Fallen Woman(80)

Jase ranted and raved around the room. I had no idea what all he’d broken or how he even knew so many curse words. It finally took me yelling at him to get his attention. “Jase!”

He stopped pacing and jerked his head in my direction. “What?” He didn’t mean to snap at me, and I wasn’t about to get my feelings hurt over it.

“I need the car keys.” I held my hand out, waiting for him to hand them over.

“What? Where are you going?”

“You’re going to have to trust me on this one, Jase.” He dropped the keys into my hand.

“Are you going to kill Holland?” His brow furrowed, and I couldn’t help but look at him like he’d lost his mind. His asinine question didn’t warrant a response. “The kids need their mom. You won’t do them any good in jail.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll be, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Gia, where are you going?” He was insistent on an answer.

I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck to bring his mouth to mine. I kissed him tenderly, then passionately. When we broke free, I gave him one last peck. “Trust me, Jase. It’s time for me to come to your rescue.”

I didn’t wait for his response before I trotted down the stairs, determined to end this once and for all. When I got in the car and started it, I paused, wishing I had one more day with Miss Pearl. She’d tell me I was doing the right thing—she’d give me the courage I desperately needed.

~~~

It was after eleven when I finally left the police station, and by the time I got home, Jase was frantic. I hadn’t taken my phone, but even if I had, talking to him wouldn’t have been an option. As soon as I walked in the door, he rushed me and virtually tackled me.

“Jesus Christ, Gianna, where the fuck have you been?”

I hated when he used my full name. I knew instantly how unhappy or serious he was.

“At the police station. How are the kids?”

“The kids are fine. What were you doing at the police station?”

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and took a long drink while he waited for an answer. “Pressing charges against Holland.”

His eyes went wide as saucers. “We agreed we’d find another way out of this, Gia. Why would you do that?”

“Because he didn’t believe I would. He either didn’t believe I’d gone to the hospital the next morning to have the rape kit done, or he didn’t think I had the courage to come forward. He thinks he can bully you and humiliate us because he believes I’m too weak to fight. And, baby, that pisses me off.”

I watched his face, waiting for a response, but when he didn’t say anything, I just shrugged.

“There are only two things in this world that will cause me to come unglued. My kids,” I held up one finger, “and my husband.” I showed him the second finger. “If anyone ever tries to hurt one of them, I’ll fight to the death before I willingly let them be taken down.”

His lips crashed mine in an angry, passionate kiss. It was painful and harsh, but it told me Jase was ready to fight and finally saw me as an equal. His partner.

“Did you call Hart? Does he have any idea what you’ve done?” he asked when he finished punishing my mouth.

“No. But I’m sure he will when he sees the news tomorrow night?” I felt justified in my eye-for-an-eye mentality. I was empowered by this asshole trying to push me down. No more. I was done being beaten by society and mother nature.

“Oh, God. Gia, baby, what did you do?” He had no clue what to do with me at that moment. He’d never seen this side of me. The fighter he’d seen was the one who was competing to live. This girl was fighting to win. And it felt good.

“I may or may not have stopped by the television station and asked if they had a reporter who’d like to accompany me to the station with exclusive, full disclosure in the Hanks and Lane case. When the group finally understood who I was and what I was asking for, I had my pick. I chose Leslie Bayne—the anchor for the ten o’clock news with channel four.”

“Holy shit. Did she go?”

I nodded and grinned like a fool. “Yep and stayed with me the entire time. She heard every detail as it was recorded by the police in my statement. She got the dates, the name of the hospital I rode the bus to get to. Every minute bit of information—I wrapped it up in a nice neat little bow and handed her the package.” I wished I had a camera to capture his expression. I couldn’t tell if he was confused or proud. “And, Jase, she was kind to me. I got the impression maybe she’d been on the receiving end of similar treatment somewhere along the way. I know I took a chance not talking to Hart to get legal advice, but I don’t think she’ll spin this any other way than in my favor.”

“I don’t know if we just killed our chances at winning this or sealed the deal, but I can tell you this—regardless, I’m proud as hell to call you my wife.”

“We’ll find out in the next day or two. I’m sorry I didn’t discuss it with you, but I knew you’d argue and I couldn’t risk that. I’ll call Hart in the morning to tell him and apologize.”



The next day, I did just that. Jase finally went back to work, and after he left, I called Hart. He lectured me about the reasons for paying an attorney, Jase’s exorbitant retainer, and why Jase bought the best money could buy. But in the end, I could tell he was proud of me, too. He promised to be in touch after seeing the piece on the news that night. As I disconnected the call, Jase walked back through the door, ill as a hornet.