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Leah’s hand treht she’d drop the phone “He’s found me He’s in my room”
“Who’s found you, ma’am?”
Unconcerned, Philip rested his hand on the hilt of the knife
“My husband Philip Lati to kill me”
How long would it take for the cops to arrive? Fivewould it take for him to cross the room and stab her? Seconds
“How do you know he’ll kill you?” The operator’s voice was flat, emotionless
“He’s in my bedroom He has a knife”
Philip knew exactly how long it took the cops to respond He was a cop Saving people like her was his job
“What’s your name?”
“Leah Carson Leah Lati she’d be dead before they arrived
“I’ll send a car,” the operator said “Stay on the line”
The words were cold comfort Philip had broken the protective order He didn’t care about an arrest or his career He’d crossed an invisible line, knowing his decision was a one-way trip His only goal noas to kill her while she could see it all happen
Tears filled Leah’s eyes as he slid the knife fro in the ht
He moved toward the bed, slowly and unhurried He’d slicked back his thick, blond hair froled face, now hardened with purpose Once, she’d considered his face handsome Once, she’d looked into those vivid blue eyes and seen love Once, he’d made her feel protected
“You’re so beautiful” His deep voice was smooth, silky, as if they’d bumped into each other on a street corner on a sunny afternoon He sht air and whiskey
During their e, she’d learned to fear hi but when he was cool and controlled “Philip, what do you want?”
“I’ve been telling you for weeks But you won’t listen I want you back home with me”
With deliberate slowness, she pulled the covers over the T-shirt that strained against the outline of her breasts “Philip How’d you get in here?”
Keep hi Buy time How much time did she need? She’d timed the route once or twice Without traffic, it took ten minutes
Those long, callused fingers slid up the blade to the tip “I’veabout you”
“Philip, you shouldn’t be here” The evenness in her voice belied her fingers tightening into a white-knuckled grip on the comforter
His thumb circled the knife’s hilt “Why not? You’reanniversary”
Twelve ed vows “You need to leave”
“And if I don’t? What’re you going to do?”
“The cops are co”
He traced the knife tip over the co the ice-blue fabric “I don’t care”
“Philip Just go Get ahile you still can”
He raised the blade to his thue Criainst the bedsheet “You were so pretty on our wedding day Such a beautiful white dress You carried those pretty
purple flowers What were they called? Irises?”
“Just leave me alone, Philip Go away I don’t want to see you arrested It will ruin your career” Her pulse thruainst the soft skin of her neck
“Until death do us part, Leah I promised And so did you”
Keep talking “You love your job You’re a good cop Respected”
“Without you, itYou’reorders and cops can’t keep us apart”
Chin raised, tears pooled and spilled Stall Buy tiue, readied for declaration when the truth stubbornly elbowed past “We’re over, Philip I’ back to you”
He traced his hand over her leg, rough calluses on s, she flinched and rolled her leg away Gaze darkening, he clenched the blankets in his large hand An onyx pinky ring ht before he yanked the covering off the bed She was helpless, wearing only gys Goose bumps puckered