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Rhett’s eyebrows shoot up. “Damn, Evie, I take back what I said. You have nothing to worry about. Your dad is the best of the best.”
“He is?” I frown at myself when I hear how stupid the question sounds. “I mean, I know he is. I just don’t understand all the military and Navy terms.”
Rhett thinks a little before he says, “Remember that movie we watched, Lone Survivor?”
I have to really think hard. Most of the times I fell asleep while we were watching a movie.
“The one where the guy falls down the mountain, breaks his leg, and makes it to that tiny village?”
“Yeah, you couldn’t believe he survived all of that. That’s your dad, Evie. He’s trained to survive anything.”
“He searched for me, Rhett,” I whisper. “He thought I was dead.”
Rhett’s mouth twitches at the corner. “But you found him, Evie. That’s amazing.”
“There was just something inside of me that wouldn’t let me give up.”
“After meeting your dad, I now understand where you get your strength from.”
I frown at his words. “Dad says I’m like mom, that she wouldn’t have given up either.”
“You’re a survivor, Evie, just like him. No matter what life throws at you, you get up, and you keep trying. I’ve always admired that most about you.”
∞∞∞
After meeting with Rhett, I catch a cab to take me to Marilyn’s.
It was really nice seeing Rhett again. We talked about so many things. It’s funny how I learned more about him in the last four hours than I did in the two years back when we were in school.
When the cab stops in front of the restaurant, my stomach tightens. I’ve been doing my best to avoid Kyle since he lost his temper and said all those cruel things to me. But it’s time I face him.
I walk in the front entrance, and I feel eyes on me as I walk to the office in the back. I knock on the door and when Kyle barks, “Come in!” I open it.
I see the surprise on his face because I’m here so early.
“Well, if it isn’t Evie Cole, finally gracing me with her fucking presence.”
I ignore his snide comment and walking to his desk, I take the envelope from my bag. I place it down in front of him.
“That’s my resignation letter,” I say, and the words feel freeing. “Also, it’s over between us.”
I turn to walk away when he darts up.
“You don’t get to say when it’s over between us,” he hisses. He grabs my resignation letter and tears it in half. “I own you.”
Anger starts to bubble in my chest. “You don’t own me, Kyle. I’m not a piece of property.”
He moves fast, stalking around his desk. I turn and rush to the door, scared of what he might do, but before I reach it, he grabs hold of my shoulders and slams me against the wall.
He presses his body hard against mine, pinning me.
Hissing in my ear, he says, “The day you opened your fucking legs, you became my property. You will do as I say until I decide otherwise. Do you fucking understand?”
I nod just so he’ll let go of me. It works, and the second he steps back, I bring my elbow back with all my strength and slam it into his throat. Kyle makes a gagging sound as I rush out the door.
When I’m a safe distance away from him, I yell, “I’m not your property. Don’t ever come near me again.”
I run from the restaurant and quickly climb into a cab. Only once it’s driving away from Marilyn’s do I take a deep breath.
