Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“I love you babe, so much for being patient with me and giving a new, wonderful view of love.” Fuck. Now she is trying to turn me into mush.
“You don’t have to thank me Red for doing what God ordained as destiny.”
Once the sappy shit is done, I send her to bring the next patient into the exam room and check my phone because it has been going off this entire time. Picking it up I see it is a text from the Colonel. I don’t bother texting him back. I called him instead. “Blake.“
“What do you got?”
“We found him.”
“How close?”
“The next town over.” My whole fucking body becomes rigid and on alert. Now all I want to do is snatch her into my arms, take her to our home and lock her inside of there.
“And?” I ask him, hoping he has a plan.
“Just wanted you to know so you watch your wife.”
“No shit. How about you find him and end him. Then I won't have to worry.” I know I should be more gratuitous because he is doing me solid, but damn it the idea of something happening to her makes me crazy.
“I get it, friend. I am just giving you the facts. I feel like he is gearing up to make his move soon. We are surveilling the hotel. The minute he steps outside of it we will be on him.”
“Thank you. I owe you.” Head on my hands, I hold it for a second trying to calm myself because I do need to get to work.
Finally I have myself partially in control and walk out of the room. I bump into Carter and he smiles at me. “I’m sorry man. I didn’t know.” I place my hand on his shoulder.
“It’s not your fault, my friend. I should be less obsessed, but I’m not. It is never enough.” He nods his head and runs his hands through his hair.
“Fletch..oh I’m sorry.” My wife says walking into the hallway.
“No baby, what do you need?”
“I was wondering if you can go to the Saloon and pick up lunch?”
“Of course my love.”
“You know what, I was thinking about lunch as well. How about I come with you, Fletcher?”
Nodding, I walk back into my office, grab my wallet and phone and head out. “I will be right back baby.” I say against her lips.
“It’s ok. So far they are all here for vaccines and cuts and scrapes,” she says, kissing me back. I kiss her once more and walk out of the door.
That was mistake one.
Chapter Fifteen
Florence
I’m in the back sterilizing some instruments when I hear the back door open. The tinkling of the bells makes me think of It’s A Wonderful Life and of angels getting their wings. Given that Fletcher just had his pants off, I think he must have forgotten his wallet.
“Did you forget your wallet, baby?” I ask, but there’s no answer. I look up and all the oxygen leaves my lungs. Gary is dressed like a woman. An old woman, but a woman nonetheless. It takes me a second to process what I’m seeing and another to control the laughter that wants to bubble out of me.
“You never called me baby,” his sinister and out of place voice fills the room. I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything. “Not once, in three goddamn years did you ever call me anything but Gary.” His shouting brings me right back to where I was months ago. “Then you go and marry a stranger. After all the effort I put into making you an acceptable wife for someone like me to have, you go and marry an asshole you don’t even know.” He flings the sterilizer off of the counter where it crashes loudly onto the floor. He looks surprised when I don’t jump at his action. I’m not the same person I was before. I don’t flinch or cry when he grabs me by my ponytail, the one Fletcher just had his fist wrapped around, and pulls me closer to him.
He gets one punch in before I lose my shit. I start to fight back. Fletcher has made me see and believe that I am not a victim anymore. However, he pulls a gun on me pretty quickly.
“You are such a coward,” I sneer at him. I know this is a risky tactic but if I can just keep him talking Fletcher and Carter will come back and then this will all be over.
I watch as Gary starts to pace the room. He’s pulling his hair and tapping his forehead with the gun. Maybe the idiot will shoot himself. He’s freaking crazier than I thought he was.
“What’s the end game here, Gary?”
“You come with me, divorce this asshole and be my wife.”
“Why would I do that? I don’t love you. I never loved you and there’s no way you loved me either. If you did, you never would have hurt me. You never would have taken my virginity by force.” I feel tears welling up, but I choke them down. “You never would have left me so badly beaten that my ribs are still slightly bruised.”