“That wasn't what it looked like Briella. You know that deep down.”
“Do I?” I arched an eyebrow at him in question. “Because I'm pretty sure I don't. Why don't you explain it to me, Tommy? Why don't you tell me why a club whore was in your room with you when you were naked? Why I overheard that she had been in your room all day?” I silenced him with a glare when he opened his mouth to talk. “What did you do, get straight into bed with someone else the moment you left me?”
“Of course not.” He sounded outraged. “I would never do that. The fight…”
He didn't have any right to be offended. Turning my back on him, I took a second to compose myself. “Oh, that's ok then. After our fight you took a few hours before you fucked someone else… that makes it all better.”
“Briella, stop this.” Roughly, he pulled me around so I was facing him. “I didn't sleep with anyone else. I didn't even touch her. If you never believe another word out of my mouth then believe that.”
“You have in the past though right?”
He paused for a moment too long.
He didn't need to answer. I could see the answer on his face as clear as day. “Thought so.”
“Once Briella. I’ve been with Tammy once. Before I met you and I imagined it was you the whole time Tammy is nothing to me. You on the other hand are everything.”
“Everything huh?” I scoffed. “Is that right?”
“Yes.” He didn't even hesitate.
“I want to believe you.” I was cracking already. Just like I knew I would.
“Then believe me, Briella. Believe in us and come home.” Tommy's eyes drifted around the room. “How did you even get here?”
“I grabbed a lift from a passing car.”
Tommy's face twisted, and his lips thinned. “You hitchhiked? Jesus, woman, do you know how dangerous that was?”
“She was about eighty. I think I could have managed to overpower her.” I rolled my eyes at him.
“Still you need to promise me that you won't do that again. I hate thinking about you in danger.” Like feathers, his fingertips brushed down my arm. “You look beautiful tonight.” He whispered and I felt myself melting. “Can we go home now so I can show you just how fucking crazy I am about you?”
I wanted that. More than anything. I wanted to believe him.
“Tommy?” Somehow my cheek was against his chest and his hands were smoothing their way down my hair and up my thighs. “You said you would do anything, right?”
“Yes, anything.” Ducking his head, his lips found my pulse and sucked. My head fell back as I let myself be swept away by the sensations he was flooding my body with.
“Will you help me get the children back?”
“No.” Pulling away, he held me at arm’s length. “They are gone, Briella. You need to stop.”
I yanked myself out of his hands. “You need to leave.”
“What?” Genuine confusion swept across his face.
“Leave. I have to do this. I have to get them back, and if you won’t help me then...” I took a deep breath filling my lungs with oxygen and straightening my shoulders. I kept the pain I was feeling deep inside. Locked away. I couldn't risk him seeing it on my face. “If you can't or won't help me then you need to go. This relationship is over.”
“Briella.” Tommy's voice shook as he reached for me again. I side stepped him easily this time. “We could be good together, we could…”
“Just leave Tommy. Don't contact me again.”
