Free Resignation by Missy Jane Page A

on the
bed. Before he could move toward her a hand fell on his shoulder, pulling him
violently away. He fell back against a wall as Sol placed himself between Marc
and the bed.
    “You.”
    The venom in Marc’s voice made her shiver, but the tension
in Sol’s stance calmed her fear. She wanted to burst into tears of relief, but
fought to remain silent until this was over.
    “What the hell are you doing here, Marc? You aren’t welcome
here anymore,” Sol replied quietly.
    Marc’s out-of-place laugh sounded bitter and angry. She
wanted to cry at the strange sound coming from the man she thought she knew so
well.
    “That isn’t for you to say, security guard. Oh wait, you’re
not even that anymore are you?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. There’s always a job waiting for men who
are hard-working and…honest.”
    Marc chuckled and tightened his hands into fists.
    “I don’t know what you think you heard, security man, but
what’s going on between me and Darina is none of your business.”
    “There’s nothing between us—”
    “Shut up, Darina. You don’t know what you’re saying. As soon
as I get this garbage out of here we’ll straighten things out between us,
sweetheart. I promise.”
    “You sure are good at making promises aren’t you, Marc? Just
really bad at keeping them.”
    All eyes turned to the new voice in the room, just as
Heather walked through the door.
     
    Sol’s anger receded slightly as Marc seemed to realize what
was happening. Heather had heard everything, just as she’d heard everything
from Sol’s phone while they stood in her office. He’d been trying to get his
job back when Darina’s call came through. Heather had been more than willing to
listen in when he told her what was happening on the other end.
    “Heather, honey, what are you doing here?” Marc asked in a
shaky voice.
    The look she gave him should have made him burst into flame.
He simply paled and took a step back, looking down at himself as if suddenly
realizing the picture he presented. Sol was furious, but his main concern was
for Darina. He glanced behind him to find her still on the bed, watching Marc
warily.
    “You need to leave,” he said to Marc.
    Marc looked as if he might argue until Heather abruptly
walked out the door. Then he immediately grabbed his shirt, shoes and belt and
followed her. Sol walked out of the room to make certain they left and found
Heather holding the front door open with Marc already walking through it. She
looked at Sol and he noted the pain in her eyes. For a heartbeat he pitied her,
but then he remembered that same pain in Darina’s eyes at Heather’s hand and
felt a grim satisfaction.
    Karma is a bitch.
    “You’ll be expected back at work next week, Sol. Enjoy your
vacation.”
    He raised an eyebrow but said nothing as Heather followed
Marc out the door, closing it quietly behind her.
    He took a deep breath and ran his hands over his face,
trying to calm his nerves before facing Darina. He locked the door and slowly
walked back toward the bedroom. He couldn’t imagine what was going through her
head right now, but the last thing he wanted was to scare her further.
    I should’ve fucking hit him.
    “Sol?”
    He cringed at the wary, pain-filled voice coming from the
bedroom, more whimper than anything. Her uncertainty had him rushing back to
her side.
    “I’m here. I’m here.”
    He reached for her and she flung herself into his arms,
nearly making him stagger as she gripped him tightly. He held her shaking body
and sat on the bed, positioning her in his lap like a child as he cradled her
to his chest. She was sobbing violently and it angered him all over again.
    I should’ve fucking hit him repeatedly.
    “Oh, kitten, don’t cry. I swear I’ll never let him near you
again.”
    “I’m s-sorry. I didn’t know he had a key. I swear I didn’t
let him in, I swear—”
    “Oh, baby, you think I blame you?” He pulled back just far
enough to look into her tear-filled eyes as