I took a long, deep breath, drank the last of the broth from my cup of instant noodles, and got up to throw out the trash.
I pushed open the heavy fire door, and a tall shadow swallowed me whole.
My heart seized.
I didn't need to see his face. It was my ex-husband. He'd found me.
My body moved before my mind caught up, slamming into him with everything I had, trying to run.
But his hand clamped down on my arm.
His voice came from above my head, laced with amusement. "You really made me work to find you, sweetheart."
Every hair on my body stood on end.
"Come here, come here. Let me hold you. It's been so long."
He wrenched me around and crushed me against his chest.
I went rigid. I didn't dare move.
His voice came again, slow and low. "Hug me back."
It wasn't a request. It was a threat.
I raised my arms slowly, stiff as boards, and placed them against his shirt.
"There's my girl." He rubbed his chin against the top of my head. "Still mad at your husband?"
I said nothing.
He waited a few seconds. I could hear his breathing and my own heart hammering out of my chest.
Then the back of my skull cracked against the fire door.
His hand closed around my throat, and his voice exploded.