Page 114 of Not How I Saw That Going

He saw my TikTok. I wrack my memory, trying to recall if Crew shows up in any of the videos. I don’t think so.

“How did you find me?” I round the edge of the stairs so the half wall is between us, but it doesn’t stop his approach.

His evil, knowing grin fills me with dread. “It’s amazing the people you can find on the internet. So manyhelpfulpeople.”

“What do you want, Rodney?” I muster as much bravery as I can.

He tilts his head to the side, sneering. “I want in on your little side gig. If we work it right, we can make a pretty penny on that app.”

“No.” I plant my arms against my chest. “You’re not getting anything from me.”

His eyes turn dark and cold. “Lyndi, don’t make me do something I don’t want to do.” There’s desperation in his voice I don’t remember from our time together.

“Just, go home Rodney.”

His hands shake and his head twitches. “I don’t have a home! I have nothing! You stole everything from me and now you owe me!” He yells, coming unhinged.

My heart thuds against my rib cage, begging me to escape. But my body locks up, his words threatening to debilitate me just like they always did.

My pulse thunders.Move.

“You need to leave. I’m going to call the cops,” I say, but my voice breaks, giving me away. I shoot my hand into my bag, my fingers searching frantically until they close around my phone.

Rodney lunges toward me and his attack catches me off guard. He yanks my bad arm, pinning it behind my back, and wraps his other arm around my neck. “Drop it now. Or I’ll have my buddy pay a visit to our son.”

I gag on the putrid scent of whiskey fermenting on his breath.

“Don’t touch my son,” I spit, pushing against his arms, but it’s fruitless. He wrenches my arm tighter and a whimper escapes.

“You know, I’ve never seen him. Does he look like me?” His lips curl up.

I hold my head higher. “Not one bit. Thank heavens.”

He grabs a wad of my hair and yanks me down. Spots fill my vision as pain radiates through my skull.

“Now, be a good girl and come with me, and no one gets hurt,” he sneers in my ear.

“No!” I scream, then suck in a sharp breath to yell again, but his hand clamps over my mouth and nose, depriving me of oxygen.

“Or would you like me to send my buddy into that crummy apartment of yours? He might even take Maddie too. She’s pretty easy on the eyes.”

My body goes limp against his hold, the fight escaping me. I’ll always protect Crew. Even if that means leaving him behind.

“There’s a good girl,” he mutters, his hot breath dripping down my neck, and releasing his hold on my mouth.

I sputter for air. The Rodney I knew was emotionally abusive, and though I feared it, he never actually hurt me. Until now. Prison changed him.

“My date…is inside…and will be looking for me… any second.” I try my last feeble attempt at getting away from him.

“That guy? You think he’s into you?” Rodney laughs until he coughs, but it doesn’t stop him from pulling me, step after step around the side of the building. “You’re nothing. Nobody wants you. Not even your own mother.”

My throat burns.He’s wrong.

I try to yell but he clamps a hand down on my mouth again before my voice can reach the right level for help. We are in the back alley now. No one can hear me, no one is coming for me. I’m alone with my worst nightmare.

“You used to be worthless, but now,” he chuckles. “Now we are going to use that little account of yours to cash in on what I’ve been missing. I’ve already got a flight scheduled, leaving for Vegas in three hours.”

Panic floods my veins. My limbs shake.