Free Hungry Heart: Part Two by Violet Haze Page B

loud crash from Nathan’s bedroom makes us both jump, and we both stare at each other wide-eyed. I’m the first to react, taking the steps two at a time while Benedict trails behind me, and once we’re both at the top of the steps, we walk as quietly as possible toward the bedroom. I’m glad for the soft carpet beneath my feet making it so no footsteps can be heard but it doesn’t help the roiling of my stomach as we inch closer.
    Benedict pulls out his phone and swipes across the screen under the dialer pops up. We’re halfway down the hall when I stop because the woman’s voice starts up again, and it’s clear I don’t know this woman, but I listen as they fight back and forth because I have no idea what’s going on in the slightest.
    “Why are you mad at me? You’re the lying sack of fucking shit here!”
    “I didn’t lie! How many times do I have to tell you that?”
    “No? What the hell are you doing living in this house? With that woman?”
    “I told you, Rox—”
    “I don’t fucking care for your excuses! Start explaining yourself now, or I’ll shoot you. I fucking swear I will!”
    “Baby, please, you know it’s complicated—”
    His term of endearment for me, directed at her, rips into my heart. Even in all the time he dated Rissa, I’ve never heard him call anyone baby except me.
    Yet it’s clear the woman doesn’t care what he calls her. She’s getting more hysterical by the moment as her voice continues to rise, and I wonder who she is, whether she really has a gun aimed at Nathan, and how they are connected. “No it’s not, not fucking complicated at all. I followed you here from the airport because I knew you were full of bullshit. You’re just pissed I found you; I told you I would, didn’t I? And so did my daddy. How dare you fucking leave me behind without even saying goodbye!”
    Benedict touches my arm and when I look up at him, he puts a finger to his mouth to indicate I should stay quiet and lifts his phone in the air. Taking a step back and then another, he disappears until I can barely see him around the corner and I realize he’s calling the police.
    For a brief moment I consider if I should just leave. It’s obvious Nathan hadn’t wanted me here, and maybe this is why. Maybe he knew this crazy person was going to show up and he hadn’t wanted me around it. But now I’m worried about him. How does he know her? Why did she say he left her behind? If she followed him from the airport, had she seen him with me? It’s clear she knows about me and Rissa so he must’ve told her? And most of all, if he’s in trouble and has been, why wouldn’t he tell me?
    Hearing the faintest sound of Benedict talking into the phone, I step closer to the door to listen once more to their arguing, more confused than I’ve ever been. But it’s not long before she answers at least one of my questions.
    “You said you were working, trying to keep us safe, but you were here, fucking two other women! How can you think I’ll ever trust you again?” He mutters something I can’t hear and she laughs with clear disbelief. “You’ve been gone four fucking years and when you finally come home it’s to tell me you want a divorce! After all we’ve been through? After all I’ve done for you…”
    I don’t know what she says after that because I back away from the door, horror at realizing Nathan’s lied to me all this time spreading through my whole body. Questions fly through my mind so fast I’m not even sure what I’m thinking and they mix with the feelings of betrayal and confusion and anger. I don’t understand what I just heard, it doesn’t mesh with the life I’ve had with Nathan, with our relationship.
    Two minutes. Five. In reality, I don’t know how much time passes, but when the sound of sirens finally registers in my ears, the question of whether or not she actually has a gun is answered.
    One shot is fired, followed quickly by another.
    My mouth drops open, but I