It All Started With a Diary

sleep

I knew I would have to confront her soon. That was the only way this would end. I wasn't sure if she wanted to torment me even more, or beg for my return. Either way, I still stood on what I said to Celeste. I didn't want to see her unless she was in her grave, but... I might have to make an exception this once.

"It's quiet so that you can think a little better," Kade reassured once we boarded the plane, taking a seat next to me. "Now talk to me, sweetheart. I'm right here." His warm hands took mine.

I glanced around even though we were the only two here. Finally, I settled on him.

"I'm going to have to talk to her," I decided. "That's going to be the only way she'll leave me alone. I'm going to tell her how she deserves to die. How she's a piece of shit. How she deserves to rot in jail for the rest of her life. I'm going to tell her that I'm doing fantastic without her, and to leave me the hell alone. Then, I'll report her for breaching the restraining order." My words were rushed and barely words at all. By the time I finished, my chest was heaving.

Kade examined me carefully. The concern his eyes rolled quite well with the caution. "Kimberly—"

I shook my head. "You're not going to talk me out of it, Kade."

I knew he would try. I knew everyone else would try, too. They would think it was dangerous and stupid, but my mind was my own. Those memories were my own. I needed to rid myself of the girl that my mother thought she ruined. She may have killed that little girl all those years ago, but this one, she wouldn't touch. Ever.

He shook his head, turning our hands over. "I wasn't going to talk you out of it, sweetheart. I was going to ask when you wanted to do this."

I shook my head, again. "You're not coming," I argued, even though the thought of having him there did bring a sense of protection. But, I needed to do this for myself.

Just hearing that my mother was in the same town screwed with me. I didn't want her to think she had any power over me, ever again. I couldn't allow it. If I wanted to be rid of her, I had to do this by myself.

Kades' eyes widened as he shook his head. He turned to face me fully. "No. Fuck no, you're not going in there alone with a woman who's on god knows what."

"She won't touch me, again."

He shook his head again, even harder this time as the doubt clouded him. "At least let me stay outside. Or, in the car. Something, anything to let me know that you're okay."

I thought over it. If it would reassure him that I would be okay, then fine. As long as her and I were in the same room, alone, then anything was fine at that point.

I nodded. "Fine."

His chest bounced back with relief before he found my eyes, again. "What's the plan?"

That part I hadn't thought about yet. I didn't know how to lure her to me, and I had no way of knowing her whereabouts. But, if she found me before, then she could find me again.

I raised my gaze to him. "I don't have one," I admitted. "But, I know that she's coming to me. It shouldn't be long now since she already found out where I work."

Kade leaned back into his seat, running a hand down his face. "I don't like this shit. I don't like that she knows where you are. I don't like that the woman who hurt you, is around you."

Finally, he released a breath under a curse,  shaking his head. His attention jerked under to mine. "But, you're your own person. So if you want to, you know I support you. I'm proud of you for doing it, sweetheart." He leaned in closer, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Just please don't leave me in the dark here. I don't want you with her alone. You have no idea what she could be capable of."