"This isn't over." He says while he signs on the dotted line. Once he's finished he glares up at me. Thankfully my attorney interrupts him before he can continue.
"Excellent, Mr. Morris. Now if you'll just sign this.” He passes another form across the long but narrow table. “This finalizes the divorce."
"And if I don't?" I close my eyes and try to take a calming breath. Frank knows I'm two seconds away from caving.
Mr. Gold clears his throat. "Well, if you don't, then the case goes in front of a judge. We agreed that this would be best for all involved."
"But she would still be my wife until the court date, correct?" I don’t give my attorney time to answer.
"Frank please. We agreed already. You’re getting everything that belongs to you. I don't want anything but a simple, quiet divorce."
"You've taken enough, don't you think?" He cocks his head and raises his brow.
"Nothing that wasn't already mine. And what was left, was yours. This is all I ask for. Just let me go in peace."
"Maybe I'll keep you around a bit longer." He pushes the legal documents away from him, sits back and crosses his arms with a glorified smirk on his face. I sit back in my seat instantly and lay my hands on my lap just before turning to Mr. Gold, giving him a slight nod.
"Well then Mr. Morris..." He pulls out a document from his briefcase we had typed up and ready to go in case this moment was to happen. He hands it over to Frank's attorney, who has been relatively silent during this proceeding. I'm one hundred percent positive he's also scared of Frank. "You leave my client and I no choice but to issue you this restraining order."
Anger in his eyes flash immediately and Frank stands, slamming his hands on the table causing me to jump in my seat... "WHAT?" His eyes shoot daggers at me. "You crazy, psychotic bitch!" I squeeze my eyes shut in attempt to imagine this is all a horrible nightmare.
"Frank, don't do this." I whisper, afraid to open my eyes. My body is trembling in anticipation of what he might do, even though I'm sure he won't strike me in front of our attorneys. "Please don't."
"Mr. Morris. I can assure you, your threats are being recorded as you agreed to allow us to record this proceeding. Don't forget that before you..."
"What? She's my fucking wife and I will do what I damn well please with her." He reaches over the narrow table and grabs hold of my arm. "You remember that. That apartment you're living in isn't going to keep you away from me, my love. Keep one eye open when you sleep tonight." He threatens, shoving me back in my chair so hard, I tip over and land on the ground, hitting my head in the process. With one hand on the door handle, he turns and points at me while shooting daggers at Mr. Gold. "Take me to court. The longer this marriage lasts, the longer I have control over her." He pulls the door open and slams it behind him.
Mr. Gold offers a gentle hand helping me up. When I stand, he straightens the chair behind me. "Well, that went well." His eyes meet Frank's lawyer. "You be sure to keep Mr. Morris away from my client or we will press charges for assault."
The frail man stands, gathers his papers and stuffs them into his briefcase. When he closes it, he stands tall before responding. "I'll make sure he gets these." He reaches his hand across the table. When Mr. Gold takes it, he continues. "We will see you in court. Contact my office when you set a date."
"Since we knew this would be the outcome of today's meeting, my secretary is already making those arrangements. The sooner I can get my client away from her husband, the better." Frank's attorney nods and leaves the room.
"I'm sorry it's come to this." He speaks softly. I can tell with the nature of his voice he truly is sorry, knowing I might possibly not make it to the court hearing.
"We tried." I sling my Coach apology purse over my shoulder. It's the only apology item from Frank that I didn't burn, throw out or donate to charity. Every time he would hit me, he would come home the next day with something extremely expensive, thinking that would cover the bruises and scars. "Just to be clear, we are going to go ahead with plan B, correct?"
"We will. I've got security already scheduled for me and your things have being taken care of while we were here. I'll contact you when I get a date set, even though we both know it might take some time, because I’m sure they will be dragging their feet with it." Trying to hold back my tears, I bite my lower lip and nod. “Just stay at the hotel we set up for you and stay quiet until it’s time.”
"Lanie," he rests his hand on my shoulder for support. "I will do everything in my power to protect you. I promise you that."
Giving my best form of a smile, I lean into him and give him a swift hug. Kissing him on the cheek, even though I know it’s crossing the line, I do it anyways. For a man to go against someone as powerful as my husband in this town, is a brave thing to do. The least he deserves is an innocent kiss.
"Thank you." I whisper, knowing I don't trust the strength of my own voice. I've lived here my entire life. The new life he's made for me will be both scary as hell, but also refreshing. He hasn't told me where I'm going, simply because he doesn't even know himself. All I have waiting for me is a prepaid cellphone and my clothes. Everything else will be there for me when I get to wherever ‘there’ is.
I know I'm broken enough to give up, but I also know I'm brave enough to keep fighting....
I’ve got a few things packed and I’m sitting in the hotel room with the prepaid phone in my hand, waiting for the call to come outside. It’s been almost a week since the hearing and I’m more than eager to get out of this hotel room. There’s a loud knock on the door and someone says it’s time to go.
Hmm. I guess they decided to come up instead of calling me. I make my way to the door and stupid me, without even looking through the peep hole, I unlock the deadbolt and turn the knob.
“You stupid bitch!” Frank yells, pushing the door open, knocking me back into the dresser and stumbling to the ground.
“Please. No!” I cry, turning and shuffling as fast as I can for the bathroom. Before I get to the door, he grabs a handful of hair, yanking me backwards. I fall onto my back, hitting my head on the desk as I go down.
“Did you honestly think you could leave me?” Frank grips my neck and holds it tight. I kick and squirm to try to get away, trying to peel his hands away with my fingers, but fail miserably. I’m trying to gasp for air, but his hold is too tight. I feel myself getting faint. “Don’t fucking think so.” He says before landing a fist to my face, waking me up again. I wheeze quickly, taking in as much air as I can before he puts pressure on my throat once more. Out of instinct, I reach up and dig my fingers into his face. Pushing as hard as I can, blood spills from his wounds and rage fills his eyes.
“Fuck!” He punches me again and again. When his fist lands on my face the last time, my world begins to go black. With both hands on my throat again, I’ve finally lost the will to fight. My body goes limp. “That’s right! You’ll never live without me.” Everything goes blank. I figured the pain will go away once my heart stops, right?
Suddenly, air is being forced into my lungs. “Lanie, breathe.” Someone says. A few more breaths of painful air and suddenly, I gasp on my own. I take a long, deep breath.
When I try to speak, all I can do is cough. Once I realize what’s going on, I look around, scared that Frank is waiting for round two. Getting away from the man in front of me, I scoot to the corner of the room.
“It’s okay, you’re going to be fine. I won’t hurt you, I promise.” He sits back on his heels. “My name is Bradley Tows. Your attorney, Mr. Gold, sent me here to keep an eye on you.”
“No.” I rasp. “He sent me someone else.”
“He did.” He agrees. “Tyler Long. Yes. Come to find out, he has been on your husband’s payroll for some time now. That’s how Frank found you.” I grab at my throat and drop my head back in agony. “I have a paramedic coming to make sure you’re okay. We’ll keep Frank in custody until I can get you relocated to a more secure place.”
“I need to leave now.” I choke.
“I have to find a place for you. Let me do that first, then we’ll get you where you need to go.” He offers a hand and I take it. “I’ll get you a new phone. I will be the only one able to contact you on it. If you need to get a hold of your attorney, you’ll do it through me. I’ll give you another that you can use strictly for your sister. When you get to where you’re going, use that one for your personal use. Both are burner phones and will be loaded with enough minutes to not cause any problems.” I don’t respond.
When I get checked over and am cleared from the paramedic, Brad drives me to another hotel out of town.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be in the room next door. I’ve fixed a camera that looks down the hallway to make sure you’re secure.” He opens my door for me. “Let me know if you need anything.” I walk in and he closes the door behind me. For the first time in my life, I feel safe.
After I’ve showered and dressed, I lay down on the bed and turn the television on in need of some sort of background noise or mindless crap to watch. Finally, I’m able to watch whatever I want instead of what I’m told to watch, I decide on a talk show. After a few hours, it finally lulls me to sleep….