Page 84 of Wanted

“Here you are,” he says like it isn’t evident.

I don’t dare say his name, because I don’t know who he actually is. I shake my head from side to side, trying to clear my mind.

“What are you doing here?” I ask him with a dry mouth. “Why did you come?”

I hear him laugh softly before speaking. “I’m the one asking the questions here,” he says hoarsely. Yes, they are so similar and at the same time so different. Now I can see it, the blinders have fallen from my eyes. They have robbed me of the trust, the hope, the desire to believe in someone. My faith in love. “But I will be good to you, this time. I came to remind you who you belong to.”

His strong arms lift me off the ground, I want to kick his nuts and defend myself. I want to scream until my throat hurts that he has already done enough damage.

But my body doesn’t respond, my legs seem to be made of a trembling mass that refuses to act and I hate it. I put myself in danger when I came here, when I got drunk. Not thinking about my safety.

I’m so predictable.

I hardly notice when he pulls the dirty shirt up, pulling it over my head. With half-open and heavy eyes I look into his, they are the same color yet they see me differently. There is no love in his, there is only something that I can’t name and that fills me with fear.

Pure fear.

“Please,” I plead as he drops me onto the bed we have shared many nights together. “I don’t know who you are or what you want from me, but it won’t work. They know everything.”

“Shut up, you are mine, Stella, I was the one who chose you. He’s not going to steal you from me too,” he yells at me before slapping me, I have no idea what he’s talking about.

Lionel stole something from him. What did he steal?

“I don’t want to hear another word.”

My world goes black, I don’t know whether that is a curse or a blessing.

I don’t know what he’s going to do with me.

By the time I open my eyes again the house is silent and dark, only the lights from the streetlamps softly illuminate the room. My head is about to explode and my body feels heavy.

I lift the sheet to go to the bathroom, it’s an emergency.

A gasp comes out of my mouth when I realize I’m naked. No, no. Please no.

A gasp and a moan come from deep within my chest, more pain. My soul is torn as a veil.

Wasn’t it enough with what he had already done?

Why come back and give me the final blow?

I’m in the middle of the crossfire, I don’t know who my enemy is and who’s on my side. I’m naked and unarmed in front of a gale. The two are fighting for a reason that I don’t know and I’m another piece. A pawn that they move at will.

And I’ve reached my limit.

One thing is for sure, I have to get out of here. I must find a place to hide from both of them. I can’t be here, otherwise, this will grow like a snowball, soon my family will be involved too and I don’t want to put my mother in danger.

After taking a shower that feels like heaven, I get dressed as fast as my hands allow. I put a few things in a handbag. I take some money from my secret hiding place and the keys to my old truck.

As soon as I’m safe, I’ll notify Aunt Felicia, she will know how to deal with my mother.

The first thing on the agenda is to find a safe haven. At least for now.

One step at a time.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lionel

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