Page 28 of Saving Grace

He was yelling, I was yelling, then there were frantic knocks at the door. I pulled away and rushed over and opened it before he could react. “He’s trying to rape me. Kill me even.” I yelled. Security rushed in and I rushed out, leaving everything behind.

“Ma’am!” the clerk yelled as I ran out of the hotel. I ran until my lungs hurt, but I didn’t stop, I just slowed enough to catch my breath.

Barefooted I walked seven miles in the middle of the night to the storage unit I rented, luckily it was staffed twenty-four hours and I’d made myself familiar with the four attendants that worked there. I had no problem getting the older white gentleman who was usually there at night to unlock my unit. I waited until he walked away to go in.

I lifted the door and sighed in relief. Inside was my old car, the first car Marcus brought me, a 2005 BMW. I’d stored it there after making sure it was in perfect working condition and I’d been back religiously every few months for 6 years to make sure she was still running. I didn’t need her breaking down on me if I had to leave quickly.

In the trunk was everything I needed to make a clean start. I never actually thought my marriage to Marcus would last as long as it had, so I’d planned ahead. I walked over to the front driver’s side tire and grabbed the extra set of keys that were hidden there before going back to the trunk. I opened it and my heart sank. There was nothing there but a pair of sneakers and a change of clothes. The gym bag that had held ten thousand dollars was gone, so were the extra cellphones I had brought.

I immediately knew Marcus was responsible. I almost panicked, thinking he could have showed up there looking for me, but then last time I’d seen him he was in no condition to be chasing after me and Atticus had said he sent him away. My heart slowed.

I’d thought back to the day I’d thought I’d seen him following me once. At the time I had dismissed it because he had no reason to follow me. I guess I was wrong. I was so fucking wrong about so much as far as Marcus was concerned.This motherfucker is determined to make me regret the day I met him.

“Fuck!’ I yelled out in frustration, slammed the trunk, and beat on it until my hands ached. I wanted to cry so bad, but I wouldn’t. I was not a fucking child, I was not a weak woman, “This will not break me.” I yelled out.

I just needed time to think, I walked around and unlocked the back door of my car and climbed in. I was exhausted mentally and physically. I needed to sleep. I laid down on the backseat, I closed my eyes and forced all thoughts except ones of my granny from my head until my eyes got too heavy to remain open.

The next morning, I woke up knowing the only choice I had was to go to my boutique and get the money I kept in the safe. I knew I had at least fifteen thousand there. Another twenty in the bank, but I couldn’t go to the bank since I’d left my purse with my ID in the room running from Ralph.

Fifteen thousand would not be enough to start a new life, but it would get me by until I figured out what I needed to do next. I stuffed everything that was left in the storage unit which wasn’t much in the trunk of my car and drove out.

When I got within a block of my shop I called the police and reported suspicious behavior. If either Marcus or Atticus were watching for me, neither would stick around while the police were there. I thought.

The police showed up, quickly. I watched an officer walk the premises, shine his flashlight into the shop and rattle the door handles.

I waited until he left before sneaking into the back door. I hurried to my office and when I opened the door, I immediately knew something was wrong. I always left my office desk light on when I left at night in case I had to go back. I hated the dark. The light was off. I backpedaled.

I made it maybe two steps before light flooded the office.

“Don’t you fucking dare move another inch.

”I froze and prayed to my ancestors. I didn’t need to see him to know Marcus was there.

I turned around slowly. Marcus was sitting in my office chair. The anger and malice in his eyes made my soul ache. For the second time in less than two days I was being confronted by three angry men who felt I owed them something. If I made it out of that situation alive. I promised myself it would be years before I even looked at another man.

I gasped when I finally looked at Marcus’ face. He was almost unrecognizable, one of his eyes was swollen shut, his nose crooked, dried blood clotted to his lip. Atticus had done some damage. I sort of felt bad.

Marcus chuckled. “You’re stupid to have come back here. “His swollen lips caused him to slur the words.

I threw my hands up. “I’m sorry Marcus, I didn’t know he was going to do that to you.”

“You didn’t fucking try to help either, you worthless bitch.” He yelled and spittle flew from his mouth.

What was I supposed to say to that? I hadn’t tried to help.

We just stared at each other until he leaned over in the chair he was sitting in.

I flinched when he chucked a familiar looking bag in my direction. One of my many IDs fell out.

He tilted his head at me “Who are you? Who is Grace”?

So, he had heard Atticus.

I decided to try and gain some sympathy. “A girl running from a very bad man who did very bad things to me.”

He chuckled. “That tells me nothing other than I married a lying bitch.” He lashed out; his harsh words whipped around the room.

The stone-cold expression on his face caused me to take a few steps back. I knew I couldn’t outrun him, but if I could get to the register. I could get the bat I kept there to defend myself.