My little overnight bag is packed. I could have snuck out while Grey was out, but I decided not to do that. I’m not afraid of his ass anymore. I don’t plan on looking over my shoulders or hiding from him for the rest of my life. Fuck that. My main focus at this moment is to tell Grey to his face that I’m done. I’ve got strength. I’m a powerful ass woman, and that motherfucker is done stepping on me.
Just as I enter the living room, I notice there’re bags everywhere. Leila must have lost her damn mind shopping. She went to all the high end stores, and I mean every single one of them. She got all the expensive name brands, and she even had the nerve to buy a veil for a wedding dress. I cover my mouth to stop from laughing.
Grey is looking around, and I can see the steam erupting from his ears. He’s about to become a brand new volcano on Skidaway Island, and Leila is about to learn who that man really is.
“What’s wrong, baby?” she asks sheepishly. “You said I could go shopping. I had a good time. Don’t you want me to have a good time, baby?”
“How much did you spend today?” he asks her. He has that stance, like he’s about to wear her out.
“Not that much. Pennies to you, baby.”
He takes a step forward. “How much did you spend, Leila?”
“I didn’t spend too much. I promise.”
“How much did you FUCKING spend?”
“STOP CUSSING A-”
Grey back hands her, making her fall on the floor. She’s astonished. Tears pool in her eyes.
“You’re going to take all this shit back first thing in the fucking morning!”
“But baby,” she sobs, “don’t you want-”
“Did I tell you to buy this shit?”
“But baby-”
“DID I TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN BUY ANY OF THIS SHIT?”
“NO! But I thought you’d be okay with it!” Now, she’s outright crying.
“WHAT THE FUCK THE MATTER WITH YOU!”
She gets up and puts her arms around his neck. “Baby, don’t be mad. I love you.”
He pushes her away and kicks a bag across the floor. “Stop fucking calling me baby!”
“Baby-”
Grey grabs her by the neck and rams her hard into the wall. She’s trying to talk and fight him off, but none of it is doing any good. He finally lets Leila go when he sees she’s about to lose consciousness. He turns around, kicking another bag across the room. That’s when he sees me with my luggage in hand. He looks down at it with confusion and then directly into my eyes. The understanding appears on his face.
“Now what the fuck you doing?” he asks.
“I’m leaving,” I bravely answer.
“Where do you think you going?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“It’s none of my business, huh?” Grey chuckles and looks back at Leila. “Two stupid bitches. One ain’t got a bit of fucking sense and the other thinks she’s the smartest thing in the room.”
“You’ll be getting my divorce papers in the mail,” I remark calmly.
“I’m getting divorce papers? You think?”
“No, Grey, I know.”
He comes over to me and snatches the bag out of my hand. I don’t even try to stop him. He throws it behind him.
“You got a job tonight. You need to go upstairs and get ready, and if I tell you again, I’m going to beat you until you can’t fucking walk.”
“I’m not doing it.”
He gets closer.
I stand my ground. “That’s right, Grey, I’m done.”
He gets directly in my face. His aftershave hits my nose. He stinks.
“You’re done when I say you’re done. Go get your shit and get ready to go.”
“Fuck you.”
Grey grabs me by one arm, and I swing around and punch him in the nose. He howls while grabbing at his face. I go around him, thinking I can get my bag before he can recover, but he grabs me with his bloody hands just as I bend over to grab my suitcase. I begin hitting him with it. He blocks some of my swings with his arm. The last one I try to make, he snatches the bag out of hand. But that doesn’t stop me. I grab a lamp and hit him over the head with the glass base. It breaks and shatters around him. Grey stands there stunned and so do I. I’m not sure if I’ve hurt him or if I’ve made him angrier. My answer soon comes when he falls sideways to the floor. He hits the ground so hard that it startles me. I check to see if he’s alive. He’s out. His pulse is strong. His chest is rising and falling evenly.
Leila runs over and tries to pull me back off of him, but I snatch away from her.
“You killed him!” she screams frantically.
“He’s breathing, you idiot,” I say to her.
“Get the hell out of my house!”
I laugh at her.
“GET OUT!”
I back away from her while making sure to avoid Grey in the process. He’s waking up, moaning and grabbing his forehead.
“You’re not the only woman he’s seeing,” I say, just to put a cherry on top of my departure. “Her name is Jillian Rogers. She’s a cop with the Savannah Police Department, a detective, and he slept with her right in this house, just this week.”
Leila narrows her eyes at me in disbelief.
“It’s true. When he gets to his senses, ask him.”
When I get to the middle of the street, I let out a shaky breath of air. This is the end of my life with Grey Phillips. I never have to sleep with another man unless I want to. I never have to be beaten by him again. This is it.
My tears truly begin to fall as I take one step after another. I don’t wipe them away. I don’t hide them. I’m free.
Chapter Thirty-Six
I call Lucas as I’m walking on Diamond Causeway to meet me at a restaurant off Lake Street on Skidaway Island. I’m guessing that when Grey has all of his senses, he’ll think that I walked to the mainland. I’m not that stupid. He’ll catch up with me before I can cross the bridge, and knowing him, he’ll toss me into Skidaway River in an attempt to kill me. He’s not going to put his hands on me again. I’m so over making stupid ass decisions.
Lucas arrives within thirty minutes, and Detective Rogers is with him. I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised. I know she must be wondering what I have to tell her partner, if I’ll sell her out. I’m beginning to wonder what she knows about Grey and if she’s involved in anything he’s done.
Lucas sees my suitcase and gives me a curious look. I can only muster a smile. I’m so nervous. What I’m about to do I would have never done earlier that day. My fear of Grey had a strangle hold on me, but I feel empowered now. I feel like he can never bring me down to nothing ever again.
“Rachel,” Lucas says as he shakes my hand. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” I respond with confidence.
“Is that a suitcase I see?” He points at it.
“Yes, it is.”
Lucas pulls a chair out for Detective Rogers, waits for her to sit, and then he takes a chair, as well. “So, what’s going on?”
“I left him, and I’m getting a divorce.”
Detective Rogers looks down at her lap. I’m not sure if she’s happy to hear this bit of news or not.
“What does Grey have to say about that?” Lucas asks.
“He has nothing to say about it,” I remark.
“I know he was-”
“Abusive,” I add. “I had enough. Either I walk away and live, or I stay and die.”
“You did the right thing,” he comments.
“I hope so.” I clear throat. “I called you because I have something to tell you about Stella Burnshaw and Russell Wolfe.”
Their attention is fully on me.
“Would you mind if I recorded our conversation?” he asks.
“Her statement won’t do us any good,” Detective Rogers remarks. “If this is about Grey Phillips, she’s married to him, and whatever she says, especially anything pertaining to his guilt, will be thrown out in cour
t.”
“I’m not coercing her. Rachel called us.”
“Whatever I tell you today,” I chime in, “I’m willing to stand by it in a court of law. You name the time and date, and I will be there.”
Lucas nods at Detective Rogers with a big smile. “We’re good.” He takes out a tape recorder and presses the red button. “Rachel, let’s begin with Stella Burnshaw.”
“As you already know, Stella was the recipient of Grey’s scholarship that was named after his deceased father. Stella got a full ride at a university of her choosing, and he hired her once she graduated at his software firm. I used to invite her over for dinner when she first started working for Grey. The last time she was at the house was during a party last year. We had a barbecue. He invited many of his employees over to the house. When Stella arrived, she was fine. A couple of hours after she showed up, she disappeared and so did Grey. I tried to act like it didn’t bother me, but it did.” I look down at my hands. Again, the tears fall. “She came back downstairs. Her shirt was torn. She had a bruise under eye from where Grey hit her. He had a scratch on his cheek and neck. His lip was bleeding. I remember being so angry at Stella because she let him trap her like that. Grey sneaked her out through the garage before anyone could see them. He came back later on that night. I don’t know what happened to her while he was gone. She didn’t come to the house anymore after that, and she didn’t call.”
“Did you ask Grey what happened to Stella?” Lucas asks.
“No, I was too afraid.”
“What you just told us doesn’t prove anything,” Detective Rogers says. “You didn’t see him put his hands on her while she was in your house.”
“Detective, no one else went upstairs during the party. All of the doors to the bedrooms and bathrooms were locked before everyone arrived.”
“Still doesn’t make your husband guilty,” she responds.
“When I went upstairs after the party, one of the spare bedrooms were wide open, and the bed was a mess.”
“Did you save the sheets?” Detective Rogers is dead set on helping Grey, but there isn’t a thing she can do to save him.
“He got rid of them, Detective.”
She looks at Lucas.
“Does Grey own any other properties around Georgia? I’ve looked into it. The house in Tudor and in Richmond Hills are the only places on record he owns.”
“Grey rents an indoor storage room in Pembroke, Georgia, but it’s under Andrew’s name. I’ve seen the bill come to the house. Andrew never opens it. I don’t even think he knows about it. Grey pays the bills.”
Lucas has a spark of hope in his eyes. “Rachel, have you been to the storage unit?”
“No.”
“So, how do you know he still has it?” Detective Rogers challenges me.
“Doesn’t matter,” he says to her impatiently. “We’re going to be checking it out, anyway.”
Detective Rogers back down. He nods and brushes his hands through the grey spot in his hair. “Tell me about Russell Wolfe.”
“Either he’s in the basement at the house, or he’s at the storage unit in Pembroke.”
“What makes you think he’s in your house?” he says curiously.
“I called Russell’s cell phone. I heard it ringing in the basement.”
“When was this?” Lucas is anxious for me to answer.
“Today,” I answer.
“What are you doing with Russell Wolfe’s phone number?” Detective Rogers knows the answer. It’s more than obvious, but she wants me to say it out loud.
I have no problem admitting it. “Russell gave it to me. We were having an affair.”
“We have to get a search warrant for the house and for the storage unit in Pembroke.” Lucas pulls out his phone and stands up.
“There’s one more thing,” I reply.
Lucas stops in his tracks. Detective Rogers is holding her breath.
“Can I get a ride to Pooler?”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“How are you doing?” I ask my mom.
I’m in her apartment, staring out onto a blanket of green trees and a floating blue sky. The natural light is breathtaking. It’s Sunday afternoon, and I feel great. I feel renewed.
“Doing wonderful,” my mom answers. She sounds as happy as I feel.
“I may have to consider going to Hawaii one day.”
“You should,” she says. “I think I’m going to move here, but the cost of living is high.”
“If you move there, I’ll miss you.”
“You can always visit.”
“Yeah, I guess. Look, Mom, I have something to tell you, and I don’t want you to go crazy or overreact.”
“If it’s going to ruin my good mood, I don’t want to hear it.”
“I left Grey…for good.”
“Oh,” she remarks. “Why did you leave him?”
“Because the marriage was bad for me.” I’m not going to give up details. I can’t.
“Well, you did the right thing,” she says.
I’m surprised. I’m thinking my mom was going to go off the deep end because her free ticket is cut off.
“Are you okay with it?” she asks.
“Yes, Mom, I’m more than okay. I’m relieved. I’m happy.”
“That’s good. I’m glad.”
“You know what this means for you, right?”
“No,” she says. “What does it mean?”
“You’ll have to move out of your apartment. He won’t pay for it anymore, and he won’t be paying for your meds. We’ll have to find another way.”
“Honey, your momma has had another way for a while. Your husband isn’t paying for anything I need.”
“What did you say?” I turn away from the window, holding my breath. “What are you talking about?”
“Grey hasn’t been paying for my medications, and he hasn’t been paying rent on the apartment. He paid for a while after you two got married, but then last year, your dad took over everything.”
“Wait…my father?”
“Yes, Rachel, your father. He’s actually here with me in Hawaii.”
I’m speechless. I’ve been sleeping around for six months, thinking I’m saving my mother, and the whole damn time my dad was taking care of her. I’m going to be sick. What in the hell?
“Rachel, I know you might not approve, but I am very happy. He is, also.”
“No, that’s not it, Mom. Why didn’t you tell me that Grey stopped paying?”
“Because I didn’t want to cause any problems between you and your husband, and honestly, Rachel, Grey is not responsible for taking care of me. I felt bad as it was that he had to put me up and spend all that money on my medications. I felt like it was taking away from you.”
“You still could have told me.”
“Maybe, I should have, but I was just glad not to be a burden to you two. Actually, I wish I could pay Grey back every penny.”
I can easily yell and be angry at my mom for keeping secrets and the unintended consequences she caused, but I can’t. She had no idea what I was doing for her and why, and she’ll never know. But I’m so pissed at Grey. All that sleeping around because I thought he was taking care of my mother. I could have walked away a long time ago, but then again, I couldn’t. Grey was going to kill me and my mom, and he was very capable. Doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over. I walked away, and I’m never going back. I’m letting it all go.
“Mom, have fun. Call me when you can.”
“I sure will.”
“Give Dad my love.”
“Do you want me to tell him to call you? He’s in the shower right now.”
“That’ll be great. It’ll be nice to hear from him again.”
“Alright. I love you, Rachel. I’m proud of you.”
“Love you, too.”
I disconnect the call and continue my quiet intake of the new world around me.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
It’s at the end of August. I
haven’t seen Jack since I left Grey, and today, I’ve decided the time is right. He’s been on my side from the beginning. It’s funny how love can be in front of my face, but I was missing it the whole time. Hate had its hold. No more. Thank God, no more.
I’m standing at Jack’s door. I want to knock, but I want to run away, too. I’m afraid that he’s changed his mind about me. What if he chose his brother’s side? Family is family, after all. I knock, anyway, and I pray that he’ll let me in.
The door opens, and to my surprise, Jack is not in his wheelchair. He has on his prosthetic leg, and he’s wearing shorts. There’s no shame, no anger. He’s smiling, and it’s so big it lights up his face. I’m so proud of him, and I open and raise my arms for a hug. We embrace and kiss. I thought I knew what true love felt like. Up until this moment, I really didn’t. But now, I stand in the arms of the greatest man my heart has ever known. This is real. This is what love is all about.
Epilogue
On December 15th, Grey pleaded guilty to the murder of Stella Burnshaw, Russell Wolfe, and three other people I’ve never heard of. He was given life in prison. Stella’s body was found in a freezer in the storage unit in Pembroke. Russell was in a freezer in the basement of the house.
The liability suits from the families of the victims are pending. Grey still has money, but I’m sure when they get done with him, he’ll be broke.
Grey and I are divorced. I got nothing, and I’m perfectly fine with it. Not ties to him whatsoever, a fresh start, and I deserve it. I have a wonderful job working in an eye doctor’s office. Pay isn’t all that great, but I’m not complaining. Anything is better than what I used to do.
Leila Dunley wasn’t pregnant, and she wasn’t engaged to Grey. All of those lies were told to get a rise out of me. After I left the house that day, I never saw or heard from Leila again. I have no idea where she is. Perhaps, she latched onto another sugar daddy.
Nothing happened to Detective Jillian Rogers. I didn’t tell anyone about the affair she had with my husband. I figured if I kept my mouth shut, it’ll be less problems for me. She never thanked me. I wasn’t expecting it.
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