“So it’s probably a mistake. She went to my apartment to drop off the award.”
“Honey…Millie…her body was found in your apartment. She’s dead,” Wyatt told her, and Millie felt as if she were going to faint. Immediately, Marco guided her toward the porch bench and knelt down beside her.
She shook her head. “No, it can’t be. Who would do that?” She looked up toward Wyatt, who was reading the text on her phone.
“Frank?” she whispered as the tears hit her eyes and her stomach clenched.
He nodded his head.
“What does the text say?” Kenny asked as he stood next to Wyatt.
“A response to Millie’s last text.”
“Your friend was really nice but couldn’t give me the answers I wanted. Come back to me, Millie. Don’t make me come for you.”
“Oh God, no!” Millie stood up and Marco joined her. He held her by her waist.
“Calm down, sugar. It’s going to be okay. We’ll protect you,” Marco whispered down to her. She shook her head and covered her mouth. Their words were sinking in. Frank killed Clare. Oh God, poor Clare.
She tried to push past Marco.
“Honey, slow down. Where are you going?” he asked.
“I’m going to be sick,” she blurted out with her hand over her mouth as she rushed inside to the bathroom.
* * * *
“Son of a bitch, Wyatt. What the hell is this all about? Who is this guy and what does he want with Millie?” Marco asked.
Wyatt took a deep breath then slowly released it. He glanced toward the doorway that Millie had just disappeared through.
“Over two years ago when Stacy, Millie, and Anna lived in New York, Millie started dating this guy, Frank. They were together for a while and he was abusive,” Wyatt began to tell Marco and Kenny. Marco had to hide his anger. The thought of some asshole hitting a woman pissed him off. But it especially made him angry that it had been Millie.
“He was dealing in steroids and guns, supposedly, but lost it one night and nearly killed Millie. He beat the hell out of her and was about to kill her when Stacy arrived and saved her life. It was intense, and Stacy suffered some injuries, but nothing compared to Millie. She was hospitalized for weeks and nearly didn’t survive. Her total recovery took months. Apparently, this Frank character still wants her.”
“How the hell did the bastard get out of jail so darn quick?” Kenny asked as they made their way into Millie’s cottage.
“Apparently, he got out early on good behavior and from the recommendation of his therapist. It’s a fucked-up situation. He called Millie, she called the detective that worked her case in New York, and he recommended she leave town for a bit. He hasn’t been able to locate Frank and Frank hasn’t been to see his parole officer.”
“Well, big fucking surprise there,” Kenny added.
Marco turned toward the hallway just as Millie emerged from the bathroom.
She looked scared and he was compelled to go to her, to protect her from this monster. He couldn’t imagine why this was happening to her.
“Come sit down, Millie.” Marco reached for her to guide her to the couch, but she shook her head.
“What do we need to do, Wyatt?” she asked, then took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She was trying to be tough, but he could tell that she was shaking.
“They’re on the hunt for him in New York, Millie. Detective Flynn said to keep you here and safe and that’s what my men and I plan on doing.” Wyatt stood there with his hand leaning on the butt of his gun.
“It’s my fault that Clare is dead,” she whispered and Wyatt moved in front of her.
“You listen to me, Millie. I know a bit about individuals like this and believe me when I tell you that this is not your fault. The damn system failed you and it failed Clare. Now it’s our job and Flynn’s job to ensure that Frank is captured and that you remain safe. I’d say you have a lot of people around here to care for you, so you’re not alone in this.”
“I can’t stay here. What if Frank found out I came to Pearl? What if he goes after Stacy or Anna or the other women in the shelter? Then what? He’ll board a plane or take buses or whatever he has to in order to get to me. You don’t know him, Wyatt. None of you know this type of man,” she blurted out as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Marco wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. She cried as he consoled her.