The Book of Rook

Chapter 33

ROOK

Leaving Bishop's house like I'm being chased by the devil himself, I run to the subway while calling Phoenix who isn't picking up her phone.

I practically rip open the door to my penthouse complex and push the elevator button. Felix isn't at his post, but I don't have time to think about that. I jump in. The elevator is ascending at a snail's pace. It takes me three tries to punch in the code to get to the penthouse. Can't stop shaking. I need to tell Phoenix everything. She can't divorce me. I won't let that happen.

I open the door to chaos. What the fuck? Furniture toppled over and bloody handprints everywhere. I yell for Phoenix with no answer. Taking a step into the penthouse, my shoes crush glass on the floor. I run around the house calling for Phoenix. I'm trying not to panic but I feel my stomach turning. I go to our bedroom and see her clothes are still in the closet so she hasn't left me yet. I can't tell if anything is missing. If I was robbed, the door would have been busted but it wasn't.

Reaching for my phone to check the surveillance cameras , it rings. Phoenix. I actually fall on the sofa when I hear her voice. The relief literally knocks me down. Her voice sounds off. When she tells me what happened, my hand grips the phone so tight, I'm surprised it doesn't break.

That motherfucker threatened my Phoenix with a fucking gun. I'll kill him with my bare hands. I've never felt such rage in my life, all I see is red. Hearing me go off the rails isn't what Phoenix needs right now. I take a steady breath to calm down. I need to take some control of this situation. Knowing she's safe, I call my police officer friend Dani Sabian. I had a few run ins with her during my wild years. She was pretty chill and I consider her a friend.

She answers on the second ring and assures me she'll bring Phoenix home safe.

I pace the kitchen when I see papers scattered on the floor. I gather them up and read them. Divorce papers. Are you fucking kidding me? Seeing them in my hand makes it feel too real. She was going to leave me. I run my fingers through my hair as I read every page. She's asking for nothing, just a clean split. This is the second time I want to throw up today. The first was when I walked in.

Well here's my answer to these papers, Mrs. Raines. I take each page and tear it into tiny pieces. It'll be a cold day in hell before I give her a divorce. After the fucking scare I just had, I know without a doubt, I need her in my life. I love her and I'm gonna tell her that the minute I see her walk through that door. I tuck the scraps of paper back in the envelope and throw it on the side table.

Finally after what felt like forever but was probably 15 minutes, the front door opens and in walks my wife. All the things I wanted to say go out the window. Relief engulfs me. As if on autopilot, I grab her and pull her into my embrace. Squeezing her tight, trying to absorb her into me. This is where she's staying. This is where she belongs.

Dani clears her throat. "I guess I need to make a report about this." She gestures to the chaos.

I look over Phoenix's head and just nod. I swallow past the lump in my throat. "Thanks Dani. I appreciate this."

"This is out of my jurisdiction, but I can make a call to another officer who can take the report." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone. "Hey Mad Dog, I have a B&E for ya."

She walks out of hearing range as I finally release Phoenix. Shit she looks like she was in a fight with Mike Tyson. I gently hold her face in my hands as I assess the damage. Bloody lip, a bruise on her cheek and a cut under her chin. The rage I felt before comes back tenfold. When I get my hands on that little pencil dick, I'll rip him apart. Slowly, painfully. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" I force myself to ask with a calm voice.