Chapter 12

“How do you plan to keep her here exactly?” Nathan had been waiting on the corner of the street for Mia to exit the house. She convinced him that it would take all of five minutes or less for her to confront Gabriel and leave the said house. Over ten minutes had gone by and Mia was nowhere in sight. He’d kept checking his wrist watch, fidgeting in his car seat, bending his neck all different directions as he watched out his window hoping to see the silhouette of woman making their way towards the car. Nathan’s mind was running wild.

“To hell with this!” he unbuckled his seat belt and pushed his door open. He didn’t know what possessed him but before he was fully aware of what he had decided to do, he was already making his way through the lawn and up towards the house.

He could hear the faint rasping of splitting voices bouncing off the walls of the house, some of that sound escaping outside and alerting him. He opted out of knocking and slightly turned the knob on the door. He pushed the door open; happy to see it was unlocked.
He eased inside and followed the voices to the kitchen. Gabriel was millimetres away from Mia, his body towering over her petite frame like a menace. Nathan knew he had walked in at the perfect time to help her escape.

Gabriel turned around to the sound of another male voice echoing in his kitchen. He wondered who would be so bold to enter his house without permission.

“You?” he growled the word like a warning. “What are you doing here?” he backed away from Mia, making a few strides towards the intruder. Nathan couldn’t help but notice Mia exhale wearily.

“Mia, let’s go before Amiyah wakes up and notices you aren’t there.” Nathan strained to keep his attention on Mia. He had no reason to communicate with Gabriel and he had no intentions to go against reason.

Mia nodded and took two steps towards Nathan when heat pierced her right arm. Gabriel had grabbed hold of her, jerking her back violently. She tripped over her feet and almost fell, catching herself my grabbing onto the counter surface.
Nathan had taken two steps forward in response to Gabriel’s action, his chest rising and falling in slow motion. He was hauntingly aware of the ‘lub-dub’ sound of his heart valves opening and closing.

“She isn’t allowed to go anywhere.” He blocked Nathan’s view of Mia. Gabriel’s jaw tight, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, his eyes animated and wild. He scowled at Nathan. There was a madness protruding from his brain, but Gabriel couldn’t control it. The very thought of his wife abandoning him sent him over the edge.
No one left Gabriel Evans. He chose to let people go and he wasn’t done with her yet.

“She goes where she wants to go.” Nathan was trying hard to conceal his anger. A fierce energy coursing through his veins. This scene triggering too much of his childhood traumas. His mother had once been in a controlling and abusive relationship with his father. He’d grown up as witness to the abuse and now every little display of toxic masculinity riled him. It was exactly this type of behaviour that resulted in him growing up without a mother. He had to be a helpless spectator while paramedics rushed in and took his mother’s lifeless body from his childhood home because she had overdosed on sleeping pills. For a long time he hated her for leaving him with an abusive father but as he grew older he felt worthless knowing he didn’t understand enough to realise how much she wanted out.
He didn’t want that for Mia. She was his intended family for all he cared and he wanted better for her and now that she was making a stand for herself, he was willing to stand with her.

“Let go of me Gabriel!” Mia twisted her arm but his grasp tightened and he jerked her again to disorient her. Her head spun, stars appearing before her eyes but she kept pulling against him. Her nails digging into him, but he dared not let go.

“This is our family matter, you need to leave. I will collect my daughter in the morning.” Gabriel attempted to dismiss Nathan.

“Let her go, or else I will call the police.” Nathan spoke the words through clenched teeth. The urge to rush over and pull Gabriel away from her compelling but he had too much to consider. He couldn’t put Amber in agony if a fight got out of hand. He had to be smart about it, he had to appeal to Gabriel’s fears.

“Are you insane? She is my wife, she lives here with me.” He shrieked, tightening his grip on her arms. He ignored the tiny cries escaping Mia’s lips as she tugged and pulled at his arms.

“She wants to leave.” Nathan pulled out his cell and dialled to show Gabriel he was serious “You cannot keep her against her will, I think you will find the authorities will have the same approach.” He put the phone to his ear.
The ringing on Nathan’s cell phone travelling through the kitchen and towards Gabriel; snapping him out of his momentary madness. The very thought of such a dispute being made public caused him to release Mia. With his connections, a trip to the police station would be futile; he had many friends in beneficial areas. However, he could never guarantee safety from the Media.
Mia didn’t waste any time running to Nathan’s side. Nathan ended the call once Mia was safe behind him. “We will be leaving now.” Nathan said slowing, backing away with his eyes trained on Gabriel.

“You will be back.” Gabriel raked his fingers through his hair and laughed ominously. “You will never be able to escape me.” He shook his head and tugged the tie off his neck. The collar of his shirt standing high, creating a wall around his neck.

“I will be making moves to petition you for divorce, Gabriel. It’s either you wait for my petition or you petition me.” She spat, rubbing her arm to encourage circulation. His grip had been so tight that her arm began feeling numb, now it was bruised blue and black. “Either way, I will divorce you.” She continued.
Gabriel sank to the floor of the kitchen, his legs splayed out in front of him. He yanked his head backwards and forwards laughing hysterically. “You’ll be back.” He said again.

“I am never coming back.” She screamed, all the anger, rage and fear she felt in the past few minutes lacing her voice like a super drug.

“I’m leaving you, Gabriel.” She repeated the words and God it felt so good, “tonight!”