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“Most of your time? You were there once. Friday night. After that, you disappeared until you magically reemerged for checkout.”
I feel all my usual composure unravelling and squeeze my eyes shut. I’m so fucking tired of being tracked, stalked, hunted like a goddamn prey.
I’m not a prey, nor will I behave like one. Not for him. Not for any man.
My eyes snap open, narrowing on Kordin as I advance on him, my knees pushing on his wheelchair and forcing it to roll backward.
“You’ve been spying on me?”
“You were all alone, miles away from home. Of course I had someone on staff keep an eye on you,” he tries to justify. “Which was warranted considering your inexplicable whereabouts tonight.”
“How dare you,” I spit before walking away, my steps brisk but light. “I explained where I was.”
“You weren’t at Yetta’s.”
I don’t stop to acknowledge that. How would he know? It’s not like he can drive himself anywhere.
“When I woke to you missing, the first call I made was to my good friend. You remember Matthew Hull?Thepolice force?”
My feet grow ten times heavier as my steps slow.
“He went by your mom’s. The Rover was nowhere in sight.”
“I took your car,” I say without turning around. “It’s faster.”
“I had him check for that, too. Why wasn’t it there, Lenox?”
“I’m not sure, Kordin. Somehow we must’ve missed each other.”
“That was an hour and a half ago.”
I come to a stop. “There was—”
“Do you know what the chief of police can do? He can find people.Losepeople. If I find out who it is you’re fucking, I’ll make sure he’s never seen again.”
A wave of dizziness overtakes me, the floor under me spinning as I send a hand out to the side, catching myself against the aquarium, the vibrant activity inside my only solace.
That’s why I chose to protect Reece’s future, because mine’s set in stone. With or without those work orders, I still have to be Lenox Debrosse, and now, it seems I’m going to have to find a way to be her without him.
I will movement back into my legs, ignoring their trembling to continue down the hall, bypassing our bedroom altogether.
Close behind me, Kordin demands, “Where are you going?”
“I’m sleeping upstairs tonight.”
“No, you’re not. You are my wife, and as such—”
“Try and stop me,” I tell him as I ascend the stairs. He could hobble himself up here if he really wanted to but I doubt he will. His dignity won’t allow it.
I lock myself in one of our spare bedrooms, then collapse on the floor, everything from the last few days catching up with me at once. This time I have to cover my mouth with both hands to keep the scream from escaping.
Lex
Istare at the white stick with the two pink lines for several minutes before looking up at my blurry reflection and wipe under my eyes, mindful of my mascara. Truthfully, I’d given up hope I’d ever have kids. I didn’t think I was worthy and I know Kordin didn’t either. Now that I am pregnant, in this impossibly fucked-up situation, I pray I get to.
My mind wanders back a few hours, when Kordin raised his hand to me. My body’s first instinct was to protect my stomach, my baby.
It knew before I even did.
