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FOR THE FIRST TIME in a long while, Rhea didn’t know what to do. Her arms tightened around Ivy. Perci shifted in front of her, using her body to protect the little one’s.
Clive Gunderson just stood there. Staring. When she saw the gun, Rhea gasped.
His hand was clenching and unclenching on the grip. His eyes were trained on Perci like she was the only one in his world. Fixated. Mad.
She’d seen men like him before.
“Rhea, take Ivy inside. Please?” Perci said again.
Rhea took a step back. She didn’t want to leave Perci out there alone. Not with him.
Ivy sniffled and laid her head on Rhea’s shoulder. That baby didn’t need to be out there for whatever Gunderson was wanting.
“Go, Rhea. Please.” The desperation in Perci’s words broke through her paralysis.
Rhea understood. She was a mama, too, after all.
“I’ll wait for you inside.” Rhea took a step away, then another. “Don’t take too long, ok?”
“I won’t.” Perci didn’t look at her. Didn’t take her eyes off Clive Gunderson.
“Perci,” Gunderson said again. “I...tell me why.”
“Why what, Gunderson? I don’t think you and I have anything to talk about. Not anymore.”
Rhea kept going until she reached the sidewalk. She carried the baby inside and grabbed her phone.
She dialed 911 as fast as she could.