AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not this time.”
He stayed with me as I took pictures and emailed them from my phone to the officer in charge of my case. The whole time, he kept scanning the lot, looking for Guy to return. Thank goodness that didn’t happen. Then I dutifully walked beside Gord back to my car and got in as directed.
I locked the doors and started the engine, waving Gord back into the building so he’d be aware I was fine.
I wasn’t fine, but I didn’t need him to worry. That wouldn’t help anything.
He turned and headed back into the building, and I put my car in gear.
But then I froze.
There was a piece of paper shoved underneath the wiper blade, fluttering in the light wind.
I climbed out and ripped it free, getting back into the car and locking the doors again before I did anything else. My pulse battered its way through my veins and my hands shook as I unfolded it.
Guy’s familiar scrawl covered the sheet from a hotel note pad. At first, I couldn’t read it. Then I realized I was crying, and my tears had obscured my vision. I brushed the tears away with the sleeve of my coat and tried again.
I saw your boy toy kiss you outside the diner. I saw you making out with him that night at your brother’s house. I’ve seen you with your fag friends, too. Not to mention all those bitches and the kids. I’ve seen you trying to learn how to fight. I’ve seen you with your fucking pepper spray. Like any of that will help you. But you know what else I see, Cadence? I see when they’re all gone. When it’s only you.
Like now.
When I finally looked up from the note, Guy was standing halfway across the lot, directly in front of me. He waved and blew me another kiss, exactly like last time.
Without another thought, I picked up my phone and blindly dialed, then put the car into gear and hit the gas, heading straight for him. He jumped out of the way right before I would have otherwise hit him, falling to the ground and rolling.
“Hello? Cadence?” It was Levi’s voice on the other end of the line, which instantly helped to calm me.
“Hi.” My voice cracked.
“What’s wrong?”
Everything. Everything was wrong, because I was alone, and this bastard wouldn’t leave me be, and the thing I wanted most in the world right at this moment was to fall into Levi’s arms, for him to hold me until I stopped shaking, but he was all the way across the country. “I’m going to the police,” I forced out, turning my car in that direction, clutching the note between my hand and the steering wheel so I couldn’t possibly lose it.
I didn’t look in my rearview mirror. Couldn’t stand the thought of seeing Guy any more than was absolutely necessary.
“Okay,” Levi said. “Good. Why? What’d he do this time? And are you all right? He didn’t touch you, did he?”
“No. I’m fine.” I wasn’t. That was about as far from the truth as possible. “He was at the rink again. Left a note on my car.”
“A note? What kind of note?” His voice was clipped. Angry. But not at me.
“Threats. More threats.” A tear fell down my cheek.
“Take it to the police. You’ve got evidence this time. Maybe now they can do something about the son of a bitch.”
“I am.” Despite my better intentions, I sniffled. “Driving there now.”
“You’re crying. Try not to cry while you’re driving. That’s never good.”
I knew that all too well. “Trying.” Then I sniffled again.
There was a sound like he’d slammed a door or punched a wall. “Fuck, I wish I was there.”
“I do, too.”
“A couple more days. Two more days, and then we’ll be home. When do Anthony and Jesse get back?”
“Monday. Same as you.” Too long. I was starting to think maybe I shouldn’t go back to the house. Was it safe for Sara and the kids if I was there? Wouldn’t Guy leave them alone if I wasn’t with them? I wasn’t so sure.
