On the Other Side(51)
“Wow, did you memorize that from a book?” Damita said, chuckling.
“It does sound rehearsed, huh? I’ve been doing this a long time.”
“So you know better than most whether it works or not. Tell me the truth. Do you really think that piece of paper will make a difference?”
“If you want the real truth, Damita, no, it won’t save your life. It probably won’t make much of a difference. However, you will have something documented in case—”
“In case of what?” Damita interrupted.
“In case you need to call the police.”
“And, in case I show up dead, right?”
“No, that is the purpose of the police. You should have gone to the police when he beat you the first time. At least, then they could have arrested him.”
“You and I both know he wouldn’t have spent more than a day or two in jail.”
“You’re probably right, but hasn’t this happened more than once? The more times the offender goes before the judge the better his chances of serving real time. Unfortunately, you never made a formal report, so it’s your word against his at this point, as far as any earlier offenses are concerned. Did Carmella tell you I spoke to him?”
“Yes, she did.”
Derrick looked at Damita pointedly. “It was the first night you got here. I’ve got to tell you, he’s a classic case of a sociopath. You combine that with his already demonstrated violence and that makes him very dangerous. He’s not going to give up. They never do.”
“I keep hoping he’ll meet someone and then I’ll be free. He was fooling around with a girl in my office. She came to work one day with stitches over her eye and I’m ashamed to admit, I was relieved it was her and not me.”
“Don’t feel guilty. It’s understandable. You’ve been through a terrible ordeal. I could talk to him again if you’d like.”
“I thought about that. I’m afraid if you do, it will anger him even more. At least I’ve been able to avoid him since I’ve been here. And, thanks to my boss, he’s on a list with building security. He’s not allowed to even enter the building.”
“Well, that’s something at least. The offer still stands. If you want me to speak to him again, I will. Think about it.”
“I will.”
Derrick smiled broadly. “Well, I better get Carmella’s bowl of cereal to her. You have a good day.”
“Thanks, Derrick.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Derrick joined Carmella in the bedroom with her bowl of cereal and got back in the bed with her.
“I hope you don’t mind. I spoke to Damita about her situation,” Derrick said.
Carmella smiled appreciatively. “Of course I don’t mind. Maybe you’ll be able to get through to her better than I have. I keep telling her she needs to file for divorce immediately and let it all go, but she hasn’t done anything yet. I don’t know whether she’s afraid or if that’s an excuse to continue holding on and she actually still loves the bastard,” Carmella said.
“Probably a little bit of both.”
“How the hell could you love someone who beats the hell out of you?” Carmella questioned.
“If I knew the answer to that it would make my job a whole lot easier. You have no idea how many women there are out there getting beat by their husbands and boyfriends every day. Some of them never leave and then there are the others who never make it out alive.”
“Maybe it has something to do with the way a person is wired. I can’t imagine putting up with something like that. Until now I would have thought the same thing about Damita.”
“I offered to speak to her husband again, but she didn’t seem to want me to. Although, she did say she would think about it.”
“Where would be the harm in speaking to him without waiting for the go-ahead from Damita?” Carmella asked.
“I don’t know, Carmella. That may not be the best idea. She has to want help. It can’t be forced upon her.”
“Isn’t that what interventions are all about? If anyone needs an intervention, it’s Damita.”
“That wouldn’t really be Damita’s intervention. It would be Neal’s.”
“Do it for me,” Carmella said seductively.
“Woman, are you trying to use your feminine wiles on me to get me to do what you want?”
“Of course I am.”
Derrick looked at Carmella lustfully. “What do I get in return?”
“Bring your fine ass over here and I’ll show you.”
Carmella watched as Derrick removed his robe. His body was perfect; the well-defined broad shoulders, his chiseled chest and bulging biceps. When he turned to place the robe over the arm of a chair, she remembered her favorite part of his body. The man had an ass of stone and the muscles visibly flexed with every movement. His raw umber tone against the pale hues of her bedroom created a sharp contrast. When he turned back around her attention was riveted to his steely, unyielding hard-on. Under the covers, her legs opened instinctively. She threw back the blanket.