They drove in silence for roughly ten minutes before Derek eventually said, “You going to tell me what the fuck that was all about? Who was that freak?”
“None of your business,” Adette snapped sharply.
“Hey, look here, my lip hurts like a bitch right now and I’m confused as fuck. I thought he was gonna rape you or some shit. Am I not at least owed an explanation?”
Adette glanced at him and sighed, biting her lip guiltily. “I’m driving right now. Can I tell you later?”
“Yeah, just so long as you do actually tell me.”
When they had got home and were sitting in front of each other, both sipping cups of tea, Adette took a deep breath and began.
“Kevin is my ex. He was sweet at first… he supported me. But then he got kind of obsessive and scary. He’d get angry at the slightest things and sometimes even hit me. So, I broke it off and moved house. Recently, he found my phone number; I don’t know how, but he did.” Her voice was starting to shake as she continued, “And the scariest part is he somehow knew I was at the carnival. I have a feeling it won’t be long before he knows where I live.”
Derek watched her, his expression uncharacteristically gentle and sympathetic. “Why didn’t you call the police or something?”
“They won’t help me. They said he’s not a threat.”
Derek’s eyes flared with anger as he sharply stood up. “Not a threat? Not a damn threat? If I hadn’t been there today, we would’ve seen just how much of a threat he was. The police are fucking useless gits.”
His gaze rested on Adette and he realized her eyes swam with tears. “Hey,” he said softly, “None of that, okay?”
He sat down next to her and held her. “Don’t cry.”
Adette sniffed. She was trembling. “You ain’t got nothin’ to be afraid of anymore. I won’t let him hurt you.”
She looked up at him with big, glimmering green eyes. “Promise?”
Derek felt a softness he’d never felt before swell in his heart. “Promise.”
