I kiss her lips softly and hope to convey with my mouth what I am too chicken to say with my words.
“Do you want to do something today?” I ask.
She nods her head, her eyes shining.
I smack her arse softly. “Go get ready, then. I’ll clear this up.”
Violet doesn’t need to be told twice as she jumps up.
Going into the living room, I grab my phone and turn the power back on. I need to let Henry know I won’t be at the gym this afternoon. I want to spend some time with my woman.
Heading back to the table, I start stacking the plates when I get voicemail notifications. It’s Naomi crying, but I can’t make out the words.
I hang up, and then texts start coming through. Naomi, saying she’s hurt and in hospital. As I read them, I see red.
“Fucking cunt.”
Violet comes rushing in, her eyes wide from my outburst.
“What is it?”
“I’m going to kill him.” I clench my fists, unable to keep my rage at bay.
Violet reaches out for me, but I take a step back.
“Nathan, what is it?” she asks again, worried.
I hand her my phone as I pace, and she covers her mouth and lets out a small gasp.
“Shit,” she says.
“You think?”
Her eyes narrow on mine.
“The fucker is going to pay for this.”
Violet holds up her hands as if to placate me.
“Nathan, you need to calm down,” she says, her voice almost drowned out by the ringing in my ears.
“How the fuck am I meant to calm down? You’re the one who told me to ignore my phone, and now she’s in hospital getting a cast for a broken arm and stitches.”
She blanches at my outburst, her eyes turning into slits.
“Are you seriously blaming this on me?”
I grip my hair and begin pacing. “I need to go.”
Violet reaches out to stop me, her hand grabbing my wrist, but I yank it away, and this time she flinches.
And at this moment, I couldn’t hate myself more.
“Where are you going?” she calls after me.
“I’m going to take care of this once and for all.”
I hear her say “Oh shit” as I pull the door open so hard it hits the wall from the force.
