I might hate her, but I’m a decent fucking human being. So when she started explaining to me how she’d got herself into an abusive relationship and needed somewhere to keep her head down before she could move on again and hopefully find somewhere to start over, I found that I didn’t have all that much of an argument. Add that to the fact she’d clearly seen me kissing Kat on my doorstep, and I offered her a bed for the night. But all she was getting was twenty-four hours. She could use my phone, my internet, as long as she got the fuck out of my life, and Red Ridge by lunchtime today.
Her being here was bad enough, but I wasn’t risking the chance of her turning up on D’s doorstep. Just the sight of her would turn him into a murderous rage. I’ve heard him say more than once that if he ever so much as lays eyes on her vindictive, cheating ass ever again that he’d make sure it was her last day on this earth. And I truly believe it.
No one has ever hurt D the way she did, and I really fucking hope no one ever does it again. Doesn’t mean I want to be the one to lead her to her own death, mind you. As I said before, I am a decent fucking guy. Plus, I’ve lived through some pretty shitty fucking situations myself, and as a kid, all I ever wanted was for someone to come and give me a way out.
So I’m giving her one chance—probably one too many, but there we go—and if she fucks me over, I’ll be standing right beside D as we put her lying, cheating ass in the ground.
“Styx,” she whimpers. “I have nowhere to go.”
“How the fuck is that possible? I gave you plenty of time.”
Going to work last night and leaving her here was a fucking risk. But what other choice did I really have? I’d let her in. She was my problem.
But I refuse to let her convince me to make this stay any longer. I’ve got three hours before my shift starts and she’s leaving. Even if I have to throw her over the Red Ridge border myself.
“Not my problem, Faith. I gave you a place to sleep last night. Which, I might add, is more than you deserve. It’s time to get your ass out of town.”
“B-but—” she whimpers, her bottom lip trembling.
“No buts. I’m leaving the house in an hour and you’re coming with me.”
“I can’t, if he finds me…”
“You’re leaving this house or I’ll deliver you to Diesel myself, and whatever your ex has done will be child’s play compared to what he’ll do to you.”
“I’ll tell him about Kat,” she blurts.
My heart rate picks up but I refuse to let her see any kind of reaction.
“Tell him what you want. It won’t change the outcome for you. If anything, it’ll only make it worse.”
“I’m sorry, Styx. Please,” she cries as I walk away, pulling my cell from my pocket as I go.
I haven’t got any messages from Kat and it makes my stomach knot. We had such an incredible night, then this stupid bitch had to turn up and ruin everything.
It’s like she’s got a sixth sense for when my life is going well and she just presses the emergency stop button and sends everything into chaos.
Pulling up a web browser, I search for women's refuges outside of Red Ridge and scribble down the numbers on a scrap of paper.
Pulling open my freezer, I find the tin full of my emergency stash of money, and with a heavy heart, I pull half the bills from the stack, and slam it all down on the counter.
She’s done. Within the next hour she’s walking out of my front door and, with any luck, I’ll never see her again.
Needing something good in my life, I find mine and Kat’s conversation.
Styx: Morning, Kitty Kat. Any plans for today?
Kat: Nope, just lounging around at home.
A low groan rumbles deep in my chest as an image I really don’t need in my head appears.
Styx: Oh yeah… I hope you’re thinking about me as you do so.
Kat: Now, that would be telling.
Styx: What are you wearing?
Kat: Now that would be telling.