Chapter 173 Attacker

Chapter 173 Attacker
Rain

To say I was embarrassed the next morning would be an understatement. I don’t think my face stopped glowing red the whole day. He just smiled at me when he saw me. I mean, it was incredible. It felt so damn good. I just wasn’t quite sure yet how to process all those overwhelming emotions and sensations. 

I knew he had trouble not dragging me back to bed the next morning, but I was thankful that he gave me some space to process. I concentrated on the kids, and was so glad the nanny didn’t ask me any questions. I caught her smiling at me a couple of times, but she said nothing. 

She’s kind of like a grandmother figure for the kids. Her name is Molly Denison. The kids really seem to like her, and she’s good with them. She’s a very calming presence, so I appreciate her being around as well. Plus, with her around, I can paint. 

I have discovered that I love to paint. The room that is my studio has several finished paintings and some I am working on. I am not consciously trying to paint certain things; I just let things show up on the canvas. Mostly there have been portraits. There was the strange animal one, but it turned out okay. There is one I have started that is a bit darker, but nothing major, and I’m honestly not sure what it will turn out to be. Right now it’s mostly shapes and colors, hard lines and edges; the whole of the picture is still developing. 

Sade is at work; he felt like he needed to catch up on some things, as he’s been so out of pocket lately. Ms. Denison and I are taking the kids shopping. They are both outgrowing their clothes so fast it is amazing. Since I’m pregnant again, I am keeping what they have outgrown so I can use it for the new baby. The other things we are planning to do are go to an art store and let me pick out some things I want. Sade wants us to finish setting up the studio since it’s pretty bare bones right now. I have also decided to cut my hair. It's just too weird to have the shaved patch with such long hair everywhere else.

Suddenly and without any type of warning, I am hit from the side, and I land hard on the parking lot beneath my feet. I roll a bit, and without thought, flip up and land on my feet. I have no clue what is happening and what I am doing. It seems I am just reacting.

I can hear screaming, and my kids are crying, and that sets something off in me. There is a man in front of me. He has a gun, but without thinking, I attacked him, and he wasn’t expecting it. I have no conscious thought of what I’m doing; it’s like my body just takes over and does what it has been taught to do or something. 

I end up getting the gun away from him, and I hold it out. “Stop, or I swear to god I will kill you.” 

He stands there and glares at me, “You stupid Russo bitch, you all deserve to die for what he’s done.” 

I have absolutely no clue what he is talking about, and I’m honestly not trying to dissect it right now. This man looks unhinged, and he is still poised to attack. I have the gun in my hand and am pointing it at him. 

He puts his hand behind his back and comes back with a large knife gripped in his fist. Then he lunges for me, and I pull the trigger twice, and he drops. Right as I pulled the trigger and it impacted his chest, I got a sudden flash. I saw a body, lying face down in the snow, and there was blood. Then it was gone. 

I’m afraid to move. I am watching to see if he tries to get back up. I want to go to my kids and comfort them as they are both hysterical, but I need to make sure that they are safe from whoever this man is before I do anything. I back away, not turning around, the gun still in my hand. 

Finally, I turn and look. The nanny is crying, my kids are still in the double stroller, but both of them are hysterical and reaching for me. I tuck the gun in the back of my jeans, and go and kneel beside the stroller and start trying to comfort them. 

“Can you please call 911 and get us some help?” I say that, and it’s like it shakes the nanny out of her fog, and she rummages in her purse to grab her cell phone and starts to call 911. 

The operator talks to her, and then she hands me the phone, and the operator asks me what happened. I tell her as emotionlessly as possible. I am trying to not upset my kids any more than they already have been. I am almost afraid to pick them up, and I’m not sure what to do, honestly.

I dig in my own purse and hand the nanny my cell phone and ask her to call Sade as I am holding her phone, and the 911 operator is still asking me questions and telling me the officers are almost to my location. I am starting to be able to hear the sirens in the background, so I know they are almost here. 

I hear the nanny talking to Sade, and she’s trying to tell him what’s going on. Then she hangs up and hands me the phone. “He said to tell you he’s on his way.” I nod. 

I’m trying to stay calm for the kids, but the fact that I just killed someone is rushing around my head. I know I had no choice, and I had to protect us, but it’s still shocking to me. Also, the fact that I knew what to do and how to move is blowing me away. I’m racking my brain trying to remember anything about that. Obviously, I am very well trained, but I don’t remember any of that. 

Also, what the hell was he talking about with ‘what he’s done’? Who exactly was he referring to, and what was he referring to? I am so confused about all of that, but I also know he could have just been crazy. Right now, all I have to do is keep the kids safe and deal with all of this shit while staying calm, so I don’t freak them out.