“I’m crazy? I’ll show you fucking crazy.” Emily wrapped her hands around my neck, squeezing until I gasped for air.
My mouth opened and closed, pleading with her to let me breathe. Oh dear God. This was it. I was going to die. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
(Matteo)
Something wasn’t right. I had texted Marketa knowing we needed to talk and asked her to meet me in the lobby of my apartment building. When she never responded, a twist of anxiety ate at my gut. She was supposed to be hanging out with Emily and Nika. I wasn’t sure if Emily would try anything but I remembered her at Duncan’s club. She clearly saw us together. Maybe she snapped. Maybe that was why Mae hadn’t returned my texts.
As the elevator reached the top floor, my nerves were on end. I ran to my door, thankful it was closed with no signs of forced entry.
“Marketa?” I called out, slowly making my way into the apartment. She wasn’t in the living room or on the balcony. Just as I was about to head down the hallway, a groan sounded from the kitchen, startling me. I rushed to the soft noise, finding Nika on the floor.
“Nika,” I knelt at her side. “What happened?”
“Matteo,” she mumbled, bringing her hand up to a cut on her head.
I grabbed a cloth and called 911. “An ambulance and the police are on their way,” I told Nika, kneeling beside her head.
Her eyes shot open. “Marketa.” She struggled to get up, her body shaking with the added effort.
“Take it easy, darlin’. Where is Marketa?”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” I asked roughly.
A sob escaped her. She dropped her head in her hands, her shoulders trembling. “I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t know what?” I demanded, my heart racing so hard, my chest hurt.
“I didn’t know who she was. I had no idea.” Nika’s body wracked with cries.
“What do you mean?” I tried to be patient but I needed to know where the hell my woman was.
“Emily took her.” Nika’s eyes were wide with fear.
Spots danced in my vision at the mention of her name but it wasn’t possible. I gripped my chest, forcing the nightmares to the recesses of my mind.
“I’m sorry,” Nika cried.
I shoved to my feet, reached for my phone and was about to call Marketa again when I heard a thump from my playroom. “Marketa.”
Rushing to the door, I pushed it open, finding Emily on top of Mae. “Get the hell off of her,” I yelled, charging into the room. Emily didn’t seem to hear me, keeping her hands tightly wrapped around Marketa’s neck.
“He’s mine. Do you hear me? Mine!” she yelled over and over.
Everything next happened so fast. A bang sounded from the hallway. Loud deep voices demanding answers. A woman, lying on the floor, a gunshot wound to her chest. A trembling Mae…Mae. I shook my head, snapping myself out of it.
Picking up Marketa, I held her shaking body tight against mine and carried her out into the living room. I never said anything. I just waited.
Marketa and Nika hugged, crying and apologizing to each other profusely. The police questioned them, asking them if they knew the woman.
“She’s a patient of mine from over a year ago and I…she sent me love letters,” I explained to Marketa and the police. “She was obsessed with me.”
“When we find out more, we’ll let you know.”
All I could do was nod as I stared at Mae’s ring free finger.
“Oh, and I found this.” The police officer handed me a diamond ring.
A breath left me on a whoosh.
Mae sobbed when I put it back on her finger.
Never again would I leave her. Never again would I doubt her love for me. Never again would I let my darkness take over.
I was a sick man but with the proper help, I would be fine.
Mae
It had been a year since I watched the life leave Emily Griffin’s eyes. She stared up at me, pleading. But it wasn’t my fault. It was never my fault. The police shot and killed her, protecting me and my baby. If she wouldn’t have run, if she wouldn’t have come barreling towards me with that knife in her hands, she would still be alive. Locked up in a mental hospital somewhere, but she would still be breathing getting the help she needed.
I could still remember the metallic taste of her blood on my lips.