Page 29 of Mr. Strategic

Then I heard the low scrape of something on the window, and I saw his shadow.

Slow, careful.

Testing each lock. Searching for a weak point, an opening.

When the first set of windows were secure, he moved on to the next.

Then the side door, the knob turning with a slow, methodical twist.

Each new sound sent a fresh wave of panic along my skin, his strong long fingers testing each entrance for weakness.

I was so frozen with fear that I couldn’t move.

But if I didn’t do anything, he’d find a way in. I knew he would. Michael was smart.

And ruthless.

I looked around desperately. Was there a phone? Any way to call for help? Then I saw the security system control panel. Stretching on my tiptoes, I pressed the button to set the alarm off.

Then I waited, the noise blaring in my ears.

“THE SECURITY COMPANY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TEAM IS ON THEIR WAY,” it blasted out, over and over.

And then finally, there was silence.

Dr. Ben-David came in a few minutes later, punching in the keycode and finding me on the other side of the door.

“Are you OK?” I asked.

“I’m fine,” he laughed. “Michael got one good punch in before the Mayor pulled him off. He was very pissed. How the hell does he manage to be in an open relationship if that’s how he handles one kiss?”

I felt a little pang of worry

“Be—careful,” I said. “We—aren’t really in an open relationship. That was a lie. Michael is—dangerous.”

Reuben stilled.

“What do you meandangerous?”

It sounded ridiculous. Of course it sounded ridiculous. The famous surgeon, Dr. Michael Carrington, behave in the utterly unhinged and maniacal way he had?

“He—does not accept this divorce. He will—probably try to come talk me out of it. I’d appreciate if you would just—not let him in.”

“Of course not. Whatever you need, Lavender.”

And for five days I heard nothing.

The terror of not knowing what my husband was doing was petrifying. Had he given up? Would he let me go?

Reuben was gentle and patient, did not push for anything.

Alix came by the house several times, wailing and crying outside, begging for Reuben to forgive her.

But now that Reuben knew the truth, he sent her away each and every time.

If only Michael were that easy to stop!

I barely left the house, too afraid I would see my husband around every corner, but one evening six days in, I woke up from a nap and walked down in my soft yoga pants to the study.