Page 44 of I Shouldn't Feel This Way

“Mommy … what’s happening?”

“Go to your room, Terry!”

The voices kept fading in and getting louder as I reluctantly dropped the belt. I was out of breath, pushing my raging demon back inside his padlocked cell. I had gone completely berserk.

“Get the hell out of our apartment!” she yelled.

There was no point in asking her where our daughter was—it was clear that she had no idea. I abandoned the bludgeoned meat slab on the floor and ignored the pain in my bleeding fists. I was more pissed that my freshly laundered suit was all stained with blood and sweat.

“I’m pressing charges, you bastard!” Rob called after me.

That asshole was brave enough to cuss me out now that I was a safe distance away. Typical coward.

“Go ahead! Please do it! I dare you!”

I had no desire to go back and beat him again, even though I knew I could. My job here was done. His threats were meaningless. I had put him in his place and my bloodlust was sated. All I needed to do now was find my daughter.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ARIA

I made myself comfortable inside Noah’s luxurious hotel suite. Unfortunately, the concierge hadn’t recognized me when I’d walked into the lobby. The day before, Noah had proudly introduced me as his daughter to anyone who engaged him in conversation. The hotel manager had been present when we checked in, and Noah had briefly told him about how we’d been reunited. The manager was a very friendly middle-aged man who seemed happy for us. He gave Noah his business card in case he ever needed anything. I was lucky he was there when I arrived at the hotel lobby this time. The other employees behind the desk weren’t going to let me go up that easily. I told the manager that my cellphone was dead and that I was trying to reach my dad. He called Noah and left him a voice mail to let him know I was waiting for him at the hotel. He was also kind enough to give me a room key and escort me to Noah’s suite.

So there I was, sitting on the sofa, waiting for Noah’s return. I was still a little shaken up by everything that happened earlier, but I was grateful to be in a safe environment. I just needed to see him. I needed him to hold me and tell me that I would never have to live with my mom and stepdad again. At the same time, in the back of my mind, I was paranoid. All these what if’s kept swirling around in my head.

****

Almost an hour had passed since I had been let into his suite, and I couldn’t sit still. Growing exceedingly impatient, I got up and paced near the window, praying that he would walk in any minute. Miraculously, the front door began to unlock, grabbing my attention.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

There he was, in all his glory.

“Aria.” He breathed my name with so much relief, setting his briefcase on the floor. I said nothing and ran into his arms.

“I’ve been looking all over for you.” Noah hugged me tightly. “I came back to the hotel as soon as I received the message from the manager.” His body felt tense, but I didn’t want to let go. I needed to feel his arms around me and breathe him in for as long as possible.

“I called you and sent you a text,” I replied, “but you didn’t respond, so I sort of … ran away.” I buried my face in his chest.

“Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” He steadied my shoulders and looked at me.

“My battery died.”

I noticed the cuts and bruises as soon as he dropped his hands.

“Oh my God … Noah, what happened?”

“Don’t worry about it.” He took off his trench coat and walked inside. There was some blood on his shirt. I was officially worrying about it.

“Did you …” It took me seconds to draw my own conclusion. “Did you get in a fight with Rob?”

His silence said it all.

“You beat him up, didn’t you?”

“He had it coming,” Noah muttered bitterly.

I brought his hands together to inspect them, but he pulled away.

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