Page 12 of Scarred Temptation

“You’re right, my sweet angel.” Nodding, I took a step backward, fighting the urge to find out if I was right. Every muscle remained tense while my mind processed what I’d seen. Uncertain it had been anything, I turned away, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

But before we made it back to the house, I glanced over my shoulder one more time and made a silent promise to the woman I adored.

No man or monster would dare try to take her away from me.

If they did, they would die.

CHAPTER 3

Isabel

Four months earlier…

Anger.

Frustration.

Even hatred.

I was fed up, completely finished with dealing with him, and for once, I felt damn good about the state my mind was in.

“Get out. Now.”

“What?” Steve looked horrified, acting shocked that I would dare toss him out of my apartment. Mine.

“You heard me. I don’t think I really need to repeat myself.” He was many things, but hard of hearing wasn’t one of them. Several other afflictions came to mind, although those were ones he’d brag about with his buddies when given the chance.

He stared at me while his body slowly turned rigid, fury seeping through his usually polished exterior. “Don’t do that, baby. You know I love you. You’re my girl.”

“Bullshit. You only love yourself. And I am most certainly not your girl. You’ve proven that time and time again.”

“Ah, baby. That’s not true. Is this about last night?”

Even before Steve reached for me, I moved far enough away he couldn’t grab my arm as he would normally do. Usually hard enough to cause me pain. “It’s about last night and the night before, the week before that and the entire duration of our toxic relationship. And don’t call me baby. Not ever again. I packed your things for you so you didn’t need to do so.”

Nodding toward the bag on the floor, I was grateful he’d only brought a few things to my apartment.

“What’s wrong with you today?” At least as his attitude changed, becoming surly as I’d grown accustomed to, I was fortified in my decision.

“What’s wrong with me?” My laugh likely sounded insane.

Steve dared shift his gaze all the way down my body, mentally criticizing me as usual. Well, his abusive tactics weren’t going to work any longer.

While I’d prepared myself for his reaction, I still couldn’t believe he had the nerve to ask me something so ridiculous. Yet the puppy dog look on his face was the one he’d used a hundred times before and I’d given in every single time. No longer. “We’ve been doing this dance for two years, Steve. Two years of you being unable to keep a job while blaming everyone else. Two years of asking me for money as a loan, which you’ve never repaid. Two years of me hoping that all the promises made would be kept.”

Almost two years of suspecting his infidelity.

Two years wasted.

I had no one to blame but myself. I was a talented, intelligent woman who’d allowed a man to control not only her emotions but a portion of her bank account. The man was a classic grifter.

“You know how hard I’ve tried to find work. You’re really going to toss me out when I just got fired?”

All I could do was laugh at that point, his whining turning my stomach. “You were fired because you were sleeping with the boss’s daughter.” I lifted my eyebrow, allowing myself to smile while waiting to see which excuse he’d use this time. More shock and denial.

Wow. He didn’t think I knew why he hid his phone or came home late when he had been working.

“His eighteen-year-old daughter, I will add. Barely eighteen.” I don’t know why I bothered. The concept meant nothing to him. This time it hurt. But at this point, I only had myself to blame,