My Ex Husband

Gabby's POV

He’s late. I thought as I checked my watch for the nth time.

This wasn’t like him at all. In all the years I’d known him, he was never late or without a good reason for it. It didn’t make sense for him to be late now, especially when he was looking to get back on my good side.

Or maybe something came up…

I thought again but quickly dismissed the idea. He’d have told me if he couldn’t make it. Something was definitely wrong. I pick my phone intending to call him and find out if he’d still make it when a thud sounds at my front door.

I wait thinking I probably just imagined it when a more desperate thud sounds again. I rush to open the door and standing there at my front door is my silver eyed devil, handsome as ever but something was noticeably wrong. Rather than his usual calm and clean self, he was frantic, bloodied and bruised.

“GG!” He cried before collapsing at my feet.

A little dramatic, right? I know. Let’s take it back a little.

*Present day*

People often hear my name and think of this bad ass criminal psychologist who is known for taking down some of the nation’s most notorious criminals. I worked high profile cases and seemed to have some sixth sense when it came to tracking down bad guys.

Yet here I was hightailing my way out of my best friend’s engagement party.

I had known Victoria Bennet all my life having grown up in the same neighborhood and we’d even gone to the same high school. Our friendship back then looked unconventional with her being the beautiful and perfect high school cheerleader and I was your classic reclusive bookworm. And even though Victoria often had to come to my aid when the other cheerleaders picked on me, I could still hold my own around said mean girls.

The honking of cars caught in traffic forced me back to the present. I would have loved to stay for the party but such milestones triggered too much pain for me. I would just wind up ruining things for the happy couple.

It was better this way. I thought with a sigh.

The driver pulled up at my stop, pulling me out of my reverie yet again. I quickly paid and stepped out making my way towards the club when my phone rang. I breathed a curse when I saw the caller ID. Victoria.

"Hallo." I said nervously.

"Gabby? Where are you? Are you okay? Should I come get you?" She called through the phone, panic in her voice.

"Victoria, stop! I'm fine! You can't miss your own engagement party. I just..... I can’t make it to the party. I hope you understand." I said hoping she'll get the hint.

I could hear Victoria sigh, the sound almost lost in the midst of all the celebratory cheer sounding behind her. "I know. It’s okay. Just call me if you need anything, okay? Anything at all."

"Sure but I'll be fine. Now go have fun. I'll come by your apartment tomorrow morning and you can tell me all about it."

"Deal!” She could almost hear her grinning through the phone. “Take care, okay? I'll see you tomorrow." She said before hanging up.

I smiled to myself as I walked over to the club's door and the bouncer helped me out of my coat. "All alone, Miss Giovanni?"

"Yeah. It's just me tonight. Thanks." I said as he handed me my coat and opened the door for me to walk in. I took a few seconds to adjust to the lighting before I headed straight for bar. I took a seat just as the bartender turned towards me.

"Your best champagne, please." I said with a smile.

He gave me a charming smile before turning to get my drink. I checked my phone one last time before turning my attention to the big screen TV right above the bar. It was a news report on the latest, most talked about serial killer case in the city that had finally been resolved.

A thirty year old man by the name Carter Johnson, who the media had dabbed, The Avenger was known for taking vengeance on men who abused their women or children and often got away with it. He was believed to follow the men, watched as they abused their wives and at times their children before he caught up to them and killed them. He would then chop them into pieces and mail the pictures of their mutilated bodies to their wives or girlfriends. He'd evaded the authorities for years cutting across state lines but he had finally been caught in the act, just as he was sending the latest dead man's photos to his wife.

Did I mention I happened to be working the case with my best friend Victoria? It was a high profile case and being the best in our fields, our chief insisted on having both of us on the case. It had to be the most disturbing case I had ever worked though and I was more than happy it was over.

*Flashback*

"Okay, Mr. Johnson, are you ready for today's session?" I asked as I sat down.

"Sure thing, Mrs. Giovanni." He said with a smirk as my tongue went dry.

How does he know that's my husband's last name?

"You didn't think I knew, did you?" He continues, smiling smugly.

"Please let's stick to the topic at hand Mr. Johnson." I pleaded looking anywhere but at him. For the first time ever, I was unnerved by a man in an orange jumpsuit and cuffs.

"Why? I'm such a boring topic!” He said, looking so bored but then he leaned forward; his gaze fixed on me like I was the most fascinating thing in the world. “You, on the other hand… Lost your mother to cancer, disowned by your own father over the collapse of the family business, all cause your husband chose to believe some false allegations that you had cheated on him." He said taking me even further by surprise.

I remained silent.

"Oh don't be so surprised Mrs. Giovanni. I after all go after ruthless men like the ones in your life! And you know what? I've been thinking a lot lately. I’ve been too focused on abusive men. I should seriously consider expanding my territory to men so easily manipulated; they’d throw away love and family over a blatant lie.”

He was messing with my head.

"Mr. Johnson, let's focus on you, okay?" I said finally looking up from my session book.

"Sure thing, beautiful. What do you want to know?" He said with an eager smile. "I'm an open book."

*Present day*

My thoughts are driven away by the usual feeling that I’m being watched. I knew the culprit already.

I sipped my drink and finally allowed myself to take a look around. It didn’t take long for me to lock eyes with the most beautiful silver eyes I'd ever seen. They hadn't changed a bit. Realizing he’d been spotted, he quickly made his way over to me, leaving behind a disappointed group of ladies.

"Still stalking me, are we?" I asked, when he casually leaned onto the bar next to me.

"I didn't think you'd notice." He said.

"Well I did and I'd prefer you’d stop."

"Gabby please! Give me a chance."

"And why should I?" I asked turning to face him.

"G.g."

"Don't call me that!" I hissed at the nickname I had not heard in years. His nickname for me.

"Please Gabby. How about breakfast tomorrow? Nothing over the top, just a simple breakfast."

I hesitated.

He didn’t deserve my time. I reminded myself.

But then it would get him off my back. Another part of me argued. So with a tired sigh, I relented.

"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow." I said as I waved the bartender over. I paid for my drink, grabbed my coat and stood. "Have a lovely night, Mr. Giovanni."