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She bobs her head in understanding. “Pack a bag. You are coming to stay with me and the boys can come get your stuff sometime soon, okay?”

I nod like a robot. My tears have dried up and now I just feel empty. I’m not sad. I’m not angry. I’m not anything.

“Come on, sweetie,” Addy says, coaxing me to move.

“It will get better,” Trey assures me.

Will it?

* * * *

When we left the house, I left that article on the table with a good-bye note on top of it. A part of me feels bad about leaving him. I’m worried about how he’ll react. I don’t want to hurt him. I love him despite what he did to me. The fact disgusts me but it’s true.

I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that he knew what he was doing the whole time. Maybe he didn’t… maybe he didn’t realize what he was doing. Is that possible? I don’t know what to think anymore. Everything that I know is turned completely upside down. I can’t even trust my own emotions. Even they have betrayed me.

There is a commotion at the front door and Tucker comes barreling into the room. He stops short when he sees me before rushing over and crouching down in front of me. He runs his hands over my hair as tears well up in his eyes. He looks down at my lap and picks up one of my hands as he examines my wrist.

He meets my eyes again and I see a single tear slip down his cheek. I just stare blankly at him, feeling so empty and numb.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asks, turning to Trey and Addy.

“I’m not sure, but I think she’s in shock.”

“She’s been like this since we left the house,” Addy chimes in.

He watches me, his eyes flicking down to my jaw. His own jaw clenches in response.

“I’m going to kill that bastard.”

“I’m right there with ya, brother,” Trey says.

“You can’t,” I respond, my voice just as empty as the rest of me feels. “He’s a cop. He’s going to get away with it.” A slightly hysterical giggle escapes me.

“Em, you’re scaring me,” he whispers hoarsely, concern evident in his tone. I just shrug my shoulders.

“Why don’t you get some sleep?” Addy asks and I nod my head. Yeah… sleep sounds like a really good idea.

* * * *

When I wake up the next morning, I’m not empty anymore. I can think clearly again and it’s a relief because I have to admit that I was scaring even myself last night. Staring at the shadows cast on the ceiling by the morning sun, I try to figure out how I ended up here. How did my life take such a wrong turn? How did I fall in love with a man like Ryan Wheeler?

Then, I think that maybe he really didn’t realize what he was doing. I know he loves me, I’ve seen it in his eyes, and you would never treat someone you love like this so maybe he truly doesn’t know.

No, there’s no way it’s possible. How would he not realize? The things he spewed at me were so awful that it has to be intentional, right? He had to know that hitting me last night was wrong. Right?

God, I feel like I’m going insane.

I can’t trust my own emotions right now. I can’t trust anyone. To have someone you love, that you trusted, tear you down like this elicits an emotion I can’t even put into words. I feel violated. How do I ever trust anyone again?

“Em?” Addy’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I look up at her, offering her a small smile. A startled look crosses her face. “Well, you seem better this morning.”

I sit up in the bed. “Yeah, I feel a little better this morning.”

“So, listen, I need to talk to you about a few things,” she says, glancing nervously down at her hands.

“’Kay, what’s up?”

“First, your phone has been blowing up since last night.” She hands me my phone. I look down and see one hundred and eight missed calls.