Chapter 17
Echoes
Maliyah
As we walked to his car, Reed's fingers slid between mine, warm and strong—his calluses making my hand tingle.
The rough pad of his thumb brushed over my knuckle, then traced a slow circle that sent electricity racing up my arm.
My breath caught as the sensation bloomed in my chest, warm and unexpected—pulling me from my thoughts for a moment.
"You okay?" he asked once we were inside, engine idling.
"Yeah. Just... processing."
He pulled out of the parking spot, heading in the direction of my apartment.
"I talked to her," I said finally. "Diane. In the bathroom."
Reed's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I wondered. Saw her head in the direction of the bathroom after you went. How did it go?"
I stared out the window at the passing streetlights. "I told her I'd been where she is. That she's not alone." I touched the scar along my hairline unconsciously. "Shared some of my experiences with Bryce."
Reed was quiet, letting me continue.
"She said Bryce told her I was unstable. That I made accusations to hurt him after we broke up." I laughed bitterly. "Of course he did. I’m not even surprised."
"Did she believe you?"
"I think part of her did. She didn't defend him, not really.
" I pulled a business card from my purse.
"I gave her this," I said, holding up the glossy card with its delicate pink and gold lettering.
"It's a business card for Serenity Salon, a little place down the street from the shelter.
The phone number printed here," I tapped the embossed digits, "leads to a second on-call line we each take turns having forwarded to an app on our phones.
When it rings, we answer with 'Serenity Salon, how may I help you?
' The owner, Jenna—she had her own hard experiences—years of abuse. She actually came up with the idea years ago and the staff told me they’ve saved so many women.
We've gotten eight women to safety this way in the past year alone.
"Shit. That’s fucking smart."
"I thought so. I shared the idea with my old boss too. Anyways, I gave her the card—told her to either take it or even memorize the number and throw it away if she was nervous about him checking."
He nodded his head. "Good. That’s the way to do it."
"Yeah, I hope she gets away from him. But really, I don't know.
" I closed my eyes. "She started making excuses for him.
'It's not always bad. Sometimes he's wonderful.
He just gets stressed with work, and I know I can be difficult—'" My voice cracked.
"The kinds of things I hear all the time now—words I’ve even said myself," I whispered.
His hand found mine again, squeezing tight.
I let silence fill the car again. Thinking about my conversation, replaying the words over and over again. "You know, she asked me if I was happy. With my new life."
"What did you tell her?"
"The truth. That leaving him was the best thing I’d ever done. That I have two beautiful children, a career I love, people who care about me." I looked at him. "That she could have that too."
"Do you think she'll call?"
"I don't know. She took the card. Whether she'll use it..." I shrugged helplessly. "She has to be ready."
Reed nodded slowly. "When Diane went to the bathroom, I don’t think Bryce realized you’d already gone. Then he saw your seat was empty. He looked furious, and I think he even considered going after her."
"But he didn't."
"No. He wised up—realized I was watching." Reed's jaw tightened. "He kept checking his watch, timing how long the two of you were gone."
The thought made my stomach twist.
"But then Diane came back," Reed continued. "Leaned close to him, whispered something. And his whole expression changed. Went from ready to explode to looking like he'd won something."
"She probably told him I tried to turn her against him. That he was right about me being crazy or something."
"Would be smart," Reed said. "Help her stay safe."
"Yeah." But it still hurt, knowing Bryce had probably twisted my attempt to help into another victory for himself.
We drove in silence for a few minutes, the city lights blurring past the windows.
"Are you sorry you went after her?" Reed asked as we approached my neighborhood.
"No. I couldn't not try. Even if it makes things harder for me." I looked at him. "Even if Bryce sees it as me interfering in his life."
"Which he will."
"I know." The weight of that settled over me. "He knows where I work now. What I do. He'll see this as a threat."
Reed pulled up to my building and put the car in park. "Maliyah, I need you to promise me something."
"What?"
"Promise me you'll be careful. Extra careful. You know as well as I do that men like Bryce are unstable."
"I promise to be careful. But Reed, I can't live in fear. I did that for years with him. I won't do it again."
"I'm not asking you to live in fear. I just want you to keep your guard up and maybe, just maybe—" His blue eyes were intense in the dim light. "Let me help you stay safe. Please."
The vulnerability in his voice got to me more than any demand would have. "Okay. I know I might seem like I don’t want your help. I’m just—I guess, it’s just that I’m so used to doing this alone."
"You’re not alone. I’m right here." He echoed.
He walked me to my door, his hand a steady pressure at the small of my back. Inside, I moved to the kitchen while Reed began his now-familiar routine—checking window latches, pulling curtains closed, testing the back door's lock.
I filled the electric kettle and pulled out my phone, seeing a text from Felicity.
Felicity: Kids are asleep. Movie was a hit. They want to stay tomorrow too.
Me: Tell them I love them. I'll pick them up in the morning—don’t go trying to steal my kids from me.
Felicity: They love me more. I come with ice cream and their favorite cousin. Sorry Bish! J/k. Love you. Don’t hurt me.
I laughed at her ridiculousness. Leave it to my sister to give me something to smile about.
Felicity: You have a good time tonight? Did you make smoochies? Are you getting naked? Did he toot your horn?
Me: Are you drunk? High? Tell the truth. Should I come get my kids you maniac?
Felicity: Haha. Shut up. No. Just happy for my sister. Asshole. lol
Me: Haha. Love you too
Felicity: Go have fun with Reed. The kids are happy and safe in bed probably dreaming of the sugar filled breakfast I have planned for them before their mom comes to get them! ;)
Me: Thanks. I’ll remember that and pay you back ten-fold one day!
Felicity: xoxo
I looked up at Reed where he stood across the counter. He'd come into the kitchen and pulled down two teabags, setting one in each mug—tags draped over the edges. I hadn’t even asked for tea yet, but there he was, anticipating. My smile came before I could think to stop it.
I set my phone on the charger and went to join him when a sharp knock echoed through the apartment.
Three deliberate raps against the door.
Reed's head snapped up, his hand moving instinctively toward his hip where his off duty weapon rested. "You expecting someone?"
"No." My voice came out thin, my pulse hammering in my throat.
"Wait here." His voice was low, controlled—the detective voice I'd heard him use at the restaurant.
He approached the door with careful, measured steps. Put his eye to the peephole. His body went rigid.
He looked back at me, pressed his index finger to his lips for silence, then jabbed it toward the kitchen alcove. I quickly moved out of sight of the door.
Reed's other hand hovered near his hip. The door hinges gave a soft whine as he twisted the handle and yanked it open in one fluid motion, his body angled sideways, shoulders squared.
Nothing. The doorway was empty.
The hallway was completely empty.
Reed stood in the doorway, body still coiled and ready, scanning left and right. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting their harsh glow on worn carpet and scuffed walls. Nothing moved. No footsteps retreated down the stairs, no doors clicked shut, no elevator dinged its arrival.
Nothing.
"Stay back," Reed said quietly, stepping into the hallway.
I watched from the doorway as he moved to the stairwell door, checked it, then walked to the elevator. The indicator lights showed it hadn't moved from the ground floor.
He checked the other apartments on our floor—four doors, all closed, no sounds coming from within. He came back to me, his expression grim.
"No one."
"Someone knocked." My voice came out defensive, like I needed to prove I hadn't imagined it.
"I know." He ushered me back inside and locked the door, engaging both the deadbolt and chain. "Could have been a neighbor with the wrong apartment. Or kids playing around."
"At this time of night?"
His silence was answer enough. We both knew what we were thinking but neither of us wanted to say it out loud.
What if it had been Bryce?
But how could it be? We'd just left the restaurant all of half an hour ago. Could he have followed us here?
Reed moved to the window overlooking the street, peering down at the cars parked along the curb. "I'm calling this in."
"Reed, no. What are you going to tell them? Someone knocked on my door and left?"
He turned to face me. "I'm going to tell them that your ex-boyfriend, who has a documented history of domestic violence, may be stalking you.
That tonight he made contact at a restaurant, made veiled threats about your children, and now someone's doing knock-and-runs at your apartment.
" His voice was firm, brooking no argument.
"This needs to be documented, Maliyah. You need a paper trail. "
I nodded, knowing he was right even as part of me wanted to pretend it was nothing. Just some kid, just a mistake, just paranoia.
But I'd learned a long time ago that ignoring warning signs didn't make them go away.
Reed made his call, speaking in low tones with whoever was on the other end. I moved to the couch and sat down, my legs suddenly unsteady.