Page 16 of Macon

Does he have something over her?

What’s keeping her tied to him?

Why would she leave when she obviously wants to stay?

Is she scared of him?

I need to give her a way out.

Fuck!

“Ray, you outta your damn mind if ya think I’ma let ya leave with dese motherfuckers,” Vi announces.

Raydene packs up all her stuff as the new DJ enters the booth.

“I’ll have someone come pick up my stuff tomorrow from the apartment. I have to go with Dex. Please don’t fight me,” Raydene pleads with Vi.

Raydene hugs Doc as I grab her arm, demanding she listen to me. “You don’t know him. Stay. I need to talk to you.”

Dexter starts to move toward me, but Chiv and our men move in, blocking him.

“What the fuck?” Dexter demands. “Move, that’s my girl.” The men behind him don’t help as they stand there and watch.

I look into her gorgeous green eyes and say softly, “Whatever it is, you don’t have to go. Let’s talk. You need to know what I know. You don’t know who he really is.”

Raydene smiles at me, and my heart constricts. When she reaches for my face, I think I’ve gotten through to her, but she stops mid-air, hearing Dexter yell for her. Ray drops her head and before walking away, she replies, “I know exactly who he is.”

I suck in a deep breath, and as I let it out, I say, “DamnDean,” as she moves around me to leave. I don’t move to stop her.

I can’t.

I can’t watch her leave with him.

I can’t do anything.

I gave her a way out.

She’s not mine.

Feeling defeated, I drop my head.

She picked him.

She. Is. Not. Mine.

I don’t move until I hear Brick yell, “Time to go.”

Past ~ 1 ½ months prior

It’s been almost twenty-four hours since Dexter pulled me from Club Spin. Twenty-four hours since he completely humiliated me with his verbal abuse and manhandling.

When we left, I played my part and acted the stupid dumb blonde for all eyes to see. I obeyed him, letting his ‘friends’ think he controlled our relationship.

After we got to his hotel room, I locked myself in the bathroom for hours. Text messages kept coming in, and I wanted to reply, but I knew I couldn’t. Instead, I came up with a plan to get away from Dexter. I’m done being a puppet.

I’ve kept my mouth shut for years, but it’s way out of control.

I sent one text.