Grabbing it, I tap the screen. It comes to life, but there’s a password. No problem since I know it. Four-six-three-six. I type it in, but it’s wrong. What the hell! I type it in again, but it’s still wrong. I saw her type it in myself. This has to be right. The phone prompts I only have one try left before it locks.
I hear the garage opening back up. Damn it! She must’ve realized she forgot her phone. What do I do? Then it hits me. I bring up the passcode screen and hit the emergency button. The car door slams closed as the call connects.
“What is your emergency?”
I run with the phone in one hand and Zoe in the other to hide in another room. “My name is Talia Demetriou and I need you to—”
Before I can finish my sentence, my head is yanked back and the phone is snatched from my hand. “You bitch!” Selene yells. She raises her hand to slap me, but I duck. Zoe is now screaming bloody murder, and I’m running to get away from Selene so she doesn’t inadvertently hurt my daughter. I make it into Zoe’s room and slam the door just before Selene can touch either of us.
The door doesn’t lock, so with my weight against the door, I grab the rocking chair and wedge it under the doorknob so Selene can’t get in. Once I know we’re safe, I make Zoe a bottle and feed it to her. She calms down right away, and once she’s full, falls asleep in my arms.
Since there’s no way I’m going back out there until Aris gets home, I use the time to go over my list. Stealing Selene’s cell phone wasn’t my original plan anyway. I just saw it on the counter and figured it was worth a try. Pulling the small diaper bag out from under my bed, I double-check everything I’ve accumulated over the last several months. Formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, clothes for Zoe and me, three knives, over two hundred euros. Reaching into my pocket, I add the spare keys I stole to Aris’s SUV. Selene and Aris will be so focused on me trying to steal her phone, they won’t even think about the fact my entire purpose was to steal his keys.
Not wanting to risk the bag being seen, I shove it back under the bed. While Zoe naps, I read a book, and once she wakes up, I spend the rest of the day playing with her in her room. It isn’t until I hear Aris’s voice on the other side of the door, I move the chair and open the door.
“I heard you’ve been busy today,” he says, eyeing me with annoyance.
“I was scared for my life,” I cry out. “Selene is psycho, Aris. The only reason I tried to call the police was because I was scared.” Tears prick my eyes, but Aris just rolls his.
“Stop your shit, Talia. Your little stunt today was stupid on your part.” Aris smirks. “Want to know why?” I don’t bother to answer. I know he’ll tell me. “Since I now have to worry about you trying shit, I had to give Selene a gun.” Jesus fucking Christ. Is he serious?
“If you try anything, she’s been told not to hesitate.” Aris steps forward and grabs ahold of my ponytail, jerking my head up to look him in the eyes. “I don’t give a shit if you live or die, Talia,” he hisses. “The only reason I keep you around is so you can take care of Zoe. You’re her mother and I didn’t want to take you from her. But if you’re going to become a problem…” He lets his sentence linger, releasing my hair. “Now, dinner is ready. Let’s try to have a good night. I’ve had a long day at work. My brother has become a raging alcoholic and I’m now having to do both of our jobs.” Aris rolls his eyes then walks out of the room.
Kostas has become an alcoholic… My heart squeezes in my chest at the thought of what he’s been going through this last year. It’s hard to believe anything that comes out of Aris’s mouth. I knew the night he raped me, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but I had no idea just how deadly of a bite he had until the day I was taken.
I’m sitting in the auditorium, waiting for rehearsal to begin. I’ve only been here for a few minutes, but I want to go home. When I left this morning, Kostas and I were fighting. I know part of it is my fault. I’m overemotional and haven’t told him why yet. Mostly because I’m scared of how he’s going to react. But it’s also his fault because he’s so damn jealous. I have to kiss Macbeth in the play and I know Kostas is going to kill him if I do, which means I’m going to have to either tell my professor I can’t play the role as Lady Macbeth or figure out a way to fake-kiss my partner, so my husband doesn’t rip his heart from his chest. I want to be mad at him for being such a possessive asshole, but then he sends me a sweet text and I turn into a pile of mush.
Kostas: I miss you even when you piss me the fuck off.
Okay, well, sweet for Kostas… It’s crazy to think how quickly he’s become my entire world, and not because I was forced to marry him, but because I love him. The problem is, while I’m not sure if Kostas loves me back, I do know he wants to own and possess every part of me. At this rate, there is going to be no me without Kostas, and I’m scared of what will happen when I can’t put him first. When I can’t give him all of me. Will he still want me? Will what I can give him be enough? Or will he do what my father did and stray? The thought has me wanting to throw up.
“You are going to make the craziest Lady Macbeth,” Penelope says, sitting next to me. When I glance up at her, she frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not,” she insists. “You’re crying.” She reaches over and swipes a tear off my cheek I didn’t realize was there. “Talk to me.”
As if the dam that was holding back my flood of emotions caves, I let out every thought and feeling without holding back. Penelope wraps her arms around me and listens as I pour my heart out to her. She doesn’t say anything the entire time as I tell her about everything I’m feeling and how much I miss my home and my family, especially my mom. When I’m done, she hugs me tightly.
“What is it that will make you okay right now?” she asks.
After a moment of thinking about her question, I say, “I-I think…” I hiccup through my sobs. “I think I really just want my mom.” We both break out into a fit of giggles at how much of a child I sound like in this moment.
“Moms do make everything better,” Penelope agrees.
I stand and wipe the tears from my face. “I’m going to go use the restroom and wash my face. Thank you for listening. Honestly, I think I just needed a good cry.” I choke out another laugh and Penelope joins in.
Grabbing my purse, I throw my phone into it and walk through the side stage doors that lead to the bathroom. Setting my purse down on the sink, I wet a paper towel and wipe under my eyes until I no longer look like a raccoon.
Leaving my purse on the sink, I head into the first stall to go pee. I hear the bathroom door open and then a masculine voice yells, “Talia! You in here?” Aris? What the hell is he doing in here?
I swing open the door and find him standing in front of the door.
“We need to go now.”
“What? Why?” I’m so confused.
He grabs my arm and yanks me from the stall and out of the bathroom. “I’ll explain once we’re in the car. Kostas sent me to get you. There’s been a threat and he needs to know you’re safe.”