Page 52 of Through the Dark Night
“Ms. McKay,” Morison said. “But you’re not really the one I’m interested in. It’s her.” He pointed at Marina.
Marina gasped, and a hand went to her chest.
Shannon remembered what Marina had said to her about her abusive ex, and she, without thinking, took two steps and inserted her body in front of Marina’s. “You have no business here. You can leave.”
“It’s okay. I’m not doing anything wrong. I just wanted Marina to know that her ex-husband knows that she’s alive, and he’s offering a substantial reward for her location. He just wants to talk. He wants to make sure she’s okay.”
Shannon didn’t believe that for a second.
“Vincent does not want to talk. Maybe he wants to beat me for being a bad wife, but talking is not his specialty.” Marina’s words sounded like she was trying to be brave and was almost succeeding.
“Come on. He’s not that bad. He’s turned over a new leaf. He told me that he realized after you left that he really loves you and doesn’t want anything to hurt you. He just wants you back. Because he loves you so much.”
“No. I’m not going.”
Shannon knew that if Marina decided to go back, she would just be going back to a life of abuse, to a husband who wanted to control her and who probably would be even more enraged now that she’d managed to escape for almost a year.
“You can either come with me on your own, or I will help you,” Morison said, emphasizing the word “help.”
“No. You heard the lady, she said no. Now you may leave, or I willhelpyou.” Mateo arrived, appearing behind Morison’s shoulder and clamping a hand down on the man.
Shannon held her breath, half expecting Morison to turn aroundand try to punch Mateo in the face. Maybe she’d watched too many movies. Because Morison froze, and fear flashed across his face.
Apparently, he knew he was out of line to physically threaten Marina.
“What? Are you a sheriff or something?” Morison said, obviously using bravado.
“I think it’s pretty much against the law in any state, anywhere, for you to physically touch the woman, especially when she clearly and audibly said no. For you to threaten to do so comes close to a crime. I suggest you leave.”
Morison’s lips flattened, and he glanced at Marina. “This isn’t over.”
“Yes, it is. It’s over now. We’ll be getting a protection from abuse order, and we will be pressing charges if anyone sees you anywhere near this town again. Get in your car, and don’t stop until you need gas.”
Shannon almost laughed. It sounded so funny, like it came right out of a movie, except it was real, and Marina was obviously terrified. She could feel the woman shaking from behind her.
Mateo was angry. That vein that stood out on his forehead and the tic in his cheek were obvious signs. And Morison was half afraid, half trying to bluff and bravado his way through.
She swallowed hard. She’d never been in a scene like this. Her ex had been terrible, but he hadn’t been abusive, thankfully. She couldn’t imagine what Marina had gone through. Especially if the man was so desperate that he would hire someone and send him out to try to drag her back. What was it about her saying no that the man didn’t understand?
Morison glanced at Mateo and then made a show of getting his shoulder out from underneath Mateo’s hand and then walking around the man and out the door.
The front door of the inn had barely closed when Mateo rushed over to Marina, completely ignoring Shannon.
“Are you okay? I saw him go through town, and when he made the turn to the inn, I got here as fast as I could.”
“Thank you so much. I do think he was getting ready to drag me with him, whether I wanted to go or not and even though Shannon was here as a witness.”
“I think you’re right. I highly recommend you not be by yourself, until we’re sure that he understood my threats were sincere. And I think we need to go to the police. You can get a restraining order, and you can file charges. That should be enough to keep him away from you.”
Marina pulled both lips in. “He always said it would be worse for me if I ever went to the authorities. And considering how bad it was to begin with…”
“I’ll be there. I won’t let him hurt you. This is the only way to keep him away from you.”
“He just left.” Homer’s voice came from the doorway. “I passed him on my way here.”
“Good.”
“I couldn’t help but overhear what you were saying, and I agree. We need to file charges; we need to get this on the record. And the only way Marina has of defeating him is getting the authorities involved. I also agree that she shouldn’t be alone.”
