Page 109 of Eye of the Hurricane
Dinner is perfect, full of laughing and making plans. It’s hard to imagine I was ever against the idea of Roman and Audra. Now this is some of the best news I’ve ever received.
We’re on our way back into the lake house when Roman’s phone rings in his pocket. He pulls it out and it’s Audra.
“Go ahead in guys, I’m sure she’s just checking in,” he says, waving us toward the door. I don’t move though. There’s this feeling in my chest that doesn’t let me follow the instruction. Intrinsically, I know something isn’t right.
I mouth to himput her on speaker.
“Hi baby, what’s up? You’re on speaker but it’s just Ares and I out here,” his tone is light and there’s a content smile on his face. It falls quickly when a sob rips through Audra. I step closer to the phone.
I can’t explain it, I just knew. I just knew something was wrong.
“Auds? Are you crying?” he asks, it’s a stupid question. But it’s one I can’t blame him for asking.
“He knows where we live,” she cries, her voice tremblingon every word. It’s a knife in the gut. Immediately we both know who he is. Her ex, the one who was abusing her, the one who stalked her. Until now, they had been living in the bliss of him not knowing her new address.
“How do you know? What happened?” Roman questions.
“He… He sent us mail. A letter.”Shit.
“We’re coming home,” he assures her.
“Okay,” I’m positive she’s not okay when she doesn’t fight him or tell him to stay and enjoy his trip.
“I’m going to call Kat, okay Audi?” I offer.
“Okay,” she sniffles. The defeated tone in her voice guts me. Roman looks somehow both hollow and filled with rage.
We’re about five hours from home, she shouldn’t be alone that long. Especially not when it’s already getting dark.
“Grab Beck, I’m going to send Kat over there,” I tell him. He gives me a stiff nod and heads inside.
“I’ll grab your stuff too, we’ll head out as soon as you’re off the phone,” he adds.
I dial Katherine’s number. It only rings for a second before she picks up.
“Hi, I miss you,” she says sweetly. Under different circumstances, I might blush at her telling me she misses me. Under the current ones, I hardly register it.
“I need you to do me a favor, Kat,” I rush out.
“Well hello to you too.” She laughs.
“It’s serious. I need you to go to Audra’s house,” I tell her.
“Okay, I’ll grab my keys-” I cut her off prematurely. I can’t contain my gratitude for her. The way she doesn’t hesitate for a second before jumping in to help. It wasn’t even a question. My heart squeezes in my chest.
“Thank you.”
“What’s going on, Ares?” she asks, voice softer this time.
“Her ex, the one I told you about, he figured out where they live and sent a letter. That’s all we know right now. We’re five hours and some change away, we don’t want her to be alone that long.”
“I’m grabbing my keys now. Does she know I’m coming?” she asks.
“Yes. Thank you so much,”
“She’s going to be okay, Ares. I promise. I’ll see to it,” she says and I’m sure she just means she’ll hold her while she cries but she sounds so badass when she says it.
“Are you scared?” I ask. I figure if I was a woman, I might be scared of putting myself in this position. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked it of her.
