According to NCADV statistics, 48.4% of women have experienced at least one psychologically aggressive behavior by an intimate partner. Some abuse may include:

• humiliating/embarrassing the victim
• controlling what the victim can or cannot do
• stalking
• demeaning the victim in public or even in private
• undermining their confidence and/or sense of self-worth

Janet Delaine never believed she’d be a victim. Her belief to stick by her man, to help him through issues were just part of being in a relationship. When she agrees to play out one of his fantasies to appease him is when all hell breaks loose, and the man she once loved begins to show his true colors.

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Excerpt

Cliff placed his wet clothes in the dryer as instructed.

“Thank God John’s clothes are a perfect match, well, almost perfect,” she said, eyeballing the way John’s jeans fit so snug on Cliff’s ass; the baby blue shirt flexing and showing off the muscles beneath its fabric. Her very own knight, saving the damsel in distress. If only.

“Talking about John, where is he?” He gave her a quick side-glance.

Between Nat, Cliff, and John, all badgering for something or another from her, she felt as though trapped in a loony bin’s white-walled room. Her anger at questions tossed at her, at abusive hands and threats, and the attack all came together in one explosive moment. “Fuck John, and FUCK YOU!” she yelled as she tried to walk up the stairs.

He held her arm, forcing her to stop running away.

“Ow!!!” She held her side.

“I’m sorry but serves you right. What’s going on, Janet? You need to come clean or I can’t help you if you don’t help yourself.”

“Cliff…” She barely was able to whisper his name. A sense of losing her mind encapsulated her. Anger aimed its ugly head at the wrong person and she was sorry, always sorry lately.

What the hell is wrong with me? Just spill your guts, tell him everything.

Cliff held her hands, open palm, kissing them gently, his gaze never leaving her face. “You drive me batty, do you know that?” He caressed her face, pushing loose hair behind her ear.

“Are you playing games with me?” she spat.

“What?”

“Who was that brunette you were with…the night I was attacked?”

He let go of her and started to laugh.

“It’s not funny.” Seething with anger, she tried pushing past him. With one fast motion, he had her pinned against the wall, devouring her lips and neck with kisses. She melted into him.

“Fool,” he whispered close to her ear, “if that’s all that was bothering you, why didn’t you just ask me?”

She pulled her head as far back to stare into his eyes. “One, you never returned my calls. And two, you didn’t answer my question.”