Page 61 of Reclaim

“Let’s cut the crap, Joe.” My smile is fake, but my impending threat is very real.

I finally let him on my secret, something I’ve been waiting on a very good time to use. It’s been a long time coming. “This is how we’re going to do this. You can try and press charges on Jagger, but you’ve got no witnesses and nobody willing to vouch for you.

Whereas, I’ve got this real nice bruise around my arm. Five muscular fingers--it’s even starting to turn purple.” I lift up the sleeve of my shirt to remind him of how this all started.

His nostrils flare, and his heavy breathing gives away his fury.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve put your hands on me for no good reason. So if you want to fight, you better be prepared to lose.”

“I’m not scared of you,” he scoffs.

“You should be. Otherwise I’ll hit you with a sexual assault charge that will have you kicked out of every law association in the country.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Can’t I?” I place my hand theatrically in the middle of my chest, before I deliver the nail in his coffin. “Did you forget who my best friend is and what happened a few Christmas parties ago?”

“She-

“She what?”

He remains silent. His anger palpable.

I rise, feeling lighter. Better. Hopeful. “Good chat, Joe.”

* * *

Waitingfor Taylah to show up with dinner, I give Sasha a quick call to check in on Dakota.

After three rings, Sasha’s voice comes through the phone. “Hello.”

“Hi, Sasha. It’s Emerson.”

“Em, I’m so glad you called. How have you been?”

“I’ve definitely been better. You?”

“Nothing much has changed. And Dakota?”

“She’s finally getting back to normal. She went into panic mode. Scared Jagger was going to go back to jail.”

“Is she there? I’d like to talk to her and reassure her if that’s ok.”

“Of course. It’s probably a good idea. Let me call her out of her room.”

“Emerson?” Dakota’s voice immediately cheers me.

“Hey, you. How are you doing?”

“I miss you,” she says, surprising me.

“I miss you too. Is everything okay? Well, okay since the incident.”

“Is Dad going to jail, Emerson? Mum said you wouldn’t let it happen. I didn’t want those kids to say I had a bad dad again.” The anxiety and fear in her words roll over me like a steam train.

“Whoa, Dakota, honey. Calm down. Your dad’s not going to jail.”

Sniffles sound through the phone. “I was so worried, Em. He just came out.”

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