by Cary Hart
“Man, wrong move.” Kyle yanks the asshole back by the collar. “Learn to keep your hands to yourself.
“What’s wrong with you people? Your little bitch—” He’s interrupted when Kyle picks him up by the front of his shirt and slams him against the opposite wall.
“Someone call the police!” He squirms under Kyle’s grip.
“Yes, someone call the police!” Kyle agrees. “Time’s up, fucker.”
“Penny, my name is Nina.” I hold out my hand.
“Hi, Nina.” She rejects my hand and offers up a wave.
“Can we talk outside away from this?” I plead.
She nods, her gaze never leaving the asshole’s until she hits the door. The moment the door shuts behind her, her breathing picks up. Faster and faster, her eyes wide.
“Penny, look at me.” I stand in front of her trying to catch her gaze. “Just look at me. Right here.” I point between our eyes.
“In. Out.”
See my mouth.
“In. Out.”
Follow me.
“In. Out.”
“I’m so scared.” She pants out between breaths.
“It’s scary, but I need to know…does he hurt you?”
Nodding frantically, her body is racked with sobs. At this moment, the cops pull in.
“Listen, Penny. This is where you have to make a choice and it’s going to be one of the hardest things you ever do in your life.” I reach out for her hand. This time she takes it. Giving it a little squeeze, I say, “Do you want to leave? No more hiding. No more pain.”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“Sir!” I call out to one of the police officers. “We have a domestic dispute.
“Penny, I promise, everything is going to be okay.”
Nina
“You know that bouncer I told you about, Shapiro?”
Niki called to give me an update on Penny, the girl from Java Talk.
“I don’t think I’ve met him,” I reply.
“Well, he is this badass who works the VIP section at Spotlight. Shapiro knows people who know people,” she continues. “He’s going to hide Penny until her boyfriend is found.”
“Oh good.” I pause to say a silent little prayer.
Even though the police were called to Java Talk, there was nothing they could do. He didn’t physically assault her, nor were there signs of abuse. Just a girl and her accusations and a guy who denied them. Unfortunately, it’s a flaw in the system that makes it harder for victims to be heard and feel safe after coming forward.
“Just know she is taken care of and everything is going to be okay. She’s doing better.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I tell her, and I truly don’t. Everyone has come together to make sure the girl in the coffee shop has a place to survive.
“You don’t have to say any—” She stops talking mid-sentence.
“Niki?”
“Oh hey! Aubrey just texted that she is having contractions. I’m going to give her a call back. Watch my tweets, #babywatch.”
“Give her my best, but you better keep me updated. You know I don’t tweet.”
“Peace out!” she hollers before hanging up.
Tucking my phone in the pocket of my robe, I head to the kitchen table to grab my glass of wine, a book and some of the new bubble bath Kyle bought me.
After the last couple of days, he thought I should take some time to wind down, so that’s what I’m going to do.
I can’t help but do a little dance and sing at the top of my lungs as I head down the hall to the bathroom. This living alone thing is kinda cool. Then again, Kyle has been spending the last couple of nights here, which is almost like having the best of both worlds.
Speaking of which, my phone vibrates and lights up my robe. I smile when I pull it out of my pocket and see who it is.
Kyle.
Kyle: We may have to cancel tonight. Have to work late.
Kyle: Aubrey is having contractions. Drew is heading home in a bit.
Me: I heard. Do you think she will have it tonight?
Kyle: Aubrey doesn’t think so, but Drew wants to get home.
Kyle: Want me to bring home dinner?
Home.
Me: Sure. I’m just going to take a bath.
I set the phone on the counter and run the water. I pour in a little of the bubble bath and wait for it to suds up before I hop in.
Kyle: Using some of that stuff?
Kyle: You still there?
Hearing the series of pings, I disrobe and grab the phone off the counter, then get in the tub one step at a time.
Me: Yeah. Just running water.
Kyle: I should be home in a few hours.
Taking out the phone, I snap a selfie of me covered in bubbles and send it to him.
Kyle: Okay, make it a couple hours.
Kyle: An hour.
Kyle: Damn job.
Me: Love you.
Kyle: Love you, too.
Smiling, I lay the phone down on the bath mat and just relax. I think about the last few weeks and how things have changed. How I’ve changed. I’ve done things in the past month that I wasn’t allowed to do for the past few years.
Closing my eyes, I let myself dream about my life and how one certain guy helped me turn it around.
For the first time in a long time, I have a job, friends and a boyfriend who lets me set the pace. Whenever I was ready, he let me surrender so we could surrender to each other and find our peace.
Kyle Lewis, the hot guy no one wanted. Well, I do, and each and every day he shows me why he’s perfect for me. Why he is the only choice for me.
He’s built my confidence by encouraging me to take a few interior design courses. He’s even suggested I help with a special project that he is working on with Drew — flipping a rundown subdivision. He thinks I can stage the homes for quicker sales. This man is everything I never knew I wanted.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been soaking, but given the water temperature is almost too cold and my hands are like prunes, I’m thinking about an hour or so.
Standing up, I almost trip, when the sound of the door slamming startles me.
“Kyle?” I call out.
Looking at the time, I see I have two missed messages.
Kyle: The guys are hauling ass. Be home sooner than later.
Kyle: It’s going to be a pizza kind of night.
Sliding on a pair of panties, I throw on my robe, and quickly brush my teeth. Then I give myself a once over before I surprise my man.
Tying up my hair, I let my robe hang open and head out, doing my best catwalk down the hall.
“I see the pic worked,” I announce myself, but come to a complete stop when I see the room is completely dark and the curtains are closed. “Kyle?”
No answer.
Noticing a cell phone light up, I smile and tiptoe around to face the couch.
“Hey you.”
“Nina.”
My blood runs cold.
Kyle
“Drew, you better get the hell out of here before your wife has your baby without you.” I slap him on the back.
Aubrey called earlier and said she was having contractions but not to hurry home. Then a few minutes ago, she called with news that her water broke and Niki was running her to the hospital.
“I’m heading out now.” He grabs his keys and walks over to the white board. “We need to make sure we stain these beams.” He points up to the ceiling. “Then prep the room for the drywall tomorrow.
“Man, get out of here. I got this under control.” I give him a little shove out the door.
“I know. I know.” He turns back to me. “It’s just been awhile. I’m…”
“Nervous?” I pat him on the back. “It’s the good kind. Go, be with Aubrey.”
“Thanks man.” Drew takes off.
Picking up the radio, I call to the guys and check in to see where everyone is at and make sure we are on schedule for the day so we
all can cut out early.
“I forgot my keys.” Drew comes running back in, without his hardhat.
“Hat!” I bark.
“I forgot it in the truck. Just grabbing my keys.” He holds them up.
Walking over to him, I take my hat off and place it on top of his head. “Can’t have something happen to this noggin.” I knock on it. “Aubrey would kill me if something happened to you today.”
He nods and smiles. “Don’t be too much longer.”
“Yeah, I’m right behind you. I just wanna make sure these support beams are locked in snug before I shut down for the night.”
“Safety first. I got it man. Thanks for everything.”
Drew starts to walk away as I knock on the makeshift wood support beams.
Solid.
Solid.
Creaking.
That’s weird.
I look up and do a double -when I see one of the beams coming down. I scan the room, and see Drew at the other end. The end that’s collapsing.
“Drew! Watch out!” I yell as I jump back, hoping we’re both clear of the beam falling from the cathedral ceiling.
Crash.
Darkness.
Nina
“What’s wrong? Not happy to see me?” Brandon sits on the couch, head buried in his phone.
I hurry and secure my robe as I back away.
“H-How did you…?” I look around and see nothing is broken.
“The door.” He finally looks up. “What kind of man do you take me for, Nina?”
“It was locked.” I replay my motions in my head. It was locked, I know it. I always lock the door.
“Was it? Or maybe you’re too preoccupied these days?” He begins to look through his phone. “It’s a shame you know.” He starts going through pictures of me, from older ones to more current.
I can’t let him get in my head with his games. I’m no longer a component. I’m done!
“You just up and let yourself go like this.” He gets up and comes to stand in front of me. “How much weight have you put on? Five, ten pounds?” He tries to reach in my robe, but I smack his hand away.
“You were always the prude. And you wondered why I had to fuck around on you.” He turns, walking over to my shelves where I have pictures of me and Kyle in frames we bought in the past week.
“He looks like a pussy.” Brandon runs his finger along the shelf, knocking the frames to the floor one by one.
“He is more man than you will ever be.” I run over, bending to pick up the picture from the broken glass.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He steps on my hand with his tennis shoe. Twisting, grinding my hand into the glass until I scream out.
“Brandon!”
“That’s not how I remember it.” He crosses his arms bringing a finger up to his chin. “What can we do? Any ideas?”
“Please stop!” I stay still. The more I move the deeper the glass cuts.
“Nope. Not quite there.” He lifts his foot, relieving the pressure from my hand. When I draw it up against my chest, blood instantly trickles down my arm. Before I can wipe it up, Brandon raises his leg and lets it come down, kicking me in the chest, causing me to fly back and my robe to fall open.
“Ohhhhh.” I roll to the side and curl up into a ball. “Why?”
“Why?” He stomps over to where I am. “Why? Well, let’s see. How about maybe starting with…not saying goodbye.”
Curled in the ball, I keep myself hidden as I silence my phone. I start to dial 9-1-1, but then remember it’s a track phone. Is that service even provided? Looking at my battery I see I only have five percent.
“Or maybe it’s the fact that you had me so worried that I looked for you.” He’s now behind me, standing near my head.
Forgetting 9-1-1, I decide to voice text Kyle. If I call, he may not be able to answer right away, but texts he will see.
Me: Brandon is here. Call 911.
After sending, I hold down the microphone.
“I even called your whore of a sister and wouldn’t you know it, she said you got into some design school out west.”
He takes another step forward and stands on the hair that is splayed on the floor behind me, having come free from the force of the kick. Slowly, he drags his foot back, pulling, torturing me.
“Brandon, please!”
I bring my other hand up to swat him away, but he keeps pulling until I’m stretched out, having no choice but to push myself in the direction he’s pulling me.
“Does that hurt?” His laugh is now psychotic. “You know what hurts? Me losing my job because I flew out west. I looked up that old lady’s daughter and found out that you never contacted her. You never went to school.”
He bends down, wrapping a hand around my hair. “But just so you know, this hurts too.” He picks my head up and slams it back down.
I close my eyes.
“Don’t you fucking pass out on me you little bitch!” He releases my hair, letting my head fall to the floor.
“Please. I can’t…” I roll over to protect my phone.
“Yep. I lost my job, which means I couldn’t afford to pay our house payments. Remember that house? The one you had to have? The one in that fucking neighborhood you wanted our kids to grow up in?” He bends down, grabs me by the arm and jerks me to my feet.
“So, tell me, Nina. What’s so fucking special about this house?” He pushes me through the broken glass, but this time I don’t call out. I know better.
“It’s not mine.”
He holds one arm behind my back and pushes me to the kitchen.
“Grab me one of those beers in there.”
“I can’t…” I reply, realizing my mistake as soon as the words leave my mouth.
“Use your ha—” He yanks me around, causing the phone to fly under the table. “God dammit! You stupid bitch.”
Not thinking and not caring about what will happen next, I dive for the phone and hit the arrow, sending the voice message.
Kyle.
Taking the phone from my hands, he sees who I messaged and throws his head back, laughing. “You really think he is going to save you, don’t you? Your knight in shining armor?”
“He’s more than you ever thought you could be. You will never be him.”
He takes the hand that has my phone and slams it against my cheek. “He’s not coming, stupid cunt! I’m all you got.”
Blood fills my mouth, the metallic taste too much to handle. I know I shouldn’t do it, but right now, I don’t care. I’m going to fight and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it through this. I’m a survivor.
“If you touch him I swear to God I will find a way to end you. I will make your life miserable.” I spit blood in his face.
“I’m going to let that one slide.” He turns his cheek. “Lick it off.”
“No!”
“Now.”
“I said no!”
“This guy? Kyle, is it?” He flips through his phone. “Yep, it says right here. Kyle Lewis. Thirty years old.” He looks up. “Little too old for you, don’t you think?” He shrugs. “To each his own. Anyways, let’s see, owns Woody’s. Works as the lead foreman at WilliamSon Construction.” He clicks his phone and slides it in his back pocket. “Or maybe it should now read former lead foreman at WilliamSon Construction.” He gets nose to nose with me. “He’s not coming for you babe. He’s dead.”
“Wh-what?” I’m in shock.
He’s messing with you. Kyle isn’t dead.
“The ambulance should be arriving right about…” He looks at his watch. “…now.” His grin is pure evil. “It was pretty easy, really. Security sucks around your town, and people just leave shit out in the open for any crazy person to mess with equipment or, let’s say, a faulty beam. Heavy enough to cause permanent damage or even kill someone.”
Kyle isn’t dead!
“You bastard!” I shove him backwards. “You are a sick liar!”
“Are you sure about t
hat?” He pulls a scanner out of his back pocket and turns it on. “Let’s listen.” He flips through the frequencies until he finds the one he wants. “For your listening pleasure.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
Accident.
WilliamSon Construction.
En route to hospital.
Critical.
“You bastard!” I haul back and slap his face. “Why? Why would you do that?” I slap him again. He catches my hand.
“Wrong move, babe.”
He grabs me by the shoulders, flinging me across the room.
“Why would I do that?” He stomps over to where I’m lying. My will to fight back is fading. “You’re mine. Do you understand me? Mine.” He stomps on my leg with the heel of his shoe.
“Fuck!” I cry out.
“Babe, I haven’t even begun to start with you.” He lowers himself to the floor, a knee on either side of me.
“Brandon, please.” I beg.
It’s my last fight. It’s all I have to give.
One hand.
Then the other.
The pressure is too much to bear.
He’s fading.
I’m fading.
Numb.
Darkness.
Kyle
“Kyle! Wake up, man.” I hear a voice and feel hands. “Come on. Wake up.” Lee’s voice is clearer now.
Blinking a few times, I open my eyes and see part of the crew standing over me. “You guys standing around on the job again?” I try to joke but know something is off. My head is killing me.
“We called 9-1-1. They are on their way.” Lee tries to fill in the blanks.
911?
The beam.
A crash.
Drew!
“Where’s Drew?” I sit up a little too fast. “Fuck!” My hands instantly fly to my head.
“We think you just got grazed, but hit your head pretty hard coming down, which caused you to black out.” Lee continues to give me the facts. All but the one I want.
“Okay, whatever.” I wave him off. “How’s Drew? He was on the way out. Right by the beam.”
“Drew’s down, man.” Lee looks across the room. “I’m not going to lie. It’s pretty bad.”
Trying to stand up, I lean on Lee for balance. The sound of sirens gets closer.
“He’s right over here!” I hear someone yell.
My eyes follow the voice and I see Drew lying lifeless. “Drew!” I shout. Pushing Lee away I take off across the room, ignoring the pounding in my brain, forcing my feet to move faster.