AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tension redirects to my stomach, twisting and turning. I don’t want anyone knowing my business. I don’t need to hear how foolishly impulsive, how brazenly naive, and how needlessly idealistic I was. I’ve heard it all from my parents and Roman. I’m not hearing it from my friends. I rarely talk about Roman. Most times, I want London and our other friend, Holland, to forget I’m married. I don’t want them knowing that I’m sleeping at my studio through the divorce. I want them to think I’m as strong and capable as them.
What am I going to do?
London snakes her arm through mine. “I’m going to talk to Penni outside.”
She tugs me out the door to the spot we’d been standing in. “I’m sorry about my husband’s overprotectiveness.”
“It’s all right.” I press my fingertips to my temples. “I didn’t want to bother anyone with what I thought was an attention seeker.”
“Even if it was just that, you’re justified asking for help. But I can talk to Jacobi and make sure he doesn’t overstep his boundaries again.”
He will. If there’s a hint my drama will spill over to London, Jacobi will trample every single boundary. But he doesn’t look at me with blue eyes of derision like Cannon does.
“It’s Cannon I don’t like,” I admit.
Surprised, she says, “You seem to get along okay with him.”
“I ignore him, and he ignores me. That’s not getting along.”
“Oh.” She’s stunned. “I thought you were afraid he’d hit on you and you’re married.”
“It wouldn’t matter. I’m not interested.” I don’t need another man making me feel like I’m worth nothing. I study the finger I used to wear my ring on. The princess-cut diamond was obnoxiously huge, and I quit wearing it when I opened the studio. First, I took it off when I had classes to teach. And then it morphed into just never putting it back on. Roman didn’t comment. I left the ring at the house. He wouldn’t want me to have it. I don’t know how I know. I just do.
“Cannon really is good at what he does. Jacobi trusts him.”
I wrinkle my nose. If given a choice, I’d still hire Newland over Cannon, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to afford either one. “Doesn’t he work with Jacobi’s former maid to trick people into cheating on their spouses and take pictures to get paid for proving said spouses are cheaters?”
London opens her mouth like she’s going to say that’s absolutely not what he does, then closes it. “Well. Yes. But he’s helped with other things. I know he’s…unconventional.”
He’s unprofessional. “He can stay out of my business. I have an experienced investigator on this.”
“What does Roman say about it?”
I run my lower lip through my teeth, and her turquoise eyes widen.
“You haven’t told him?”
I shift my stance. God, I don’t want to admit this. Not now. I want time to lick my wounds, but I can’t lie to her. And I’m feeling extra vulnerable right now and could use her support. “I’m leaving him. I left him. This morning.”
“What?” she says on a gasp.
“He’ll get the divorce papers sometime today.” And react by having a whiskey and forgetting about it after telling his lawyer or going irate and reminding me what a disappointing wife I was.
Once again, she embraces me. I want to sink in and let her comfort me, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to gather myself again.
I rigidly straighten out of her hold. “I didn’t need my stalker troubles today.”
“You moved out?”
“It’s all his.”
She tilts her head. “But don’t you—”
“I was going to stay here.” Damn. That turned out differently than expected. I was determined not to tell her. But that was before someone had gotten into the studio. Before someone left me a sinister message with an unknown meaning behind it.
I don’t know if I can now. I won’t get one minute of sleep with the memory of all that blood. I can’t forget the furry mess on the floor. I can’t stop wondering what this means for me.
The sanctuary of my studio is destroyed.
“Why don’t you stay with us? For as long as you need.”
My eyes mist over. I lost my chance to say no when my stalker murdered a bunny.
I don’t want charity. I’ve been taken care of my whole life. This is supposed to be my time to be in charge of my life. My time to grow up and be independent. That time is going to have to wait. I don’t want to be alone right now.
