Love's Suicide (Love's Suicide #1)(83)

She looked confused and I knew she wouldn’t understand if I tried to explain it. Then I started thinking of Bobby. I reached for my phone and turned it back on.

It started buzzing with messages, both voice and text.

Knowing they’d be terrible to listen to, I took her to give her a bath.

After filling the tub with a little water, I sat B down and let her splash around. She enjoyed playing and after I’d washed her body, I let her enjoy her tub time.

Once she’d splashed most of the water onto the floor, I wrapped her in a towel and took her out to the bedroom area to get dressed. B was a good girl and she was content playing by herself on most days. Unlike my daughter, I was already feeling like I was suffocating being held up in a room. It was a shame that I couldn’t go home and feel safe there.

Moments after B was changed, I pulled out an apple and banana and started cutting them up with a knife Brooks had brought with him in his bag. I also found a miniature box of cereal that he’d probably had in his room. Since B loved to munch on it, I opened it up and spread it all out for her to eat.

She was quiet, watching cartoons and filling her cheeks with fruit and cereal.

I sat on the bed next to her and opened up my phone.

Figuring the text messages were easiest, I started with them.

Thirteen messages in total filled my inbox, all from Bobby.

Answer your phone!

I’m on my way to the house, you better be there.

Have my daughter ready.

You better not be shacked up with that soldier!

Katy, answer the phone. I’m at the house and you haven’t been here.

Just talked to Sarah. If I’ve got to go to that base and drag your ass out of there, I will.

You’ve got thirty minutes to return my calls or I’m coming after you.

You better hope you’re dead in a ditch somewhere, you little whore.

You’re going to pay for this, bitch. Tell your boyfriend to watch his f*cking back.

You’re dead!

He’s dead!

I’m going to make sure you never see your daughter again. I’ll make sure you’re claimed unfit.

You will pay for this, bitch!

I covered my mouth and felt my heart beating heavily. I wasn’t just scared for my life; I was worried about Brooks too.

Knowing that there were voice messages, I took a deep breath and started listening to them.

“Katy, it’s me, Bobby, your f*ckin’ husband that you had locked up. I have every right to put you in your place. You’re mine! You hear me? I own you. When I get home, you’re goin’ to be real sorry you did somethin’ so stupid.”

“Pick up the phone, bitch!”

“You think you’re slick don’t ya? You think I can’t find you? Tell your boyfriend to take you far away, because if I can find you, you’re both goin’ to pay for this.”

I erased the messages with shaky hands and looked over at B, who sat there so innocently as if nothing terrible was happening. Truth be told, I didn’t know what to do. Confessing to Brooks would only make him want to go after Bobby. I couldn’t have them harming each other. My marriage was most definitely over. I just needed to get in to see a lawyer without being discovered.

After calling to the front desk, I was brought a phone book in which I started sorting through. There had to be a lawyer that could help in a desperate situation.

I’d made three calls with no luck getting a same day appointment. When my phone started to ring, I jumped off the bed before realizing it was Brooks. “Hello?”

“Hey, I’m just calling to check on my girls.”

I considered not telling him what was going on, but knew how that always turned out. Besides, Brooks wasn’t just my lover, he was my partner, my best friend. “I listened to my messages.”

“I imagine he’s pissed about now. He knows you’re with me and he ain’t going to lay a hand on you ever again.”

“Pretty much.”

“Listen, I have a plan to keep you both safe. I’m meeting with my commanding officer in an hour to see if I can take a few days off. I’m due, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Considering the circumstances, I doubt he’ll have a problem. He’s got a family, so he knows how important you are to me.”

He was making me nervous. “Am I going to like your plan?”

“Do you trust me?”

“With my life.” I did and I knew whatever he had in mind would be for the best.

“Kat, I’m going to keep you safe. I need to go. Stay inside until I get back. I love you.”

“That will never get old.”

“It better not. I’ve been practicing it in front of a mirror since I was twelve.”

When we hung up I had a smile on my face.

I went from playing with B, coloring, and watching cartoons, to looking for more lawyers that could take me on right away. My urgency was more important every single time I looked into her little blue eyes. Her safety was everything.

I finally found one that would see me at four that evening. Brooks would be back and take me. Since I needed to get out of the room for some fresh air, I decided to take the phone book down to the front desk. We climbed in the elevator and I let her push the down button. She got a kick out of thinking she was big girl.

The elevator doors opened and I saw him right away. Bobby was standing there with Dave arguing with the concierge. “I know she’s here. I tracked her by her phone. Now tell me what room she’s in. She’s got a baby with her and a soldier friend.”