Page 9 of Redeeming Rabbit

Did he really expect me to allow that? Feeling cornered, I took a big step back, thrusting my hand into the space between us in the universal sign for him to stop.

He slowly dropped his hands, and his friendly expression morphed into concern. “What’s wrong, El? Aren’t you happy to see me?”

Was he for real? “Not in the least. What do you want, Matt?”

A few heads turned at my sharp tone as we snagged the interest of an audience. Most still pretended to watch their phone, but I could feel their scrutiny. Growing up in a small town had taught me exactly how nosey people could be. And boy, did crowds like drama.

The fingers of my right hand had encircled the Taser, feeling for the power button. I turned it on, even though it would be unwise to use it in front of all these witnesses unless Matt attacked me.

Perhaps I could provoke him, but how?

I suddenly wished we were better acquainted so I would know the best way to bring him down. Despite technically being family, we’d never spent much time together. I’d dined with him and Tina a few times before they got married, but back then, he’d struck me as basic and boring. We had no common interests, and our conversations were always forced and uncomfortable. After they tied the knot, he was always busy whenever Tina and I got together, and I’d been relieved to not have to deal with him.

“What do you want?” I repeated, not bothering to mask my disdain.

His eyes hardened at my tone, but his smile didn’t falter as he looked me over. “Long time no see. You look great. Very professional and all grown up.”

Caught off guard, I glanced down at myself. Beneath my open peacoat, I wore a cream-colored blouse, dark slacks, and comfortable pumps. As usual, I’d slicked my hair back into a low bun to complete the look my stylist referred to as ‘business-powerful.’ I called it ‘yes-I-have-boobs-but-respect-me-anyway.’ My closet held twelve similar outfits, and I’d been instructed how to mix and match clothes and accessories to create a month’s worth of acceptable looks. And, because I didn’t trust my fashion sense, I’d taken pictures of each combination so I didn’t accidentally mismatch.

This was what I always wore, but Matt’s reaction to my outfit gave me pause. I’d met him as an adult, but he made it sound like we’d been close since childhood. Was he trying to establish some imaginary history between us? Why? Glancing around, I found the answer in the cluster of people still pretending not to watch us.

Matt wasn’t finished putting on his show. “Tina tells me you landed a job in a local laboratory. That’s fantastic.” His smile threatened to blind me. “I always knew you’d be a success. Proud of you, little sis.”

Little sis? The look on his face told me he was seconds away from patting me on the head. If he so much as tried, I would zap him so hard his balls would shrivel, witnesses be damned.

“I amnotremotely related to you. So, I ask again, what do you want?” I repeated.

“What? I can’t stop by and check on you from time to time?”

Matt lived in Duvall and worked in Redmond. Both locations were a toll bridge and at least a half hour away. The commute to downtown took forever in rush hour traffic. He’d never checked on me once in the years I’d known him, but his concern seemed so honest and genuine. Even I struggled to separate the image he was creating for himself from what I knew to be true. I wanted to call him out on his lies, but I worried nobody would believe me.

Instead, I said nothing, merely raising my eyebrows to let him know I was onto his little charade.

The smile finally slid from his face. He blew out a breath, and worry shadowed his eyes. His words took on a slight tremble as he said, “I’m worried about my wife and son. She asked for time to work through her issues, and I’m doing my best to give her what she needs, but it’s tearing me up to be away from her. She told me they’re staying with you, but her car isn’t in your garage, and she’s not answering any of my calls or texts. I… I don’t know what to do. Tina is the love of my life. She and Dylan are my entire world. She’s been acting strange lately, and I need to know… Is there another man in the picture? Is she cheating on me?”

I stared at him, aghast.Herissues?Hercheating? What bizarro world had he stumbled out of? And how could he seem so genuine? I’d seen the evidence of Matt’s love and devotion with my own two eyes. Yet, my mind still stuttered over his behavior, wondering if I somehow misunderstood the situation. After everything he’d done to her, he should know better than to play the victim with me. Yet here he was, acting confused and wrecked by her absence.

Was this performance for my benefit?

He shouldn’t have bothered. Tina had bruises. She had scars from this man, both physical and emotional. The perceived sincerity of his concern didn’t matter because it wasn’t true. How dare this bastard come to me looking for sympathy.

“So,thisis gaslighting,” I acknowledged aloud. “I’ve read about it, but I don’t think anyone’s ever attempted it on me. It’s so bizarre. Isawthe bruisesyouput on my sister. Do you know the pinky toe on her left foot will forever be crooked? She could have an expensive surgery with a sixty-three percent chance of success. You’re the one who should pay for it, but she’s choosing to live with the pain sinceyouturned her into a broke single mother the minute YOU RAISED YOUR FIST TO HER!”

Matt’s eyes were wide with a combination of fear and surprise that would have been comical had I not been holding the business end of my Taser to his neck. The coffee shop was alarmingly silent, and I could feel the attention of every single person directed toward Matt and me. I had just aired my sister’s dirty laundry in front of at least a dozen strangers. And, of course, threatened a man with a weapon. As I registered the potential consequences of my actions, I calculated the odds of Matt surviving a point-blank shot to the trachea and of me beating a murder charge with this many witnesses. If I was going to off him, I needed to go full-on lunatic because temporary insanity would be my best defense.

Which threw up a red flag about the entire plan.

Straightening, I pulled my hand back, powering off the Taser to slide it back into my pocket.

“You’re as crazy as she is,” Matt said, reading the room. “You all saw that, right? The psychotic bitch assaulted me with a weapon.”

I lived in a city bursting with strangers and shouldn’t care what this coffee shop thought of me, but I did. My inner small-town girl was a survivor, no matter how many times I tried to choke the life out of her. I spun to face the crowd. “He abused my sister. Tell me you wouldn’t behave the same.”

“I don’t know what she told you, but she’s unwell. She’s been self-harming and making up stories. I hate to say it, but she needs professional help,” Matt said to my back.

His words were so full of concern I spun back to face him. He looked… legitimately worried. Maybe he was now, but he’d hurt her. Repeatedly. This was why she went back to him. Why she’d stayed so long. He was good. A skilled narcissist and master manipulator.

“I love Tina and want to get her the help she needs before it’s too late. Tell her to contact me, and I’ll forgive your attack. If I don’t hear from her by Wednesday at nine a.m., you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.” He plucked a business card from his pocket and extended it toward me.

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