There’s a gun. Dean keeps it in the nightstand on the other side of the bed.
“I’ve been waiting,” He sighs, “You know how I am with the sheriff.”
Oh fuck.
“It was only because someone called up a few days ago that I figured out where you were. Asking all kinds of questions about that night.”
Richard.
“The sheriff found it strange, especially since no one has seen or heard from you.”
“Please,” I beg, reminiscent of that night. I begged him then too, but he didn’t stop.
“You left!” He suddenly screams, the tone and boom of his voice echoing through the house and making me flinch. Next to me, from the monitor, Lily begins to cry.
His head turns slowly toward the sound. I’ve never seen anger twist someone’s features before, it’s like a mask slips over his face. I never suspected Felix, he’s married to my sister. He was always kind, always helpful. Even after that one date we had, and when I ultimately called it off, he didn’t seem upset about it.
“You had a baby?”
Oh shit.
“Felix,” I hold a hand up, trying to placate him. “It’s not what you think.”
“You’re mine, Sloane!” He booms. “You’ve always been mine!”
“Listen,” I reason, “We can talk about this, yeah? We can figure this out.”
I need to buy time; I need to take his attention off of Lily. I don’t have time to shake or cry; I can’t cower in fear or beg. Lily is the only thing that matters right now, and I will protect her, no matter the cost.
You didn’t lock the door.
The voice in the back of my mind accuses. Just like that night, I didn’t lock the door.
Swallowing thickly, I hold the sheet around me tighter. “Let’s talk.” I try.
“No,” He snarls, “I’m done waiting for you.”
Beyond the door, I hear the sound of the Porsche’s engine, but Felix seems too fixated on me to notice. That’s good. Just a little more time.
He crosses over to me, his six-foot frame towering over mine. “You should have died that night.” He growls, but I keep my shoulders square and hide my fear.
“You don’t get to have me, Felix.” I steel my spine, add venom to my tone.
The back of his hand meets the side of my face in a whack I don’t see coming. Pain bursts across my cheekbone, the hit rattling my brain enough I lose my balance. My knees hit the carpet, and his foot comes up to slam into my ribcage, stealing the breath from my lungs.
“You left!” He cries, “You left me.Again. You went and moved on!”
He’s insane. How long has this obsession fueled him? Does my sister know? Did she know what he had done?
“Felix,” I wheeze, “Please.”
And there’s the begging, the plea for mercy.
He grabs a fistful of my hair and pulls my head up, elongating my neck in a way that makes it difficult to swallow.
“We’re going to fix this, Sloane,” His voice gentles, “We’re going to fix all these mistakes you have made. Giving yourself to someone else, you had his baby.” He snatches away from me as if I have physically offended him.
“Felix,” I try to start to tell him that Lily isn’t mine, but he doesn’t want to hear it. He cannot be reasoned with. His boot hits me in the face this time, and I feel the crunch of my nose and the immediate blood that rushes from it. Dizziness forces me onto my stomach, my limbs going numb and weak. I feel the warmth of my blood, can taste the metallic tinge of it on my tongue.
