I jumped back in fear because of Titan’s sudden burst of anger, and I screamed when I felt a burning sensation on my cheek. I quickly gripped my face because one of the pieces of glass from the vase crashing into the floor just cut my face. When I moved to get away from the mess, I felt another piece go into my bare foot.
“FUCK!” I yelled out.
Titan
Bailey’s scream quickly snapped me out of my anger, and I quickly turned around. My blood froze in horror when I saw blood on her fingers and droplets of blood trailing behind her as she hopped on one foot toward the bathroom across the foyer. There was glass all over the floor. I ignored the sting of the small pieces that were cutting into my feet so I could hurry behind Bailey and pick her up so she wouldn’t cut her feet anymore.
As soon as my arms went around her waist, she elbowed me hard enough in my stomach that I grunted and she snatched away from me, “Get the fuck off of me!”
She never spoke to me like that or hit me. When she finally looked at me when she got to the bathroom her eyes were filled with tears and I saw the anger and sadness in them, but what broke my heart the most was the fear I saw in them. All I ever wanted Bailey to feel when she was with me was love, happiness, and safety. If my baby ever felt fear, Ineverwanted to be the one who caused it...fuck no. I would hurt myself before I ever hurt her, if she wanted me to crawl over this broken glass on my bare knees I would if it meant I could erase that hurt I just caused her. She turned back around and when she reached for the door handle, I tried to reach for her again, but she quickly went intothe bathroom and slammed the door in my face. Thank goodness my reflexes were coming back because the door almost slammed on my fingers. But I would gladly take the pain if it meant Bailey would forgive me right now.
I rested my head against the door and took calming breaths. For the second time this week, Eva had pissed me off to a level I never knew existed. When I read that the bouquet was from herand herfuck boy husband Brandon, I fucking lost it. How the fuck did she even know my address? I hated that I couldn’t remember everything after seeing her in my office earlier in the week, but at this moment, I didn’t give a shit. I needed my Bailey. I was about to knock on the door when I heard her phone ringing from her purse in the living room. I heard her curse under her breath in the bathroom before she answered it using her smartwatch.
“Hey, Anthony.” Her voice sounded thick as though she was crying, and it felt like what remained of my heart was now shattered. “No, I’m fine, no I’m not crying. I said I’m fine. Yes, I’m with Titan. Let me call you back when I get home.”
I breathed a small sigh of relief that Bailey didn’t go into detail about what was happening right now. I just got out of the hospital, and I really didn’t feel like going back because I fought her brother, but if I had to go back, Anthony’s big ass was coming with me. I may not have been some G.I. Joe trained martial artist like him, but don’t let the billionaire status and tailored suits fool you, I knew how to throw these hands.
When I heard the bathroom door unlock, I moved back so Bailey could walk out, and I shivered from the cold look she gave me when she opened the door. She had two Band-Aids on her right cheek, and I saw that she had one of the maxi pad’s I kept underneath all my sinks for her wrapped around the middle of her foot.
“Bailey.” I tried reaching for her again and she moved out of my reach. “Baby please listen?—”
“No, Titan. You listen. You have some deep shit going on with you that youobviouslyneed some time and space to deal with.” She was now limping around the large pool of broken glass and roses in the foyer toward the living room. When she got there she started picking up her purse and shoes, not once sparing another glance in my direction. I followed behind her, but I stayed at the entryway because I didn’t want to crowd her just in case she was still feeling scared of me.
“What the fuck does that even mean? Time and space? Baby, are you breaking up with me? Bailey, I’m so sorry; you know I love you!” My voice cracked and my eyes started to sting with the tears filling them. I felt my heart rate speed up like I was about to have a panic attack at the thought of Bailey leaving me. I immediately fell to my knees because I was not too proud to beg. I was prepared to do anything it took if it meant stopping her from walking out that door or worse, walking out of my life. I felt my soul breaking because that’s how deep my love for Bailey ran. I loved her past my heart. I loved her in my soul.
“Titan, I love you too,so somuch, my fucking heart is ripping apart right now.” Her back was still to me, and her voice was shaky as she tried to speak through the emotion clogging her throat. When she finally turned around, tears were pouring down her face and seeing her cry triggered my own tears. “But the reaction you just had about your ex-wife, was too much for me and too fuckin’ violent. You just threw that big ass flower arrangement like it weighed nothing all because Eva sent it. You didn’t even think twice that I was near you…look at my fucking face! My foot! And look at your knuckles from punching the damn wall.” Bailey was pissed off. H er voice was rising with each word. I never saw her this mad, and I never wanted to again.
I looked down at my left hand because I forgot that quick that I punched the wall in my rage. She was right the knuckles on my hand were swollen and the skin was bloody and torn but I didn’t give a fuck about my pain right now.
“You don’t even remember what happened between you and her at your office that was so bad it caused you to have a got damn stroke. Then the bitch had the fucking nerve to be at the hospital like y’all were still married or some shit. If it weren’t for Giada getting her ass to leave she would probably still be there like she still has some sick ass claim over you. And judging how mad you get when you even hear her fuckin’ name and now when you see her…maybe the bitch does.” She was now standing barefoot at the front door.
“I think the way she left has left you with some deep wounds that you obviously need to heal from. Believe me, I know how unresolved shit can fuck with you. I don’t give a fuck what anyone says, time doesnotheal all wounds.” Bailey still had tears pouring down her face and her voice was still shaking, but it came out strong when she said, “You’re going to have to address that shit head on and when you do...call me.” Without looking back, she turned and walked out of the door.
When the door closed it felt like what was left of my soul withered and died. I sat there on my knees trying to process what the fuck just happened before I said fuck it and surrendered to the emotional pain I was feeling. I stared at my door and let out one of the most anguished sounding cries I ever had in my life.
Bailey
The cut on my face stung with each tear that fell down my cheeks. Thank goodness my rideshare driver paid me no attention as I sat in the backseat trying my best not to have aLifetimemovie breakdown right now. I’m sure when he picked me up outside of Titan’s gates I looked like a battered woman when I approached his car with bandages on my face, blood on my blouse, and my foot wrapped with a damn maxi pad.
When the driver dropped me off in front of my building, Fred looked like he was ready to call the police on me. Then his eyes widened when he recognized that it was me who just stepped out of the backseat, bandaged and barefoot. He immediately rushed to my side and helped me into the lobby.
“Bailey, sugar pop what the hell happened to you? Do I need to call the police?” He fussed over me while looking me over, checking for other injuries.
“No Fred, I actually feel better than I look.” I gave him a weak smile and kissed his cheek before I hobbled toward the elevators. I called out to him before the doors closed, “I’m not taking any visitors.” He called something back to me, but the doors closed before I could hear him.
As soon as I opened my door my heart sank because I saw Anthony’s big ass bent over in my kitchen rummaging through my refrigerator pulling out leftovers.
Shit.
That was probably what Fred was trying to tell me a moment ago. I let out a sigh of frustration because I knew shit was about to hit the fan if he saw me right now. I silently counted the seconds in my head until he noticed me as I quietly closed the door behind me.
“Hey, sis, I stopped by for some dinner before I went to my office tonight. I have a security contract coming up in Germany.” His head was still in the refrigerator, getting the last container of food I had stored. I used that distraction to tip toe as quietly as I could toward my bedroom.
“Oh, that’s fine you know I always cook extra just in case you or Dante come over.”
I was just a few feet away from my bedroom when I heard my refrigerator door slam so hard the bottles inside rattled and I cussed under my breath because I knew Anthony was looking at me.
“Why are you limping?” His voice was eerily low. “More importantly, why thefuckare you barefoot with a damn pad on your foot?”
