“You first have to come home.” He says
I turn my head away and he turns it back. I need to stop turning because the more he touches me, the more I need to remind myself that his touch is temporary.
His phone beeps, he reads the text and turns to me.
“Bruce has wiped out the pictures from Teni’s phone and all his devices,” I choke in tears. I squeeze his hand.
“Thank you. What do I owe Bruce?”
he smiles like someone that knows he has won
“You coming home with me is his payment.” he says
“Where’s the envelope with the pictures?” he asks
“I hid it under my mattress.” I say
“I’m going to get it and burn it,” I nod
I don't like the idea of Bruce seeing the pictures but I can live with that, long as the photos are deleted from Teni’s phone and all his devices. All the mental pressure washes away. My body is still too weak to fight. I let out a weak appreciation for Bruce’s efficiency.
Chapter 55
Daniel
Andrea and Jordan soon arrive with loads of smiles and cheers. They are hugging and inspecting her arms like they needed to make sure nothing has changed since they last left her. I sit back and let them talk to her.
“When is the doctor discharging you?” Andrea asks.
“I don’t know yet, but I hope today. I don’t want to stay here,” Anu replies, her voice still raspy.
“I got you, MAK. We have your room set up and ready for you,” Jordan says. I get up from my seat and turn to him.
“She’s not going home with you guys,” I say. “She’s coming home with me.”
“That’s not happening,” Jordan says, shaking his head.
I move to the door. “Let’s talk,” I say to him as he scoffs and turns away from me.
Andrea pushes him towards the door. He steps out with me, finally. I lead him to the small cove where I spoke with Bruce yesterday. He stands defiant, like nothing I can say will change his mind. I decide to tell him anyway.
“I need you to be honest.”
He scoffs. I accept his attitude as a nod to continue. At least he’s not walking away. “Imagine Andrea tells you she and her best friend are going to a wedding in Canada. She also tells you her ex-boyfriend, who you despise, is also going to be there, and she assures you that she has absolutely nothing to do with him ever again. So, you trust her, and she goes on this trip.
She returns a week later, and you ask about the trip. She tells you about all the fun that happened and doesn’t mention her ex, and you don’t ask about him either. Five days after her return, you receive pictures on your phone from an unknown number. It’s all pictures of Andrea and said ex-boyfriend in bed, like fucking compromising pictures.”
He leans on the wall.
“You ask her about it, and she says, she knows nothing about it. You guys fight, and you leave because of how upset and angry you are.”
I watch him exhale.
“Be honest, if you were in my shoes, would you have reacted differently?”
I wait for him to answer. No rush here.
“I can understand how angry you must have been about what happened, but what I saw was MAK in excruciating pain and refusing to take meds. She was trying to die. That was beyond painful to watch. Nothing and I mean nothing would ever justify that to me.”
