of his mouth dipped down. He gave the smallest of head shakes.
He didn’t remove the pressure, but he didn’t let me go any deeper. He allowed me the pain that kept me in this world. This reality. He didn’t try to take it from me, but he didn’t allow me to hurt myself either.
I tried to thank him with my gaze. With my body language without overtly saying anything. I pressed my legs into his lap slightly. Felt the corner of my mouth tip up.
He nodded slightly but didn’t say anything else.
I shifted to look at Dom. “If I sign the affidavit, will that quash anything else he can do?” I still refused to say his name. Denied him that marginal amount of respect.
Dom nodded. “Wright is going to get a court order based on your PFA. Errington won’t be able to force you into involuntary commitment due to conflict of interest. I’ve already informed the hospital board of directors that if he doesn’t stop trying to see you—in any capacity—that we will hold the hospital liable. Wright has agreed to back me if charges of criminal medical endangerment are required.”
I felt my belly twist even as my heart rejoiced. This was just going to make him angrier. More determined to get me back. I was safe right now, simply because he couldn’t get through the Amatucci family. He didn’t have the power or ability to force me to return to him. And other than my estranged parents, I had nothing else of leverage for him to blackmail me with.
There was no doubt in my mind that my ex husband would eventually kill me. In addition to being a sociopath who thought he was God, he was so narcissistic that he thought he owned me. That I was his property until he decided to dispose of me.
The fact that I’d left him—in the middle of the night, no less—had to have enraged him. And insulted him. I shuddered to think of any other victims he’d found since I left. Those faceless victims haunted me daily and nightly.
A fresh spark of pain brought my attention back to the room. I looked up to Ryker, saw him staring at me as if waiting for an answer.
I felt my cheeks flush. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t listening. What did you say?”
Dom laughed, drawing my attention. “I said something, actually. But nice to know you’re back to ignoring me when discussing important matters.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “Then you should be more engaging. Don’t you know anything about keeping a woman’s attention?”
The three other men in the room said, “Ooooooh.”
Rafe added, “Burn.”
Dom narrowed his eyes at me, a promise of revenge in his eyes. “I’ll remember you said that, Will.”
Ryker stiffened under my legs. “You were saying?” he said to Dom.
Dom glared. “I said that the sooner you get the affidavit signed, the better it will be. Are you up to going to the DA’s office today?”
I started to nod, but got interrupted by Rafe.
“No. She’s not going anywhere. She’s already overdone it. I had to carry her in here from the car, her legs were so swollen. She’s staying home. Bring one of the DA’s peons here. He, or she, can take the statement here.” He came over with a lap tray loaded with a bowl, plate, and glass full of water.
I’d sunk down and was in a bad position to try to scoot back up so I could lean forward to eat. “Turo, can you help me, please?” I called.
He came over, grabbed me under the arms and lifted slowly until I could get my butt wedged into the corner of the couch. This time, I wasn’t going anywhere. Goddess, thank you for a huge ass.
I moved my arms out of the way as Rafe set the tray down. As I was putting a napkin on my lap, he bent my knees slightly and stuffed a pillow under them.
I winced at the burning ache but sighed at the almost instantaneous relief of having them bend.
Ryker kept his hand on my leg as I got down to the business of stuffing my face with the world’s best comfort food.
After a moment, I became aware of the room. It was silent. Heavy with unsaid comments.
I looked around, wiped my mouth. Everyone was watching me. The Amatucci boys—minus Dom—looked like I was some kind of odd circus animal. Dom looked like he was going to steal my soup. Or maybe my grilled cheese.
I bared