Page 13 of Hard Focus
“I’d like you to leave.” Repetition should have soothed her nerves, but Connie found herself shuddering as waves of fear broke over her.This is stupid. I know him. It’s Jonas. He won’t hurt me. Her body didn’t believe her internal reassurances, however, because her feet stayed stuck in place.
“She wasn’t home. Wasn’t even home. Here I am worried about her, and she’s out on the town doing who knows what.” His voice dropped low. “Or who.”
“I’d really like you to leave.”
“And I’d like to spend time with my girlfriend.” She jerked when he slammed his fist against the countertop. “Because I had a shit day.” He paused and his hand clenched and released, clenched and released. “Oh, right, sorry. My bad. I forgot I’m just the guy you’ve been dating.” He slammed his fist against the countertop again.
Connie sidled sideways. It felt as if she weresuffocating,like there wasn’t enough air in the room for both of them and she was lightheaded from the lack of oxygen. Her brain stuttered rapidly from thought to thought, examining and discarding defensive ideas faster than she could really clasp onto them.Knives, too far. Door, too far. Coffee mug in the sink full of soapy water, a possible missile.
Jonas straightened,andher attention snapped back to him. They locked gazes for a moment, and she didn’t recognize the man in front of her. Angry, he looked more furious than she’d ever seen someone, and the emotion had twisted the features of his face until he looked like a different person. Dark. Dangerous. He stood still for a moment then shook himself like a dog. Silently, he turned and headed towards the door. Without turning around, he opened it and paused. “I’ll call you.” Empty of inflection, his words were spoken straight ahead as he looked out into the empty hallway. Then he was outandthe door closed, and she was alone.
“OhmyGod.” Crying out in relief, Connie slipped to the kitchen floor, folding up to rest her head in her hands. Only then did she realize she still held her phone,andshe wondered at whatever blind resistance she’d had tocallingthe police when she had felt so incredibly threatened. “OhmyGod.” She’d never been so terrified in her life.
Frightened to tears.
Bymy boyfriend.
