

I had to eat lunch anyway, so I nodded. “Okay. 

Something nearby.” 

Brianna led me to a restaurant near the hospital. 

“Any private rooms?” 

“Room 1105.” 

The hostess walked us to 1105 and opened the door. A thick cloud of cigarette smoke hit me, and I coughed. 

Then I saw who was inside. 

It was a big room. Several men were sitting on a couch, 

smoking. 

“Sorry. Wrong room.” I grabbed Brianna and turned to 

leave. 

“Hold on!” The man in the middle stood up, his voice 

slick. “Well, well. Isn’t this Brianna and… Ella?” 

Brianna squeezed my hand gently. She turned and 

smiled. “Mr. Jeffrey. We’re in the wrong room. Sorry to 

disturb you.” 

“Nothing to be sorry about.” He took a couple of steps 

toward us. “We’re all eating anyway. Join us. I own this 

place. I used to take care of you girls back in the day. 

Now you can take care of me.” 

I turned and smiled. “Mr. Jeffrey, today’s really not a 

good day for us.” 

“Oh, yeah?” He tilted his head. “What’s the problem?” 

Brianna squeezed my hand. I knew what she meant. 

Don’t fight him head–on. 

The man in front of me was Jeffrey Hook, a local Ash 

Creek big shot. He’d been a regular at the Darkmoon Tavern. He had one defining trait: if you went along 

with him, he’d buy drinks forever. But if you pushed 

back even a little, he’d tear the whole place apart. 

“Ella,” he said, walking up to me. “You disappeared without a word back then. It broke my heart. Running into you today like this? It’s fate. Since you don’t want to eat with me, I won’t force you. Just have a drink with me, and you can leave.” He took a drag of his cigarette and blew out a slow smoke ring. “What do you say?” 

He walked back to the couch and sat down. Then he just 

looked at us. 

I pulled out my phone to call the cops. Brianna pushed 

it down. 

“Ella, what are you going to say? He hasn’t done anything. Don’t fight him on this. It’s one drink. Swallow your pride and get it over with. Don’t forget, your dad’s in that hospital. You’re not from around here anymore. You know how Jeffrey is. He’s a creep and a psycho. If he decides to hold a grudge and goes after your dad…” 

I took a deep breath. After a long moment, I put my 

phone back in my pocket. 

I turned to Jeffrey and smiled. “Okay. One drink.” 

“Now that’s what I like to hear!” He took a drag, then patted his thigh. “Come on. Sit right here while you 

drink.” 

I didn’t move. 

Brianna nodded at me. I knew she was telling me to 

bear it. 

I walked over, sat down on his lap, and picked up a glass from the table. “Mr. Jeffrey. Cheers.” 

“Little princess,” one of the other men said with a 

leering grin, “that’s not much of a toast. Shouldn’t you do it mouth to mouth?” 

Jeffrey looked up at me with raised eyebrows. 

I smiled. “Mr. Jeffrey, don’t make things hard for me. You know me. I just sold drinks. I don’t do –” 

“Ella,” Jeffrey said, his fat, greasy hand sliding across my waist. “I’m not trying to make things hard for you. Either you give me that drink mouth to mouth, or ” 

His hand slipped under my sweater, stroking my skin. “Take off this annoying sweater and let the boys get a 

look at that waist of yours.” 

“Ah-“Brianna suddenly bent over, clutching her 

stomach, her face twisted in pain. 

“Brianna?” I started to get up to help her, but Jeffrey 

grabbed me. 

“Have your drink, and I’ll let you go. You know me, Ella.” His voice was low. “I’m a proud man. You make me look good in front of the boys, and I’ll keep my 

word.” 

Brianna’s face was beaded with sweat. 

I looked at her, bit my lip, and turned to Jeffrey. “Mr. Jeffrey, if I do this, you’ll let us go immediately?” 

“My word,” he said. 

I took a deep breath. Then I pulled off my sweater and 

threw it on the floor. 

“Mr. Jeffrey. Cheers.” 

“Damn,” one of the men whistled. “Nice body.” 

“Knock it off,” Jeffrey said, typing something on his 

phone. He glanced at the guy. “This is a classy joint.” 

I endured his hands roaming over me, just wanting 

him to finish the damn drink. 

Just then, the door slammed open. 

“Ella!” 

I froze. 

Leah rushed in, her face frantic. “Who are you? Get 

your hands off my sister!” 

“Sister?” Jeffrey looked at her, then at me. “Well, well. 

Ella, you’ve got a twin?” 

“Let her go. Now.” 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, miss,” one of the other men said. “What do you mean, ‘let her go‘? You see us forcing her to do anything? She sat on Mr. Jeffrey’s lap all by 

herself. She took off her own clothes.” 

“Forced?” Leah stared at me, disappointed. “Ella, you 

promised me you weren’t doing this kind of thing 

anymore.” 

I didn’t answer her. 

My eyes never left one person. 

Kane Nightwalker stood in the doorway, his eyes like 

ice, staring at me.