Page 65 of Sparrow

The hardwood is painful under my palms and my kneecaps. I wish it weren’t because then maybe I could convince myself this was a nightmare.

I crawl slowly toward him, never looking up. I can’t look at his face. I can’t accept that I’m here. I can’t accept the fact this is happening to me.

When his feet come into view, I stop. He winds his hands into my hair and tugs my head back so my eyes meet his. I screech in pain.

“You made a mistake, Amelia. You left me. Is that what good wives are supposed to do?” he asks, leaning down so his face is only an inch from mine. I can smell the alcohol and stale cigarettes on his breath.

“Jaxon, please.”

“ANSWER ME!” He roars.

“No! No!” I cry. “No, that’s not what good wives do.”

“Tell me what good wives do.” He releases my hair and strokes my cheek.

“Good wives…obey.” It’s the only thing I can think to say.

“That answer earns you a reward.” He grasps my jaw and tugs me toward him, pressing a kiss to my scrunched up lips. I quickly realize the kiss is my reward.

“Kneel at my feet and we will have a discussion,” he says when he releases my face.

I sit back on my heels, trying to hide my fear.

“You left me, Amelia. You took off the diamond I gave you and left me. That’s unacceptable and I won’t allow it. I’ve shredded your sham divorce papers. I won’t sign them.”

“Jax—” He silences me with a slap across the face. It stings and burns, pulling tears from my eyes.

“You will not speak until I ask you to,” he says so calmly, it’s scary. “Now, as I was saying, I will not let you go so easily, Amelia. You’ve seen so much: my clientele and my off-the-books business. I just can’t let you go without assurances you won’t flap your plump, perfect lips.”

He runs his thumb across them, smearing my lipstick across my cheeks and making me shudder.

“There are two choices, really. The first, I silence you permanently.” He slides the gun into view once again but leaves it on the arm of the chair. “Or, you ask for my forgiveness and show me how grateful you are that I’m not killing you, and we’ll go back to California together.”

I just stare at the monster I once loved. He’s not even the same man anymore. His addiction and lust for power has taken him far away.

“And if you choose to push for a third option, I’ll beat your boyfriend to a pulp, then blow his brains out while his daughter watches.”

I can’t stop the words before they fly out of my mouth. “Fuck you, you piece of shit!”

He bolts from the chair to grab me when the ring of the doorbell explodes throughout the house.

My eyes widen and he swipes the gun from the chair.

“Tell me you weren’t that stupid, Amelia.”

“I didn’t call anyone. I couldn’t have. You broke my phone.” I scramble to my feet.

“You don’t fucking move,” he threatens, then walks quietly toward the door, peeking through the peephole.

When a disgusting smile spreads across his face, my worst fear is realized. I know Grayson is standing on the other side of the door.

***

(Grayson)

I ring the doorbell again and try to peek through the small window, just off to the side. The lights are on and I hear music so I know she’s here, plus her car is in the driveway.

“Mills?” I say, knocking on the door this time. “Are you all right in there?”

---