Thank you so much to my reviewers for the last chapter. Make sure you caught the last one, before reading this one. I'm updating them kind of quickly so I don't want one to be missed. Want to make sure you get the full story. Enjoy!

Chapter 14

"Cards at a restaurant?" Anna asked her date. Alex shuffled the cards easily and spread them out in the middle of the table. They were in a loud establishment that was filled with people watching rugby games on the televisions.

"Full disclosure," Alex began, "I like to win." His lips curled into a sly grin and Anna chuckled. The two had met on one of those dating apps. Alex was only in town for a few days. Anna was good with that; she wasn't looking for anything serious. She really wanted to date John, but he wasn't taking any of her hints. So Anna decided it was time to put herself out there. Maybe she would find her somebody soon.

"Doesn't everybody like to win?" Anna pointed out.

"Ah, yes," Alex agreed, "But I really, really like to win." He flipped the first card over and handed Anna her deck.

"The goal is to get all of your cards down first," Alex told her. He went over the basic rules of the game and soon they were playing a practice round.

Anna had to admit that this was a unique way for a date and it was fun. The room was so loud that they had to nearly scream to hear one another. By the end of the night, Anna had a headache.

"I should probably get going; this was a lot of fun, Alex. Thanks for the fun night," Anna said. She stood from the table and Alex did the same.

"Let me walk you to your car," Alex offered. Anna's head shook.

"There's no need. I'm parked just outside. Thanks again."

"Next date, I'll pick you up from your house? A proper date with flowers and candy?"

"I do like chocolate," Anna said with a grin. "Message me and we'll decide a time."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Time stood still. He was there. He was back. She could feel her body growing hot and the pit of her stomach twisting and turning. Her eyes couldn't remove from his face. It had that same charming smile he had given her. Slowly her eyes followed his and she saw a woman sitting across from him. Her eyes were bright and she laughed, as he said something funny. Anna's lower lip began to tremble and she felt like she could vomit right then and there.

"I could go over there and wring that man's neck," John growled under his breath. He turned toward Anna and noticed how she was about to have a nervous breakdown. His hand reached across the table and took Anna's hand within his own.

Anna's head shook. "You….you can't do that," she told him.

"Can't do what?"

"Wring his neck. You can't do anything about it," Anna replied. Her eyes fell to her food and tears sprung to her eyes.

"Let's leave," John offered. "We can have the food packed up and find a picnic table somewhere to eat." He attempted a smile, but it came out more as a twitch of his lips.

"I….I'm fine," Anna stuttered. Her eyes traveled back to the table, but this time they remained on the woman next to Alex. Was she going to be his next victim? Her body shuddered.

"You're not fine," John argued. "And how could you be with that…that man over there."

Anna swallowed hard. Her fingers tightened around her silverware and began to slowly cut up her steak. Small, short cuts. Small, square pieces. She brought one small bite up to her lips and forced herself to chew and swallow it.

"Anna, that's enough. Let's leave," John tried again. He couldn't understand why she was refusing to leave the restaurant. He assumed it had to do with her trying to keep up the façade that she was okay. But she wasn't. Her face was so white with fear that she looked like a ghost.

"I said I'm fine," Anna nearly yelled, hitting her hands against the table and making the table vibrate with her motions.

A few eyes turned to them, trying to find what the commotion was about. John sheepishly smiled at the tables nearby and snuck a peek over to Alex's table to make sure he hadn't spotted them. From what John could tell, he hadn't. John was grateful for that, at least.

"Anna, it's okay to not be fine. Let's go home," John offered, yet again. Anna's head shook, as she forced another bite of food into her mouth.

"Just leave it," Anna pleaded, meeting John's eyes. John sighed. Looking back at him were eyes full of terror and heartbreak. He clinched his jaw, having to use every ounce of willpower not to go over to Alex Green and beat him bloody.

"Alright," John finally agreed, although he didn't think it was a good idea. But he didn't have much left of a choice. Anymore attempts of persuading her to leave and she might cause an even bigger scene.

The two sat in silence. Their nice date had turned into a nightmare. Every few moments, Anna would glance up and look at the unsuspecting girl across from Alex. She wondered if she should tell her. Wouldn't that be the morally responsible thing to do? What if someone had seen her and warned her?

But then the baby kicked. She glanced down at her belly and placed her hand protectively over it, as if she could protect it that way. Her stomach was still small, but round enough to tell she was pregnant. If she walked over there, Alex would be able to tell she was pregnant. He was a smart man; he could do the math.

Her eyes watered, but Anna had to protect her baby at all costs. Her child deserved better than Alex Green. If he got near the baby, Anna shuddered at the thought. She pushed back her thoughts of how she should help the other woman and forced herself to choke down the rest of her meal.

As they finished up, John offered to run and get the car.

"I need to go use the toilet first," Anna told him.

"Are you sure….."

"I can go to the restroom, John. He won't do anything here. He likes to make sure you're in a more vulnerable location," Anna stated. She snuck off to the bathroom quickly, because she was also ready to go home.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Exiting her stall, Anna walked up to the sink to wash her hands. There, standing right next to her, was the girl on the date with Alex. Her dark locks were framed perfectly around her face and she was leaning forward to put on a new layer of lipstick.

Anna's eyes couldn't leave her. She felt the overwhelming urge to tell the girl to run.

The girl seemed to feel Anna's eyes on her and she turned to face her. Seeing the paleness in Anna's cheeks, the girl reached out and touched Anna's shoulder.

"Are you, alright? You look poorly. Do you need me to find whoever you are here with?"

She was so kind, so caring. Anna's head shook. She had to do it. It was the right thing to do.

"You…you're on date with Alex Green?" She questioned. The girl's eyes narrowed now.

"Please don't tell me you're his ex or his wife or something," the girl said with slight panic in her voice. "I finally find a fun guy to go on a date with and he….."

"I'm not his ex or his wife," Anna clarified. "I did...I did go on a couple of dates with him a while back."

"Oh! Isn't he fun?!" The girl asked. Anna chewed on the inside of her lip and began pulling anxiously on her fingers.

"Um…..I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"Maggie."

"Um, Maggie…..He…well, he….." Anna's eyes moved to a spot on the wall. She couldn't look her in the eye and say it. "He….he raped me."

Maggie gasped and Anna returned her eyes to her. She shook her head and covered her mouth with her hands.

"No…that can't. That can't be right…."

"I wish it wasn't," Anna replied. "I…I really wish it wasn't," Anna continued as a tear slid down her cheek. "I…I thought you should know."

Looking down, Anna slid past the girl and walked out of the restroom. She rushed to the table and saw that John had their leftovers in his hand. Seeing her face, his brows furrowed.

"What happened?"

"Can we just leave now, please?" Anna asked. John nodded and led her out of the restaurant. He offered to run and get the car, but Anna wanted to walk with him. They had parked a few streets over.

John placed his hand on the small of her back and the two of them crossed the street. It was then that they heard a voice calling them. They both turned to find Alex Green rushing toward them. John's arm came up and wrapped protectively around Anna, pulling her close.

"Leave us alone," John advised.

"You're a bitch," Alex growled at Anna. "Just because we didn't work out doesn't mean you can lie to my date."

"Don't call her that again," John cautioned.

"I….I only told her the truth," Anna muttered, her lips trembling. John could feel her shaking next to him and he held her tighter.

"Go away," John warned again. "We don't want anything to do with you." Alex remained in his spot. His eyes fell to Anna's stomach and his lips curled into a small smirk.

"Expecting, are you, Ms. Smith?" He questioned. Anna's stomach lurched. Why couldn't she have worn one of her looser shirts tonight? The dress she had on made her pregnancy stomach poke out.

"Not sure why you care," John answered. "Our child is none of your business."

"If it's even yours," Alex poked. "Anna here is quite the whore."

"Watch it," John snarled. He could feel Anna's body tensing next to him, so he turned them both and began to walk away. They both could hear Alex's footsteps behind them, following them.

"You should watch yourself. Or else she'll be saying false things about you to others. She's a whore that enjoys ruining other people's lives," Alex called out. John paused and his fist curled into a ball.

"Let's just go," Anna pleaded. "I….I just want to go." John took a deep breath, but did as Anna said. He rushed his steps and planned on ignoring Alex or calling the police if he followed them any longer. However, Alex spoke again.

"She's a good screamer."

John released his grasp on Anna and turned, quickly decking Alex with his fist. Alex fell to the ground and John grabbed the lapels of his shirt, pulling him up to his face.

"Don't come near Anna or my baby again, is that understood? You're a rapist who deserves me to bash your head in and I will, if you come near them again," John angrily told him, as his fist tightened around his shirt. Alex just chuckled.

"You don't scare me," Alex replied, pushing John up and scrambling out from under him. John kept his hands on Alex's lapels, but Anna began to tug on John's arm.

"Stop it! Please, stop it!" She screamed.

Hearing Anna's pleas, John let go of Alex's shirt. Despite saying he wasn't scared, Alex ran away as soon as he was let go. John heavily breathed and had to hold back on following him. He placed his hand over Anna's and gave her a small smile. But Anna didn't smile back, she didn't even look at him.

The entire ride home, she was silent.

When they reached the flat, John opened the door and Anna walked past him, her lips drawn into a tight, thin line.

"Anna…." Anna turned on her heels to face him.

"I told you! I told you to leave it! And you…you hit him, John! What if….he could sue you, you know! And now he knows about the baby. What if he decides to come after me? What if…?" Anna shook her head and covered her face.

John took several steps forward and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, but he wouldn't stop saying those things about you." Anna dropped her hands.

"I can handle it, John. I've survived worse. Now….." Anna sighed. "I….I'm going to sleep in the guest room tonight. I….I can't look at you right now."

And just like that, she rushed to the guest room and slammed the door.

John ran his hand through his hair and exhaled loudly. Tonight had not gone as planned.

To be continued...

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