Doing as she was told, Megan moved toward me, not even trying to resist.
I held out my hands but kept them slightly apart to give me a little breathing room.
“Tie up her feet too.” He watched from enough distance that we couldn’t the gun from him.
“Put your back against the wall, Megan.” He walked closer to me as he pulled out his knife. Sticking his gun in the back of his pants, he stooped to make sure they were on tightly.
“There. That’s how you do it, you stupid cow. Anyone worth their salt would’ve made sure it was on better than that. You can’t do anything right, can you?” His hand was raised toward Megan who cringed knowing what was coming.
“Mike, do you need a woman like Megan? What did you ever see in her? What you need is a real woman, who would slap you back when you hit her.” I was trying to bring his focus onto me because Megan was in shock.
“Someone who isn’t afraid to take what you dish out. Or is that you like the other type of lifestyle better, but you just can’t admit it? Does it make you feel like a man’s man to hit on someone that’s smaller than you?”
Instead of getting angry, Mike smiled and turned to face me.
“I’m sure when this is all over, there’ll be lots of opinions about how I kept my wife in line. I’ve never wanted a man, what on earth would I do with one of those?” His eyes widened as the implication of my taunt sunk in, “Why you little bitch?”
“You don’t have the first clue about anything, do you? I needed a submissive wife. One who knows how to learn her lesson the first time. Now, Megan here, she overstepped her boundaries. Made me look like an ass to the whole town. As if I didn’t know how to take care of my family responsibilities. When that happens, she needs a good beating to make sure she won’t forget them again.” He smiled confident that he’d been a good husband.
“All she had to do was make sure I got home and in bed before half the town saw me. This entire mess could’ve been avoided if she’d just done her job.”
I couldn’t even fathom a man so delusional that he thought his wife was only good to clean up his mistakes.
Mike stepped up tapping my lips with the knife as I started to speak.
“I’d keep that mouth shut if you don’t want me to cut out your tongue. This is between me and my wife, just like it should’ve been from the beginning.” He turned to Megan as he started to lecture her.
“Megan, honey. I just need to know you’re sorry for what you’ve done. Then we can start over as a family. I know you didn’t understand how what you were doing was going to ruin my reputation, but now that you do, I’m sure it won’t happen again.” He crouched down so he could see her expression as he trailed the knife along the side of her face.
“So, Megs, are you going to apologize? I don’t want to wait while they get the fire under control?”
“You bastard.” Megan finally looked up at Mike, spitting in his face. “You set a fire so that everyone would be out there trying to save their livelihoods, and they wouldn’t be able to save us. How could you do that to such innocent people?”
“Oh, Meg. They’re not innocent. They’re keeping you from me. They’re trying to destroy our family by allowing you and Sally to start over without me. What kind of good people would do something like that? Families are supposed to stay together.”
“Mike, they’re the best family we could ever ask for because they genuinely love us. They’ve helped me get over the past and want to start over. Sally’s gotten attached to GG and James as grandparents. She couldn’t leave them.” Megan’s love for her new family was showing just how strong she’d become over the past few weeks.
“How dare you call these people family!” He stood up and started pacing up and down. “What? My family wasn’t good enough for you?”
“I built our family so we could have a circle of trust. Do you have any idea how much you’ve hurt me when you decided to involve all these other people in our lives?”
“Really, Megan. I provided a home for you. A child. What else could you possibly have needed?” He threw the knife at Megan’s feet barely missing her toes. Immediately bending over to retrieve the knife, he grabbed her shoulders shaking her instead.
“Why did you need that woman as your friend?” He pointed to me, “She’s the one that put these ideas in your head. You would have been the perfect wife, if she hadn’t come around the house, trying to make you into something you’re not. I loved you as you were, my wife.” He emphasized each sentence with a rougher shake until it made Megan’s teeth clang together loudly.
“That’s enough! Stop!”
He turned startled that I’d say something to him after he’d threatened me with a knife. Sally was standing in the doorway.
Mike started to move toward her, happy to see her again after weeks apart.
“I said stop, Daddy.” She bent over and pick up the gun where I’d left it lying on the floor. “You’re not going to hurt my mommy anymore.”
“Sally, honey. Just put the gun down before someone gets hurt.” Mike started to edge toward her slowly.
She backed into the doorway so Mike couldn’t reach her.
“If you come any closer, I’ll shoot your knees out. I’m going to make sure you don’t ever hurt my mommy again.”
Mike stopped and placed his hands in the air as Sally readjusted to make sure both hands were holding the gun steady.
“Sweetie, Mommy and I are just having a little misunderstanding, that’s all.” He tried to make his voice sound normal and not upset.
“Don’t lie to me, Daddy. I’m not stupid. I know you hurt mommy and put her in the hospital. Then you went back to punish her for telling the good police that you were being a bully. Bullies get in trouble at school, Daddy. We’re supposed to stand up to bullies. You didn’t listen to the good police. You hurt my Aunt Julie and Aunt Allie, so you’re not my daddy anymore. You’re the bad bully police. You can’t hurt my mommy again.” Her finger squeezed the trigger as he lunged toward her trying to distract her.
Aiming at his knee, the gun jerked when she pulled the trigger and it hit his foot instead.
Megan was by Sally’s side immediately, wrapping her in a tight hug. Shielding her, she kept her back to Mike knowing he would try to take his anger out on Sally.
“She shot me.” He hopped up and down on one foot muttering.
“My own kid shot me.” Disbelief edged his voice as blood oozed out of his foot onto the floor.
Enraged, he took the gun out of his waistband and aimed it at Megan and Sally.
“Die, you bitches,” He shouted feeling betrayed by both his wife and daughter before pulling the trigger.
The shot echoed through the room, and I looked up to see if they’d been hit.
Megan patted Sally down but didn’t see any blood. Glancing up, she saw GG standing in front of her with a gun pointed straight at Mike.
Sally turned to see what Megan was looking at and let out a scream.
“No, GG! Don’t be dead.” Her words spurred us into action as it registered that GG had been hit.
Megan turned to see why Mike had gone silent. He was holding his chest to keep the blood from flowing out of his wound.
She knelt next to him and cradled his head in her hands.
“The old lady shot me. First, it was my own kid, then an old lady got the better of me.” The utter shock and disbelief were etched into his face.
Megan leaned in closer to whisper in his ear, “I’m glad she did because I couldn’t pull the trigger. I did love you. I just wish I’d never met you. I know you’ll get the rewards you deserve where you’re going.”
She got up, leaving him lying in a pool of his own blood gasping for breath.
Walking over to GG, she began to help put pressure on the wound.
I had scooted over to the knife that was lying on the floor and cut my feet free. It wasn’t going to be easy to get them off my hands and I needed them free to call an ambulance.
<
br /> “Megan? Can you help me?”
The next few hours were confusing as the police, paramedics, and firefighters raced around the ranch. It was going to take a few minutes to let it sink in that Mike was dead.
Megan had gone to the hospital with GG, while I stayed with Sally until everything seemed to be taken care of.
I’d called Justin still in shock and explained what had happened. He’d be arriving at the hospital shortly.
“Ma’am, the fire is out. I’ll be leaving a few men to watch for any small restarts. Otherwise, it should be fine in the morning.” He tipped his hat at me before climbing up on the truck.
Justin pulled up as they left.
I’d held it all together, but when he put his arms around me, I lost it and broke down into tears.
Holding me tightly, I let it all out.
“There I’m okay now. We need to take your dad to the hospital to check on your mom.” I sniffled and wiped away the tears.
“He just knows about the fire. I couldn’t tell him about the shooting because I didn’t want him to have a heart attack until we were at the hospital.” He kept an arm around me as we went to find his dad.
“Sally, hop in the truck. I’m going to find my dad sweetie and we’ll check on GG, okay?” He pulled away before she could answer as he found his father speaking to an officer.
Her face registered nothing as if he hadn’t spoken to her.
“Sweetie, it’s okay. He’s just worried because his mommy is in the hospital. See? He’s coming back with Mr. James.” I hugged her tight and climbed into the backseat of the truck.
“Dad, they sent Mom to the hospital. She’s going to be okay, but she’ll want you up there.” He urged pulling his dad’s arm toward the truck.
Justin gave me a tight smile when he found us waiting for him.
It was one of the longest drives, I’d been on. Justin drove carefully to the ER as if his mom might not be gone by the time we arrived. In one piece, James was out of the vehicle before we’d come to a stop.
Following at a slightly slower pace, we were informed that she was still in surgery, but we could go to the family waiting room.
Megan was sitting there clothed in scrubs since her clothes had been covered in GG and Mike’s blood.
“Oh, Mr. G, I’m so sorry I got her shot. I didn’t mean for it to happen. He was aiming at Sally and me, but he hit her instead.” Megan burst into tears.
He hugged her tightly as if she was the only thing holding him up.
“You must quit calling me Mr. G. Just James, or even Dad will be fine. I don’t know all of the details, but if GG was there, it was for a good reason. I don’t blame you at all, sweetie.” He guided her over to the couch. “We’ll get through this. She’ll be all right. She has to be.”
Mark arrived breathless but came to a halt when he saw that Megan and Sally were okay.
“Oh, thank goodness. When the police report came over the scanner, I was in court. My assistant told me, and I got out as soon as I could. They said someone was dead, but one was on the way to the hospital. I was so worried that it was you,” Mark walked over and took Megan’s hands in his before pulling her toward him.
He kissed her.
One of those passionate kisses. I thought my world was over and I’m glad you’re alive kisses.
Shocked Megan simply sat down, covering her mouth when he was done.
Mark had more than a lawyer’s interest in her welfare.
I smirked. There might be a romance in the air when things calmed down.
He looked around and finally took notice that Aunt GG wasn’t in the room.
“Uncle James,” His voice started to tremble, “Was Aunt GG, the one shot?”
“Yes, they’re removing the bullet now. The doctor will be out to update us soon.” James accepted the hug from his nephew.
Explaining the situation again from the beginning, I left out most of what Mike had shouted or said to us. There was no need to make Sally hear all of that about her father again.
The police finally arrived and an hour later had everyone’s statements.
Sally seemed unfazed by all of the commotion and noise. I wasn’t sure that she was okay, but I would have to keep a close eye on her.
Everyone stood when the doctor came into the room looking tired.
“She had a close miss to her heart. The bullet was lodged in the top left of her chest. A pierced lung, but otherwise nothing major was damaged. We got the bullet out and she’d going to have to be watched closely to make sure that she doesn’t have any setbacks.” The doctor glanced around the room at our sad faces.
“I’ll let you know when you can see her. She’s in recovery, but she’ll be able to have a visitor or two if she’s up for it.”
Justin and James went in first, while the rest of us waited anxiously.
Megan burst into tears of joy when she finally laid eyes on GG.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” She gushed, “I thought we were all going to die. I’m so glad he didn’t kill you.”
GG was still under the effects of the meds they’d give her for surgery.
“I walked into that room. It was a bad situation, but I’m thankful we all got out without more people getting hurt.”
She coughed and I handed her the water on the table to sip.
“I’m sorry he died, honey. It was an us or him situation. I chose him, so no more tears or worrying. Just go take care of Sally. We can talk when I get back home.”
The medical examiner declared that the wounds on Mike’s body were from two guns. He submitted that his report supported the eye-witness accounts.
Megan didn’t want a big funeral because of the circumstances.
“Sally needs to have closure.”
No one had argued ready to up him to rest where he couldn’t harm anyone ever again.
“Megan’s going to need a lot of help in the next few months. It’s hard to let go of the past, but now her future is wide open and she’d going to need our support.” I was happy that I had Justin by my side.
I was pretty sure that I’d found one of the good ones. Maybe not the only one since I was certain that Mark would make his move when Megan was ready, but I didn’t need to look anymore.
Epilogue
Two months later….
“Hey, Stan. Where are you?” I fumbled for the light switch. “You said it was flooded, but I’m not feeling water on the floor.
The light made me wince, but then I noticed the banner hanging over the bar.
“WILL YOU MARRY ME?”
Smaller letters underneath added… “AND MY FAMILY?”
I turned to find Justin on one knee.
“Yes!” I squealed louder, “Yes! I’ll marry you and your family.”
The family came out from behind the partition to the back room.
“I think I’ll keep all of you. If you’ll have me?” I waved to them.
Sally ran over but jumped into Justin’s arms instead of mine.
“If she had said no, I would have married you, Uncle J. Just in case she ever gets rid of you, I’m next in line.” Causing the adults to burst out laughing.
“Sally, I promise, you’ll have dibs if we don’t work out.” I pried her loose from Justin and swung her in a circle.
“How about a deal? Since you can’t have Justin for a husband, will you settle for being my flower girl?” I didn’t want her to feel left out during all of the wedding preparations.
“Duh, I thought you’d never ask.” She rolled her eyes as we all laughed.
“Now, I think Uncle Justin and I should seal our deal with a kiss.”
He pulled me into a dip and planted one on me.
“You’ve made me the happiest woman in the world.”
“Let’s see if I can best that at home tonight.” He winked at me as he set me back on my feet.
The End
Resources for Domestic Violence help
If you or someone you know
needs help with an abusive or violent situation, please get help.
http://www.thehotline.org/ Computer use can be monitored so please use caution when visiting this site.
Or call 1-800-799-7233 | 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
These are some sites that you may find helpful as well.
Domestic Violence Resource Center
www.dvrc-or.org
NRCDV - National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
www.nrcdv.org
Domestic Violence Statistics | Domestic Violence Statistics
domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-stat
Domestic Violence Statistics - AARDVARC.org
www.aardvarc.org/dv/statistics.shtml
Silenced
Secrets and Lies Book 2
Megan
It was an hour before the school bus would bring Sally home. I had a short amount of time to put my feet up before I’d have to meet her.
Rewarding myself with a glass of cool iced tea from the refrigerator, I plopped into the porch swing.
August was hot, but I’d been cleaning out an old cabin for GG in exchange for being able to live on her property.
It was so warm that I finished my glass off and quickly refilled it.
Trying to sip this glass slower, I thought back to how I wouldn’t have been able to do this only a year ago.
My ex-husband had tried to kill me, so happiness and relaxation meant more to me now than they ever had before.
The glass of tea hadn’t cooled me down. I wasn’t sure it was working at all. Something didn’t feel right.
I picked up my phone and tried to focus on the screen to find GG’s number. My glass slipped from my hand where I shattered, but that wasn’t the worse of it, I was feeling faint.
The swing moved as I overcompensated and I fell to the ground onto the glass. My phone flew out of my hand balancing on the edge of the porch.
The notes I’d been receiving all summer flashed through my mind. Someone had been threatening me, but I’d assumed it was just a prank. Who besides my ex-husband would want me dead?
Witness Protection Page 22