Page 66 of The Unbuttoned Ranger
“Don’t you look pretty,” came his voice from behind her. He reached beside her and slammed the door shut, locking it.
With bravery she didn’t know she had, she turned, meeting his gaze in a headstrong rebellion.“What are you doing here? You’re not invited.”
“I think it’s amusing that you’d even ask that question.” He’d been drinking. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his breath stunk of cheap whiskey. She’d experienced too many of these times and had never wanted to experience one again.
She started to reach for the doorknob, but he grabbed her wrist.“Don’t do this, Dante.”
“Don’t do what? I just want to speak to my wife,” he slurred.
“We’re not married any longer. You can’t just show up like this.” She hated that her voice quivered.
He cupped her cheek with his clammy hand.“You know you miss me.”
It took every ounce of control she had not to cringe under his touch. That would only make him angry.“That’s a lifetime ago. I’m happy here.”
“With the cowboy?”
“With everything, Dante. So is Carsen. Can’t you be happy for our son?”
“Happy that you won’t let me see him?” he scoffed.“I’m his father.”
“Right, so when do you start putting his needs before your own?” She took a step back, needing space.
He lowered his hand.“Is this really what you want?”
“Yes, it’s really what I want.” She took another backward step. Her mind raced for the quickest exit. She’d never make it to the back door before he caught her.
“You want to marry him?”
She blinked.“What are you talking about?” He reached into his back pocket and produced her leather journal, the one that went missing. She should have put two and two together.“You stole my journal?”
“I had been watching you,” he admitted as if he no longer had anything to lose. He tossed the book onto the couch and took a step toward her.“I always knew you were a whore.”
“Just leave. It’s not too late. No one needs to know that you were here. I want no trouble,” she said.
The faraway look in his eyes made her stomach turn. Something had snapped within him.
“It’s too late for that.”
She knew she had to do everything in her power to get away.
She ran for the kitchen, but he was faster. He caught her by her hair and her feet slipped out from underneath her. She cried out when she felt the roots of her hair popping.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to run again?” he leered as he tightened his fingers in her hair.
“If you cared for Carsen you wouldn’t be doing this.”
“If you cared for Carsen you would have stayed and been a good wife and mother,” he said near her ear.
“Fuck you.” She’d reached her patience. For years she’d tried to talk him down from the ledge, but today that ended. She’d no longer try to pacify a man who hated himself so he hated others.
He dragged her back against his chest.“I like it when you talk dirty.” He led her by the hair through the living room and through the screen door.
“Where are you taking me?” she demanded.
“Home, back where you belong.”
A low growl made him pause. Milo was standing a few feet away, his teeth bared, and his ears cocked.
