Chapter 190
829 Words
“That’s one solution,” Kat said coolly. “But maybe not the best one, huh?”
“So… you think that running for the rest of your life is the best solution?” Jim said. “Really?”
“Yes.” She met his stare. “I do.”
“You said you’d give us a chance to convince you that we can keep you safe,” Jim said, the anger coming through strong and clear in his voice. “You going to do that, or will you be leaving now?”
“Jim,” Dean said quietly. “Back off, man.”
“No way,” Jim snapped. “It sounds to me like her mind’s made up. I don’t think we’re even going to get a chance to plead our case.”
He turned to Kat. “Are we?”
She stared at him, then slowly shook her head.
“Well, fine.” Jim shrugged. “If you want to keep running forever, go on. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, sweetheart.”
“Jim!” Chris glared at him.
“What?” Jim glared back. “Look at us, Kat, just look at who’s standing here in front of you… never again will you be surrounded by three trained Rangers and a crack shot sniper, who can and will all kill to protect you! This is the f*****g safest that you will ever be – ever. And you’re just walking away? Going it alone again, some more? What the hell are you thinking?”
“I’m not just thinking about me!” she screamed suddenly, catching them all by surprise.
“What are you talking about?” Jim said.
“What am I talking about? About Emma and Olivia and Jenny, of course, you asshole!”
The men froze.
“What about them?” Dallas demanded.
“Jesus Christ. For such smart guys, you’re being goddamned morons.” She turned to Dean. “Emma’s doing better, I know, but what would happen if this sadistic f**k showed up in my life and took her, just to teach me a lesson? Starved her, beat her up a bit? You don’t think the long-term effects on her health would be devastating?”
Dean paled. Kat looked at Dallas.
“And what about Liv? If he grabbed her and cut her up, gave her a few more scars, do you really think she’d be OK after, or ever again?” Dallas’ eyes hardened and she looked at Chris now. “And Jenny… she’s finally moving past what happened to her all those years ago, right? Well, what if she were raped again? You think she’d come back to you this time, Chris?”
They stared at her as her words sank in fully.
“He knows how to hurt me, guys. He likes doing it.” Kat’s voice was quiet now, resigned. “Back then, he made sure I knew how much power he had over my friends and family. He’d offer my friends rides home from work, and make sure I saw them with him. He’d show me pictures he’d taken of my parents walking out of their house three states over. I was beside myself with worry, knowing that he had that kind of control over the people that I cared about. I stayed quiet and I toed the line to keep them safe.”
“The best way to hurt you is to hurt the people you love,” Dean said slowly.
“Damn right. And if he found me here, he’d find the girls, too, and once he did, how long before he found out how best to hurt them, huh? Liv’s stalker has been all over the news, the details of Jenny’s attack are easily accessible to cops, and Emma’s health is easy enough to figure out. All he has to do is follow her to the hospital oncology wing just once.”
They gulped, starting to share her fear.
“And you think that I want to be sure I’m safe here just for me?” she hissed at Jim. “f**k you. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to my friends. Or to any of you, for that matter, despite you being such a dick.” She jabbed her index finger in Jim’s direction. “You really think I could live with myself if one of you – my best friends’ boyfriends and fiancé – got killed stepping between me and that psychotic piece of s**t?”
“Oh, my God, Kat.” Jim sounded stricken. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry…”
“My name is not Kat,” she said. “But you know that, right?”
They paused.
“Yeah,” Dallas said. “Yeah, we know that. You going to tell us your real name?”
“No.” She turned. “I’m leaving.”
- Writer
