“Fine. Explain that.” She tugged on the door handle, but she’d locked the car, and the fob must have landed just far enough away to keep her out. Someone should have called and warned her about him being out. Detective Schone showed up unwanted here and there, but not when she was needed. “When did you get back?”

“Today. A few hours ago.” Hate pulsed off him. Those flat eyes didn’t show an ounce of fear or regret. “On a technicality.”

And he came to find her. He didn’t need to say it because his feral expression said it all.

Jessa knew the truth about why he walked free. Retta. The group. The unseen hand of assistance he didn’t even know he’d been lucky enough to receive. He had a group of women who despised him, and who he probably saw as beneath him, to thank for an unexpected release.

“I decided to see you first. Next stop, my wife and son.”

He was going to kill them. “You should see your lawyer, Darren. Get his advice.”

“He’s lucky he got me out. Another day in there and . . . well, you don’t want to know.” Darren slapped a hand against her car, right next to her head, standing far too close.

A kick. She didn’t care where she landed it so long as he went down. She tried to focus. Forced her lungs to breathe. “There’s a restraining order. You can’t go near—”

“Stop acting like you’re in control.” The rage boiled up and came out in an uncharacteristically choppy tone. “You messed up. Despite my warning, you sided with my stupid bitch of a wife.”

She ducked too late.

He hit her. The heel of his hand rammed into the side of her face. Her head banged against the car window, and her vision blinked. Before she could drop or yell, he grabbed her arm and twisted. Her skin burned under his fingers, stealing her breath.

“You didn’t listen to me,” he said, just inches from her face.

No! She wound up, gathering every drop of energy inside her, and screamed. He flinched, and that tiny bit of space let her inch away. She lifted her bag. Nailed him with one shot to his chin, letting the weight of her laptop do most of the work.

A car pulled around to this side of the garage. The headlights moved over Darren as he bent over, screaming about how she would pay. When the car horn sounded, Darren froze then ran. He sped by the car, shutting the driver’s-side door right as it started to open. Then he was gone.

The world began to sway. Jessa dropped to her knees. She hit the cement with enough force to hear a crack. Aches started to surface. She heard voices around her and Faith yelling her name.