Page 103 of Safe and Sound

Bringing my hand down on my desk, I snarled, “That’s fucking bullshite!”

“I agree. And that brings us to two nights ago.”

My breath hitched at the myriad of emotions in Ava’s eyes. “Go on,” I prompted.

“He broke into my house and tried to…” Tears pooled in her eyes. After swallowing hard, she whispered, “He tried to force himself on me.”

Red criss crossed before my vision as I rocketed out of his chair. As I rounded the side of my desk, I demanded, “He raped you?”

“He tried. But we were…”

After trailing off, a faraway expression came over her. A few seconds passed. “Ava?” I questioned softly.

After meeting my expectant gaze, she finally found her voice again, “A neighbor called the cops.”

“Was he arrested?”

“No. He got away.”

When it appeared she was holding something back, I prompted, “And?”

“He hasn’t shown up at his house or work since then.”

“Fuck!” I started maniacally pacing in front of Ava’s chair. “Let me guess. They don’t even have an arrest warrant out on him because there wasn’t any physical evidence.”

With a defeated nod, she replied, “He was smart enough to scramble the security cameras on the house.”

“Bastard.”

A mirthless laugh tumbled from her lips. “Yes, he is an unimaginable bastard.”

“And he’s just out there waiting to strike again,” I remarked.

“That’s why I came to see you.”

As I stared into her eyes, I could see the desperation and panic. Even without her saying the words, I knew what she needed from me. Leaning back against my desk, I cocked my head at her. “It’s ironic, isn’t it?”

“Excuse me?”

“The very reason why you broke up with me is what’s brought you back.”

“I know,” she murmured.

“A monster for a monster, eh?” I mused.

“You were never a monster,” she said in a hushed tone.

“I’m pretty sure you thought that four years ago.”

A ragged sigh escaped her lips. “I would be lying if I said that your actions that night didn’t shatter me. Even after what happened with Preston, I could’ve handled you cheating better than I could have with what I saw.”

“I wish you’d never had to see that side of me.”

“The truth is it really wasn’t you that scared me–it was your world. Every possible fear I could’ve ever had converged on that one moment. I just couldn’t believe that if I stayed, I would be safe.”

With my anger resurging, I countered, “It seems your judgement is questionable since you tossed aside someone who would never lay a finger on you to align with a safe choice who hurt you.”

“Dare–”

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