I froze when I heard the knock on my door.

I wasn’t expecting anyone.

Hell, I wasn’t expecting Art Jackman, let alone anyone else. I didn’t have friends who came to visit me just because. I barely had ten numbers in my phone, and one of those numbers was my work just in case.

When I got to the door, my entire body seized up. It was like I already knew. I already knew Tim was at my door. I didn’t know how I knew. It wasn’t like I could smell his expensive cologne wafting through the door and I definitely didn’t hear his silver Mustang rumble up on my street. 

But I knew.

My eyes shifted over to Art, who was looking at me with a peculiar expression on his face. He hadn’t left the dining room. But I could tell his body was tense, like he was ready to spring up into action if I needed him.

I felt a small bit of relief, knowing he was here. It wasn’t like I felt safe but I felt... better. And that had to mean something.

I didn’t answer the door. I didn’t even let myself breathe. I just waited, hoping he would go away.

“Chloe,” he sing-songed outside my door.

I had to clamp my hand over my mouth to keep a sob from escaping. I hadn’t heard that voice in so long. I hated that I heard it now.

“I know you’re in there,” he continued. 

Even though there was a door blocking us, protecting me, it was like I could feel him here inside my house. 

“My roses are gone.”

There was a smile on his voice. A smile that said he had won because he found me. A smile that said he knew how much I hated roses and he sent dozens upon dozens to be just to be an asshole. Just because he could.

It was a power trip and I hated it.

“I delivered them to your door just before eight because I wanted to make sure you got them before work,” Tim continued. Arrogance tainted his tone and I stopped myself from snarling. I didn’t have to respond. I wouldn’t respond. Then he would really win. “On the off-chance you missed them, I had some delivered to your work as well. Did you get those?”

How did he even know I went to work in the first place today?

He knew. Of course he knew. He knew everything because he had the means to pay for the information.

“I’ve missed you,” he said. I could hear creeks from the wooden deck and knew he was pacing in front of my door, like a stray cat waiting to be fed. “It took me a long time to finally track you down but I did. Thank God for transparent government jobs, huh?”

I mouthed the word fuck under my breath. Jesus, I was stupid. How could I forget working for the government meant the public had a right to know who the employees were and their salaries.

Fuck me.

I glanced back over at Art and saw him standing in the doorway of the kitchen. His entire body was tense and he was looking at me like all I needed to do was nod and he would handle it. I didn’t know how he would handle it. But there was a part of me that appreciated his presence. I wasn’t alone right now.

Maybe that was what helped keep me strong. At least, in front of Art, I was forced to keep my shit together.

“I know you’re in there, Chloe,” Tim continued.

I could picture him now, leaning forward, resting his forehead on my front door.

The thing about Tim was, he wasn’t intimidating. He was maybe five foot ten, lean but perhaps scrawny depending on what he wore. He looked like the quintessential good boy, a kind face, blue eyes, a friendly smile. But there was a darkness underneath his warm exterior. A physical strength I didn’t know he possessed. 

And that was what scared me the most about him. How normal he looked. How completely unsuspecting he was. No one would think he was as vicious, as dangerous, as he truly was. People would pass him by without even a second glance. Girls would fall for his charm and his smile, just like I did. 

“You know I have no problem waiting outside until you have to get your mail or you need to go grocery shopping,” he said. “Do you still go through boxes of Lucky Charms like lightning? I think I had to go to Costco every other week to get the bundle they were selling. Do you remember how I would joke that half my paycheck went to buying you cereal?”

I swallowed. I hated him. I hated this. I hated myself for the tears accumulating in my eyes.

I refused to be a victim.

I took a deep breath. I counted down from five.

I could feel Art right behind me, a safe distance away so he wasn’t touching me but close enough to let me know he was here. As much as I appreciated this, I knew I would have to handle this on my own.

“I don’t want to see you, Tim,” I managed to get out. 

“What was that?” Tim asked. “Speak up. I can’t hear you.”

I clenched my teeth together. I knew I sounded weak. Now, I wanted to be better. Stronger.

“I don’t want to see you again, Tim,” I said, this time ensuring my voice did not waver. My hands were tight fists at my side. “Please leave.”

There was another moment of long silence. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I needed to breathe and sucked in a big breath as quietly as I could.

Then, without warning, he started laughing. Tim was cackling like a jackal. He didn’t seem to care that he was on my porch, laughing like an idiot in front of possible passers by. This was Irvine, after all. People called the cops about things like litter, realistic Halloween decorations, and alleged vandalized plants. If they saw some random guy in front of my house laughing like an idiot, that would be suspicious, wouldn’t it? Possibly raise some red flags?

But Tim didn’t care. Why should he, when he had all the money in the world? He was raised by his wealthier father, his mouth having died during child birth. His father never remarried and raised Tim in his shadow. Tim never learned responsibility, and also learned if he ever got himself in trouble, he found just buy his way out.

Honestly, I wish that was what happened with him and me. But he didn’t want to buy his way out with me. He wanted me for himself. He wanted to be in complete control, to make me his perfect image of what a woman and a wife should be.

I was the furthest thing from perfection I could think of, to be honest. I was short and petite, with straight hair. I had minimal curves and I liked plaid. A lot. I couldn’t walk in heels to save my life and I tripped over air. I laughed at inappropriate things like fart noises and dad jokes.

I was kind of a dork. Which worked for me.

When I met Tim, the quintessential good boy, the golden child, I could not believe he was ever interested in me. I was sure he had his pick of beautiful women who were probably throwing themselves at him for a scrap of attention. When he saw me, it was as though he couldn’t get enough of me.

Again, crazy. Not because I wasn’t worthy of love. My confidence had never been an issue before him. But I just didn’t think I was good enough for HIM. And that was my downfall.

Because I thought he was doing me a David Ng being with me, I let things slip that I should have let slip. Like him picking out my clothes like I was a child, incapable of knowing my own mind. Like him telling me what to eat, what to think, how to feel. I hadn’t realized how much control I was letting him have until he became that voice in my head.

His laugh when I first told him I wanted out haunted my dreams, even today. It was the same laugh he was doing now.

“What was that?” he asked through his laughter. “You want me to leave?”

I clenched my jaw and tried to breathe. Tried to focus on counting. His laughter kept slicing through, however, and I could feel my fists start to shake.

Jesus, I hoped Art didn’t notice.

“I think we both know that’s not going to happen, Chloe,” Tim continued. He was talking down to me, like I was done kind of a child. “You might as well accept that now so we can speed this process further along.” He paused. “You know you belong to me.” His voice had gotten lower but louder. 

I wasn’t sure how that was possible but Tim always managed to do the impossible. He looked like a nice guy, sounded like a nice guy, and he was honestly the worst person alive right now. I didn’t hate anything or anyone. It wasn’t in my nature, even if they deserved it.

But I hated Tim. I hated Tim with every piece of me.

“I don’t belong to anyone,” I spat back out. 

Bits of saliva went everywhere, being flung across the space between my mouth and the door. The only thing really protecting me from him. I wasn’t sure at this point if Art counted as protection or not. It wouldn’t be fair to assume he would jump into something clearly not his business when he had no reason to be here. I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted nothing to do with me after today.

Tim started laughing again. The sound rang hollow in my ears and I felt myself shudder.

“Three years,” Tim said from the other side of the door. “Wasn’t it? No. That’s not quite right. It’s been eleven hundred and forty-five days since you left like a fucking coward. Since you snuck a sleeping pill in my food and scampered off like a goddamn thief in the night. I promised myself I would find you. I would not rest until I knew exactly where you were and who you were with. I had to know everything because, like I said, you fucking belong to me.”

“I don’t fucking belong to anyone, you piece of shit!” I screamed before I could stop myself.

Immediately, my eyes went wide and I clamped my hands over my mouth to stop any other idiot thing from flying out of my mouth. I couldn’t believe I said that. I couldn’t believe I called him that. Sure, it felt good and he totally deserved it, but that didn’t mean I needed to stoop to that level. 

I took a deep breath. I counted backward. I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath. I needed to get my shit together. I needed to calm down. Letting him get to me gave him power and control. Which meant he won. And I didn’t want him to control my reactions. And I didn’t want him to win anymore.

“I see you’ve developed a bad attitude since you’ve been away from me,” Tim said slowly. I hated how sane he sounded, how in control. He always managed to turn the situation around, make me be the one at fault even if it was him,

It was always him.

“We’ll have to fix that.”

I felt my skin pale. My hands began to shake.

I wasn’t going to deal with this anymore. Not when I finally had control of my life. Not when I was free.

However, I needed to figure out how to get myself out of this mess. Because I knew Tim. And he wouldn’t let go of me quietly.

Before I could even think of a possible solution, I felt more than I saw Art brush past me. He had an annoyed expression on his chiseled face. And then, he threw open my front door.