"Are you crazy?"Even as I scream the question, I can't really hear my voice.I can’t tell if I am loud or if my throat is hoarse because I’m from sleeping. Please let it be the latter.Dear God, don’t let me be loud only for this level of reaction from Christopher; he doesn’t even look at me.Juniper rushes to the groaning man who is curling himself on the ground; there is so much blood on the road.My widened gaze drops to my trembling hands as I examine my body.My summer orange dress is stained red.I can't, I can't do this.I can’t keep living like this! I can’t keep seeing blood…like this.Hot tears fill my eyes as the tremble in my body begins to grow more evident.I want to scream and as if sensing my thoughts, Juniper's scream fills the air."Oh my God, Benjamin, Ben, are you okay?"She asks as she cradles him, not caring that the blood smeared on her clothes."Do I look okay!"He yells and cradles his hand in his stomach.Even though his remark is sharp, it helps me relax, if
"S and M."Christopher says the words with emphasis.From his tone, it’s not a question, but I am sure as hell that he wants an answer."I wasn't going to go."Ah, shit. Why does my voice sound so low now? Did he even hear my answer?I clear my throat and try again.“I wasn’t going to go.”"Then why is it coming up?"Christopher asks, and the phone that is now on speaker and in his hand blares."You weren't? Baby! How could you.""Fucking, Taz!"I yell and stand from the ottoman, ready to snatch my phone from him, but Christopher raises it higher.Why is he built tall like this?"Are you really going to pay me? Baby, I don’t need money; I need a wing woman, and you are the best perv magnet in the game!”" I'll send you the money as soon as I get to the bank."I yell my reply as I jump to get the device, but no matter how high I leap, I can't reach it.My eyes fall on Christopher’s armpits as I consider tickling him, but with the amount of muscle on his body, if I touch him, I might sl
"You have lifted Henry in your arms. That sweet and innocent life. So no, Christopher. No. It hurts."She replied as if she was certain."It must hurt so badly that your body has accepted that pain as normal."‘Ugh...I can't stand people who just hurt others like that! There is a justice system in place for a reason. Gangs are just monsters.'Blair's words played in his ears.She had said them before she knew who he was, and even after she died, she never really knew the extent of the ‘monster’ that he was; that was why it was hard for him to believe that Blair truly loved him.'Can't you just kill them? They messed up my nails on purpose and talked shit about me.’Victoria's words followed.She was easier to please than anyone.But in his arms was someone he’d shown his worst, and yet still…His heart, which was silent, began to beat loudly.No…no, it can't.Christopher panicked.It was a betrayal to Blair that his heart was racing because of the brown-eyed, clumsy woman in his arms.
Christopher's hands hesitate before they wrap around Henry.For some reason, he looks deep in thought."How is my little cutie?"Henry giggles at my question and grabs a fistful of Christopher’s shirt."Where did mummy go? I missed mummy."Henry asks.Video calls would have been fine, but Henry cried so much on the first one and demanded that we return, so Olivia thought the best way to handle his separation anxiety would be distance. It seemed to have worked, but I didn’t think he’d cry just because he couldn’t reach the door handle.So cute.My hands itch to steal him from Christopher's lap, but he is curled so comfortably that I can't bring myself to."We should head inside. Mum is going to drop by soon, and Teo volunteered to cook for us, so…something to look forward to."I flinch at the mention of Mum; considering how we left things at the wedding, I didn't expect to see her this soon.“Great.”I say with a sigh.**The dinner is noisier than expected.Because of the kids, food k
"Hey, hey...what are you doing?"A harsh hand grabs my own with such force when I try to turn the SUV's alarm off that I almost scream.For some reason, I expect Christopher, but instead, it's the brown-haired bodyguard."I need...I need to go."I stammer the words, but at least they are out of my mouth."Go where? you and the boss just arrived."He asks, his expression desperate.To some extent, I understand him. It is deep in the night, and I am standing outside Christopher’s car with his keys and no Christopher in sight, despite clear signs that I want to leave. It’s almost like I am running away."Hospi- I need to get to the hospital."He furrows his brows and sighs at my breathy response."Fine, let me confirm with-""I'll just drive myself.""Do you want me to die?"He asks."You won't die; he said he doesn't kill his family. ""Hah, yeah, he'll just post me somewhere where I'm most likely to die.""Then...when I'm caught, I won't say that you saw me leave."I urge, but to that,
Juniper stiffens at my change of tone."You don't care about anyone else, do you? There are children working under your husband, children as young as eight being explo-""They need to make a living somehow. Do you hate him for creating employment? What has yours done besides putting him in a hospital? ""Yeah..."I answer with a chuckle."Right? My husband is the worst, but I know he wouldn’t ‘create employment opportunities’ amongst kids who should be in school. I know he wouldn’t exploit them for cheap labour and steal their chances at literacy. There is free public education in Devnia, darling; your argument isn’t fooling anyone.""Do you think I hate your husband? I don’t.”I ask, and answer my own question with a sigh.“Especially since mine shot his dominant hand, so there is no way Benjamin, or whatever his name is, could have laid a hand on you. Even if he is ambidextrous, a woman in true fear would use any opportunity to escape danger. But how would you know? You’ve never bee
"Let's go-"I say as I pull away from Christopher’s warmth."Go? Go where? What kind of answer is that?”“It's ‘an answer’?”I shrug.“That I am asking for too much?"I don't nod to his question or respond verbally; instead, I tug his arm towards the elevator, but he withdraws it."Say it.""I have already said it.”"Say it so that I can understand; ‘say that the father of my child is asking too much when he says he wants me to depend on him’.""Christopher.""Say it!"Why is he angry?I don’t…understand this. Why is he changing things? Why can’t we stop now? I don’t want this; I don’t want to put my heart on the line for someone like him.With a sigh, I turn to face him fully."Tell me, Christopher, when did you last compare me to Blair?”"What?"He frowns."Are you deaf?""Elizabeth."He calls warningly, so I try softening my words.“I’m not as outgoing as her, I’m not as smart as her, I am not even as funny as she is, and yet you had to get rid of the person living in your house th
"I'll take the couch."I say, pointing to the cosy loveseat in his spacious room."You'll sleep on the bed.""Gladly, if you open my room, I'll sleep on the bed, or rather, if you give me an axe-""Elizabeth..."Christopher calls, so I groan and focus on something else to fuss about."I can't sleep without pyjamas, and I want to shower.""Use the clothes from my closet.""I have good ones in my room.""I'm not opening it, so get used to this.""What even is ‘this’?"I ask as I wave my hand around the room."Our new normal"At his casual answer, I rake my hair out of my face, while rushing to the hospital, I lost my hairband somewhere."You really have lost your mind."I mumble to myself, but it seems he hears me."Maybe, but Elizabeth, if you don't choose to rely on me, I'll make you."“Ahaha, you should have been a poet.”I say sarcastically to his words."If all else fails."How does this crazy bastard always have a reply?**My hand holding a towel ruffles my now damp hair as I re-