His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Ten

Present day...

"He doesn't want to know." Louise complains angrily, speaking down the phone to me. "He's not interested and things are not working out like you said they would!"
"Calm down." I urge her, exhaling slowly. "I'll work on Chase. Give him a few days to let the news sink in and he'll be in touch."
"Why should I believe anything you say?" She snaps impatiently. "Why should I keep quiet about what you have planned when it's not even worked out for me?"
"Because we both want the same thing." I remind her impatiently. "You want Chase and I don't. If you wait just a little longer, you'll get everything you ever wanted and so will I."
"I really don't care about what you want." She replies scornfully. "You've never been good enough for him and he'll realise that soon enough. He won't want anything to do with you when he finds out how vindictive you really are."
"Goodbye, Louise. I'll be in touch." I tell her, hanging up the phone.
God, I hate speaking to her. I hate having anything to do with her and the fact I have to converse with her is draining. I keep telling myself that it won't be for much longer. I'll be free from her soon and I can't wait to put it all behind me and move on with my life.

It's been a week since Louise told Chase she was pregnant and a week since he came home drunk after he found out. I really thought he might open up to me that night and the smallest part of me was still willing to give him that chance but he blew it.
He's continued to lie to me over and over since his betrayal and that's just as hurtful as the betrayal itself. It's like I don't know him anymore. I don't recognise the man I've been living with or the man I spent the last few years planning my future with.

He's a complete stranger.

I promised my mum I'd pick up some groceries later this afternoon. I don't mind as it gives me an excuse to get out of the house and I need some fresh air to help clear my head.
Chase is at the gym again and I've noticed he's been spending even more time there than usual. I suspect it's because his guilt is finally getting to him and he's trying his best to avoid me.
He finds it difficult to give me eye contact now and he's even started sleeping with his back to me which is something he's never done before. He's slowly starting to unravel since Louise told him she was pregnant and it's obvious he's struggling to keep it together.

I count each of my footsteps on the way to the supermarket. It's something I've done since I was a little girl and it still brings me some sort of comfort when I'm feeling anxious.
I used to love being sent to the shop for a pint of milk or a chocolate bar if I was lucky. I'd use any excuse to get out of the house and away from my dad for half an hour. I used to count the steps on the way there and dread the ones I'd have to count on my way home.
I'm in the middle of counting them now, watching my feet hit the pavement one after another. I'm not looking where I'm going and suddenly collide with someone in front of me and we barge right into each other. I almost fall flat on my face but two arms reach out and save me, preventing my tumble.
"I'm so sorry!" He apologises sincerely, helping me steady myself. "Are you ok?"
I instantly recognise his voice and take a step back, inhaling sharply when I realise who it is.
"Finn?"
"April?" He whispers, shaking his head in disbelief.
"W-What are you doing here?" I stammer, stumbling over my words.
"Come here and give me a hug!" He exclaims happily, embracing me warmly.
"What are you doing here?" I persist, struggling to understand how he's standing in front of me.
"I'm just home for the weekend." He explains. "I'm visiting my mum who still lives around here."
"How is she?."
"She's doing great actually. How about yours?"
"She's really good. She went on holiday recently so she's pretty rested right now."
"And how about you?" He asks, staring down at me intently. "How are you doing?"
"I'm... I'm ok." I reply weakly, failing to convince him.
"What's wrong?" He inquires, a look of concern on his face.
"Seriously, I'm fine."
"April, I can read you like a book." He reminds me, raising his eyebrows at me. "Tell me what's wrong.
"It's just something to do with Chase." I reply vaguely. "I doubt you want to hear about it."
"You're actually still with that Neanderthal?" He asks incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Not for much longer." I blurt out, scolding myself for letting my secret slip.
"What happened?" Finn demands, a flash of anger in his eyes. "What did he do?"
"I found out he cheated on me." I reveal quietly, lowering my voice. "With Louise."
"Are you kidding me? How did you find out?"
"She told me herself. She has video evidence of the two of them together."
"That's sick." Finn asserts coldly, grimacing in disgust. "But then he always was twisted."
"I should have listened to you." I point out. "You always told me to stay away from him."
There's a drawn-out silence between us and the tension is palpable. Neither one of us knows what to say and it's incredibly uncomfortable.
"Do you want to get a cup of coffee or something? We can talk and have a proper catch up. It's been far too long since we last spent time together." He suggests kindly, hoping I'll say yes.
"That sounds great." I reply confidently, realising I have no reason to say no.

We choose a nearby coffee shop as I know it will be quiet at this time of day and there won't be much chance of us being spotted.
"Here's your hot chocolate." Finn laughs, placing my favourite drink down in front of me.
"Thanks."
"Are you still with Mia?" I ask him. "I heard you two had moved to London together."
"We split up about a year ago." He answers coolly, unfazed by my question.
"I'm sorry. You two seemed pretty solid." I admit, remembering how much Finn liked her when we were at school.
"I worshipped the ground she walked on but it wasn't enough. We both wanted different things in the end so decided to go our separate ways. It was all pretty amicable."
"That sounds sensible." I reply truthfully, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach.
"I was ready to start a family but she wasn't. I'm not sure it's what she wanted at all to be honest." Finn explains, taking a sip of his coffee.
"You're as bad as Chase. What is it with you guys wanting to settle down so early? We're only twenty-two!"
"Chase wants kids?" Finn asks, surprised by my revelation.
"He always has done." 
"And you don't?"
"I'm not sure. I certainly don't want them with him. Not anymore."
"Can't say I blame you. The guy is a maniac. I still can't believe you even started dating him, let alone move in with the guy after everything he put you through in school. It makes no sense to me."
"You... you never really knew the full story." I confess, clenching both my fists beneath the table.
"What is there to know? Nothing justifies the torment he put you through on a daily basis. I witnessed it with my own eyes, April. He's fucked up in the head."
I recall the numerous times that Finn would stand up for me against Chase, fearlessly taking him on even though it made him quite a few enemies in the process.
"Anyway, tell me something good." I urge him, eager to change the subject. "What are you working as? Where do you live now?"
"I'm a personal trainer and I absolutely love it. I'm actually in the middle of locating at the moment."
"Where to?" I ask, taking a sip of my hot chocolate.
"Back here. I'm moving home."
"You're moving back?" I splutter, thinking I must have misheard him.
"Yeah, I just got a new job. That's partly why I'm up here as I had my interview this morning."
"And you got it?"
"I got it." He laughs, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"That's great! Which gym will you be working at?"
He tells me the name of it and I inhale sharply, stunned to hear it's the same one that Chase goes to as well as where he works.
"What is it?" He asks, noticing the expression on my face.
"That's where Chase works." I murmur quietly. "He's a boxer."
"Great." Finn groans. "I had absolutely idea."
"Chase can't know that you're back in town." I warn him solemnly.
"He's going to find out soon enough if we both work in the same place." He points out, clearly irritated by the idea.
"He used to have a huge problem with us being friends." I remind him, worrying about how Chase is going to react.
"Chase had a huge problem with you being friends with anyone." He complains bitterly. "He terrified your best friend so badly that he had to leave school completely."
"I know that, Finn." I snap harshly, not wanting to be reminded.
"This is what doesn't make sense to me, April. You're a smart, intelligent, beautiful girl. What the hell are you doing with a low-life like him who made your life hell? I never understood it and I still don't. Please explain it to me." He begs, imploring me to tell the truth.
"I don't know if I can. It's complicated and you might not understand." I mumble, stumbling over my words.
"Try me."
"Not here."
"Then where?"
"I don't know but it's far too public in here and Chase will be wondering where I am if I don't get back."
"April, wait." He stops me, taking hold of my wrist. "Are you scared of him? If you are then I can help you but you need to trust me."
"I'm not afraid of him." I reply truthfully. "Chase would never hurt me. If anything, he's far too protective."
"He hurt you many times." Finn states sombrely. "I was there."
"But I never told you the reason why he was so hateful to me back then. You might not understand."
"Try me." He persists, refusing to give up.
"Finn, I really have to go."
"At least let me give you my number. I can't let you walk out of here without it."
He takes my phone and dials his own number, handing it back to me with a grin on his face.
"I'll try and be in touch when I get a chance but it's difficult at the moment." I explain hastily, glancing up and down the street as we leave the coffee shop.
"I want to hear from you, April. It's been  good catching up with you today."
"You too." I admit, my cheeks turning red as I start blushing. "I'll be in touch."
"You better." He chuckles, winking at me before he leaves.
I watch him walk away, chastising myself for my racing heartbeat as I head in the opposite direction.

What the hell do I do now?