"I'm not confused," she says."And I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Yes, you are."He reaches for her.
The purse comes up.
That's when I step between them.
She curses. I don’t want her to shoot this asshole, even if he does deserve it. I don’t want to see her get arrested.
"She said no," I say.
Randall looks at me, and frowns.He's trying to place me.Trying to figure out if I'm a threat."This is a private conversation."
"Not anymore."
"Carla and I need to talk.Alone."
"She doesn't want to talk to you.She made that clear.So you need to fuck off."
He smiles, but it's the kind of smile that has nothing to do with humor."You don't know what you're doing, man.You don't know what she's like.She gets these ideas in her head.She runs away when things get hard.But she always comes back."
"She's not coming back this time."
"That's not your decision."
"It's hers.And she already made it."
We're standing less than three feet apart now.Close enough that I can see the muscle ticking in his jaw.Close enough that I can see the calculation in his eyes.He's wondering if he can take me.Wondering if it's worth it to try.
Part of me hopes he does.I want a reason to punch his lights out. But he has to take the first shot. I’m not going down for assault either.
"You really want to do this?"he asks.
"I'm not doing anything.I'm standing here.Are you going to fuck off or what?"
"Carla," he says, not taking his eyes off me."You're really going to hide behind this guy?You're really going to let some random asshole speak for you?"
"I'm not hiding," Carla says.Her voice is stronger now."And he's not speaking for me.I'm telling you myself.Leave me alone, Randall.I'm not coming back.Not now.Not ever."
"You think you're safe with him?"Randall's voice is sharp now.Angry.The mask is slipping."You think he's going to protect you?He doesn't know you like I do.He doesn't know what you need.What you want.You're mine, Carla.You've always been mine."
"I was never yours," she says."I was your punching bag.Your property.But I'm not that anymore."
Randall's face goes hard."Careful, babe.You're saying things you're going to regret."
"The only thing I regret is staying with you as long as I did."
For a second, I think he's going to snap.I can see the rage building behind his eyes.The urge to lash out, to hurt her for daring to defy him.
I shift my weight, ready.
But then he takes a breath and steps back, hands up."You know what?Fine.You want to play it this way?We'll play it this way.But this isn't over.You know that, right?"
"It is over."
"No.It's not."He looks at me."And you.You have no idea what you're dealing with.I've got friends.Resources.I can make your life very difficult, very quickly."
"I've got friends and resources too," I say."So bring it, bitch."
