“She was a whore just like you. She was pregnant with what I thought was our first child but then I found she’d been fucking around on me with biker trash. I told everyone she ran off. Her family never really questioned it. Mine didn’t either. But you know who did question it? Her lover. Can you guess who that is and why we hate each other? You’re a smart girl, Andrea. You can put the pieces together.”
I shake my head. “You’re lying.”
“Why would I make it up?”
“Ask him. Call him up and ask him if he knew my wife. Ask him if she’s why he hates me so much.”
“Shut up.”
“Truth hurts, doesn’t it. He never loved you. He was using you. Just like I’m going to use you.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Whatever hate you have for each other. You’ll leave me out of it. I want nothing to do with you.”
“I don’t think you understand. You don’t get a say in the matter.”
“I have proof of what you tried to do to me.”
His face pales. “What?” he grits.
“Yeah. There’s a security camera in every room of my house. So how will you explain that you, a decorated detective tried to rape me and shoved me down the stairs. Don’t bother trying to find the footage or to destroy it. All the footage is sent to a backup server and then a copy of that goes to a friend of mine who also makes copies. While I might seem like a dumb blonde. I’m so much more than that. So you’re going to walk away. You’re never going to speak to me again. Whatever games you and Viking are playing with each other I’ll no longer have any part in it. I’m done with you. Both of you.” What I said about the footage is bullshit, but he doesn’t know that. I’m sure the cameras for the dog captured parts of it but not all.
I can play these head games too.
“I don’t believe that for one minute.”
“If you want to try me, we can find out.”
“We’ll talk about this later. You clearly need to rest.”
“If you come near me again, I promise you that I will ruin you. Everyone will know exactly who and what you are.”
He balls up his fists and stares at me.
“What are you going to do? Hit me again? Murder my baby? Try to rape me? Wait. You already did. Now. Get. The Fuck. Out. Of. My. Face.”
“This isn’t over.”
“It is now.” I turn my head from him. Wanting him to know that he holds absolutely no power over me. I won’t cower from him because I’m not afraid of him. There’s nothing else he can do to hurt me.
I spent a few days in the hospital recovering. I was lucky that I didn’t break any bones. I’m just sore but at the same time hollow. Hazel was sweet enough to take care of my dog for me and Hound’s with the help of Sandman and Bianca. I let everyone believe Justice’s stupid lie that I fell down my stairs.
Viking has been trying to call and text. I guess he’s back home, but I can’t see him right now. I don’t know if what Justice said about him is true or not.
I don’t have it in me to care.
I had some money in my savings account. Enough to buy my way out of my current lease and put down a deposit on a new place in a different city. One that I’ve not given the address out on to anyone including Wylla Mae.
She knows that I lost the baby and I asked that she respects my wishes and doesn’t tell Viking about any of it. She doesn’t agree with my choice, but she is my best friend and I know that she’ll respect my wishes regardless of how she feels about them. It’s better this way.
A clean break for everyone.
I’m in the process of changing my phone number.
I can’t be around Viking or my friends and their babies. Reminders of what I lost. A baby was one of the last things I was prepared for. And yet now there’s nothing I want more.
There’s this broken piece inside me. This hollow place that nothing can fill.
I’ve applied for a new job at a different hospital. If Viking can’t find me, he can’t convince me to let him back into my life. Its better for both of us if I simply disappear. Justice can’t use me against him.