The Serial Killer's Wife by Alice Hunter (best romantic novels to read .txt) 📗

judgement – but she’d ignored him and carried on. When it had made contact with her head and she’d collapsed, he’d frozen. Hadn’t thought straight.

It had been an accident. A terrible, catastrophic accident he’d immediately wished he could reverse. In his panic, he’d left her there, in her flat, bleeding on the ground. Wandered the streets around Bethnal Green for an hour freaking out. He knew he should’ve called an ambulance, despite it being obvious she was dead. He should’ve called the police, but he’d been scared, as anyone would’ve been in that situation, he’d said – he was afraid no one would believe he didn’t purposely hurt her, especially as she’d just told him she was leaving.

Tom had convinced me it was a terrible accident. He’d been beside himself, crying as I held him; his shame, grief and regret seeping from him. When I pushed him away, the gravity of what he’d told me had sunk in, and a sense of horror had replaced the initial shock. Tom had begged me to forgive him. Not to think badly of him.

‘I need you,’ he’d said. ‘Like you need me, Beth. And you wouldn’t want Poppy growing up without a father like you did. She’d be devastated – her life would be altered forever, affected by my one poor decision.’ He had known how to get to me; how to bring me around.

‘I’m the same person you’ve always known, Beth,’ he’d pleaded. ‘You know me. You know I wouldn’t ever purposely hurt anyone. Have I ever laid a finger on you? Poppy? Have you ever had cause to think I was capable of anything bad?’

And no – of course the answer had to be no. He hadn’t hurt me – not in the way he was referring to. Just as I’d told the detectives, Tom is the perfect husband and father.

Something that happened eight years ago, an event I’d had no clue about up until that point, wouldn’t change our relationship. It’d been an accident. And for Poppy’s sake, it was one I knew I’d have to learn to live with as well.

Wouldn’t I?

Chapter 58

KATIE

Eight years ago

Katie was vaguely aware of Tom close by. Every inch of her hurt. He’d said he was going to punish her, and he had certainly lived up to his promise. But what would come next? His breathing was still rapid. Very slowly, Katie turned her head towards the sound. He was sitting on the floor, his back to her. There’d be no way she could edge off the bed and leave the room, the flat, without him stopping her. She’d have to try and talk her way out of this situation. She’d got Tom all wrong. Isaac had been right – she should’ve trusted him.

Her movement caused the mattress to creak, and Tom snapped his head around to face her.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, standing up.

It was too late for apologies. And she wasn’t going to say sorry back. She’d done nothing wrong.

‘Whatever,’ she said. Her face was stiff; no doubt it was bruised. Maybe a broken cheek bone if the pain was anything to go by. She pulled herself into a sitting position, crying out as she did so.

‘It only happened because you went behind my back, Katie. I can’t be blamed for that. You brought this on yourself.’

Katie didn’t respond. Sliding her legs off the bed, she cast her eyes around for her mobile.

‘Looking for this?’ Tom held it up. ‘Going to go running to Isaac?’ He smirked, and in that moment, Katie hated him. With what little strength she had left, she lunged at him, grasping for her phone.

Tom ducked out of her reach and laughed. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve already sent a heartfelt message from you to that pathetic loser.’

Katie’s brow creased. Her stomach contracted painfully. What did he mean?

‘Cat got your tongue?’ he smiled.

‘Give it to me,’ she said.

Tom held her mobile up above his head, his hand stretching to the ceiling. ‘Come and get it.’ He danced around the bedroom, the bizarre scene making her sick. Every one of her muscles tensed.

‘Fuck off, Tom.’ She couldn’t care less that he had her phone; she just wanted to get out of her flat. Let the police deal with him. She waited until he was on the far side of the room, then she ran, as best she could, towards her front door. For a brief moment, she thought she’d make it. But time slowed, and a sharp pain in her skull stopped her in her tracks. She put her hand to her head. Slowly, she brought it back down in front of her. Blood. Covering her hand. Dripping down her face. She watched, stunned, as blobs of deep red splashed onto the floor.

‘Oh, no you don’t. You don’t get to leave me,’ Tom said, dragging her backwards. ‘Come on. Let’s have a little fun.’

‘My head,’ Katie said. ‘It’s bleeding.’ Her voice sounded strangely disconnected.

‘Yes, babe. I know. Don’t worry, I’ll look after you.’ Tom placed Katie on the bed and left. She was too dizzy to move. She winced as he pressed a towel against the back of her head. ‘It’s just a cut. Might need some stitches. But, first, I think we need to make up, don’t you?’ He lowered himself onto the bed.

Confusion clouded her mind. Was he going to try and have sex with her in this state? She wriggled beneath the weight of his body, a searing headache causing her vision to blur.

‘No … Tom … not … now …’ She felt weak. Helpless.

‘It’ll be okay, my darling. Just let yourself go. Give yourself to me.’

His hands, hot, soft, grasped her throat. His grip tightened.

Katie’s lungs burned. She found a final spurt of energy from deep within her and bucked, clawing at his hands. He didn’t release her.

‘I love you, Katie. Never forget that,’ were the last words she heard before darkness descended.

***

TOM

A satisfying sense of relief – a calmness – came over me as her