Page 31 of No Control

“It sounds like we should talk about it—“

“No,” she cuts me off. “He’s just being a dick. Nothing new. You know how he is. Anyway, we need to talk about you. I think you need to get out of that house. If he seriously took all the guns out, I feel like that’s a pretty big threat.”

“Or he’s toying with me because I shot at him yesterday.”

“Uh, what? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was still processing it,” I tell her, and then go on to share the events that happened yesterday. She listens in silence.

“I would’ve shot his dick off.”

“Good to know,” I laugh, thankful for her sense of humor. “But I’m literally screwed. What if Mason tells the deputy that?”

“He was going to attack you, Lydia. You were just defending yourself, and you didn’t even shoot him. It’s his word against yours, but he is the one who took all your guns. He’s disarmed you. That’s a huge red flag to me. I don’t think you should stay.”

“I don’t know where else to go. I don’t want to put anyone else in danger—and you know how toxic my parents are.” Honestly, I’m surprised Mason hasn’t reached out to them yet, concocting some lunatic story about me losing my mind.

“You know...”

“What?”

Duke scratches at the door, and I go to it, sliding it open for him. He makes a beeline for the woods, and my heart sinks. I peer out into the overcast skies, but don’t see anything. It’s beginning to rain and could easily confuse someone into thinking it’s nearly nighttime. Normally, I enjoy this kind of weather, but it’s unsettling today.

Please don’t run off right now, Duke.

“Did you hear me?” Emma’s voice brings me back.

“Oh shit, no. I’m sorry.” I run my fingers through my tangled blonde hair. I can’t even bring myself to shower. I’m too concerned Psycho might play out in real life right there in my bathroom.

“Have you considered taking the job?”

My stomach knots up. “No. I already turned him down. I figure he left yesterday evening, anyway. It’s probably too late.”

The offer will remain on the table if you change your mind. His words echo in my mind. Did he actually mean it, though? And is that really the answer for this? I’m not one to back down from a fight. If I leave, it feels like I'm letting Mason win.

“I mean…I know. But we have a vacation house outside of Los Angeles…I could always tell Jared I want to take a trip? I’d be there—just in case. Or, you could offer to stay with me?”

“He wouldn’t bend on the terms.”

“Okay, so then just see what it entails, and if it goes wrong, I’m right there. His background check was clean, right? He’s just super into your work. If I had someone like that when it comes to my writing, I’d be all over it.”

“But you haven’t met him,” I reason. “I don’t think it’s the answer.”

“Lydia, you are a sitting duck there in your cabin. Do something. Get out of there. Call someone to come stay with you. Please.”

“I know,” I groan, fighting the urge to cry again. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“Call the guy. You’ll be thousands of miles from stupid Mason.”

“Maybe I should call Mason.”

“No. Stop this. I’m trying to help you come up with the fastest way to get away from your batshit crazy ex.”

My eyes flicker to the shelf in the living room, scanning the pictures. And then my breath catches. “What. The. Hell.” I jump to my feet, rushing to the empty picture frame.

“What is it?”

“He removed the picture of us from the frame in the living room.”

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