Cold hardness slid across my wrist, followed by metal clicking together. I looked down to a handcuff locking. A quick tug to my other wrist, followed by the same familiar coldness wrapping itself around my skin, I suddenly realized I was being arrested.
I glanced over my shoulder to a police officer and not a hospital security guard.
"What are you doing?" I asked. "Who called you?"
"We happened to be here for another disturbance and saw the commotion. You're under arrest for assault, ma'am," the officer said.
"Assault?" Christian asked. "Tell them she didn’t assault you, Cheryl."
With an orderly under each arm, Cheryl's blood dripped from the corners or her fattened lips, her hair in disarray as she wobbled back and forth in a daze.
"Tell 'em, Cheryl!" Christian shouted again.
"Fuck you, Christian," she said as her eyes narrowed on me.
The beast in me exploded into a red-hot inferno. My vision went red, and the looming danger of an arrest record did nothing to dissuade my fury. I tried to lunge at her, but was instantly restrained by the officer holding onto the chain between my cuffs. He pulled me back, dragging me through the door as he read me my rights.
The whole event seemed surreal. How was I being arrested for exacting revenge on the tramp who had been opening her legs for my husband? I should be given a fucking award, but as my senses returned to me, I couldn't help but glean the irony in the situation.
"Rico, go with her," Christian's voice whipped outside of the room. "Take care of my wife."
Rico stepped out of the room and hurried over to my side laying his hand on my back. My head hung as the officer paraded me around the hospital toward the exit. Needless to say, I was completely and utterly mortified to be treated like a common criminal.
"It's okay, Lexi," Rico tried to assure me.
"It's not okay. It's just not—" I said, my throat choking the words from escaping my mouth.
RESTRAINT
2 hours later…
The metal seats were cold under my thighs as I sat and watched the women across the cell ogle me like a piece of rib-eye steak. I buried my face in my palms, trying to hide my fear and shame from them—weakness would be my worst enemy and I wasn’t about to give it a foothold on my first day.
A pair of heels clicked against the concrete floor, alerting me to the presence of potential danger. Lifting my face from my hands, I spied a boney woman approaching. She sat precariously close to me, her hip butted up against mine. The smell of vodka and cigarettes permeated the air around her like a dust cloud, suffocating me with every breath I took.
"Hey, chica," she said in a nasally voice. "You new here?"
"Do I look like a jailbird?" I asked with a little extra base in my voice, trying to establish myself as a threat.
"Just want you to know you smell new, and bitches around here like new."
"What the fuck? Are you trying to threaten me?" I asked.
"Just trying to let you know, boo. Don't say I didn’t warn you to sleep with one eye open and your legs closed."
"I wish a muthafucka would touch me!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, raring to get into another fight.
Keys clanged against the metal lock, followed by a deep-timbred voice, "Ladies, ladies, calm down before I have to come in there. You ain't gonna like it if I have to come in there."
I glanced over my shoulder, catching sight of a rather large guard, wearing the ugly brown jail issued uniforms, which looked to be two sizes too small for his substantial girth. Liam stepped out from behind him like an angel. My heart jumped, knowing he had come to my rescue and I wouldn’t have to get into another fight to prove I wasn’t someone to be messed with.
"Liam," I said under my breath as I hurried to the cell door.
"Step back, prisoner," the guard warned.
I stopped dead in my tracks, looking to Liam for help. He laid his hand on the guard's shoulder and without another word the guard stepped back and allowed him through. Liam took a step into the cell and stretched out his hand toward me. Instinctively, I seized his offer of freedom, grasping so tightly there was no way he could leave me in the cell.
"C'mon, baby girl," he said, tugging me through the door.
"Go 'head, girl," the woman yelled from behind. "Get that fine ass man. Give him an extra tap for me."
I shook my head at her words since the last thing I had on my mind was sex. Relief washed over me the moment the metal doors slammed shut. Liam took the first step toward the intake area of the jail, and I followed suit, with the guard following closely behind.
"How did you know I was here?" I asked him.
"Christian asked me to come and do everything in my power to get you out. Wasn’t that hard, since half this prison owes me something."
"Owes you?"
"Don't worry about it. Just know I have my ways to get what I want," he said, tightening his grip on my hand. "Everything I want."
I heard what he said, but I wished I hadn't. I knew what he meant, and somewhere deep inside I wanted to jump ship and leave my marriage for him, but I just couldn't. Not after the way I felt when I saw Christian lying on the hospital bed. I could lie to myself all I wanted, but I still loved him—through all the bullshit—I still loved him. It wouldn’t be fair for me to lead Liam on any longer, when I knew there wouldn't be a future for us.
Liam led me into a small room with a gray metal table and matching chairs on either side, motioning for me to have a seat. I let go of his hand and took a seat in the chair farthest from the door which the guard promptly locked behind us, leaving Liam and me alone.
"Tell me what happened," he asked, sitting across from me.
"Didn't Christian tell you?"
"He told me, but I asked you to tell me what happened," he said, laying his phone on the table as he leaned in to listen to my answer.
I was embarrassed to tell him the reason. No matter how I sliced it, the conversation was going to be an awkward one. "I beat up Christian's mistress," I said, twiddling my thumbs underneath the table.
"And why would you do that?"
"Jealousy. Anger. What other reason would a woman get into a catfight?"
"Love, perhaps," he stated, leaning back in the chair as he tapped his finger on the table. "Do you still love him?"
I did still love Christian, but to give birth to the words in front of Liam was gut-wrenching. My heart raced as I watched him study me. His gaze so intense I had to look away, focusing my attention on a piece of lint left of the concrete floor.
"Answer me," he demanded in a soft voice.
"I do. I do still love him," I whispered.
"Then why? Why indulge me?"
"You were different—someone I needed."
"Needed? Past tense?"
"I need to give my marriage a second chance, Liam. I'm sorry."
"A second chance? More like his millionth chance. How many times has he cheated on you? I know these kinds of people. They never quit!"
"The same could be said for me. I'm a cheater. I'm an unfaithful whore!" I yelled, slamming my palm against the table.
Quickly, he grasped onto my wrist, his ice-blues locked with my eyes, searching my soul for answers. "I had a wife once, you know," he said, loosening his grip on my wrist as his eyes softened.
"I heard the story in the office, you don't have to tell me," I replied, rubbing my wrist.
"But what you don't know, and what I didn’t tell Christian, was who she left me for."
I paused. My heart hammered in my chest, praying he wouldn't say the name I already knew was on the tip of his tongue, aching to jump out and slap me in the face.
"Don’t say it—"
"Your husband. Christian Cerisi. He stole my wife then threw her away the minute he was tired of her. I couldn't take her back after that. Every time I saw her all I could think of was Christian lying on top of her, doing the things that only a husband should do to a wife."
I didn’t reply. What could
I say? After all, Christian had betrayed me too.
"Say something," he demanded.
"Say what?"
"Goddammit, Lexi. I can't lose another love to him."
Love?
I only had a second to ponder the word before the blaringly obvious question filled every corner of the room. "Did you use me to get back at him? Did you know who I was in Chicago?"
The anger in me began to rise. It was bad enough to be cheated on, but to be used as a pawn in a revenge plot against Christian was just too much for me to handle. Was there not one trustworthy man left in the world?
"Fucking answer me!" I yelled.
The door flung open, and the guard stepped through, his hand pressed against the gun still lodged in his belt holster. Flipping off the safety latch, he took a step toward me before Liam held up his to stop him.
"Leave," Liam ordered the guard.
The guard nodded then stepped back through the door, keeping his eye on me the entire time. The door closed on his piercing gaze, leaving me with a haunting shiver on the back of my neck.
Liam leaned in. "I'll be honest, it started off that way. But the minute my lips touched yours for the first time—I knew. Just as sure as the sun rises in the East—I knew."
"Knew what?"
"That you were the one."
"I can't even fathom what's happening right now. How dare you use me—play with my emotions for a childish game. Get the fuck outta my sight!"
"It stopped being a game the minute I fell in love with you."
"In love? I fucking hate you and Christian," I said through tight lips. "I never wanna see either of you again."
"Think about what you're saying, Lexi. Don't dismiss me so quickly."
"I could never trust you again, so there is no other option but to dismiss you. You and Christian play your little game, but leave me out of it."
He stood up, picked up his phone and walked out of the room, taking a small part of me with him. I crossed my arms on the table then buried my face in them. My world was crashing down around me, and I could do nothing else but hide from the aftershocks.
My ears perked up as the door creaked open a few minutes later. "Lexi, let's go home," Rico said.
I lifted my head. "But how?"
"Liam worked it out. I just saw him leave. Everything okay with him? He looked pissed."
"I don’t wanna talk about it, Rico," I said, standing to my feet.
"Sure, Lexi. Whatever you say," he said, holding out his hand which he rested on my back as soon as I brushed by him.
The minute I walked through the office door to the intake area, Celia caught my attention. I ran over to her and gave her a hug.
"How did you know I was here?" I asked.
"Liam called me,"
"Lower your voice," I whispered in her ear as Rico approached from behind.
"Ladies, are you ready to go?" Rico asked.
"No," I announced.
"No, what?" he asked in bewilderment.
"I'm going home with, Celia," I said, holding her hand for courage.
"What'ta you mean with Celia?" Rico asked.
"Yeah, what'ta you mean with Celia?" Celia echoed as she handed me my purse.
"I'm done with Christian. I don’t wanna be Mrs. Christian Cerisi, just another hole for him to put his dick in."
"I don’t think the boss is gonna like that," Rico said, shaking his head.
"Well I didn’t like all the years he was fucking everything in sight, so I guess we're even," I hissed. "Are you okay with that, Celia?"
Her eyes said no. I knew she was scared to receive any blow back from my decision. After all, going against Christian Cerisi was a huge sign of disrespect, punishable by death.
Her lips slowly parted, but I could tell she was still grappling with the decision to the very last moment. "Of course you can stay with me," she said, wrapping her arms around me tightly. "I hope you know what you're doing," she whispered in my ear.
"I don’t," I whispered back.
"Fuck us both," she said, squeezing tightly.
"Alright, Lexi. I'll let the boss know," Rico said, walking out the sliding glass doors.
Celia turned to me. "Are you sure?"
"Christian slept with Liam's ex-wife, and Liam used me to exact revenge," I blurted out.
"What the fuck?" she asked after she picked her jaw up from the floor.
"That's what I fucking said." I nodded, moving toward the exit, leaving her paralyzed in the middle of the room. I turned back. "Are you coming?"
She shook her head. "I can't even—"
"Tell me about it," I said.
I walked to her car and stood in front of the passenger door, waiting for her to unlock it. As soon as she did I slid in, and said, "Take me to the house so I can pick up my clothes."
She looked at me while the turning the key in the ignition. I knew the last place she wanted to be was anywhere near my house, but I had to get my clothes, and what better time than while Christian was still in the hospital.
"Are you even gonna call Christian and tell him?"
"You mean like he told me when he was gonna go see his whores?"
"You're a brave bitch, that's for sure," she said, backing out of the parking spot.
"Just fed up—that's all," I said, looking out the window toward the open blue sky.
There were no clouds in sight and I took it as an omen for a fresh start. I took in a deep breath as Celia sped out of the parking lot toward my house. My phone rang in my purse, but I knew it would either be Liam or Christian, and I didn’t want to speak to either one.
BANG!
"Aren't you going to answer that?" Celia asked, turning her attention from the street.
"No."
My phone continued to ring for the next few minutes.
"Please answer, the noise is fucking aggravating," Celia urged, turning the corner onto my street.
Pulling out my phone, I was fully ready to cuss one of them out for rudely blowing up my phone, but when I saw the private number I worried that it might be the hospital calling about Christian.
"Hello," I greeted.
"Christian was the first domino," the electronically altered voice said.
"What?"
"The next domino is due to fall today," the voice threatened.
"Who is this?" I asked, looking at the caller ID again.
"Ask Christian," the voice said before hanging up.
I turned to Celia. "Who was it?" she asked.
"I think it's the person who tried to kill Christian in the accident."
"What the fuck is going on, Lexi?" she asked, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"I don't know. I really don't know," I said, squeezing my left thigh to appease my growing anxiety.
Celia pulled into my driveway and parked in front of my door. "I'm gonna wait here," she said.
"Why?"
"Girl, I ain't tryin' to be anywhere near Christian or his house. I'll be lucky if he doesn’t kill me right along with you."
"He's not gonna kill you."
"There you go, acting like he doesn’t kill people for a living."
"He doesn’t kill people for a living," I replied, stepping out of the car.
"Then what does he do?"
I stopped and looked at her, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. "I love you for this."
"Ah, shut up and hurry the fuck up," she cussed, swatting me away.
I stepped out of the car and closed the door behind me, panning the house one last time. I was giving it all up, and I didn’t care anymore. I made my way through the door and smelled the sauce of my favorite lasagna wafting from the kitchen.
"What the hell?" I muttered under my breath, throwing my purse on the side table.
"Lexi," Christian's voice paralyzed me.
I almost turned back to leave, when he called out for me again. "Lexi, come in here."
My shoulders slumped and my lungs resigned a deep breath of regret fo
r having gone home. "I'm coming," I said in defeat.
Walking into the kitchen, I found Christian sitting at the table set with our finest China, the lasagna steaming on the plate in front of him.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Humbling myself to you," he said, pushing his weight on the table to stand up.
He limped over to me, cupping his palms to my neck. I hooked my fingers around his wrists and slowly pulled them down, laying them at his sides.
"I don't wanna do this anymore. We both deserve a new start," I said, looking into his soft eyes.
"A new start with each other."
"No, there's no new start for us. Not after Cheryl. Where is she anyway?"
"I told her to leave—for good."
"It doesn’t matter anymore. I know too much."
"And what do you know?" he asked quietly.
"I know about Liam's wife."
"Liam's wife? You mean the wife that left him for another man?"
"For you," I said without batting an eyelash.
He stepped back. "That's a lie. How would you even know this?"
"How else? Liam."
He turned away from me. "I couldn't have—"
"Couldn't you?"
"I wouldn't have, if I had known," he said, crossing his arms, looking out into the backyard.
"So you're okay to steal a man's wife as long you don’t know who he is?"
"Yes!" he yelled, whipping around to face me. His eyes widened when he realized what he had just said. "No. That's not what I mean," he stuttered, trying to retract his blunder.
I gritted my teeth, clenching my fists tightly, readying myself for what I was about to say. The confession was going to take all my courage, of which, at the moment, I had none. "Well, he got his last laugh."
"And why do you say that?"
"Because—I slept with him in Chicago," I finally admitted.
"You fucking what?" he yelled, lunging at me, grabbing my arms.
"Stop, Liam!"
"Christian, my name is, Christian!" he bellowed, pushing me against the wall.
"Stop it, you're hurting me," I screamed, struggling against his grip.
BANG!
A shot thundered from the street, echoing to the hills. We both paused and shifted our gaze in the direction of the front door.
Wrath: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (Deadly Sin Series Book 1) Page 11