A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

She was just about to open the envelope when Frank’s phone rang.

“Let go of me!”

Marcia’s panicked voice came through, her cries breaking down into sobs. “Frank! Help me!”

Frank’s face turned grim, and without a second’s hesitation, he bolted out the door.

Edna stared after him, confused. “Sir, if you don’t look at it now, I’ll have to send it off straight away…”

“Then send it!” Frank snapped, not even slowing down.

He raced to the hotel, running red lights and barely registering the world outside. When he arrived, he ignored the front desk’s protests and sprinted down the hall. One swift kick, and the door burst open.

There was more than one man in the room.

Thankfully, Marcia’s clothes were still intact. The moment she saw Frank, she collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down her face.

Frank’s expression was terrifying–his eyes bloodshot, barely restrained fury radiating off him in waves.

He grabbed a chair and hurled it at the three men without thinking.

When the chair broke, his fists did the rest.

Every punch landed hard.

Elissa felt a sense of absurdity when she got the call from the police.

Frank, the ever–gentlemanly Frank, had gotten into a fight.

Not just any fight–a three–on–one, and he’d left the other guys thoroughly beaten.

When she arrived at the station, she almost didn’t recognize him through the bruises. “What happened?”

“Elissa, please don’t be mad,” Marcia said, her eyes swollen and red. “It’s all my fault. I had too much to drink. If Frank hadn’t come-”

Elissa got the picture before Marcia finished. A classic tale: a man fighting for a woman’s honor.

1/3

14:47

Chapter 32

Only, the man in question was her husband–in name, at least.

Frank glanced at Elissa, sheepish. “Sorry to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble,” Elissa replied, brisk as ever, and followed the officer to complete the paperwork.

She paid what needed paying, settled the fines, and apologized to the other men’s families–formality after formality.

The officers were taken aback by how calm she was, especially for a wife.

“Really?”

2/3

14:47

Chapter 32

“Really.”

Frank studied her, searching for any hint of resentment. “Let’s go. I’ll drive you both home.”

Both of you.

He’d promised Marcia would move out.

So much for that.

Elissa was quietly glad she’d never once considered trusting him after learning the truth

about him and Marcia.

For her, trust had always been a luxury she couldn’t afford.

She’d given Frank one chance. There would never be a second.

3/3