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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ZAND

I stayed at the hospital until the end of visiting hours, which was 8PM. My drive home was somber, but I was fuming underneath my skin. I knew Chanel would be safe in the hospital because of its location. There was around the clock security and Chicago police officers stationed at the hospital. I had questions that needed answers. I didn’t know if her physical assault was random. Could it be a random attempted robbery? Chicago offered a buffet of violent crimes all year round. Only the security camera footage could offer me the answers I was looking for.

What was their intent? Did they want to take her life? Did she escape death because they didn’t want to kill her? Did they spare her when they realized she didn’t have any money or credit cards? It didn’t matter. I would do anything I could to protect her.

My sporadic thoughts didn’t seem to matter. The truth would be revealed. I had to look at the video surveillance. The tapes would give me the answers I seek. Then I would know the face of my enemy. I would uncover who went after Chanel and I would know whom to focus my wrath.

There was a chill in the air that pierced the back of my neck as soon as I got out of my car. As I approached the dumpster where Chanel was attacked, I made plans to install motion censored lights, the brightest ones I could find. It was important for my tenants to feel safe. I looked up at where the cameras were hidden on the building. Everything seemed normal.

As the landlord, I was going to have to inform the other tenants of the attack. Transparency in situations like this was always best.

I entered the building and got a whiff of— her. Anger, I shouldn’t still be this infuriated by her. I wouldn’t let her know the wound she left hadn’t fully healed. She may take pleasure in it. I would never give her the satisfaction.

I rounded the corner, and my sense of smell was undoubtedly correct. Teresa was leaning on my apartment door. Head to toe black like she was in mourning. Her breasts were hoisted up to her throat. Such blatant tactics would never work with me. Was she an idiot?

Was this a coincidence? She was here in Chicago at the same time my shiftless brother had arrived. Did Gillian tell them I was here? No way he would betray me in such a manner.

“Teresa Protenza.” I wanted to make the first move. I wanted to punch her in the face. Speaking her name would have to suffice, for now.

“Teresa Valentine.” She purred a name that no longer belonged to her.

There was a ceremony, but we were never legally married, although I never cared about legalities. “In your dreams.” It was a juvenile thing to say, but it seemed fitting for this unexpected visit.

“Where were you? I was waiting for your return.”

“I’m never coming back to L.A. Why are you here?”

“You didn’t return any of my calls.”

“So you rushed to the city of Chicago?”

“It took me forever to find you. I never dreamed you would go somewhere cold. Alexander, what was I to do? You never came home to me.”

I ignored her words. I needed answers. “How do you know where I live?”

“I followed you one night when you were leaving The Castle. I love your new vibe. It’s cute, but it doesn’t seem like you.”

“My new vibe.” I chuckled. “I don’t have time for this. I am no longer attracted to chaos and destruction.”

“Since when?” She sneered as her eyebrows rose.

I ignored the question. I didn’t owe her honest responses.

“I noticed there was a huge police presence around the apartment early in the morning.”

“What were you doing here?”

“I came to see you. Are you going to let me into your apartment?”

“No.”

“Why are you living in an apartment?”

“Fuck you. Leave.”

“I came a long way just to see you.”

I had my suspicions and instead of beating around the bush; I went straight to it. “Did you hurt my girlfriend?”

“Your girlfriend? That nurse?”

She’d seen Chanel. “Answer the goddamn question.”

“Alexander, she’s a fucking nurse. She is no threat to me.”

“You were a fucking bartender when I found you and gave you a life.”

“You gave me your love. There’s a difference.”

“You still haven’t answered the question.” I gritted my teeth in an effort to contain my anger.

“Alexander, what good would that do?”

“I have no idea why you do the things you do.”

“Well, in this case, I’m not the villain. I didn’t attack your Black Nurse Barbie with the ugly Sesame Street shirt. I had every right to. You are my husband.”

“Not anymore. ”

“Says who?” She crossed her arms under her ample breasts.

“You broke our vows and we are no longer anything at all.”

“Is that what you truly believe?”

“It’s far from a belief. I no longer have any ties to you.”

“I made one mistake.” Her eyes were pleading, but it had absolutely no effect on me.

“Just one?”

“Don’t you think it’s about time you’ve forgiven me?”

“I prefer to hold a grudge for infinity, eternity, and beyond.”

“I see you’re still dramatic.” She rolled her eyes. “We should talk inside.” She looked at my apartment door.

“Why are you here? Have Gillian and Harlen grown tired of you?”

“I’m here for you and only you.”

“You’ve come a long way for no reason at all.”

“I’ve come because of the love we shared and still do.”

“I believe it’s adorable that you believe I can forgive you and we can just pick up where we left off. It’s very charming indeed, but there is no way in hell or heaven that will ever happen.”

“How can you forgive Gillian and not forgive me?”

“You fucked my father!” I’d lost the battle and my rage took over.

“You don’t share the same DNA.”

“That’s your argument for your betrayal. Gillian and I are blood!”

“Do you want me to beg you?”

“No, I want you to disappear from my life forever.”

Teresa swiftly fell to her knees and grabbed the waist of my jeans. She made a feeble attempt to unbutton my pants before I swatted her head into the door of my apartment.

“Ouch! What about the love we shared?” She peered up at me.

“It’s dead just like you are to me.”

“You were never this cold before.”

“You never really knew me before. Get off your knees! ”

I watched her hobble to standing. She smoothed her hooker dress down on the sides.

“I don’t want to give you up. I’ve given you more than enough time to be angry with me. This is ridiculous! We’ve had other people in our bed, our union was open.”

“It never was open to my father! I can never forgive you!”

“But you have forgiven him?”

“I have.”

“That’s not fair.”

“He is my father, and you were a mediocre bartender that didn’t deserve the life I gave you.”

“You have your life and your money. What good is it if you have no heart?”

“I have no heart for you, Teresa. It is a very different thing.”

“I mean nothing to you?”

“You have been dead to me for more than a year. Nothing has changed.”

“I can get to your little nurse.”

“You can, but it won’t make a difference. I will never love you again.”

“Never is a long time.”

“If you touch her, I will kill you.”

Teresa took a moment to think about my threat. “Well then, I won’t touch her.” Her lips pressed together tightly, and that wasn’t a good sign.

“I mean it. Move on with your life. I’ve given you gifts.”

“And I am grateful. I want you. I want us.”

“I don’t want you. We are over.”

“I will win you back.”

“If I see you again, I will kill you.” My anger erupted. I had both my hands around her scrawny throat. With just a smidgen of my strength, I pushed her back and her body slammed into the wall.

She slid down and landed on the floor. I swiftly turned and removed my key from my pocket. I opened my apartment door and entered, closing the door behind me.

I had never hit a woman before today. Teresa was no woman. She was a heartless whore, a deceitful monster. I thought what we had was unique. I believed our love was special, but she fucked my father and my brother. I could never forgive her. I didn’t want things to be this way. Her treachery led me here to Chicago. It led me to Chanel. I had to check the video cameras. If Teresa lied about attacking Chanel, my warning would be moot. I was going to find her and kill her. There was just no way around it.