“Okay, I’m still going to speak softly, just in case. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Keep your face stoic. Don’t show any emotion.” I nod my head again. “Tatum, I’m really sorry that you’re going through all of this.” I furrow my brows and he nods his head. “My name is Dan. I am a doctor here. I’m not a part of this program, and I’m positive that this isn’t protocol, either.”
“Then why?” I ask him, quietly.
“Because we have a mutual friend.”
“I find it a little hard to believe that you two are friends.” I somehow immediately know who he’s talking about.
He smirks. “That’s a long story, but his mother’s death, it left a hole in this hospital, and is also why my name is associated with his birth.”
“You were in the desert with them?”
“Has he taken you out there?” Slowly, I nod my head and he looks really surprised. “Wow.” He pauses as he nods his head. “He was just here. He came and asked me to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t understand it, but he said his offer still stands, and he’s ready to set the fire. Just say the word. Does that make sense to you?”
“Yeah.” I whisper before I have to bite down onto my lip to stop from smiling.
“Tatum, I understand your circumstances are difficult.”
“That’s fucking putting it mildly.” I whisper.
“I understand. I’ve known him since he was born. I knew his parents very well. None of them care easily, but once they do. They do to a fault. He has resources. If he says he can protect you. He will do it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. If he does, what will he do to him?” I nod towards where Darren is still infatuated with the woman he’s talking to is at.
“Trust me, that family’s tougher than they look.”
“I’m not worried about him being tough. My husband’s not a good man. He won’t fight fair.”
Zane telling me he’ll never fight fair when it comes to me, sounds in my head again.
“What do you think he’ll do?”
“I think he’ll have him arrested. He’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that I’ll never be able to be with him.”
“And Zane will do whatever it takes to make sure that you don’t have to be with him, even if that means going to prison.” He says it very quickly.
“That’s just it. I don’t want that.”
“Tatum, let him do this. They have some of the best lawyers on their side.”
“And what if they can’t prove he’s innocent of whatever Darren tries to frame him for? He can’t sit in prison because I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot.” He shakes his head. “Your husband is a manipulative asshole.” He snaps back. “And Zane’s scared for you. Because what’s going to happen… I’m going to be blunt what I’ve seen happen on more than one occasion. Your husband will keep a hold on you until he kills you or you kill him. And what happens if you stick it out and you kill him? You’ll be tried and I wouldn’t be surprised if because it’s extreme situations, defending yourself, they’ll be no doubt that you were there and you did it. They’ll either try, and possibly successfully, make it seem like he never harmed you, or they’ll try to say that because of what happened, you are so traumatized that you will end up in a facility. And what do you think he’s going to do if that happens?”
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t either, and that’s terrifying to me. What do you think is going to happen when Darren tries to kill you? When he gets close or actually does it, what do you think our friend’s going to do?”
“Kill him.”
“Yeah, in a way that’s so emotional that he’s not gonna give a fuck if he gets caught or not. So Tatum, tell me if your reasoning is that you’re worried about him. What’s the best-case scenario?”
