Page 72 of Anchor

I grin. “You did, didn’t you, behind the bleachers of all places, along with several other people.”

She looks me up and down, her eyes taking in my simple jeans and tee, disgust etching her features, and she reminds me, “He also fucked me when he was supposed to be married to you!”

I wait for the reminder to stab me, for the memory of look of pleasure on his face, for his words to echo, but nothing happens; instead, I feel exasperated because I am fed up with hearing it.

I shake my head and snap, “Over ten years ago, Harley! He made a stupid, drunken mistake years ago when he was still animmature boy, knowing what he wanted but probably wasn’t ready for it, so get over it because I know I have!”

Peace washes over me with my words, with the truth that they hold, and I finally let go of the past after so long.

“You little—” Ginger curses then rushes me, and I brace myself.

There are several witnesses in here, and as much as I don’t fancy a black eye, I need this bitch to go down. I notice the nail file, and I groan internally.

This is going to hurt.

Ginger raises her fist and punches me across the face before a sharp pain goes down my arm, and I know she’s cut me with the nail file just as the door opens.

I look and see my husband stroll in, but shock, then anger takes over his features when he sees I’m bleeding, and I subtly shake my head at him as Ginger screeches, jumping on me. I grunt as I land on the floor, her body going on top of mine.

One, two, three punches she lands before her body is hauled off me. Immediately, Travis’s concerned face enters my vision.

“Fuck, Angel,” he snaps, “you know how to fucking fight; I ensured it….”

I cough, pain hitting my cheekbone as I grip his arms, allowing him to help me up.

“I know,” I answer, “but then she wouldn’t be headed to jail and I would be.”

Travis looks at who pulled her off me, and we watch as she’s handcuffed.

“No, no, I was set up, fucking set up!”she screams, and I smirk.

“This has got to be the most satisfying feeling ever,” I admit, and Travis groans, “Fuck’s sake, now I can’t kill her.”

I grin and murmur, “Maybe not, but at least she’ll have a hell of a time behind bars.”

He chuckles, wrapping his arm around my waist as we watch Ginger being dragged out of the office while I gently rub my cheek.

“How are you feeling, Heaven?” Dr. Larsa asks forty minutes later.

After Ginger was shoved into a cop car, I gave my statement, along with the receptionist, and not only was Ginger charged with assault and the attempt to harm with a deadly weapon, but also with identity theft.

She’s looking at three years just for the identity fraud charge.

“I’m okay,” I admit as I lean into my husband’s side, his arm wrapped around me.

“For someone who was attacked by the woman your husband cheated on you with, you look peaceful,” she says with a raised brow, and I sigh, knowing I need to talk.

“Iampeaceful. She brought up the past, her transgressions with Travis, but the only thing that filled me was an irritation that it was being brought up yet again.” I look at Dr. Larsa. “It was over ten years ago.” She smiles. “I no longer hear his words, I no longer see his pleasure with her, only with me. I no longerhave my mother in my ear, pushing me to stay away from him. I’ve let him back in; I’ve opened my heart, my home, my body to him again.” I blink a few times and admit. “The only thing I haven’t done is give him my trust, something he tore away from me years ago.”

I look at our tangled hands, his black tattooed ring in view, and I swallow hard, noticing my name above it.

Please don’t betray me again, I whisper to myself before I move away from Travis and turn my body so I’m looking at him.

I squeeze his hand tightly and look him in the eyes. His expression shows confusion, while mine most likely indicates fear.

“I need to trust you in order to move forward with you,” I state, and he nods, suddenly sitting up straighter. My eyes race between his. “I didn’t trust you when I found out…I didn’t trust to confide in you.”

“I’m listening, Angel, you can trust me,” he swears, his eyes sincere.

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