Saving Sunni by Reggie Alexander, Kasi Alexander

careful about that ex of hers. He is not a nice person, not at all. He has a terrible aura, and I am convinced that he is capable of very great violence. He is not at all to be trusted.”
    I wondered briefly how Geri knew that from the brief conversation she’d had with him, but I dismissed the thought. Most women automatically assume that all ex-husbands are evil. And I had admitted that he had hit me on occasion. I supposed it wasn’t that unreasonable of an assumption. Besides, maybe she really could see auras. You just never knew.
    “Yes,” Sir said. “I wanted to talk to you about that. sunni tells me you have a Taser. Are you fully trained on its use?”
    She looked surprised. “Of course,” she said indignantly. “I have never actually used it on anyone, you understand. I hate violence. But I have gone through the class, several years ago now. And I am quite prepared to use it on that—that monster —if he dares to step foot in here or tries to talk to sunni on the premises. And we have two very big, strapping boys in the back room most afternoons that would be very happy to protect our little sunni.” She beamed at me and finally turned to dump several teaspoons of sugar and a lemon slice into her tea.
    As she stirred and sipped experimentally, she started prattling about how close her “little family” was and how much she adored all of her employees. Sir listened politely, but he looked like he was trying to figure out how to tactfully ask her if she wouldn’t, maybe, be happier in an institution somewhere.
    “Well, I’m afraid I must get back to work.” Sir apparently had heard all he could take. He put down his tea mug and stood up, holding out his hand. Geri ignored it, jumping to her feet instead and reaching as far around him as she could in an enthusiastic hug.
    “I’m so glad sunni has you to protect her,” she said when she let him go and he started backing toward the door. “I feel so much better now. Oh, sunni, that reminds me. I have a little present for you.” She turned and rummaged in a box on her desk. She finally drew something out with a flourish and presented me with a large black cotton scarf imprinted with silver dog paws and pink hearts. I stared at it, awestruck, for a moment. I heard Sir draw in a long breath. Was he was going to forbid me on the spot to accept it and order me to go straight home? When he didn’t say anything for a few seconds, I put out a tentative hand and took the scarf from Geri.
    “It’s…beautiful,” I said. “Thank you.”
    Geri beamed, not noticing the horrified look that I was sure was on Sir’s face. She flung the ends around my neck and adjusted it artistically over my shoulders.
    “There!” She gave Sir a huge smile. “Doesn’t she look fabulous?”
    Sir let out the breath. “She certainly does,” he said, squeezing my shoulder, only a tiny bit too hard. I looked around apprehensively, but he just smiled.
    “I need to get back to work now,” he repeated, carefully nodding in Geri’s direction. “It’s been very nice to meet you.”
    She let us go, calling after him to have a lovely day, and I walked him to the door. He kissed me again, looked around without speaking, shook his head, and walked out, staring hard up and down the street before getting in his car and driving away. I looked down at the scarf. What would tonight be like?

Chapter 6
    I was ready to walk out the door that afternoon at five when I saw Randy standing on the sidewalk. I muttered, “What now?” and went to open the door. I couldn’t have him standing out there, and I didn’t want Geri to call the police. Surely if I just explained that I was happy now, and in a good relationship, he would go away.
    If sage’s mother had told my mother a bunch of nonsense about us being abused, I couldn’t exactly blame her for being worried. She had never believed that Randy had gotten violent. One of the reasons I was more than happy to leave the area permanently