He swings his wild eyes on me and throws his head back. The sound that comes out is animalistic and has me scared out of my mind. The chill of dread rocks through my body, all the way to my bones.
“You think I’m going to let him have you? Oh no, Isabelle. What you need to understand is that you will never get rid of me. He thinks he can take you from me? He can try, but he will be swimming through a sea of bullets before I let him get those vile hands on MY WIFE!”
I can see the control in his eyes snap and it’s like watching a light go out. This is not my ex-husband. The irrational madness has taken over any common sense and chance of reason I could have made with him.
“I’m going to make him watch you when I bend you over my knee and punish you for all the shit you have caused. I’m going to rip your clothes from your body and make him watch me take you for all the shit HE caused. That’s right,” he says when my eyes widen. “You think I don’t know it was him who had the police barking at my heels? And then do you know what will happen next?” He doesn’t even blink when he pauses. That malevolent smile forms and his face is transformed from his normal somewhat handsome look to one of pure evil. “Then I’m going to put a bullet through your fucking heart while he watches. While he is helpless to stop me.”
Even with the fear coursing through my body, I know I have to get away from him. He’s blocking the hallway to the front door but not the one off to the kitchen. It’s risky, but I might be able to get away quickly enough to hide. I know Axel is coming and that has me more afraid than the madman standing in front of me with a gun.
A low moan sounds from the couch and I see Dee start to stir. Shit! I can’t leave Dee.
“Why, Brandon?” I ask, hoping to distract him from Dee. I have to keep him focused on me.
“Why? Because that motherfucker ruined everything! I was finally going to have it all and he had to ruin it all! I won’t let him take you too! YOU ARE MINE!” he screams. He brings his hand up and starts pulling at his hair, and banging the handle of the gun against his forehead before leveling it back on Dee.
He’s completely lost it. There isn’t an ounce of humanity left in this man.
His pacing continues. He moves slightly from the open hallway but he doesn’t move his gun from Dee’s body. I see a shadow cross the threshold, and my heart picks up speed when I realize who it is.
Greg.
Oh God no! I’m going to lose everyone I love in one moment if Brandon sees him. He holds his finger up to his lips. He taps his wrist and then cocks his head toward the kitchen, silently telling me to run when he makes a move.
My heart is going to stop. There is no way it can beat this rapidly and not just give out. Dee’s eyes are wide. She looks over at me and I can see the fright in her alarmed brown eyes.
I bring my hand to the side and motion to her to wait then bug my eyes toward the kitchen. Her legs aren’t bound, and if she can run, we might be able to get out of this room.
We wait in stone-cold fear while Greg inches closer to Brandon, but before he can reach him Brandon spins around. He seems to pause for a second in confusion, and that’s all it takes for me to jump up, grab Dee by the arm, and pull her with me as we run into the kitchen. I hear the sounds of them colliding behind me as we take off.
The sound of the gun going off causes me to falter. I push Dee behind the island and look around for some form of protection. Damn! The knives are by the open doorway we just ran through. The only thing I can see is the cast-iron frying pan left on the oven from Dee’s breakfast. Thank God! Picking it up, I test the heaviness of the metal out in my hand before holding it down to my side. I bend down and check on Dee. She is shaking but seems okay.
“Get under the desk and don’t you move,” I tell her. I make quick work of the knot behind her back before letting her move from my side.
I watch her scurry around the far side of the island and burrow under the desk built into the wall. I push the chair in behind her and cover her body the best I can.
Moving back to the center island, I brace my legs apart and wait. I don’t know who is going to come around that corner but I’m ready. I won’t let him win. I won’t let him take my happiness.
It’s time that I remember what is important and fight for the future I want.
The future I deserve.
The future I have earned.
A future with Axel and our baby.
With an evil laugh, I hear him and my fears are confirmed. Oh, God. Greg!
“Oh, Isabelle? Come out, come out, wherever you are!” He laughs again before stumbling into the kitchen. “Where is that little bitch friend of yours, Isabelle?” He cocks his head to the side, and I notice that his left arm is hanging at an odd angle and the gun is missing.
I feel slightly better knowing Greg was able to put up a fight. The fear for Greg bubbles back up, but I push it back and straighten my shoulders.
I won’t let this man win.
Never again.