Page 108 of Atlas
Velna looked nothing like the meek woman she had pretended to be when she first came here. “Because he was just as weak and useless as you. My mother was right; I should have never married a midget.”
“A midget?”
Niklavs was short for a man. He couldn’t be more than five foot five, but he was no dwarf. It was clear she had hit a painful spot with her insult and that he had no skills to argue. Instead, he slapped Velna across the face.
I watched in horror as Velna attacked Niklavs, and they fought for the gun. He was stronger than her, but she was relentless and out of her mind.
“Argh!” He screamed when she kneed him in his crotch and grabbed the gun out of his hand. Despite being buckled over in pain, Niklavs didn’t stop fighting her for the gun, and they both had their hands on it, ripping it back and forth between them.
Bang!I sucked in a breath as my ears rang from the penetrating sound of the gunshot. Niklavs’ face changed from anger to shock, and then his left hand covered his stomach. I held my breath, seeing his gray t-shirt change color around his hand.
CHAPTER 25
No Answer
Atlas
Walking down the street with my phone to my ear, I was wondering why Jolene wasn’t picking up. It was half-past six, and she hadn’t responded to the two text messages that I’d sent her. I missed her and had left a pile of work behind in my office to get home and see her.
This morning, Jolene had promised me that she would swing by the phone store on her way to work to change her phone number, but surely she would have asked to have all her calls transferred to her new phone number. If not, I would let the wolf spank her for not sending me her new number straight away. The idea of bending her over and leaving red marks on her creamy skin made me walk a little faster as I entered my building and took the lift up to my apartment. Unlocking my door, I decided that I’d let him spank her delicious ass just for making me worry.
But Jolene wasn’t in my apartment, and there was no sign that she’d been there and gone out again.
I called the office phone, but it was after office hours, so my call went straight to voicemail.
Where the hell is she?
Diane answered on the second call when I dialed her up. “Hey, I can’t find Jolene. Is she with you?”
“No. She was still in the office when Brian and I left.”
“When was that?”
“Oh, about an hour ago.”
“All right, I think she changed her phone number. Any chance that you have her new one? Oh, never mind, I have an unknown number calling me now. I’ll bet that’s her. Talk to you soon.”
“Okay, bye.”
I hung up and answered the phone in a low, seductive tone. “Hey, the wolf is not happy with you.”
“Excuse me?” a woman answered. “My name is Louisa Scott. I’m calling from the District Attorney’s office. Am I speaking to Atlas Robertson?”
“Yes.” I straightened up, still standing in the middle of my kitchen with shoes on and my jacket in my hand.
“Can you confirm that you were involved in an aggravated assault incident on February 3rd?”
“Yes.” I frowned.
“I’m calling to inform you that your attacker, Niklavs Zakis, was released on bail today?”
“What?!!!” My head exploded with acute anger. “You’re joking.”
“I’m afraid not. Mr. Zakis was released three hours ago, and according to protocol, I’m calling to let both victims in his casefile know.”
“How is that possible? He tried to kill my girlfriend, and you release him. What the fuck is wrong with you people?” I was livid with anger.
“Mr. Robertson, I understand your frustration. The court released the defendant over our objection and contrary to the release recommendation of the public safety assessment tool on assertive case management.”
