Page 41 of Dancing With Lies

Roxie didn’t scream, she had far too much control over herself in these kinds of situations to let him know how afraid she really was. She stared up into his crazy eyes, daring him to hit her.

“Fuck!” He screamed and picked up a glass snow-globe Wendy had bought her as a joke. He threw it at Roxie, but it smashed against the wall.

She ducked as the glass shattered but a piece of it sliced across her face. She felt hot blood rush from the wound, but she didn’t move.

“Roxie? What’s going on in here?”

Roxie looked up and her jaw went slack when she saw Lincoln. His eyes took her in, huddled against the wall, blood dripping down her face, and she could actually see the moment that rage cracked his control. He didn’t say another word, he just looked around the room until he saw Nathan and charged at him.

Roxie saw his fist fly, heard the sound of bone against bone, and heard the way Nathan screeched in pain. Nathan didn’t fight back though, too strung out to actually do anything but curl up in a ball.

Lincoln didn’t make any sounds at all as he continued to punch Nathan. He was completely quiet as he watched his fist smash against the other man’s face. Roxie knew he’d kill him if she didn’t do something, and she launched herself at the men.

“Lincoln, stop. Don’t kill him. You don’t deserve what will happen to you. Not for him. Stop. Please.” She leaned over Nathan, not to protect him but to protect Lincoln from the repercussions of beating the slimy bastard to death.

“Roxie?” Lincoln asked, his voice distant and confused.

“It’s okay. Let’s get out of here.”

“We’re done, Roxie, I’m through with you. You’re a fucking whore.” Nathan spit on her face as she got off him and she looked back with a laugh that felt as if it set her free.

“Oh really? Did you really think I’d take you back? I’ll be glad to never see you again you filthy bum.” She grabbed her bag from the floor where she dropped it and followed Lincoln downstairs. “Just a second, I want to do something first.”

Lincoln stood there, staring up her steps to make sure Nathan didn’t come down them.

“Hello, police? I’d like to report a break-in at my apartment.” Roxie waited, gave the police her address, and looked back up at Lincoln. “If he’s in jail, I’ll at least know you’ll get your money back.”

“If they don’t revoke his bail,” Lincoln said calmly, glancing at his knuckles. They were bleeding but he didn’t seem to care. “Not that I care. I wish you hadn’t stopped me, Roxie.”

Wendy came up before she could reply, concern etched on her face, and swamped Roxie in a hug. “What happened, why are you bleeding?”

“He threw that snow globe you bought me in my direction and it shattered against the wall.” Roxie brushed it off, but Lincoln broke in.

“He was about to take a knife to her, I made sure he didn’t,” Lincoln said, now standing guard at the stairs.

The police car that pulled up must have been close by, for a change. Roxie was glad to see them and told them what had happened. Both cops went up the stairs and knocked on the door before they walked in. A few moments later one of the cops came down with Nathan in handcuffs while the other one stopped in front of Roxie.

“He’s admitted he’s the one that tore your place apart. Do you want to press charges?”

“I do, yes.” Roxie stood tall, not afraid at all. Lincoln and Wendy were there with her, why would she be?

“You’ll have to come down to the station to file the paperwork,” one of the officers said and Roxie tried not to groan in frustration.

“I’ll take you,” Lincoln volunteered. Roxie looked over at him with grateful eyes.

“Thanks,” Roxie replied before she breathed a sigh of relief as the cops drove away with Nathan in the back of their car. “I guess I need to clean up once we get finished at the station.”

“Girl, you can’t stay up there,” Wendy said but Lincoln stepped in.

“Come stay with me, Roxie, like Wendy said, you can’t sleep up there tonight.”

“Go with Lincoln, Rox. I’ll get this cleaned up tomorrow and a contractor in to fix what can be fixed.” Wendy slowed, sad for her friend. “We can replace the furniture, that’s no big deal. I’m only glad you’re alright.”

“Me too.” Roxie breathed, relief a wave that made her knees weak. She sat down on the steps and looked over at Lincoln. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

“I wanted to get away from the party.” He said smoothly, a little too smoothly. Hmm.

“Too much fun for you huh? I should have set you and Wendy up, you’re both spoilsports. She snuck home early, too.” Roxie grinned at them both, but Wendy wasn’t letting her friend off so easily either.