“Never,” I growled, my voice unrecognizable, laden with a darkness I didn’t know I possessed. “I’ll never leave you. And she’ll never, ever touch you again.”
At that moment, the atmosphere in the room changed. I sensed a presence at the door. A police officer stood there, his face grim. And behind him, walking with her head held high, carrying her designer handbag and with an expression of annoyance on her face, came Amanda.
I stood up slowly. The sadness vanished, replaced by a rage so pure, so volatile, that my hands began to tremble. It wasn’t fear. It was the murderous instinct of a father who has just seen the predator of his offspring.
Amanda walked into the room as if she owned the place. When she saw me, she let out a dramatic sigh. “Jack, thank goodness you’re here. This is all a ridiculous misunderstanding. The doctors are exaggerating to charge the insurance company more. You know how healthcare is in this country.”