Retaliation

Chapter Nine

Greg and I got dressed and headed over to Paula's home or as we should say.. "hide-out".

Greg pulled up in the driveway beside Paula's car and cut the engine off.

"You ready?" He asked.

I nodded.

We stepped out the car and walked up to the front door. Greg took the first step and knocked on the door.

No answer.

He knocked again.

Nothing.

After knocking for the third time, Greg took out the key Shawn gave him and unlocked the door.

He decided to step in first just in case Paula came out strapped.

When we entered on sight, let me just say the interior was gorgeous but besides that catching your attention, what really let us know Paula was still heated was the stereo blasting her anthem of the moment throughout every speaker in the house.. Kelly Price's Friend of Mine.

Greg and I proceeded in. I looked around the house as I saw Greg hold up two empty bottles of Henessy that were on the counter.

"Im going to look upstairs." I informed him from the steps.

He nodded.

I walked up the stairs slowly. I knew I should've asked Greg to follow me but I figured it was better to go byself. I mean for all we knew she could be completly naked and Greg didnt need to see that. Shit if it was me thats what I would do.

I stepped lightly up the last step and walked into the master bedroom. By the looks of things.. I could tell Whitney Houston where the broken hearts went, cause baby, it damn sure was one in here.

I saw Paula's phone on the tv stand and picked it up. The screen read over a hundred unread emails and more than fifty missed calls and texts. I placed it back in the postion I found it and kept looking for Paula. I passed the bathroom.. empty. Of course the bed was empty and so was the closet. I noticed the cracked patio door and walked to it. I slid the door back slowly and stepped out.

I looked to my left and then to the right to see Paula sitting in the patio chair. I walked over to Paula slowly as she sat on the lounge chair passed out. The moment I reached her, her lips parted to speak.

"How did you find me?"

I didnt answer her question.

"Doesn't matter.. I'm here now."

She opened her eyes and turned her head so that she was staring at me.

"Just leave me here. My life is nothing."

"Thats not true Paula."

She didnt respond.

"C'mon lets go inside." I said to her.

Paula turned her head to look back out in the distance.

"Paula. Please."

She didnt respond.

"Paula honey. Listen to me. If anybody knows how you feel its me. I get it baby. I really do but we cant sit here and wottle in our tears. We can stay down for awhile. We can cry or scream it out. We can do whatever we need to do but we cant stay here."

Paula turned her head to me.

"My heart hurts Jeana. My soul aches. I feel empty and .. and unworthy.. unwanted. I'm just sitting here and Im thinking.. what did I do wrong? Why did this happen to me? I was a good wife! A damn good wife! I didnt doubt him! I supported that man. I listened and cared for that man! How could he do this to me?" Paula said as she turned her hurt into anger in the blink of an eye.