Josie hands Serenity off to Brandon. “Take the twins to your room, boys.”
They scurry inside and close the door.
Josie turns back to me. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’ll call the cops, and they’ll deal with him.”
I shove Paul onto the ground. “Call the cops. He’s going to need an ambulance.”
Paul moves to run, but I’m quick to slam him back down with my foot. I mount him and wrap both hands around his neck, crushing his windpipe. “How does it feel to have the life choked out of you, Paul? Huh? How do you like feeling helpless on the ground?”
“Cole, stop!” Josie yanks on my shoulder.
But I don’t relent.
“You’ve made your point,” Dan says. “Come on. Don’t do something you’re going to regret.”
Oh, I won’t regret this.
It feels good to release some of this tension I’ve been carrying around. To give Paul a taste of his own medicine. He’s sputtering, his face turning red and then purple. I want him to match the bruises he’s left on Callie.
Then Josie’s voice penetrates my senses. “Think of Mia. She’s looking down on you right now. Don’t do this. She’s watching.”
Like I’ve been shocked with an electric current, I release Paul’s throat and stagger backward.
Mia. My Mia.
Dan bends down next to Paul, who’s clutching his throat and gasping for air. “Get off my property, and don’t come back. You’re not welcome here.”
Paul grunts as he pushes to his feet. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just want her back.”
Josie shoves past me and swings her hand, slapping her palm across his cheek. “You will never get her back. Ever. Now go!”
Paul’s head slumps forward, and he drags himself across the street.
“What the hell happened in there?” Dan asks, turning to face me.
“I went to the kitchen to grab something to eat, and I heard Callie crying in the living room. When I walked in to see what was wrong, they were both on the floor.” I glare at Paul’s back as he makes his way to his house. “I think he tried to rape her.”
Without another word, Josie spins around and bolts into the house in search of her friend.
Dan sighs, running his fingers through his hair. “I’ll call my buddy, John. He’s a cop. Callie can make a statement and get a restraining order against Paul. That should help her with the divorce.”
“Won’t put him where he belongs.”
“No, but at least it’s something.”
I shake my head. “Should’ve let me handle it.”
“Do you really think you’re capable of something like that?”
“It’s what I do.”
Dan shouts after me as I turn and walk toward the backyard. “That’s not true, Cole.”
“Tell that to Mia.”
I’m surprised to see Callie at the diner the next day.
She’s eating lunch at our usual spot at the counter. There are two plates waiting for me and Billy on either side of her.
“There’s my girl,” Billy says, taking the stool to the left of her.
She smiles, though it doesn’t reach her tired eyes. I wonder if she got any sleep last night.
I know I didn’t.
“How are you?” I ask.
She lifts a shoulder and lets it fall. “Could’ve been worse.”
“Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a big deal. You should’ve taken the day off.”
She shakes her head. “I need to keep busy.”
“Here we go with the whispering again.” Billy rolls his eyes.
I toss a french fry at his head, and he flips me off, garnering a chuckle from Callie.
Gertie makes her way down the counter, refilling coffee mugs as she points a finger at me. “You best not be throwing food in my diner. Just because you’re good looking doesn’t mean I won’t knock you upside your head with my shoe.”
“That I’d love to see,” Callie says.
My jaw drops open. “Hey, whose side are you on?”
Callie laughs as she nudges me with her shoulder.
Billy takes over the conversation, and Gertie uses the distraction to lean in and whisper to me. “I’m glad you’re here. This is the first time I’ve seen her smile all day.”
I nod, speaking around the wad of food in my mouth. “She had a rough night.”
“What happened?”
“Her ex came by the house and attacked her. He tried to force himself on her.”
Gertie’s wrinkly hands ball into little fists. “I could kill him.”
“Yeah,” I say with a laugh. “I tried to.”
Her eyebrows shoot up even higher than they’re already drawn on. “You were there?”
“Few minutes too late. I found her on the floor.”
She clicks her tongue as she shakes her head. “Poor thing doesn’t deserve any of this.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
Gertie looks over the rim of her glasses at me. “She thinks very highly of you, you know.”
“She shouldn’t.”
“Ah, horseshit.”
“Uh-oh,” Billy says. “Gertie’s cursing. What’d you do now, Cole?”
I hold my hands up on either side of my head. “I didn’t do anything.”
“This is why I’m her favorite. Ain’t that right, Gertie?”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, sugar.” She pats Billy’s hand as she heads back to the kitchen.
When we’re finished with lunch, Callie stops me before I follow Billy out the door. “I just wanted to say thanks for helping me last night.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
She smiles. “Just accept my gratitude, will you?”
“Fine.”
“You’re so difficult.”
I smirk at that.
“I think I need to look for another place to live,” she says as if she’s thinking aloud.
My eyebrows lift. “You think that’s a good idea?”
She smooths her hand over her hair and blows out a breath through her lips. “I don’t want Paul to know where I am, and I hate feeling like I’m putting the kids in danger.”
“I’ve actually been looking for apartments myself. Around here. I like the area, and the prices aren’t too bad. I could help you look if you want.”
Her face lights up. “Really? You’re not going back to New York?”
“I ... I’m not sure. Just looking at my options.”
“Well, I’d love your help.”
“How about tomorrow after work?”
She chews her bottom lip. “I’m actually meeting with the lawyer. Going to move forward with the divorce.”
Relief floods through me. On instinct, my hand reaches out to touch her shoulder.
And she doesn’t flinch.
“I’m glad to hear that, Callie. I think you’re making the right decision.”
She nods. “I know I am. It’s just scary.”
“Can’t be scarier than what you’ve already been through.”
She mulls that over for a minute and then offers me a small smile. “That’s a good way of thinking about it.”