Harrison eyes bulge out of his head, his mouth opening and closing as if he wants to form words, but can’t. He nods. Axel squeezes his neck one more time before stepping back, and letting him go.
Harrison drops to the porch, his hand touching his neck as he wheezes in air through his bruised throat.
“Go.” Axel nudges Harrison with his gym shoe.
Harrison gets up and scrambles to his car. The tires peel out on the pavement as he drives away.
Axel walks up to me and pulls me into his chest, holding me tight.
I’m surprised when I feel his body shake. “Are you ok?”
He laughs and brings me even closer. “I should be the one asking you that question. When Felicity called and she told me the badman was at the front door it took ten years off my life. I got here as quick as I could. I’m sorry I wasn’t here when he came over.”
Rubbing his back, I try to calm his frayed nerves. “You had perfect timing. You’re my hero. Thank you for saving me. I need to go check on Felicity.”
We both walk to my bedroom where we hear Felicity’s sobs as we open the door. My mom has Felicity on her lap, running her fingers through her hair.
“I should have hit the fucker,” Axel says under his breath so Felicity can’t hear him.
I shoot him a smile as we make our way toward Felicity.
When she sees Axel she scrambles off my mother and throws her tiny body toward him. Axel catches her and sits on the side of the bed, talking quietly to her. My mom gives me a worried look before leaving us alone. I sit next to Axel and Felicity, rubbing circles on her back as Axel continues to talk to her, telling her what a smart girl she was for calling him, and he would never let anyone hurt her.
My heart, which was mostly his before, fully belongs to him at this moment, and it doesn’t scare me one bit.
After half an hour she calms down enough to fall asleep. Axel covers her up in my bed and we go outside to the swings so we can talk. Axel convinces me to call the police, and we talk about safety measures while he’s at work. After the police take our statement, Axel is reluctant to leave for work. I promise him Harrison isn’t going to show up again, and I’ll call him if anything fishy happens.
I’m getting out of the shower when my phone rings. I pick it up, expecting it to be Axel, but instead it’s the burner number Harrison’s been calling me on. I debate answering it, but decide to end this once and for all.
“Didn’t you learn your lesson as your throat was being crushed?”
“You called the police.” His voice is raspy and it makes me smile.
“Yes, I called the police. You showed up at my house when I told you to leave me alone. You threatened me. Calling the police is the normal response when that happens.”
“I’m going to have a hard time explaining why the police were here to my wife. You owe me for getting me in trouble, and I know how you’re going to repay me.”
I laugh at his audacity. “I think it’s hilarious that in your small pea-brain head you really think I owe you.”
“If you aren’t going to stop dancing with the Triplets, then bring them to my club. It’s the least you can do. Your stupid boyfriend almost killed me.”
“I wish he would have. What will your wife think having the Triplets come over to your club? Wouldn’t you have some more explaining to do?”
“Let me worry about her. She’ll be happy with all the money coming in.”
I laugh until tears run down my face. “I’m not bringing the Triplets over to your club, and I’m not going to stop dancing with them either. And you know why?” He doesn’t respond so I keep going, “Because I have the upper hand. You’re terrified your wife will find out about me and Felicity. I’m the only one keeping that secret. And I’ll continue to keep your secret, and the other girls you’ve fucked over, because you’re going to leave me alone. I’m also going to tell Donna you tried to steal her biggest act. She’s not going to take kindly to that. I think she’s more shrewd than you are in the exotic dancing world. No more, Harrison. This is it. You try to fuck with me again, and you’ll wish you just had your throat crushed. If you don’t leave me alone, not only will your body be destroyed, so will your marriage, your club, and your bank account.” For the last time I hang up on Harrison.
I toss the phone on my bed and smile. It felt good standing up to Harrison for the first time. Axel has helped me find my power, and show me I have nothing to be ashamed of. Getting ready, I tell my mom I’m going to go to work early. I have one more thing to do.