What did he see?
Just as quickly as the anger steals his face, it’s gone. Almost like a trigger being pulled.
Cocked one minute.
Unloaded the next.
But the anger isn’t what he gives us. It is another side of Dean that frightens me even more.
The unnerving calm.
“What the hell is going on here?” he asks, folding his arms across his chest.
“Nothing, um…Linc just stopped by on his way through town. What are you doing home so early?” I ask, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. I can’t imagine what this must look like. By the look on his face, he’s seen and heard everything.
He slowly closes the distance between us. “I had a doctor’s appointment at two, remember?” He lifts his eyes behind me.
Shit, I’d forgotten. Once Linc arrived, I’d forgotten everything but him and me.
Linc gets to his feet.
Caroline babbles a broken sentence into the baby monitor. “Go take care of Caroline, Sylvie.”
“Dean, please.” I don’t know what I am begging for.
Forgiveness?
Mercy?
His eyes snap to mine, his voice deep and low. “Now.”
“Don’t fuckin’ talk to her like that,” Linc shouts, walking closer.
“I can talk to her any way I want. She’s my goddamn wife.”
“You don’t have to put up with this shit, Sylvie.”
“Linc, please,” I beg, turning to face him. I don’t want to have this conversation now and especially not in front of Dean. This is our marriage and when I decide to walk away would be up to me, not him.
The space between them ripples with hate, anger, and years of resentment.
All because of me.
“Motherfucker, I told you she’s mine. You stay the hell away from her,” Dean grits.
Linc smirks and dread settles in my belly.
“She may be your wife, but I’ll always own her heart.”
“Linc!”
Dean’s eyes swing to mine, rage burning in their depths. I shake my head, denying Linc’s claim.
Dean returns his hard gaze to Linc. “As long as I’m standing here breathing, she’ll never be yours.”
Linc’s pleading eyes find mine; silently begging for me to say something, but there is nothing I can say that will fix any of this.
No matter what happens, someone gets hurt.
