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His voice drips with menace as he continues. “You knew I wasn’t going to let you slip through my fingers ever again.”
Trusting my instincts inadvertently led me straight into the jaws of the monster I’ve tried so desperately to escape.
I spit every word out, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to appear strong. “Go to hell, Tony.”
“Ah, feisty as ever,” he taunts, his laugh cold and cruel. “It’s been too long, my dear wife. I think it’s time to take you home, don’t you?”
Take me home?
He can’t be serious.
“Stay away from me!” I cry, backing up against my car, the icy metal bites into my skin.
“Or what?” he sneers, stepping closer. “You can’t outrun me, Astra. I’ll always find you. I mean, come on, I’ve already found you.”
His shadow engulfs me and I brace myself for the inevitable pain Tony is bringing with him.
What he doesn’t realize is that I’m not the same woman I was back in Chicago.
I’ve grown, and I not only know my power, I know the woman I am.
“You should leave, Tony,” I say, my voice firm but faltering just a bit. “You know coming here was only a mistake, and it’s going to bite you in the ass.”
“Ah, my sweet, sweet Astra,” he drawls, with the air of someone who has all the time in the world. “I’m not going anywhere unless you’re with me. It’s taken me years to get this close to you, and I’m going to take exactly what I want from you.”
My heart seizes at his words, the reality of my situation suddenly crashing down on me.
I thought maybe he’d give up at my words, but maybe he too has changed—and not in a positive manner.
Gripping the car keys tightly in my hand, I try my best to ignore the panic rising in my throat.
If I move quickly, I can get in the car and get the fuck out of here.
I grit, pointing out the obvious. “You’re a fool if you think you’ll get away with this. You should think about this for a minute and leave.”
“Go? Why would I ever do that?” he asks mockingly, his laughter chilling me to the bone. “You belong to me, Astra. You’re still my wife, and you’re always going to be. Til death do us part, remember?”
A fierce anger ignites within me as I remember the cheating, the gas lighting, the love bombing shit that really meant nothing.
He lied to me for the entirety of our relationship.
“That paper means nothing. The only reason I didn’t file for divorce is because I knew you’d do this. I knew you’d be right here, taunting and tormenting me like you are.” I snap, trying not to let the fear take control. “But, our loveless marriage doesn't mean I belong to you. I’ll never belong to you again! I’m not yours, Tony. I’m Python’s.”
I know what I’ve said has just pissed him off to no end.
“Is that so?” he asks, his voice low and dangerous. “Well, we’ll see about that, won’t we?”
His threat hangs heavy in the air between us and reality hits me.
He’s not going to stop unless he’s dead.
He will always come for me, no matter what’s going on.
I know that whatever comes next will be a battle–not just for my freedom, but for my very survival.
As I stand there, steeling myself against the terror that threatens to consume me, I refuse to go down without a fight.
I grab the door to my car and throw it open in a quick effort to get out of this situation, only to feel a knife against my throat.
