Episode 4
1009 Words
Naomi's POV
"I'm sorry, Naomi," Allen said, stepping closer. "I came as soon as I heard. Where's Ben?"
I wanted nothing more than to bite his lips off. I was grateful when Raphael stepped in before I had to do what I had in mind.
"Ben died," Raphael said flatly.
Allen's face shifted to shock, disbelief, all the right notes. "That's impossible. He was fine when I left." He turned to me. "Naomi, talk to me."
"Don't you dare say my name."
"This isn't the time or place for this," Raphael said, stepping between us. "We're leaving. You should come cool off at my place."
Allen's eyebrow rose. "Your place? Naomi is my wife. She comes home with me."
"I don't know what happened between you two earlier," Raphael said, "but she doesn't want to go with you. I think you should let her come with me."
Allen ignored him. "Naomi, let me take you home. I'm sorry about our son, but I—"
I didn't let him finish. I slapped him hard, even my palm tingled.
He held his cheek, staring at me like he didn't understand.
Then I slapped him again. "Stay away from me," I said through clenched teeth, "or I will kill you myself."
Security was already moving toward us. Raphael held up a hand. "It's fine. We're leaving." He scratched the back of his neck and followed as I walked out.
I didn't look back. Didn't stop walking until Raphael caught my hand. He seemed to be the only steady thing left in any of this.
He opened the car door for me. I got in. He got in after me, started the engine, and drove.
The ride was silent. I said nothing the whole way, though I felt him glance at me more than once.
When he parked outside his house, I finally spoke. "I'm going to need a good lawyer."
"You have plenty of lawyers."
"Not ones tied to the company. Not ones tied to Allen."
"I could be your lawyer," he said. "Your father would have liked that."
"You're Allen's step-brother." I opened the door and stepped out. "I'm not sure you'd be willing to go against him if it came to that."
He followed me to the entrance. "I'm the best lawyer you'll find. And I'd do whatever it takes to help you. Even if that means going against Allen."
I smiled, but there was nothing warm in it. He had no idea what "going against Allen" actually meant. I didn't trust him enough yet to tell him.
He opened the door and I stepped inside.
"Would you like to eat anything?" He asked. "Just name it."
I shook my head. "No, I'm not hungry, I just want to shower and sleep."
He nodded and showed me to a room. "Do you have any close friends I can call to come stay with you for the night or a couple of days. It's really important you're not alone."
I started undressing in front of him without thinking, the way I used to in front of Allen. I was too numb to care whether he saw.
Raphael cleared his throat and looked away.
"Don't call anyone," I said. "You're already here, there's no need for a third party."
I stood in front of the mirror. My eyes looked pale, ringed in shadow.
"You're a married woman," he said, still not looking at me. "It's not right for us to be alone in the same house. Allen will assume the worst. I don't want trouble with your husband."
I watched him through the mirror. He still wasn't looking at me. Too bad, part of me wanted him to.
It would have reminded me of the way Allen used to look at me like I mattered, right before I found out he actually wanted me dead.
I turned to face him. "Stay with me tonight. You're the only thing keeping me sane right now. If you leave me alone, I don't know what I'd do to myself."
He flinched. I could tell he didn't like hearing that. But he said, "Okay. I'll stay. I'll be in the living room if you need anything."
"No." I shook my head. "Stay in here. With me." I paused. "And I think I need vodka."
I walked into the bathroom without waiting for his answer.
I turned on the shower and stepped under the water.
It offered no comfort but at least it washed the blood stains I had on my body.
Ben's last words to me played in my mind immediately. "Mom, I'm dying." Over and over, looping, refusing to fade no matter how hot the water got.
I started sobbing again until my chest hurt, until the sound bouncing off the tiles didn't even sound like me anymore.
"I'm going to get justice for you, Ben," I said out loud, like he could still hear me somewhere. "I promise you that."
I stayed under the water until it ran cold, then turned it off and stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself.
When I switched on the light, I saw a dress laid out on the counter; It was light and simple.
Raphael must have left it while I was in the shower.
I put it on, my hands still trembling slightly from the crying.
Then a knock came at the door. I knew it was Raphael. "Come in," I said, glancing toward the door. But something else caught my eye first.
A framed photo on the shelf near the mirror. Raphael, younger, standing beside a man in a police uniform, both of them smiling like the photo had been taken on a good day.
"It is the same face," I muttered to myself.
Not from a photograph, but from somewhere real.
My eyes widened as realization dawned on me. I had seen him from the floor of my living room that night with my fingers shaking as I pulled a mask off him.
My whole body went cold.
It was him, the assassin.
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