-Reed-

I take my wife's hand and leave the Baltimore Police Station and look around for Todd's car. I have a terrible feeling deep within me and know Todd will stop at nothing till he's killed Cheryl. I'll do anything to protect my wife and child. Anything!

Cheryl senses my mood. "Are you okay, Babe?"

I look over at Cheryl and change my scowl into a smile. "I'm fine, Sweetheart. I have a lot on my mind."

She nods. "I understand. I know that this whole thing is very overwhelming."

I take a deep breath, and my voice cracks with emotion. "Cheryl. I NEED to protect you and our baby. I can't live without you."

Cheryl stops beside our car and pulls me into her arms. I'm beyond impressed with this woman's strength. She was able to do what sixteen other women were not capable of doing; she escaped from the grasp of the devil himself.

I feel myself relaxing into her embrace. I quickly change the subject. "How about we grab some lunch to take into your office."

Her face brightens at the mention of food. "I like that idea. Let me call Kandi to see if she wants us to pick her up something."

I reluctantly release my wife and open her car door. She gets in, and I shut her door before heading to the driver's side.

We pick up lunch and go to her office. I grab my computer bag, Cheryl grabs lunch, and we enter the building.

Kandie is waiting at the door when we arrive. "Yay! Lunch!"

I chuckle at the two pregnant women. "You and Kandie go ahead. I'm going to set up my stuff in the meeting room."

"Okay, let me know if you need anything," Cheryl says before the two pregnant ladies leave to enjoy their feast.

I'm pleased that I can work remotely anywhere because there is no way I am letting Cheryl go anywhere without me. I pull my laptop out of its case and set it up at the end of the conference room table closest to the door. This way, if need be, I can quickly leave the room or see right away when someone enters.

Reaching into my computer case, I grab the cords, and my hand brushes against the hard metal of my gun. When I say that I'll do anything to protect my wife, I mean it.

After setting up my workstation, I join the ladies in the break room. I can hear their laughter as I approach. I smile to myself as I think this is how Cheryl deserves to live, with joy, not afraid that fucking Todd could be around any corner.

I missed a good joke. "What's so funny?"

Kandie laughs as she explains, "I was telling Cheryl how big and strong Tank was scared of a spider in the shower this morning. He refused to get in. Instead, Tank used the sink and a washcloth for bathing this morning. When he came down for breakfast, he told me about the spider. I tramped right into our bathroom and took care of the big, bad spider."

By the end of her story, we were all laughing so hard that tears began streaming down my face.

After lunch, we all returned to our workplaces. Several hours later, Cheryl popped her head in the door.

I look away from my work to see my beautiful woman's face. "Hey, Babe. I have to run to a job and check on a delivery."

"Okay, let me finish this email, and we'll go," I reply.

Cheryl smiles. "Sounds good. Just come get me when you're ready."

I complete my email and hit send, shut my laptop, and went to leave the room when I stopped myself. I turned back around and retrieved my gun from my computer bag and place it in the inside pocket of my suit coat. Better safe than sorry.

I stand at Cheryl's open office door. "I'm ready, Babe."

"Great." She grabs her purse and joins me. I take her hand, and we leave for her appointment.

After an uneventful day, we're going to Kandi and Hanks.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Reed, Honey, do you mind stopping by the house? I have some designs I was working on from home that I'll need in the office tomorrow," she asks sweetly.

I take her hand in mine. "Sure, Babe."

I make the turn towards our home. A few minutes later, I pull into our driveway.

Cheryl opens her car door. "I'll just run in real quick."

I open my door. "Nope. That's not going to happen. I'm coming with you and not letting you out of my sight, woman."

We both leave the car and walk up to the front door. I unlock it and start to go in. Cheryl is right on my heels. We both gasp once inside and see the damage done to our home. Photos taken from their frames have Cheryl ripped away, and just me remains in the frames. Broken vases scatter across the floor, and the slashed couch and chair have their stuffing pulled out. Cheryl and I are frozen until we hear the door slam behind us. We both turn too late.

Todd must've been hiding behind the door. He has Cheryl pinned into him with one arm and a knife to her throat with the other. The look of pure terror on my wife's face is enough to make me lose my shit, but I must remain calm. There is no telling what he'll do.

"Todd," I say as calmly as I can. "What are you doing here?"

Todd has a look of pure evil on his face. "I came to take care of some unfinished business."

I try to reason with him, "Todd, why don't you let Cheryl go, and we can talk about this man to man."

Todd's eyes are dark and big as saucers with a wildness in them that scare me. "It's too late for talking. Once this bitch is gone, it'll be like old times. Just you and me, Reed."

"You don't need to hurt Cheryl to make that happen. I miss us too, buddy. You were right; I'm getting tired of Cheryl. Why don't you just let her go, and you and I can find some beautiful blondes and play our game." As I was talking to Todd, I was slowly reaching for my gun.

Todd slightly loosens his grip on Cheryl. "Really?"

"Really. It was not until I was in bed with Patty that I realized what I have been missing these last three years." I try to sound as convincing as I can.

Todd relaxes more, and the knife that was tight across the love of my life's neck is slowly moving away. I can see her blood seeping from the thin cut from the blade.

"I knew that eventually, you would come to your senses." Todd smiles, and the knife moves further away.

I now have the gun securely in my hand, and I quietly release the safety. I give Cheryl a nod. She knows what to do. I know that I have one shot and only one shot. It's time to take action. I swiftly pull the gun out, and before Todd can respond, Cheryl ducks down, and I shoot my long-time friend, who I consider a brother, who I realize I never really knew, right between the eyes. He drops to the floor, taking Cheryl with him.

"CHERYL!!" I scream in a panic thinking that she was somehow injured.

"I'm okay, Babe. I'm okay." She crawls away from the arm Todd still has around her.

I run to her, kneel, and take her into my arms. We both cry in relief that this nightmare is over.

After we regain our emotions, I pull out my phone and call Detective Riggs's cell phone. He answers on the second ring, "Hello, Reed. What's up?"

"He's dead. I shot him. He was going to kill Cheryl. Please come quickly!" My words rush out, full of emotion.

"Whoa, slow down, Reed. Where are you?" he asks.

"My home," I respond quickly.

"Don't move; I'm on my way," he says before I hang up with him.

I do as he says and sit holding my wife tightly until I hear the sirens approaching.

*****