This chapter is dedicated to karenmelanson who just recently joined the ranks of dedicated supporters. Thanks so much for your reads and votes XD.

Betrayal

"Honey, I'm home." I slam the door shut behind me, not really expecting an answer. It is three o'clock on Friday afternoon and Rena will be gone for at least another couple of hours but I want to make sure I am alone at the house before carrying out my plan.

For weeks now she has been distant and I am convinced she has been cheating on me. It all started out the day when I had gone to her school library to surprise her while she was allegedly working on a research project with her classmate, but there was no sign of her. When I confronted her that night, she claimed they had gone to Starbucks which was a total lie since I had stopped by there for a cup of coffee on my way home. I let it slide since I wanted more evidence and give her the benefit of a doubt.

After that, she has been coming home like clockwork and has been obedient and respectful. Since she has missed a lot of classes due to some of our confrontations, she has been studying her ass off which I can appreciate - it's only six weeks left before the summer vacation and the private school she is attending is pretty demanding.

As she still has this ridiculous idea of going to college after she graduates, she will probably insist on applying to various universities in the fall. Yet, I hope to get her pregnant again over the summer which will put an end to it all. We will be married at Christmas time and after the baby is born, I am actually thinking about returning to Quantico.

Rena is still so young and could use the help of my mom and since DePaul is not going too well, I should better attend my dad's Alma mater in Virginia and hire on with the FBI. A steady good paying job is important for a family man and my father's connection will guarantee me a prosperous career with the bureau. Ruth won't be a problem - she moved to North Carolina where her grandparents live to go to college and my mom told me she recently got engaged, so she is out of the picture and won't stir up any more trouble.

Yet, all these plans depend on what I will find out today. If there is any evidence that Rena is betraying me, it will be somewhere hidden in this house and I am dead set of getting to the bottom of her odd behavior. Though she has fulfilled all her duties on the girlfriend front, she has not even once expected me to do the same in at least a month so I am pretty sure she is getting her pleasures from someone else. That's something I cannot tolerate and she will pay dearly. She is mine and somehow, I will get that into her thick skull once and for all.

I start with her drawers and go through everything, especially her socks and tights since she hid her birth control pills there once before. Nothing. Her jackets and pants are next, my hands slide in every pocket, with and without a zipper, to make sure there are no signs of condoms or other birth control devices. I work systematically, checking waste bins and the pantry, even venturing into the recycle container.

After completing a full sweep of the house, I pour myself a whiskey and slump onto the couch, brooding. My father always told me that he puts himself into the shoes of the culprit to learn how he ticks. The air puffs through my nostrils as I chew on my lip - where would I hide something if I were Rena? It would definitely be a place where my boyfriend would not accidentally stumble upon it so something private, reserved for a female. And then it hits me.

Shooting up like a rocket, I almost knock over the whisky glass in my excitement and dash into the bathroom. It is almost five by now and I don't have much time. She could be back at any moment. My hand fumbles around the shelf with her toiletries and pulls down the box with the sanitary napkins. It's heavy and I know that I hit the jackpot before even taking a closer look.

A simple phone is inside, the activity log and message folder clean as a whistle - the perfect device to stay in touch with a secret lover. I call my own phone to get the number, followed by a cry for help to my dad. It takes him five minutes to confirm my suspicion.

"Sorry, Brent, but it's something we call a burner phone. It's pre-paid and Rena's calls weren't registered anywhere. I can put a trace on it if you like."

For a second, I ponder my options. "No, dad, that's OK. I will just ask her about it."

There is a moment of silence. "What are you going to do?"

I realize that I don't have a plan yet. "What would you recommend?"

He sighs. "You are at an important point in your relationship and have to decide if she is worth all your investment. If you don't really love her, now it is the time to let her go."

I couldn't imagine a life without Rena. "No, dad, I need her. She is everything to me."

His next words are spoken without the slightest hesitation and I realize he must have been there before. "You will have to show her once and for all that such behavior is not acceptable and won't be tolerated. Show her who the man is. She is nothing but an ignorant young girl who craves a strong hand. All women do, Brent, don't forget that. They need to be shown the error of their ways and will respect you for it even more."

I know he is right. There is definitely hope for Rena and I bet the lesson I will teach her today will be crucial for the rest of our relationship. "Thanks dad. Say hi to mom and I'll be in touch."

I cut the line after he wishes me good luck and rub my chin. Desperate times require desperate measures and I am intending to scare the shit out of her. She won't make a fool out of me ever again. There will be some serious punishment but before that, I want her to confess to her indiscretions.

My grandpa's old revolver is tucked away securely in my nightstand and I get a box of bullets. They are duds, which I bought when we reenacted a Tarantino scene for a frat party at the college but Rena won't know that. It will be a good lesson for her and I am sure she would never lie if I played my cards right.

It is five thirty and I begin to trace back and forth in the kitchen. How dare she be late on top of that? She is probably meeting with lover boy after school for a quickie - I am almost certain it is Fallon. He is the only one I can think of even though there are plenty of little assholes running around in her school who likely want a piece of her. Whoever it is, he will be next. I will not have another guy touch my girl and get away with it.

The thought of another man being intimate with Rena temporarily takes my breath away. The pain soars through every fiber of my being and a small sob escapes my lips. How could she betray me like this? I have always been good to her. Every wish of hers was fulfilled on a moment's notice, she has always gotten everything she needed. How could she throw away our love for some moments of physical desire with some other guy who will only disappoint her in the end? We are meant to be, she is my soul partner.

I down a glass of whiskey in one go and pour me another one. The alcohol warms my stomach and takes the edge off a little. Another glass is emptied down my throat, followed by three more. My mind is a little foggy after that, but it feels great. The little bit of doubt I had has vanished and I am ready to face the little treacherous bitch. She will pay for hurting me like this.

My body slumps into the kitchen chair, the bottle right by my side. I finish another glass for good measures, my tongue resting heavily in my mouth. I rub my eyes to get rid of the blurry vision. The revolver is right in front of me, so is the phone. Rena will know I mean business the minute she gets home.

My fingers drum rhythmically on the table and the wall clock ticks in slow agony. Where is the whore? I close my eyes, imagining her soft lips on Fallon's, their tongues connecting passionately for a good-bye kiss. My heart is clenched by a fist as tears pool my eyes. I swallow hard - I am not going to give her the satisfaction to see me crying. It will be her turn to be in pain and shed some tears - a lot of them.

It is just before six when the front door finally opens and she storms into the kitchen. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes glistening with sheer happiness. She hasn't been that way in months. A dagger pierces my soul - another man conjured this look onto her face.

She freezes in her tracks and gazes with wide, terrified eyes at my fingers running up and down the shaft of the revolver. "Brent, what are you doing?" Her voice is trembling.

I glare at her, relishing her fear. "Sit down."

She slowly lowers herself in the chair across from me. Her tongue runs over her lips and she has paled three shades, reminding me of a ghost. I wonder how far I can push her before she breaks down in tears.

"We will be playing a fun game," I say, a slight slur in my voice. "I will ask you a couple of questions and will let destiny decide if you refuse to answer or I suspect you are lying."

Her Adam's apple moves slowly up and down and she bites her shivering lip. I open the chamber of the gun and take out five of the six bullets, lining them up in front of me in a straight line. She looks like she is about to throw up, not realizing it is only a cruel game. Those bullets couldn't harm her, yet, this is a secret I will not share with her for a while. I need her to be on her best behavior and not try to wiggle her way out of this situation with another lie.

I snap the revolver closed and spin the chamber around. "I am sure you know how to play Russian roulette." I purposely keep my voice low. "So, let's begin."

Sweat begins to pearl on her forehead as I slowly rise and approach her. My heart pounds heavy in my chest, my thirst for revenge and raging anger slowly replacing the throbbing pain. It takes all my effort to keep my hand steady - I almost strike her with the gun.

"Why do you have this phone?" I ask, my eyes fixed on her face.

She flinches, biting the inside of her cheek. "It's not mine." Her words spout from her mouth like a waterfall. "I found it."

It's a bloody lie. "Oh yeah." I push out my chest to show her that I could crush her at any moment. "Too bad I don't believe you."

I hide my distress that she betrayed me once again by giving her a wide grin and press the barrel of the gun against her temple.

"Who have you been calling?" I ask.

"Brent, please." Tears stream down her face and her body is rigid like a stick. The stench of sweet urine irritates my nostrils when pee soaks her pants. I want to hurt her so badly, but it is premature. First, she is going to confess the truth to me.

"I love you," she dares to whisper after everything she did. "I swear I never cheated on you."

I bend forward, my lips grazing her neck. "I don't fucking believe you."

My thumb cocks the hammer before I pull the trigger. The chamber is empty. Rena screams at the top of her lungs, her eyes the size of saucers. There is so much fear in them to give me a satisfied pull in the pit of my stomach. She is slowly realizing that she is mine forever and that I am the one in control over her pitiful life.

"Oops, my mistake," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess you didn't cheat." I tilt her head backwards, forcing her to look me square in the eyes.

"Who did you call on this phone?" I ask again. "Was it Fallon?"

She finally admits the truth and nods.

I click my tongue, my mind clouded with burning jealously. Though I actually believe that they weren't lovers, that bastard is still in her circle of trust which is an unacceptable situation. Rena will have to learn that there is no one else but me accepted in her corner.

My eyes watch her intently as she is slumped over in her chair, waiting for my next move. I am sure she knows what will be coming.

"You were a very, very bad girl." My thumb wipes a tear off her cheek. "And now it is time for you to be punished."

It is her own fault - she should have never made me furious the way she did.

Now you know how Rena's torture started from Brent's POV. What do you think? Did he have a reason to be suspicious and angry? Most of us know he went totally overboard after that but can you understand why he was hurt and jealous about Kade?

Plus there were duds in the gun - did that surprise you? Rena, of course, didn't know and in her mind, had plenty of reason to fear for her life but is seems that Brent may not have been as devious as everyone originally thought...

Last chapter coming up next Sunday - it will be the last day of Brent's life from his perspective. One more huge plot twist planned, so stay tuned. In the meantime, please enlighten me with your comments and don't forget to vote if this chapter deserved it.