Chapter Five

Everyone, except Ashley and Kim, jumped up. The two watched in fascination as the others hastily gathered the dishes and food back into the house. Emily smiled apologetically. "Party's over, I'm afraid."

"Just because your husband came home?" Kim asked.

Emily nodded. Ashley stood and took Kim by the elbow encouraging her to get up as well. "Do you need us to help with anything?" she asked.

"No, Sonja and her team will take care of everything," Emily turned and looked at Kenton, who had moved out of the doorway but stood in the family room scowling at her. "I'll just walk you guys out."

Emily's parents were waiting by the door for her. Her mother hugged her. "Don't let his coming home like this change the path you've decided to go on. Call me tomorrow and let me know you’re okay."

"I will," Emily promised. She hugged her dad, who was staring daggers at Kenton. Kenton just glared back.

Carol hurried to Emily and gave her a quick hug. "Tell Barbara I'll be waiting in the car for her."

Emily nodded. She turned to see Barbara approaching Kenton. Oh Lord, this is not going to be good.

Ashley pulled her into a tight hug. "Are you going to be okay?" she asked. "Should we stay? Should you leave with us? He looks pissed."

"It'll be okay," Emily said, not so sure it was the truth. She hadn’t see Kenton look this angry in a long time. "It's not like he caught me here with another man. I just had friends over."

"Exactly," Kim said, hugging Emily too. "It was so nice to meet you and seriously, if you need for us to stay or come back, we will."

"Thank you, Kim. It'll be fine. We will plan to get together again soon. I can't wait to see your portfolio."

Kim and Ashley gave a wary glance at Kenton, who was staring at Emily even as Barbara seemed to be drilling him about something.

Emily closed the door and then went over to where Barbara was talking in a curt tone to Kenton. "I want to see the status report on my investment," she was saying. "If I don't see something soon, my attorneys will be contacting you. It's been over a year. I should have seen some kind of status report by now."

Kenton turned to Barbara, finally acknowledging her. "There is no progress report. The project was a bust, and you knew that was a possibility when you signed up for the deal," he said coolly.

"Bullshit," Barbara barked. "You promised me a good return on that investment. I expect to get my money back, and soon."

"Or what?" He laughed. "You'll call your lawyers? Go ahead. You'll spend more than you invested trying to get the money back."

Barbara had turned blood red, and Emily was terrified she would have a stroke or a heart attack. "You'll be sorry, Kenton Jenkins. Mark my words. I know people, and I will either get my money back, or you'll pay."

"Whatever, you old bitch. Get out of my house!" he growled.

Emily gasped and put her hand to her mouth. "Kenton!" She hurried to let Barbara out. "I'm so sorry, Barbara."

Barbara turned to Emily. "No, I'm sorry for you. You are most likely going to get caught in the spiral of his downfall. Because I guarantee it is coming."

Emily shut the door after Barbara stormed out. She looked toward the kitchen where Mario was standing in the doorway.

"Who are you?" Kenton demanded.

"I'm Fernando's nephew. I'm staying with them for a few days," Mario said quietly, his eyes and body tense.

"I'll be damned," Kenton shouted. "I didn't give Fernando permission for you to stay with them."

"I gave them permission," Emily said quietly.

Kenton turned on her. "Without consulting me?"

"We talked about it a few weeks ago, and you were fine with it."

Kenton narrowed his eyes at Mario. "Well, I think his visiting time is up." Kenton stormed to the kitchen. "Fernando!" he shouted. "Your nephew is to leave my property tonight. Is that understood?"

Fernando dropped his head. "Yes, Mr. Jenkins."

Emily whispered to Mario. "You'll do no such thing."

Mario looked at her, worry creasing his brow.

"What's this?" Kenton demanded. "Having a little private conversation."

Raising her chin and gritting her teeth, Emily looked up at Kenton. "I was thanking him for his help with the garden.”

Kenton looked from her to Mario. "Get out of my house and off my property," he shouted at Mario.

Mario looked at Emily hesitantly and nodded. He wasn't going to start a fight with her husband with her right there. Especially when it looked like this man might strike out at Emily if he did. He left the house, but he only went to the side and waited for his aunt and uncle.

"I'm going upstairs," Kenton said to Emily. "I expect to see you up there as soon as this mess is cleaned up."

She nodded and watched him storm up the stairs. After he had slammed the bedroom door, she let out a breath. "Oh my God, that was so awful."

"Are you going to be okay with him tonight?" Sonja asked, gripping both of Emily's arms. “I’ve never seen him so angry.”

"It will be okay," she assured her. "He has never hit me or hurt me. I'm sure I'm getting ready to get a good ass chewing, though."

"This is my fault," Sonja said. "I encouraged you to have this get-together."

"It's not your fault." Emily pulled Sonja into a hug. "Normally, he wouldn't have come home this week. He should have already been in Louisville. I'll deal with him. He'll leave, and we'll go back to life as usual until he shows up again." Sonja didn't look so sure. "Really, it will be okay. I'll see you first thing tomorrow morning, okay?"

Sonja nodded, but she was terrified for Emily. She had never seen Kenton this angry, and he had a dangerous look in his eyes. But, she left, as Emily requested.

Emily allowed herself to become angry as she approached their bedroom. She pushed open the door and shut it hard. Kenton turned to glare at her. He was wearing just his boxers and holding his phone texting.

“Was it really necessary for you to be so rude to everyone?” Emily asked.

Kenton raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure who the hell you think you are talking to, but this is my house, and I can be rude to whomever I want. What the hell did you think you were doing having a dinner here for your friends and family and the servants?”

“This is my house, too,” she said, sticking her chin up and not backing down. “I should be allowed to have a dinner for my friends and family.”

“I don’t want anyone who I know dislikes me in my house. I know how your parents feel about me. Carol and Barbara are just parasites looking for free rides from anyone who will give them the time of day.”

“How can you say that? Carol is married to my cousin and your best friend.”

“Damon? My best friend? I think not. He’s another leech looking for someone to pull him up with them as they climb to the top,” Kenton spat. “He is riding on my coattails. The only reason he has the kind of success he does is because of me.”

Emily was taken aback. She knew Kenton was arrogant, but to actually take credit for Damon’s success. “So you’re saying that all, this time, you’ve been pretending to be Damon’s friend?”

“Of course, I needed things from him, he needed things from me, and now, and I don’t have any need for him anymore. There never was a friendship, it was always business,” Kenton’s phone buzzed. He turned and went into the bathroom, shutting the door.

Emily moved toward the door and listened.

“What?” Kenton growled into the phone.

“I told you we are done. It’s over.”

Emily put her hand to her mouth; that son-of-a-bitch is cheating on me.

“You are not going to do anything. You’ll keep your mouth shut and go along with everything like you always do.” There was a pause. “What the fuck ever. Don’t call me again. Lose my number.”

Emily didn’t step back from the door quickly enough for Kenton not to see that she had been standing outside the door listening. He grabbed her by her upper arms and shook her hard. “What the hell do you think you are doing? Were you trying to listen to my phone conversations?”

“Kenton, stop,” she cried. “You’re hurting me. What is wrong with you? Why are you acting so mean?”

He threw her onto the bed. “No, I’m not acting anymore. I’ve been acting for years. Did you really think that you were the perfect wife for me?”

Emily tried to crawl to the other side of the bed, but Kenton grabbed her legs. “Stop,” she shouted. “Get your hands off me.”

“I don’t have to stop,” he growled into her ear. “You are my property. That’s why I married you. I knew you would be so easy to control. You were so eager to do my bidding, wanting to be the perfect little wife to please me so you could have this perfect life. Perfect house. Perfect car. Perfect gardens. Everything just perfect.” He grabbed the front of her pants and ripped them open. “Well, nothing is perfect, little girl. Nothing and no one is exactly what or who we think they are. And if you think for one second I believe that you aren’t fucking that Spic you are wrong. I saw the way you two looked at each other.”

“What are you talking about?” Emily cried and tried to push his hands away from her pants.

When she slapped at his hands, he slapped her across the face causing her to see stars. “You and Mario. Nobody touches you but me! You got that,” he screamed in her face.

He jerked her pants and underwear down around her ankles and then flipped her over on her stomach. “Stop!” She screamed.

He smacked her hard again - so hard that it jarred her teeth and she saw stars again. He lifted her hips and pulled his boxers down. She felt his fully erect penis against her butt. “No one tells me no,” he said through gritted teeth. “No one!” He screamed in her ear as leaned over her. She expected him to enter her from behind and she tried to brace herself for his thrust. She realized his real intent when he spread her butt cheeks, and she screamed.

* * *

Emily woke the next morning with her head throbbing. She gingerly opened one eye to the bright sunshine streaming into her bedroom. Her body hurt all over. She looked up at the ceiling trying to recall what had happened the night before, and then it came to her. She thought it had been a nightmare, but the pain she was feeling throughout her body told her that it had not been a dream at all. Her husband had savagely raped and beat her last night.

She had no idea what time Kenton had left. He had hit her in the head so many times that she had almost lost consciousness more than once. She needed to get up and go to the bathroom. She slowly rolled over to one side. The pain in her head was excruciating. She should go to the hospital, but she knew that she probably wouldn’t. Despite what Kenton had done to her last night, she didn’t think she wanted him to go to jail.

Kenton had been a completely different person last night. He had never been violent toward her. He’d been rough a few times, but not like this. It was like he was possessed by a demon. He seemed bent on punishing her for some wrong that she hadn’t even committed. He wouldn’t let her talk, and anytime she tried to get away, he would slap her viciously.

Pulling herself upright very slowly, she saw that it was almost noon. She never slept until noon. Sonja would have come and wake her up. That created a thought of panic. Where was Sonja? Why hadn’t she come to check on her?

She made herself get up and go to the bathroom. Every muscle hurt. It hurt to urinate. Her rectum felt like it had been ripped apart. She noted that there were blood stains on the toilet paper.

When she was finished in the bathroom, she went into the bedroom and put on loose clothes. The bedroom looked like a brawl had gone on, which basically it had.

Emily went downstairs in search of Sonja. The living room looked like a tornado had been through it. Furniture was overturned, pictures knocked off the walls, lamps and anything that had been sitting on tables or the mantel broken into pieces.

Sonja was not in the house. Emily searched in the kitchen and laundry room for her, but she was nowhere to be found. She picked up the house phone to call, but the line was dead. Making her way back upstairs was painful, but she found her cell phone in her purse. It seemed to be working. She called Sonja’s cell phone.

“Thank God!” Sonja cried into the phone. “We have been so worried about you.”

“Where are you?” Emily asked.

“We’re at a friend’s house. Kenton came down to the house in a rage at about two o’clock in the morning and told us to get off his property. He was throwing stuff and punching the walls. Mario said he thought he must have been on crack or meth or something like that to be acting so whacked out. Are you okay?”

“No,” Emily said quietly. “No, he hurt me pretty bad.” She started crying. “Can you come get me? I think I might have to go to the hospital.”

“We’ll be right there,” Sonja said. Emily could hear Fernando asking her something in the background, and then Sonja asked, “Is he still there?”

“I don’t think so,” Emily said. “I’m going to pack an overnight bag. I’m not going to come back here for a few days.”

“That’s a good idea. Stay on the phone with me until we get there. I want to make sure he doesn’t show back up.”

“Okay.”

While she waited for them to arrive, Emily filled Sonja in on what she remembered of last night, leaving out the sexual parts. Sonja was horrified and furious. When Sonja, Fernando, and Mario got to the house, Emily was sitting on the front doorstep waiting for them. She had gone through the house and gathered all the money she could find. She packed enough clothes for three days.

Sonja got out of the truck and ran to Emily. She stopped short when Emily looked up at her. She could see how badly Emily’s face was bruised. “Dios Mio!” She wrapped her arms around Emily and helped her stand.

“Gently,” Emily said. “I hurt everywhere.”

Mario rushed to her. “Oh my God, Emily.” He gritted his teeth, and his brown eyes turned black. “I’ll kill that son-of-a-bitch for doing this to you.”

“No, please, Mario,” Emily begged. “Kenton knows a lot of people. He could make life very bad for you.”

Fernando and Mario moved to Emily’s sides and gently took her arms, helping her to Fernando’s truck.

A light blue SUV pulled into the drive. The car stopped a few feet behind the truck. Ashley and Kim got out. Ashley took off her sunglasses. “Oh my God! What happened?”

“Kenton,” Sonja supplied through gritted teeth.

“Kenton did this to you?” Kim asked.

“Yes,” Emily said quietly.

Ashley moved closer and gently touched Emily’s face in her hand and turned it so she could see the bruises by Emily’s eyes. She turned Emily’s face back toward her and looked into Emily’s eyes. “You need to get to a hospital right away. You might have a concussion.”

“I’m thinking about it,” Emily said quietly.

“Emily, listen to her,” Kim said. “She’s a first responder. She knows what to look for when someone’s been hurt.” She looked at Sonja. “Please take her to a hospital.”

“She’s right,” Sonja said. “You need a doctor, and we should call the police.”

Emily was shaking her head. “No police,” she said. She looked at Ashley, “What are you guys doing out here? I didn’t think you were coming out for Kim to take pictures of the gardens for another week.”

“We weren’t, but I got this weird phone call from Kenton this morning. He said that I needed to stay away from you because he owned you.” Ashley shook her head. “It was so weird. I couldn’t imagine why he would say that or why he would think there was something going on between us. I tried calling your house, and the phone would just ring and ring. I tried your cell phone but it kept going straight to voicemail, so I decided I was going to come by and see what was going on.”

“We were worried about you after Kenton had been so cold and hateful last night,” Kim said. “Then, when he called Ashley and started threatening her, we knew things must have gone badly here.”

“Yes, they went badly,” Emily said, shaking her head. “He has never been like this. I have no idea what he was so mad about, but he took it out on me.”

“He came to our house at about two and told us to get off his property,” Sonja said.

“That’s about the time he called me,” Ashley said.

"I don't know what has gotten into him," Emily said. "He has never been like this before."

"Do you think he might be on drugs?" Kim asked.

"I know he uses cocaine occasionally and smokes pot, but he's never been like this after using those drugs, or even when he's been drinking a lot. He's been kind of rough when he was drinking, but not like this."

Kim looked at Ashley. "There are a few different drugs going around that could cause someone to go off like this." She turned to Emily. "You need to find a place you can go for awhile until he's come off of whatever he's on."

"Absolutely," Ashley said in a very lawyer like tone. "You need to press charges, but if you're not going to do that, you need to at least be somewhere that he can't get to you." She looked at Sonja. "And I would suggest you all find a different place to stay for a little while too until this can be resolved."

Sonja said, "First thing, we need to get you to a hospital so we can make sure the damage is not more than what is on the surface."

Emily's head was hurting so badly that she couldn't take a chance on not agreeing. If nothing else, she would hopefully get some good medication for the pain. "Okay."