Page 68 of Deprived No More

“Daddy,” Olivia squeals as she runs full speed into my legs.

“Hi, sweet girl,” I say as I stoop to pick her up. Until she ran to greet me in her usual fashion, I was starting to question whether I’d entered the wrong home. It’s eerily quiet. “Liv, where are the boys?”

“They’re playing their game. In their room.”

Ah. I can’t help feeling a little more tense in my overly silent home. It must be bad if she’s letting them have extra screen time.

“Hi, Daddy,” Grace greets from her usual spot at the kitchen island.

“Almost done with your homework?”

“Yes. I was just putting it away so I can set the table.”

“Thank you, Grace. For always helping Mom,” I acknowledge as I kiss her on her sweet head. “Where is Mom?”

“I’m here. Just moving some laundry around,” she says, trying to appear chipper. There are circles under her eyes. Fuck. Why can’t we move the clock forward so I can talk to her? “Dinner’s ready. Can you call the boys? Plus, I could use your help getting them into bed tonight.”

“Anything, kitten,” I say as I drop Olivia back onto her feet and mouth, “are you okay?” I can’t help it. This is agonizing.

Kat nods, and I decide to change and get that drink to settle me until we can finally have the alone time to deal with this.

“Kat, they’re all tucked in. I can’t take this anymore. I need to know what’s wrong.”

Katarina walks over and takes my hand, leading me into the bedroom. I instantly have the feeling she’s concerned I’ll wake the kids. This has my heart racing faster, knowing it’s bad enough to warrant moving to another room. Taking a seat on the edge of the bed beside her, I keep chantingCalm Down, Nickin my head.

“I need you to be calm.”

“Kat?”

“Yes?”

“This is exactly hownotto make me calm. I need you to tell me what’s going on.”

She drops her head into her hands, and my heart lurches in my chest.What the hell?

“I got a random text from an unknown number.”

Sitting still, I let her continue. I get those all the time. But given how she’s been acting, I’m certain there’s more to it.

“At first, I thought it was a wrong number. But when I text them to tell them that, they confirmed they were trying to reach me. They used my name.”

My spine stiffens. “What did it say?”

“It said, I know you want me. I can see it in your eyes.”

I jump from the bed before I know what’s hit me. What the ever-loving fuck? “When did this happen?”

A grimace crosses her face, and I’m quickly aware she’s been keeping this from me. “Last night. I wanted to tell you right away. But the timing was wrong. It was too late last night to talk about it, and I had to get the kids to school this morning and meet Olivia. I just wanted to tell you when we could both be alert and rational.”

She means when I was alert and rational. Well, at least she hasn’t been hiding this for months like before. I’m trying to keep from losing it. That someone would again be harassing my wife. My wife. “Do you have any idea who this is?” I try to ask calmly, assuming it’s somehow related to Mark’s recent visit to the ER.

“No.”

“No? There’s no one you have interacted with who might have thought you were leaving the door open?” I regret the question before it’s completely left my mouth. Her glare confirms it. Of course, she wouldn’t. It’s just my agitation at the situation nagging at me.

“Nick, I really don’t.” She huffs.

“We need to go to the police, Kat.”

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