Page 70 of Protected

“Hey, baby. Are you OK over there?”

“I’m fine.” Her voice was strained. She hoped he didn’t notice.

“I got a strange call from Michael. He said I should check on you but wouldn’t tell me why. I’m on my way home. I’ll see you in ten minutes.”

Darci rolled her eyes. Leave it to Michael to interfere.

“I’m glad you’re coming home. I don’t like storms,” she whispered into the phone.

“Hang tight, baby. I’ll be there soon.”

She ended the call and tried to focus on the fact that he was almost home. Security knocked on the door to make sure she was OK. The flashlight on her phone lit the room but she still trembled. Darci told the guard she was fine, and he returned to his post. She wasn’t OK though. Why wasn’t the power back on yet? Ten minutes seemed like forever. Her phone rang again. This time it was Michael. She smiled when she answered.

“Hello, Michael.”

“Hey, Darci, I know the power is out in your part of town. Are you OK?”

“I’m better now. Thank you for checking on me, but I don’t appreciate you calling Bradley.”

“Is he there?”

“Not yet. Should be any second now. I’m just trying to keep the panic at bay. Talking to you helps.”

“That’s why I called, sweetie. I take it you haven’t told him then?”

“No, I haven’t told him.”

“Told me what?” Darci screamed and nearly jumped off the bed at the sound of Bradley’s voice from the doorway.

“Fuck. I didn’t hear you come in.” He rushed to the bed and sat down next to her.

“Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to scare you. What haven’t you told me?”

Michael was still on the phone. “Tell him, Darci. It will do you good to have someone else to talk to. I’m gonna let you go. Call me if you need to.”

She ended the call without saying goodbye. Damn him for pressing the issue.

She set the phone aside and curled up next to Bradley.

“What haven’t you told me?” he asked again. This time he sounded a little more irritated. She knew he hated repeating himself.

“Can we wait a minute to get into that, please? I just need to calm down, and I really need the power to come back on.” Her voice sounded whiny and she kicked herself. If she hadn’t been skipping sessions with Dr. Martin this might not be affecting her so badly. She had just been so distracted lately.

“Hold on.” Bradley stood and moved toward the door.

“Wait. Don’t leave me, please.” It came out as a whimper much to Darci’s chagrin.

“I’m just going to get a lantern, baby. So we can see better. Don’t want your phone to die using the flashlight.”

He kissed the top of her head and left the room. She could hear him rummaging in the hall closet. He came back a moment later with a bright camping lantern.

“Do you want to talk in here or in the living room?”

“Um, can we talk in the kitchen, actually? I could use a glass of wine for this.”

His smile was tense. “Sure, baby. Just talk to me please.”

She stood, and he grasped her hand. His eyes flew to hers. “Darci, you’re freezing.”

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