AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Blood leeches from my face as more puzzle pieces snap together, painting a very dark picture. Remain calm. This guy is a certified psycho. If we weren’t in a public place, I’m certain he’d kill me and parade around with my head on a platter. I tamp down the hornets stinging my stomach.
His head tilts ominously side to side. It’s eerie, and my skin crawls with a million tiny spiders. This whole exchange is terrifying. I’m facing a truly evil man, in dark waters without a life jacket, so I calm my heart and pray not to drown.
“Don’t believe me? Just ask my wife.” He lets go in a half-assed attempt to push me away.
But I’m not done yet. We’re almost there, and I just need a little more. So I cackle, spurring him on. “Like you have any control over her addiction.” I continue to laugh and wipe my eyes. “Oh God. That’s good stuff.” Pointing a finger at him, I go for the kill. “You, sir, are a real comedian. ‘I’m her god’,” I mimic his words in a deep voice before chuckling again. “You don’t have any more control over her addiction than she does.”
“Oh, honey, that’s where you’re wrong.” He grins widely, showing off his coffee-stained teeth. “I’m her dealer.”
I widen my eyes because once he sees that I fear him, he’ll let me go, thinking he’s the victor. Thinking he has me under control.
With a smug smile and a puffed chest, he walks out of the room. My shoulders sag in relief because I am actually scared of him and what he’s capable of. I just need to remain one step ahead.
Luckily for me, I know how to strategize against an adversary. Unfortunately for him, I have evidence of assault, and pretty soon the police will find out he’s been drugging his wife.
Then he’ll know what it’s like to mess with a lioness defending her pride.
Chapter 26
A Queen With A Broken Crown
Mae
Between rehashing what happened between me and Mr. Fairchild, reassuring my best friend and their boyfriend that I was physically fine, and having nightmares about the whole damn thing, I did not get an ounce of sleep last night.
I did, however, get the recording I was hoping for. It’s all there, as clear as day and just as horrific as I remember.
Jay’s face pinched like they were sick to their stomach. I could tell they were trying to keep their anger under control by the way they mashed their molars, clenching their jaw. Thank Goddess for Ian and his effective soothing techniques. Jay and Ian are complements of each other—Yin and Yang. Two parts of a whole, where one does not function properly without the other.
Watching them together reminded me of how Remi is with me. The perfect calm to my madness. The sweet compliments to my self-flagellation.
As we sat on the floor with Isabel, making things out of Play-doh, I could see Remi here, and my heart ached. He just fits seamlessly.
I rocked Isabel, trying my damndest to sing Remi’s song for her without choking up. I failed, but she drifted off into dreamland peacefully. Instead of placing her in the pack ‘n play, I brought her to bed with me, all the while smelling her hair and rubbing her back. Isabel isn’t used to sleeping with me, but I think we both needed it last night.
I look like hell trudging into the hospital early this morning. From the looks of Kiara lying knees-bent across a small vinyl couch in the waiting room, she’s fairing worse than I am. She sits up when I approach, and I hand her a coffee.
“Thanks.” Her voice sounds thick and groggy.
“How was last night?” I ask. “Have you seen the doctor yet this morning?”
Setting her coffee down, she scrubs her face to perk her up. “Last night was uneventful, which is good news. And no, he’s supposed to update me around eight.”
I nod. “Your parents?” I keep my voice low in case the boogeyman pops around the corner.
“I’m not sure where they are, which is the scary part. I’m worried that my father will try for medical power of attorney.” Her tone is laced with disgust.
Over my dead body. Just the thought has my stomach seizing in trepidation.
“I wouldn’t put much past him.”
Me neither. I want to discuss what he told me last night, but now isn’t the time. Kiara is barely holding it together, and this will tear her apart. I will, however, talk to Detective Gracyk and give her the recording as she’s supposed to meet me here this morning. I called her about the incident and sent her pictures of my arm, which have dark purple bruises in the shape of fingers around it. She’s coming here to take her own pictures and see if there is any video surveillance footage.
Kiara pulls her bag to her lap, rifling through it. “I’m going to freshen up in the bathroom real quick. Will you call me if the doctor comes?”
“Of course, take your time. I’ll be here all day.”
She gives me a grateful smile. “How’s Isabel? I’m sorry I didn’t ask sooner, but with everything going on…”
