Page 58 of Saving Grace
Adrenaline had his pupils dilated.
“Take a good look. I’m not that boy you knew in the past Grace, and you’re not that girl. I recognize that, Roman recognizes that. I need you to recognize the new me. I love you, Grace, I always will, but I’m not Atticus. Roman, the new me, can do what Atticus never would have. I can bend you to my will. Love you and still break you.”
A devious smile curved his lips. “I’ll break you and I won’t feel bad about it. Just to keep you I'll take everything but me from you. And I do mean everything. Our son, Ms. Joyce. Even your freedom if it comes down to it. To keep you with me I’ll lock you in a room, surround it with guards and I’ll be the only one who has access to you. By the time I’m don…
“Mother?" The sound of AJ’s voice cut off the next words that were about to spew out of Atticus' deranged mouth. Both of our heads snapped in his direction. He was standing no more than twenty feet away from, holding his sister’s hand. Both held ice cream cones in their free hands.
AJ tilted his head, his brow furrowing. He looked so much like his father it was eerie.
“Is everything ok, Mother?” From the tone of his voice, I knew he knew everything was in fact not okay.
I forced a smile on my face and prayed that my voice didn’t shake when I spoke. “We were just having a talk, son.” Atticus responded before I did.
He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead, “I meant everything I said.” he whispered before backing away from me.
AJ eyed his father suspiciously. His silver eyes going dark, a scowl molded his little face, he sneered at Atticus before facing me again. “I asked my mother. She can answer for herself.”
If the situation wasn’t so fucked up I would have laughed at the amount of bass in my seven-year-old son’s voice.
“I’m fine. AJ. We really are just talking.”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I spoke to Tank who stood a few feet behind them.
“Could you please take them to the car?”
He nodded and proceeded to do as I asked, but not before giving Atticus a disapproving look that would make most men cower.
Atticus was not most men, he smirked.
“We'll be right behind you all.” He spoke.
AJ hesitated to walk off, but when he did Atticus turned back to face me.
“Do we need to continue our conversation, Grace?”
I shook my head.
“No. I got the gist of what you already said.” I muttered when what I really wanted to do was try my best to pummel Atticus, but I didn’t want to risk AJ coming back and finding us fighting in an alley.
He nodded with a condescending look on his face. Then he held out his hand for me.
“Let’s go.”
His eyes dared me not to take it. I gnashed my teeth as I slid my hand into his.
Placing his free hand on my back, he ushered me toward the mouth of the alley.
“Fix your face, Grace. Wouldn’t want AJ to think anything is wrong, would you?” He taunted.
I took a deep inhale to calm myself before pasting a fake smile on my face.
“Good girl.” Atticus continued being an asshole.
“Fuck you, trailer trash.” I mumbled under my breath. I couldn’t help myself. I wanted my words to sting.
He gave me a sidelong glance. His lips twitched into a slight smile. The first genuine one I had seen in a while. It was forbidding
“By the way, the birth control Sophia gave you, they are all placebos after that first pill.”