Take Cover by Kim Black Page A

weren’t speaking to me. Truth be told... I wanted to be close to Julien, and Shane was the closest thing I had to him.
    “Thank you so much, Shane, you have no idea how much this means to me,” I hiccupped into his neck, my grip no less tight than before.
    “I am a lover at heart. Shit, I’m French, remember?” he chuckled softly.
    How could I ever forget? I thought to myself.
    “Can I still kick her ass, at some point?” I jested, as I pulled away from him, looking him in the eyes.
    “I don’t think my brother would like you getting yourself hurt over the likes of Charlette, but we will see what we can do.”

I could not tell you when I actually left the hospital, or even how I ended up in front of her house. All I knew was this was her fault. She had been responsible for Emily’s attack.
    I was wrong to underestimate Charlette’s craftiness. She wasn’t one to roll over and give up easily. Thinking she would win me back, she decided to destroy my relationship with Emily, thus destroying me in the process.
    Standing in front of her massive double doors, now soaking wet from the rain, I stood in complete fury, after driving around for endless hours. The emotions surging through me ranged from torment, to anguish, to complete numbness. The only thing clear was that she needed to pay. She needed to feel the hopelessness I now felt ripping through my heart. She needed to experience what it was like to have her love ripped away from her.
    I knew she believed this would cause me to run to her, and run I shall. She wanted me for her own, at any cost. I would give her just what she asked for, but the cost... The cost would be her own...
    The sounds of my fist pounding against the hardwood door roared throughout the otherwise mute estate. The lights hadn’t been on when I arrived, but I was sure she’d be home. Soon, after I began a third round of hammering, this time much louder, she came rushing to the door, breathless as she pulled open the door, her chest rising and falling... as was mine...
    “Jules... My goodness! You nearly frightened me to death,” she began. She stood in the doorway, in nothing more than a light pink satin nighty, which barely concealed her full rounded breasts. “Come in... Come in, before you get sick.” She rushed me in and swiftly began to peel my clothes off. She tugged on my suit jacket, until it was released from around my shoulders, before making her way to my shirt buttons.
    I kicked the door closed before seizing her hands. Her eyes bore into mine. I knew what she wanted, what she’d hoped would happen. Her plan hadn’t been for Emily to remember who she was. Or worse yet, she hoped she had permanently removed Emily from the picture. I’d come in my grieving state to her, and somehow, lean on her for support, but she was in for more than she bargained for.
    “What have you done, Charlette?” I demanded with a growl, causing her to flinch at my aggressive tone.
    She pulled away from me, speechless.
    “Answer me! What the fuck were you thinking? Huh!” I barked, as I closed the protective gap she had created between us.
    “I know nothing of which you speak, Jules. What gives you the right to barge into my home and accuse me?” she demanded, clearly frazzled and attempting to mask it, but failing.
    I wasn’t going to buy into her act. I knew her, better than most. She was as conniving as they come.
    “What was your plan, Charlette? To kill her? Was that what it was?” I demanded, my anger rising with each passing second.
    Her eyebrows drew together, as if confused. “Who are you referring to? What is going on, Jules?” she responded sweetly, as if she was completely oblivious. However, I could see the smirk she so desperately tried to stifle.
    “Don’t play games with me, Charlette! You assaulted Emily. She told me just how evil you are, not that I ever needed any confirmation of that fact. What did you think you would accomplish? Was I going to run to you for love,