Page 12 of Malice
“I’ll be getting copies of the security footage, but I think I need to hear more about this assault the other day.” Warrington flipped to a new page in his notebook and took notes as Malice gave his accounting of what he’d seen, though he left out the part where he threatened to kill the asswipe who’d laid his hands on a woman who had already told him to leave her alone.
They spent more than an hour answering questions, then even longer waiting while her car was fingerprinted and processed.
By the time all the police and techs had left, Bonnie looked like she’d run a marathon and Malice felt close. “There’s nothing you can do here right now. And it’s obvious now that your ex knows where you live. I don’t like you staying here alone. Why don’t you go up to your place and pack a bag to last you a couple days, maybe as long as a week and I’ll take you out to the ranch.”
“I can’t do that. I can’t put you out like that. Besides, how would I get into town for work?”
“You can bring my pickup in. and It’s not putting me out. I just got a place of my own. It’s not much, but it’s safe. And I won’t be the only one around. There’s a least a half dozen men who would love to do a little pounding on Phillip if he dares to show his face out there.”
She started to protest, but before she could actually speak, he continued.
“And just so you don’t think I’m trying to talk you out where there are a bunch of men to take advantage of you, there are several women too. The ranch owner and a couple of the other men have their old ladies out on the ranch.”
She took a deep breath and let her cheeks puff out as she exhaled. “I’m not sure where to even start with that.”
“Just pick something, we can talk about anything you’d like. Do you want to go up to your apartment to talk or out some where public? I want you to feel safe.”
She stared at him for a moment as if her brain was still processing what he’d said. He couldn’t blame her. She’d had a lot thrown at her this morning, and if it had been him, there wasn’t enough caffeine on earth to make it easy to process.
She tilted her head and watched him a moment longer. “You make me feel safe. Let’s go upstairs.” She turned and led him not to an elevator, but to a stairway in one corner of the small room, then up.
Malice had a hard time not watching the way her ass swayed with each step, despite how his palms itched with the desire to grab those sweet, rounded cheeks and squeeze. No. she was dealing with enough. She didn’t need another randy asshole pawing at her. Not now.
By the time they reached the third floor Malice was feeling a little out of breath, not enough most would notice it but enough he knew he’d been slacking on his endurance. Too much time on horseback or in a pickup. He would have to make a point to run more, when he could. He waited while she unlocked the door and stepped inside, following her as she held the door for him.
Inside he stood to one side, taking in the place. It was small but cozy. A blanket over the back of the sofa where it looked like she curled up to watch TV or spend her evenings, a tiny kitchen that only served to remind him of the big ranch kitchen where he ate every morning and realize how many people those meals took to cook and how much effort went into each meal.
“I like your place, it reminds me of you.” He smiled, trying to set her at ease.
“Thanks, come on in and have a seat.” She led him toward the sofa. “Can I get you some coffee?” She turned toward the tiny kitchen and set the travel mug she’d been holding all morning on the counter.
“Only if you’re making some for you. I don’t need it.”
“I am making me some. You might not need it, but I do.”
“Then do what will make you feel good. If you have something stronger you would like a drink of, feel free to do that too. You’ve had a rough couple of hours and when we leave, I’ll be driving so you don’t need to worry about that.”
She turned and stared at him a moment, tears pooling him her eyes before she blinked them away and turned back toward the one cup coffee maker and got busy. Once the coffee was started, she spun, leaned back against the bar, and sighed.
“I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to let him win. But I don’t feel safe here, not if I were to stay here alone and the last thing I want is for one of my neighbors to get hurt because they came across Phillip doing something to get to me and have him decide he doesn’t want a witness.” She looked away, toward the window on the wall behind him. “I feel like leaving is letting him win. Like I let him run me out of my home.”
“You need to stop that right now.” Malice couldn’t help the gruff tone as he spoke. “Stop thinking about what he might think or do. At least not the way you are. It might help if you look at it from a little bit different angle. A different perspective.”
“What perspective would that be?” She watched him with raised brows as if waiting for him to say something she hadn’t yet thought of.
“You’re looking at it from where you are right now, the person being stalked and harassed, as well as from a personal place, what you are feeling and how you perceive he is feeling based on how you think. I’m not saying that’s wrong,” he held up both hands as she started to protest, and continued, “but try to see it from outside the situation, at least a little. As someone who’s encountered behavior like his before I’ll tell you first off, he’s likely not thinking the things you think he is. He doesn’t see his behavior as wrong or over the top. No one who does this kind of thing does.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean nobody thinks of themselves as the bad guy. Even the most twisted, evil person out there thinks what they are doing is right and justified. It’s not like the cartoon villain rubbing his hands together and giggling while they plot what horrible thing they can do next. They all think what they are doing is normal.” Malice watched her think about that a moment. As the coffee pot behind her sputtered to a stop she turned and messed with it a moment, starting a second cup before bringing him the one that had just finished.
“Black right?”
“Yes, thanks.” He watched as she went back to the counter, pried the lid off the coffee cup she’d set down earlier and added sweetener and cream before dumping the second cup into it and turning back to him. She stared at him sipping from the mug but not speaking. He couldn’t help but wonder what was happening in her head.
10
BonniewatchedCoreyasshe sipped her coffee and tried to let what he’d said sink in.