Page 58 of Stanton Unconditional

“Thank God,” he mutters as he looks at the ground.

I pick up my phone and dial the police.

“Hello, I would like to report a robbery.”

Max and Ben are talking in the kitchen quietly. I walk in sheepishly.

“Sorry, Ben, I’m on edge,” I whisper, embarrassed at my previous outburst.

He nods and gives me a crooked smile.

“I have been under a lot of stress and I am not handling things very well,” I stammer. He nods again but stays silent. The poor bastard is probably too scared to speak.

“Max, I don’t need protecting anymore. Go home with Ben and back to America where you belong.”

“Natasha, you need to be guarded,” Ben whispers.

I screw up my face in frustration. “Ben, the only person who can hurt me is Joshua and he has done just that. In fact, I would say he’s excelled at it. You and Max being here is just putting salt on my wounds. Leave me alone, I can’t take much more.” My eyes fill with tears as I shake my head in disbelief.

“We are not trying to upset you, Tash,” Max whispers as he puts his arm around me sympathetically.

“Well, you are. Ben, go home and guard Joshua, he needs you to keep him safe. Stop wasting your time on me, this isn’t a movie scene. I need you to keep him safe for me. Promise me you will keep him safe,” I splutter through my tears.

He smiles sympathetically at me. “I will.” “Make him go home to America, please!” I sob.

Ben walks to the door and turns, his eyes hold mine for a moment. He wants to say something but holds his tongue.

“What is it?” I snap.

“You’re making a mistake, Natasha,” he sighs.

I screw up my face as pain lances through my chest. “What?” I shriek. Is he fucking kidding? “Tell me, Ben, did you say the same thing to Joshua when you watched him walk into Amelie’s room that night or was that ok because your boss was about to get some action? Did you boys all stand outside his door and listen? Did you place bets on what would happen next?” I sob.

“Natasha,” Max whispers in a hurt voice.

I step back and shake my head at the two of them. “This whole entourage bullshit you all have going on makes me sick. You both know more about my relationship than I do. So, you know what? You can have it, because I want nothing to do with it. If you care about Joshua go and find him a woman who is prepared to go to bed with the ten of you, seeing as you’re all as thick as thieves. I am sure that will suit him just fine.”

“Natasha, you’re just upset,” Max whispers.

“Stop saying that. I’m more than upset. I’m furious!” I scream. A knock sounds at the door and we turn to see two policemen.

I smile uncomfortably. Oh boy, did they just hear that? “Come in,” I stammer.

“Are we interrupting?” one of the policemen says as his eyes flick to Ben.

Ben frowns and shakes his head. “No”

I look at Ben, signifying for him to go, but he raises his eyebrows and walks into the kitchen defiantly. “Does anybody want a cup of coffee?” he asks.

“Actually, I will have a coffee if that’s ok,” one of the policemen remarks.

Oh great, now a scabby cop who wants coffee. Shouldn’t he be taking fingerprints or, I don’t know, catching fucking robbers?

The policeman who wants coffee walks into the kitchen and the other one gets out his pen and notepad.

“Tell me what happened.”

“We came home,” I whisper as I wipe the tears from my face.