Page 64 of Resisting Fate
The bastard held out his palm to Missy. “I’ll settle for a grand. Hurry up and I’ll get out of here.”
Ben moved forward. “Leave now.”
Unbelievably, Missy shushed Ben and then turned to Louis. “I don’t have any money. Leave.”
“Liar!” Louis yelled, rushing at Missy.
Ben reached for the guy’s shoulder to haul him back, but Missy was faster, moving toward Louis, grabbing his shoulders and sending her knee up into the man’s groin with such force he dropped like a stone, curling on the floor and moaning.
Ben was ready to drag Louis out the door, but Missy stopped him with a hand on his arm. Her eyes were red fury.
She jerked Louis to his back, dropped a knee into his chest that made him groan, and then slapped him. Hard. “You ever come near me again,” she shouted in his face, “I will castrate you! Do you understand?”
Louis said nothing, looking like he was about to lose consciousness, probably from pain and drug withdrawal.
Missy slapped him again. “Answer me.”
Louis muttered something unintelligible.
Missy’s hand went to his throat and squeezed. Louis flushed bright red, veins popping out in his neck and face. Fuck.
“Missy—” Ben started.
“No,” she said, never wavering, her sights locked on the man she was about to strangle. “He needs to say the words. Say it, Louis! You will never come near me again.”
Louis was wheezing, his lips moving, no sound coming out.
“He’s not worth it,” Ben said gently, trying to reach his soft Missy. “Let’s just get him out of here, okay? He got the message.”
She looked down at Louis and finally released her hold. The man gasped for air.
Missy got off him. “Get out.”
Louis scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping in his hurry to get out the door.
Missy slammed the door behind him, locked it, and put the chain on, breathing heavily.
Ben stared at the door for a moment, trying to understand how Missy could have been with someone like that. She deserved so much better.
He turned to her. “You married that piece of shit?”
Her eyes flashed, but her voice was deadly calm. “I never told you I was married. Who told you?”
He didn’t respond right away, unsure how to answer without outing himself. On the other hand, he didn’t want to lie.
She leveled accusing eyes on him. “Omigod, I’m so stupid. You looked me up on Checkin, didn’t you? Invaded my privacy!”
He held up a palm. “Okay, let’s just take a minute. You’re worked up right now.”
“Just tell me if you looked me up on Checkin without my consent.”
“Missy, that was standard procedure.”
“Go to hell!” She whirled, grabbed her coat and purse, and marched out the door.
He couldn’t let her go out alone. What if Louis was lurking around the corner?
He shoved his feet into his boots and grabbed his jacket, his gut churning into full-out dread. He knew it had been too perfect. Nothing good ever lasted.
He followed her out the door anyway.
