Free Judas by Chandler Lacey-Payne Page A

He would die to protect her from that. He wished at that moment he could go to her, as he had Leanna but the fear of repeating the past had been crippling.
     
    Leanna was strong and brave, and she had given up everything for him. There were times she would have to sit inside for weeks in order to keep his secret, but never Adessa. He couldn't bear the thought of putting her through all of that. His mind was numb and all he knew was that everything he did until this was finished would be to protect her and their life together. No matter what his mother thought, Adessa was the sweetest and most honest woman he had ever known and she was more than worthy of being his wife.
                  It was time. He couldn't let this continue. He crushed out another cigarette and went back inside.
    “I'm going out, doll.” he informed her.
    “Out? On a week night? With who?” she asked, confused and disappointed.
    “I won't be gone long, maybe a few hours” he promised her.
    “I can't come along?” she asked, hurt.
    “Maybe, another time. I need to do this alone.”
    “This? What do you mean, THIS?”
    “Goodbye, doll.”
    With that, he grabbed his jacket and strode to the door, leaving her sitting on the sofa in disbelief. He didn't look back and she knew not to chase him.
     
                  Out. He was going out. No destination, no explanation, just out. She sat there staring into space, half in shock, wondering what she should do. Going after him wasn't an option, because she knew wherever he went, he didn't want to be found. Besides, she wouldn't even know where to begin to look. She didn't know of any friends he would go visit and he didn't have a night life that she knew of. God this is stupid, she thought. She was worried about a grown man, and one who had told her he didn't want her with him. Her pain began to twist into anger as her tears began to flow freely.
                  She finally got the energy to drag herself upstairs. She should have known that something was wrong when he hadn't touched her the whole time his parents were here. She told herself that it was because he was uncomfortable having them in such a close vicinity but deep down, she felt that something was off. He seemed to have no emotion left at all by the time they went home and her mind wandered back to the two times he had snapped at her. The past couple of days had been a nightmare for her but he hadn't even bothered to notice.
                  She stood staring out the window at the darkness, as if at any moment his headlights would appear down the long drive. The night was still and somewhat eery. The only movement she could see beneath glow of the full moon was a small animal as it scurried across the lawn. She finally heaved a heavy sigh and gave up. She just hoped he was home and safe by morning.
     
                  It was after four o'clock when he returned, exhausted and reeking of sex. He was missing his shirt and there were visible, stinging claw marks that raced down his face and chest. He slipped his boots off and before he finished emptying his pockets onto the night table, her pale blue eyes were on him. He slipped out of his jeans and crawled in beside her without a word. Mistake.
              She instantly leaped from the bed with blazing anger that distorted her beautiful face. "Shower!" she wailed as fresh, hot tears welled in her eyes. He sighed heavily, knowing there was no chance of denying what he had done, but he was in no mood to argue with her about it and it wouldn't change anything regardless. She stood glaring at him as he slipped out of their bed and disappeared into the gray and black striped bathroom. She angrily ripped the linens off of the mattress and stormed down to the laundry room to get fresh ones and when he returned, the bed was covered in clean, white sheets.
              “What the hell happened, Judas?” she