Page 59 of Ordinary Secrets

“Then why aren’t we calling the police?”

“Nathan’s dad is the LAPD deputy chief. They’ll twist this into something it’s not. They’ll makeyoulook like the bad guy.”

I’m not sure how else to say it to make her understand how serious this situation is, so I tell it how it is. “Arella, he tried torapeyou.”

The way she doesn’t flinch at the R-word tells me this isn’t the first time he’s forced himself on her. I’m gonna punch one of his teeth out for that.

“Do you have a record?” she asks.

Is that a trick question?I’m not sure what answer she wants, so I go with the truth. “Yeah...” When she doesn’t respond, I feel the need to explain. “Two counts of disorderly conduct and another charge for attempting to run from the police. And maybe a parking ticket or two.”Or twelve...

“I figured you had something.”

“Look, I don’t care about keeping my record clean. It’s already dirty.”

“It’s not about that. It’s that Nathan and his dad will dig up everything they have on you and turn it around to use to their advantage.”

I only met Nathan a few minutes ago, and I’ve never met his dad, but they’ve both made it to the top of my shit list.

Arella continues, “With your record like that, they’ll have no problem getting an attorney to make it sound like you attacked him first, which technically, you did. Think about your career, Trey. If this gets out, how will this affect your band?”

I didn’t even think about how this would look for me. Social media would have a fit. So would Monique. And Liz. Honestly, Liz’s opinion is the only one I care about.

“I’m willing to risk all that if it means you’re safe.” And I mean that with all my heart.

“I’m not.”

With a heavy sigh, I accept that she’s made up her mind. If this is what she wants, so be it. Just in case, though, I ask one more time. “Are you sure you don’t wanna call the cops?”

A firm nod. “I’m sure.”

“All righty, then. Stay here. I’ma go take care of Pencil Dick lying in your bathtub.” My Empath power tells me that he hasn’t moved from where I left him and he’s angrier than he was before. He’s about to be even angrier when he sees my fist again.

An instant smile appears on Arella’s face. It eases all the tension in my gut. “Pencil Dick?”

“You got a better name for him?”

“Nope. Pencil Dick is perfect.”

“Great. Don’t come in ’til I say so, ’kay?”

Once she nods, I head back inside and shrug my jacket off. With balled fists, I march toward the bathroom.

17

ARELLA

I siton the curb and pick at my nails for a while before my door finally opens.

Trey has Nathan in his grasp. My ex’s face is swollen red. On his bare chest, written in big black letters, are the wordsi assault women.

That should be a tattoo.

“Hey, angel,” Trey says tenderly. “Thanks for waiting. Come on in.”

After I step inside, Trey shoves Nathan out the door. Dramatically, my ex collapses to the ground. Trey hadn’t pushed himthathard. The same message on his chest is written on his back. That’s not coming off easily.

When Nathan doesn’t get back up, I ask Trey, “Is he alive?”

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