Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
Celeste’s POV
The stench of alcohol slammed into me as Damien staggered on my mother’s front porch.
“What are you doing here so late?” My nose twitched with disgust. “And why do you reek of alcohol?”
“Come back home, Celeste.” He slurred.
I shook my head. “You’re drunk out of your mind. Go home
On unsteady feet, he stepped forward and stretched his arms wide.
Did he seriously expect me to hug him?
I slammed the door closed, but he was too quick. He wedged his shoulder through the doorway. I could smell the brandy on his breath as I pushed against the door to keep him from barging all the way in.
It was revolting.
“Celeste, sweet cheeks, please let me in, hmm?” He murmured. “I miss you.”
He hadn’t called me that since we got married. It made my stomach turn.
“Damien, my mother is sleeping.” I hissed. “I don’t want to disturb her.”
His tone flipped in an instant.
“You don’t want to say no to me tonight.”
Fear crept in. I glanced at the half–moon table just inside the entryway as he wriggled the door open another inch/
Up close, I could see his eyes were clouded with drunkenness. If he’d behaved so aggressively when he saw me dancing at the bar, how would he behave drunk?
Then a chilling question entered my mind.
“Damien,” I asked carefully. “How did you know I was visiting my mother today? And how did you know I was at The Barrel?”
His manic laughter rang in my ears.
My mouth ran dry. We were so close, both pushing on the door, but with each passing minute, he gained an inch.
“Don’t you know who I am? Nothing and no one can get away from me.” He bared his teeth and growled. “Not my wife. Not my car.”
His car?
The hairs on my neck stood on end. Damien had a GPS tracker installed in my car when we got married, in case it was stolen. He’d been using it to watch my every move all this time.
I had never felt more violated in my life.
“You should leave. Now.” My voice was hard. “Before I call the police.”
His nostrils flared.
Then he lunged forward, flinging the door open, and sending me sprawling on the floor with a yelp. I scrambled to the table, ripping the draw open. Damien’s steps pounded as he staggered after me.
1/3
425 BOWS
Chapter Eighteen
My fingers closed around the stun baton.
A shadow fell over me as my ex husband blocked the porch light. I pressed the stun baton into his leg. His body stiffened, and he groaned in pain, slumping to the floor when I released him.
I stood up and took a deep breath as slight tremors ran through my body.
“Celeste? What’s going on?”
I turned to see my mother tying her robe as she walked down the passage. I stepped aside so she could see the unconscious man on the floor.
A hand flew to her mouth.
“Don’t tell me that’s Damien?”
I nodded.
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.
“What is that good–for–nothing bastard doing here at this ungodly hour?”
I chuckled wryly.
“He was begging me to take him back. I think he’s lost his actual mind.”
“Or maybe he’s finally realizing what a fool he was.” She huffed.
I looked at his crumpled form.
“Well, whatever it was, I handled it. Sorry for waking you, mom.”
“He’s lucky I didn’t wake up sooner.” She raised a fist. “I would have beaten the living crap out of him.”
“Extremely lucky.” I said, erupting into genuine laughter.
Damien groaned and stirred on the entryway floor. Before I could blink, my mother had nicked the stun baton from my hand and shoved it into his back. As he convulsed on the floor, she smiled wickedly.
“Okay, mom. It’s enough now.”
She huffed before releasing him. I eyed her as I took the stun baton and stowed it back in the drawer.
“We can’t keep tasering him all night.” I said. “Go back to bed. I’ll sort it out.”
“But-” she protested.
“No, mom,” I said, leading her back to her room. “If you stay, you’ll probably burn him to a crisp.”
She deadpanned. “Don’t tempt me, dear.”
I opened her door and nudged her into her bedroom.
“Go to sleep, mom. I’ll call you if I need help.”
She looked at me with endearing warmth before giving me a hug.
“I’m so proud of you for leaving him. That was the best decision you’ve made.”
I squeezed her back. “Thanks, mom.”
2/3
+25 BONUS
Chapter Eighteen
returned to the entryway and sighed. Damien was a bulky than with broad shoulders and thick limbs. Moving him was going to be a nightmare.
But I couldn’t have him waking up and barging in again.
Taking a deep breath, I held his legs and pulled his limp body towards the door. I smiled with glee. He was going to feel every bump I dragged him over tomorrow.
Sweat covered my body by the time I had him sprawled out on the front lawn.
Panting, I fetched my phone; Grace would want pictures. After snapping a few, I begrudgingly dialled the last person on earth I wanted to speak to.
The phone rang for a couple of minutes. Just as I was about to end the call, the line went through.
I took a breath to steady myself.
“Hello, Vanessa.” My voice was clipped. “Come pick up your man.”
