Page 23 of Angels & Whiskey

I wokeup to Rich yelling in the master bathroom. Thankfully, it wasn’t at me.

“No, he can’t fucking have until the end of the week! He either pays by the end of business today or he’ll meet Remo—yeah, fucking deal with it.” There was a loud crash and I rolled over, pretending to still be asleep. The less I knew about his business, the better.

“Princess, it’s time to wake up.” Rich brushed the hair from my face to stir me.

I groaned, rolling over as if I was still sleeping. “Morning, honey.”

“Get up. Time to go to the gym.”

I smiled. I didn’t want to go to the gym, but if I put on weight, he’d get pissed. “Okay, and this afternoon I have a nail appointment, remember?” I had to make sure everything was done perfectly: my hair, my nails, and my clothes. And Ialwayshad to let Rich know.

“Right. So you’re going back to Club 24 or staying there the whole time?”

“I don’t like the coffee at Club 24, so I’ll go back after I have my coffee and lunch. Can you call me on my cell when you have your lunch?” Honestly, Club 24 was perfect and the food was spectacular, but I needed that extra stop so I didn’t feel trapped. I felt as if my wings needed to be spread, not clamped down by Rich’s claws.

“Yeah, but you better answer before three rings.” He stood and walked back to the bathroom.

“I will, honey bunny. I promise.”

He came out of the bathroom, straightening the cuffs of his long-sleeved button down white dress shirt. “Also, I’m going to have Lea stop by. I want to throw a party to announce that I’ll be running for mayor. You’ll need to help her.”

I smiled tightly, trying not to show how pissed off I was. “Of course. I’m excited. I should buy a new dress.”

“Not today. Gym, coffee, nails, home and wait for Lea.” He counted each stop on his hand as if to remind me there were only five things I needed to do today.

“You got it, Major.” I sat up on my knees, waving Rich over so I could kiss him goodbye and he could leave me the fuck alone.

“I’m serious, Autumn. Don’t disappointment me.”

I swallowed hard at his threat before I smiled brightly. “Honey, I won’t. Gym, coffee, nails and home. Lea and I will plan a kick ass party for you.”

“Good. I gotta go. There’s a problem with a client I need to take care of.” He gave me a quick kiss on the lips and left the bedroom.

“Love you,” I called out—for good measure.

“I love you too, princess.”

I cringed. There was the nickname that made me feel like an adolescent child.

I walked into Starbucks in my black yoga pants and black razor-back tank top, sweaty from my vigorous workout. I’d started to lift more weights; if I was going to leave Rich, I needed to become stronger—inside and out.

“The usual?” Alexis asked, grabbing a paper cup.

“Yes, please.” You know you go to Starbucks too much when they know your name and order by heart.

I sat in my usual maroon wing-backed chair by the window as I took sips of my latte and ate my salad. I still didn’t have a plan. I had no money to leave town, and my parents couldn’t afford to help me. My head was a mess.

As I ate my salad, my phone dinged with a text.

Brandi:Are you at Starbucks?

Me:Yeah.

I waited for her to text back, but she didn’t.

The coffeehouse music played in the background as I continued staring out the window. I couldn’t search anything on my phone in fear that Rich would see. I couldn’t look on the computer at home and he made sure I made no extra stops in my day, so I had no idea how to plan my escape. You didn’t grow up and study ways to leave your abusive husband in school, and Rich had too many people in his life; I was certain he’d find me no matter what.

As I looked around for a newspaper to check prices of used car in the classifieds, my gaze landed on a familiar face.