“No. No hospitals. He’ll know to look for me there. Just get me as far away from here as possible.”
“Gia, are you sure?” Nat asked.
“I’m sure. Wait… I need to do one more thing.”
Stepping away, I held out my left hand to look at my wedding ring. Pressed next to it was the engagement ring I foolishly accepted a lifetime ago. Together, they were supposed to be a symbol of eternal love, the circle signifying infinite devotion. When Ethan chose the design, I wasn’t a huge fan. Now, I detested the rings more than anything. They didn’t carry the meaning of a love everlasting but symbolized the shackles which held me down for far too long.
Tears blurred my vision as I ripped the rings from my fingers and took a few steps closer to where Ethan was sprawled on the floor. I didn’t know why tears spilled down my cheeks. I wasn’t sad. I didn’t feel guilt over his motionless body. I wasn’t even numb—although I wished I was. Numbness would have been better than the unadulterated hatred boiling my insides as I stared down at my husband—the Hyde disguised as Jekyll, who had damaged me beyond all repair. The hatred I felt surrounded me in shadows that were black as night, pulling me down until all I could see was red.
I didn’t like feeling like that, but in some ways, it gave me solace. I knew hatred would be the driving force behind my survival, and I would hold on to it for as long as I lived.
Tossing the rings, they bounced and rolled until coming to a stop near Ethan’s head. Turning back to my friends, my gaze landed on three sets of sad and worried eyes. Squaring my shoulders, I walked toward them, reaching deep into my soul to find the strength I would need for the road ahead.
10
Gianna
I couldn’t go to Natalia or Teddy’s house. Ethan knew where they lived and would expect that. Instead, Teddy drove me deep into farm country until we found a cheap hotel where I could grab a room for the night. I was about fifty miles from Indian Hill—not nearly far enough away from Ethan—but it would have to do for tonight. I hated putting my friends out, but I didn’t have much of a choice. Fleeing in my own car was out of the question since it was registered to the chief of police. Ethan only had to flag the car as being stolen and every law enforcement agency in the country would be looking for me.
After much arguing, I convinced Teddy, Ben, and Natalia, I would be fine alone in the hotel, and they should head home. Teddy agreed to come back tomorrow to drive me wherever it was I needed to go. The only reason Natalia conceded was because Teddy said she could come back with him. The plan was for me to stay here overnight while I figured out what to do next. Perhaps it was foolish of me not to have planned for it, but I never once thought about anything past getting out. I assumed I would have more time to figure out the rest.
Flipping on the television, sounds from a vacuum infomercial filled the silence. I flipped through the channels and settled on a live concert, featuring Halsey and another band I wasn’t familiar with. I didn’t particularly care about watching anything on the screen, I just wanted the background noise.
I gingerly stretched out onto the bed, wincing as pain lanced over my ribs. My body hurt right down to the marrow of my bones, covered with a patchwork of bruises reminiscent of a Picasso painting. Once I was as comfortable as I could be in my current state, I stared at the yellowing ceiling and contemplated where I should go in the morning. I’d always liked the waterfront in Cleveland, and housing was affordable there. Perhaps I’d look into catching a Greyhound and head there.
The Tracfone rang and I recognized Natalia’s phone number on the screen.
“Hey, girl,” I said.
“Hey, yourself. I’m back in Cinci now. Teddy just dropped me off. You doing okay?”
“I don’t know. I’m hanging in there, I guess. It’s hard to articulate how I feel. Numb? Lost? I think I just need time to heal, you know?”
“And you will, Gia. You’ll overcome this and be stronger than ever. Mark my words!”
I smiled softly, appreciating the fierceness in Natalia’s tone and wishing I could channel some of that ferocity into myself.
“Thanks again for paying for my room. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Don’t sweat it. It’s like I said when we checked you in—you need to save your cash to get yourself back on your feet. Helping you out today was the least I could do. Any thoughts on where you’re going next?”
“I was actually just thinking about that. I thought maybe Cleveland. It’s affordable and only a few hours away.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t say someplace further,” she observed.
“Oh, I definitely thought about it. I like the idea of being near the ocean, but that usually comes with a hefty price tag. That’s why I’m thinking Cleveland. Lake Erie is going to have to be my ocean,” I joked, although nothing about the situation was remotely funny.
“Going to make your own beach, huh?” Natalia kidded back.
Natalia and I chatted for a while longer about Cleveland, before reverting back to my physical well-being. Her repeated concerns about me going to a hospital to be checked out were well intended but she just didn’t understand. I had patched myself up enough to know the drill. I was finally free of Ethan’s clutches, which was all that mattered. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that. After thirty minutes of reassuring her I was fine, I heard her yawn. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, the red digital numbers told me it was going on three in the morning.
“I should let you go. It’s late.”
“Alright. I’ll see you in the morning when Teddy and I come to pick you up. He said we should be there around ten o’clock.”
“Thank you for everything. Good night, Nat. I love you, girl.”
“Love you too.”
I placed the phone on the nightstand and got up from the bed to change into pajamas. Just as I unbuttoned the fly for my jeans, the hotel room phone rang. I froze. Natalia, Teddy, and Ben were the only people who knew where I was, and all three knew to call me on the Tracfone. The hotel phone continued to ring, the sound loud and intrusive. My heart raced.
Relax. It’s probably just the hotel front desk.
I took a step toward it and hesitantly picked up the receiver.
“Hello?” I said cautiously.
“Gianna,” said my husband’s familiar voice on the other end of the line. My stomach dropped.
No. There was no way… impossible.
Without thinking, I slammed the receiver back onto the cradle. The phone rang again—and again, and again. With every ring, my heart thrummed louder in my ears. Snatching up the receiver once more, I skipped the pleasantries.
“How did you find me?” I demanded.
“Oh, honey, haven’t I told you before that you shouldn’t try to be smart? Finding you was way too easy. Natalia used her credit card to pay for the room. I’m a cop, remember? Finding out that information is like child’s play. You can’t hide from me.”
I silently recited a whole slew of profanities and pinched the bridge of my nose. It never occurred to me he’d somehow found a way to track Natalia credit purchases, too. I knew better than to be so stupid.