He ran his hands over my past, lingering over the dents and worn edges of my heart and when I thought he'd run away like the others, he told that I was a warrior and I never had to face another battle alone.
-Alfa.

-

I was finally in my bed.

I can't remember the last time I was home long enough to take a nap but as I watched the sun rise, I morphed against my bed, allowing the beauty of sleep to take me. By the time I woke I was well rested and my afternoon felt a whole lot better with the knowledge that I had two days home from work.

Taking a quick shower, I pulled on the first dress I saw before heading downstairs to make a late lunch. My twin should be visiting his daughter since she was up and her physical therapy was due to start in another few days.

I was too lazy to cook actual food and instead settled on the quick makings of a sandwich and salad before settling in front of my tv. I was due to watch some re-runs of Criminal Minds and I threw open my windows before getting comfortable on the couch.

Barely an hour into my show and I had to get up to answer the door as someone viciously banged outside. Groaning, I placed my empty bowl on the coffee table as I headed over.

"Darcy?"

"We need to talk." Is all she says as she barges in. The expression on her face anything but happy.

Sure, come on in.

Closing the door behind her I patiently waited while she paced my living room, trying and failing each time to turn her thoughts into words. Finally she looks at me as I sat down and I stared at her, not in the least intimidated.

If Ms. T sent her instead of actually coming to me then she'd be sorely mistaken if she thought I'd just listen to her and come running along.

"David is abusing her."

"What?" I asked shocked, not expecting those to be the words coming out of her mouth and being unable to process them.

"Ms. T's husband, he's abusing her."

"How-"

"I saw it with my own eyes. After you left he came to her and said some pretty nasty things before-"

"You saw me?"

"Yes-"

"Did you hear what we were talking about?"

"That's besides the point. She's stuck in an abusive marriage and if anyone should understand that it should be you."

My response was shattered at her statement and I knew my eyebrows were etched into my hairline as I stared at her bold remark.

"I don't understand what you want me to do. I'm the last person you should be seeing, the police being the first."

"I would go to the police if Ms. T wasn't being such a hard ass but she's pretending that it never happened and if anyone can get through to her it'd be you."

"You said you were eveasdroping so you should know that we aren't on the same page right now."

"She'll listen to you. Trust me. All you have to do is go talk to her... please. She helps everyone else and now that the situation is reversed, she needs us to help her even if it's just to try to convince her to leave him."

"I don't know-"

"Just think about it please."

I nod, giving her half a smile that seemed to satisfy her before we headed to the door. My head was spinning with all kinds of scenarios and the last few weeks were on repeat as I thought back on our conversations.

Ms. T was being abused and I was shacking up with a girl this entire time... thinking that she just didn't want me. Groaning, I braced the closed door as I tried to clear my mind.

"Aren't you gonna go to her?"

My eyes flew open as I heard Austin's voice and I was shocked to see him standing in the living room wearing slacks and a matching grey jersey.

"Austin! What are you doing home? Aren't you supposed to be at the hospital?"

"Not until Tuesday."

He stops and cocks his head to the side, watching me intently. "You're still here."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Go talk to her."

"But I don't know where she is or what she's doing or even if she wants to see me."

"Go to the club and see if she's there, if not, call the young lady that was just here and ask for her home address. She's in an abusive relationship so her wanting or not wanting to see you shouldn't be an issue right now because she clearly isn't thinking straight."

"I... but."

"If you don't want to go alone, I'll go with you."

There was literally no way for me to back out and even though it seemed evil or unfair for me to not want to see her, it's not because I don't want to help, it's because I don't want to face her.

I felt like crap now that I knew what was actually going on and to know that she was enduring all this while I was shacking up with someone else made me feel even worse since I knew just how it felt to be avoided and not have anyone come to my rescue. It was lonely and horrible and everyday I wanted to die.

The only reason I didn't was because of my daughter. Ms. T didn't have anyone so who knew what her mind was like.

"Okay, let's go."

We both head out the door, taking his car to Black Panther and with every mile passed my heart felt heavier. I wanted to tell Austin to pull over at one time and at another, I just wanted us to turn around and go home. Instead, I decided to sit in silence and no sooner were we pulling up to the club.

Austin walked behind me as I got us in and up towards the sex club and I didn't miss his surprised and confused expression as we passed rooms filled with people making love, being dominated or being trained.

If the scenery didn't get to him, I knew the sounds would and it wasn't a shock when he cleared his throat time and time again as he grew uncomfortable.

"Come here often?" He joked and I rolled my eyes as we left the lower level and headed to Ms. T's private office.

Knocking first we waited for her invitation before I headed in, forcing my brother to stand out in the empty hall that was happily silent.

"Ms. T?" I called cautiously, spotting her sitting at her desk.

My mind instantly flashed to all the times she had me bent over or sprawled on top and I cleared my throat as she looked up.

Even though her face looked blank, she somehow looked sad but the second her eyes connected with mine, there was a momentary switch from sad to heated before going blank once more.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, her accent thicker than usual.

"Darcy came to see me and-"

"Lemme guess, she gave you some sob story about me being abused by David and how I wanted out of my marriage. Right?!"

"If he is hurting you-"

"Let me spare you the heartache. I love my husband, my husband loves me. And before you go all 'he's abusive' know that we run a BDSM club and people always say whatever they want to their subs."

"You're a sub?"

"I'm whatever I'm paid to be. Darcy should know that since I was hers."

I knew she only said that to hurt me. It couldn't have been true, right? Darcy was her employee and sleeping with your employees was like, against the rules.

"You don't believe me?" She asks, cutting into my thoughts. "Go ask her. She'll tell you I'm not lying."

"I-"

"Maybe you should have thought more about this before barging over here. She must obviously have been jealous or revengeful or whatever to have gone to you in hopes of breaking up my marriage but that didn't go as planned... Don't you think?"

She could lie all she wanted, but I wouldn't believe her. I'd played this game so many times with my own husband that I knew very well how to manipulate anyone into believing me. But I knew the signs to look for... and boy was she showing them. He must be really terrible for her to be this good at lying to protect herself and my blood boiled as anger took over me.

I go to tell her exactly what was on my mind but was interrupted when her so called husband walked in from another door. I only met him once before and unlike the first encounter when I thought he was okay, I now viewed him with pure hatred.

"Justine right?"

"You ungrateful, abusive piece of shit."