"I was a kid. I was fucked up on shit. Please, don't do this," he pleaded.
"She was a kid, motherfucker!"
"I've had to live with it. I've regretted it since it happened. I was fucked up."
I held him by his throat, cutting off his windpipe. "She's had to live with it. She had to have an abortion because of you. She was hospitalized after you left her to bleed all over herself. You don't deserve mercy. You don't even deserve death, but that's what you're going to get."
Before I could do anything else, sirens grew closer, followed by the screeching of tires. I didn't move off him until there were four men, all aiming their guns directly at me.
"Put down the weapon," one ordered.
"You're fucking lucky," I whispered to him as I threw the pipe to the side, away from me.
Within seconds, I was tackled and cuffed. They patted me down, but didn't find anything on me. Paramedics arrived just as I was being lifted from the ground. The officers that escorted me to the back of the cruiser asked me questions, but I didn't answer any of them. I was still in a rage-filled haze and couldn't think straight. Once I was seated in the back of the patrol car, I looked down and noticed the blood that splattered my pants. I'd never had someone else's blood on me before. I had never even thrown a punch before. It was a little scary at how mad I'd become while attacking him. It was a terrifying thought that I could do something like that with my bare hands, but I didn't regret it, though.
The drive to the station went by in a blur. It felt like I blinked and was there. I knew I needed to call Janette so she could handle the situation, but I'd never been arrested before, so I didn't know what the protocol was for requesting a phone call. You see scenes in movies about being allowed a phone call, but I had no idea if that actually happened.
Since starting Kauffmann Investments, I'd been in the news plenty of times, but never in a negative light. It was something I was very proud of. Anytime Kauffmann was mentioned, it was always for something positive. My donations to various charities, fundraisers I'd attended, what I'd done for struggling businesses. Never anything bad, not even a rumor. But even I knew I wouldn't be able to keep something like this from getting out. Janette was paid well for what she did, and this would definitely be a test of her PR skills.
I was taken inside and fingerprinted. They took my mug shot and then led me to a holding cell with other criminals. I had no idea in what order it all happened; all I knew was my life had just taken another turn, and I had no idea where I was headed.
When I was finally given the chance to make my obligatory phone call, I knew exactly who to contact.
"What the hell did you do?" Janette asked in a tone I'd never heard before.
"Just get someone from legal here. Please." My monotone was unfamiliar, as well. "And I need you to reach Eden. Tell her I'll explain everything after my arraignment on Monday. Tell her I'll see her at the office."
"You're in jail, and that's what you're concerned about? Your assistant? Should I call Gabi, too?"
I sighed and ignored the officer trying to rush me off the phone. "No. This is actually because of Gabi. I'll have the lawyer tell you everything. But please, make sure Eden knows. I don't want her thinking I left."
The call ended and I waited for my lawyer to show up. When he finally did, we were taken to a room for privacy. He explained the charges I faced and the possible outcome. The only thing I cared about was getting back to Eden, but that would be a while. Since it was a Friday, and with this being a criminal charge, I had to wait until Monday for arraignment. So, I'd have to spend the weekend in the holding cell.
The time went by at a snail's pace. My thoughts wandered back and forth between Gabi and Eden. I had plenty of time to contemplate what I should do once I got out. I knew I wanted to be with Eden, but I also knew Gabi shouldn't be with her mother. Not after what she told me. She allowed vicious and horrible things to happen to her own daughter, and should not be trusted with a second chance. But I was worried that Gabi didn't have anywhere else to go. There was no right thing to do. Eden wouldn't understand my need to protect Gabi, and Gabi wouldn't understand my feelings for Eden.
For the first time in as long as I could remember, I cried. I curled up in the corner and quietly let the tears fall for Gabi. They leaked out as I thought about the girl who had no one. As much as I tried to protect her, I hadn't done a good job of it. It had all happened under my nose, while we were together, and I hadn't stopped it. She'd gone through an abortion and never told me. I had always known something was wrong, but I never pushed her to confide in me. I should have pushed. I believed she trusted me. But maybe she thought I wouldn't have done anything. If her own mother didn't, maybe she expected the same from me.