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Reli
Four Weeks Later
I smile as I walk into John’s office building. It’s the first time that I’ve been here. Today, I’ve had Lance at my side. John had to work, and I’m glad that he’s finally able to get back to the way life used to be before I took up his time.
We had our first argument this morning. I was getting a bit of cabin fever stuck in the house, only going from home to see my counselor. Even when I went shopping, his mom was there but also Cage. I feel like I’ve left one cage and jumped into another. I felt trapped, my wings clipped.
“Reli, it’s not safe,” he growls as he runs his hands through his hair, a clear sign of his frustration.
I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. I’m not afraid to argue with him. I had been dreading this moment, our first argument, but I know with one hundred percent certainty that John would never harm
me, not intentionally.
“I love you, but you can’t keep me locked inside this house. It’s not fair. I need to finally be able to live. John, I need to be able to be free.” My voice is calm and gentle as I try to make him understand what I’m saying.
His eyes soften a touch when I tell him that I love him. “Baby girl, I’m not trying to keep you locked in the house. I just need you to be safe.”
I scoff. “No, what you’re doing is ordering me about.”
He shakes his head in dismay. “If that’s what it takes to keep your ass inside this house where it’s safe, then so be it.”
I gasp. God, when did he become such an ass? “I can’t believe you! Listen to me: I will not be treated like I am a child. I’m a grown woman and I can make my own choices.”
“Dammit!” he yells and I flinch at the hardness in his voice. Of course he sees it. “Don’t fucking do that, Reli. I have not nor will I ever harm you. You have no reason to fucking flinch away from me.”
He’s right, but I didn’t flinch because I thought he’d harm me, I flinched because I’ve never heard him so angry with me before. Now I’m pissed. Tears threaten to spill, but I manage to keep them at bay. “I don’t think you’d harm me. You have shown me more love and compassion in these past few months than I have felt in years. I would never think you could hurt me. Ever.”
He continues to glare at me and I’m done with this conversation.
“I am not someone that is broken or weak,” I tell him, a little wobble in my voice as my frustration pours out of me. I watch as he frowns. “I have worked too damn hard at getting my life back. To claw back from the depths of despair. You should know this, you’ve been here every single step of the way. Why, John? Why are you doing this?”
He opens his mouth to speak but I don’t let him.
“Don’t you dare say it’s to keep me safe.” The tears that I’d managed to keep at bay start to tumble down my face. “Of all people, I never thought you’d be the one to try and keep me locked away.”
“That’s not what I’m fucking doing,” he roars, his face getting redder the longer we argue.
“Really?” I ask him and I’m proud that I’ve managed to keep my cool. “So what do you call this? Hmm? I have to live my life, John, and I want to live it. Don’t you think I’ve been locked up long enough, doing the bidding of others?”
He sighs, his anger sucked out of him like a deflating balloon. “I know, baby girl.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “When do I get to start living my life? The way I want it?”
He closes the distance between us, his arms going tight around me. “When you leave this house, you’ll have a man on you at all times.”
I immediately nod; I’m not stupid. Even though Talia has been arrested, I know there’s more to this than John is letting on. So to give him peace of mind, I’ll agree to having a man with me at all times. “Okay, just not you all the time. You have to get back to your life and I have to start mine.”
He tenses at my words.
“I love you, John, and that’s never going to change,” I reassure him.
“I’ll call Lance; he’ll be your driver as well as your guard.” He lifts his hand and cups my cheek. “I’m always going to worry about you, baby girl; that’s just who I am. I protect those that I love.”
I rise up onto my tiptoes and kiss his lips gently. “I know, and I adore that I’m one of those that you love. I’m going to be okay; Lance is going to be with me. Then tonight, we’re going to come home, unwind, and talk about our day.”
He smiles and I know that it’s going to be okay. “Deal.” He captures my lips and the world melts away, it’s just me in his arms.
I pull back from the memory as I walk into the lobby and smile at Jasmine. She’s the secretary; she basically bosses all the team around to make sure that they’re doing their job. “Hey Jas. Is Zeke free?”
