Page 4 of Carlos

The hand came out of nowhere, making Zoe flinch out of habit. However, this hand was gentle and did not cause her pain. Mr. Arnold had grabbed her arm innocently. Zoe had to close her eyes to calm her raising heart.

After she made sure Mr. Arnold was situated comfortably in his chair with the television on the History Channel, Zoe turned to head out of his room. She froze when she realized the doorway was blocked.

Conner stepped into the room, the furious look on his face out of character for his flirty, cheerful personality. He closed the door before approaching her.

Zoe felt her heartbeat pick up again.

Carefully, Conner lifted his hand to trace the black eye she was trying to conceal with makeup. He reached for the sleeve of the long-sleeve shirt she was wearing under her scrubs. Zoe stood frozen as he pushed the material up her arm to reveal the fingerprint bruises on her fair skin.

“Your husband?” The tone of his voice was deadly.

Zoe said nothing but felt like her silence was answer enough. She looked away.

“Did you go to the police?”

She flinched at that word. It had changed its meaning in the past year of her life. She used to love that Davis was a police officer. It had been a draw to her.

“Where’s Betty?” Conner asked, referring to Zoe’s boss. “We’re going now. He won’t get away with this, Zoe. No ring gives a man the right to put his hands on you.”

He turned to leave, but the fact that he intended to go talk with her boss snapped Zoe out of her stupor. She grabbed his hand. “No, wait!”

Conner turned back towards her. “What?”

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it won’t work.”

“Zoe, your husband assaulted you. The police will?—”

“Do nothing,” she confessed. She didn’t know why she was telling Conner of all people this. Hell, none of her co-workers or even Betty had noticed her eye. No one had seen the markings on her skin and thought to ask how she’d gotten them. No one had noticed…except for Conner. Perhaps that was why she was suddenly loose lipped. It felt good, to be noticed. “You don’t understand. My husband is the police.”

Conner just stared at her for a solid minute. Then his face turned angry. Very angry. “Your husband,” his voice was practically a growl, “is a cop and he is the one who hit you.”

Zoe didn’t see any doubt on his face. Just anger. And yet… Davis got angry often. She knew the signs and did everything in her power to avoid seeing him like that. She feared Davis when he was angry. Conner, though? It was different. Anger was anger, but Conner seemed in control. Davis blamed his anger on Zoe. Zoe was the one who over- or undercooked dinner. Zoe was the one who did not get his laundry done or folded on time. Zoe was the one who did not get the house cleaned fast enough or well enough. Zoe was the one who forgot to pick up his dry-cleaning.

Zoe was the one who had failed to get pregnant.

“Go to his boss then.”

Zoe shook her head. “I can’t.” Davis’s captain was his old partner. The two were still tight. Monank had seen Zoe’s eye the night before and had said nothing. Additionally, Zoe’s father-in-law was the current police commissioner and Davis’s grandfather was a retired judge. There was no hiding or running or leaving. She was a Rutterson for life.

“I’m not letting this go, Zoe. You deserve better than this.”

Zoe’s own anger finally showed. She ripped her arm out of Conner’s hand. “It’s none of your business. You have no right to tell me how I should live my life.”

Conner watched her for a long time then he finally nodded. “You’re right.” He stepped out of her way. As Zoe started towards the door, he called after her, “But I’m here if you need me. If you ever call me and mention anything about my grandma, I’ll know that you need me and I’ll come.”

Zoe looked over her shoulder. Mrs. Arnold had passed away almost three years ago. Not knowing what else to say or do, Zoe nodded once before leaving the room.

FOUR YEARS AGO

“You’re looking good.”

Zoe turned, her large belly narrowly missing the picture frame of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold with their twin grandsons that was sitting on Mr. Arnold’s nightstand. He was lying in his bed, muttering to himself about butterflies. Zoe couldn’t help the smile on her face as she saw Conner standing in his uniform in the doorway. He’d been gone for over seven months on this deployment. She’d seen him only briefly over video calls that she or one of the other nurses set up for him to talk to his grandpa.

“You’re looking good yourself.”

He dropped a large rucksack by the door, which indicated to her that he’d come straight from the airport. His eyes were a lot kinder than the last time she’d seen him. Zoe waddled her way around the end of his grandfather’s bed.

“When are you due?”

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