Page 57

He exhales. “It’s dangerous. We don’t know the situation yet.”

“I want to be close to my husband.”

“Your husband’s not there, Bexley.”

I reach back and slap him with everything inside of me as we stand in the garage. It echoes off the cement walls.

“Did you have something to do with this?” I ask.

“What?” he says, stepping closer to me. “You watch your next words, love.”

“Johnny, take me home or I’ll call a fucking cab.”

“You’re being unreasonable here. I’m just trying to protect you.”

“Protect me?” I ask incredulously. “I think you’re the reason I’m in this situation. I’m in more danger around you than I would be alone. How were you there so quickly, huh? How did you get there as soon as it happened? Were you watching me? Lurking around like some stalker?”

He doesn’t say anything, and that answers my question. He had to have been there to see it. I need to get away from this mess.

“Johnny, you taking me home or what?”

Johnny looks at Danny. “Good God, can you make a decision by yourself, or does your whole life go by what this man tells you?”

Danny shakes his head. “Come on, Sweep. Let’s take this stubborn ass home.”

They checked the whole house out before I could even go inside. Danny had grabbed my coat and shoes from the shop, but I didn’t care if I was cold or not. I deserve nothing but coldness in my life now. I had the best man a woman could want, and I didn’t appreciate it enough.

And now he’s gone.

Nothing but a memory for me. One that I will cherish forever. I lost two very important people in my life. My husband and my mother.

“Dear God.”

Who am I supposed to talk to?

I lower myself into the tub, my body unable to hold me up. My knees hit the floor, and I fall forward, bowing my head as I tremble. “I just want you back,” I cry. I look down at the floor, and then I remember.

The bottle.

_______________

My first thought as I put a beanie over my wet head is how will I sneak out without Danny’s men seeing me. He’s got people watching over the house, but they’ll just have to follow me. Which won’t be a bad thing considering there’s someone apparently trying to kill me.

I put my long coat on over a t-shirt and jeans before sliding on a pair of slip-on Tracers. I grab my keys and head out the door. The frosty wind slices me in two as I walk to the SUV. Quickly climbing inside, I fire it up and speed away from the curb. Two cars follow me, and I’m sure they’ve told Danny I’ve left the house.

I hope the cops didn’t find that bottle. I desperately want to know what the paper inside says. The more I think about it, the more I know this has Danny written all over it. Who knows who that man has pissed off over the years. Who knows what he’s done.

I bite my lip.I need to call Sam...

“Jesus.” I cover my mouth as my eyes tear up. Reality hits me like a ton of bricks. My husband’s gone, and for a split moment I forgot. I wipe the tears from my face, hurt crushing my heart with a vise grip.

“I can’t breathe.” I press the gas harder, my eyes blur, and my mind blanks. My body reacts the way my soul wants, and cars blow the horn at me, shaking me out of it.

“Shit,” I curse, realizing I’m running through a red light when a car slams on the brakes nearly sideswiping me. I pull over on the side of the road, yanking the car in park and getting out.

My breaths come in thick heaves, my body sweating even though it’s cold out here. I cry and hold my chest. “I can’t…”

I weep harder, holding on to the open door.