Part 18 (2/2)

I jumped at the sound and the edge in his voice. I took a deep breath and turned slowly to face him.

”Tell me why you're really doing this, and I'll tell you why it's wrong.”

”I told you, I need time.”

”Bulls.h.i.+t.”

”I should go.”

”No, you should stay here, with me. This is where you belong.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I couldn't believe I'd found the strength to come this far, but inside I was unraveling. My love for Blake fought for control over the very real threat that I needed to protect him from.

I needed to leave before I lost my resolve. Before I could, I turned and left him without another word.

I tried to move quickly, but the albatross of emotion slowed my movements, numbing me. I went through the motions of packing in this dazed and detached state as tears blurred my vision. How I managed it I'll never know, but I'd stuffed most everything I might need for a few weeks away from the apartment into my large suitcase.

Sid was hidden away in his room, so thankfully I didn't have to face him again. I stepped outside, and out of pure habit I scanned the street for the black Escalade and Clay. The threat of Mark was gone, and Blake was back in town. We weren't together anymore, so there was no need for a babysitter. Despite the fact that I disagreed with the whole concept of a security detail, Clay had grown on me a bit.

My gaze shot down the street, and I noticed a less welcome presence. Connor leaned against the town car. He tipped his hat toward me. A mere gesture I a.s.sumed, since he was likely tasked with reporting my every move back to Daniel. He'd keep it up until Daniel believed that things were done between Blake and me.

I walked toward him, my suitcase rolling loudly behind me. ”You can tell him it's done. Now leave me the f.u.c.k alone.”

His face was as stark and emotionless as it had been the last time I'd seen him. ”I'll give him the message.”

I walked past him and hailed a cab, starting the journey to Marie's on the outskirts of the city. As we turned off Comm Ave, I checked behind me to make sure Connor wasn't following. Thankfully, he wasn't. Marie was the last person I wanted Daniel checking in on. He had no idea we were still in contact, and she was one of the only people who knew what he really was to me.

The cab navigated through light traffic. Throngs of people went about their days. Happy, normal people with easy problems. I was leaving the only home I'd ever really known, and Blake was right. I was running away. This was an aimless and desperate escape from a world I'd created, one I truly loved.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

Marie didn't question me when I arrived. She just held me so tight it almost hurt. I sobbed into her, letting all the misery pour from me.

”Whatever it is, we'll get through it, baby girl,” she promised.

I needed that, for someone who loved me and didn't know a d.a.m.n thing about anything to promise me that everything was going to be all right. I wanted so badly to believe it.

I spent the day watching mindless television while she went out to run some errands. I wanted to fill my brain with nonsense, anything to drown out the misery.

After I enjoyed an amazing home-cooked dinner and a few gla.s.ses of wine, my tension had started to ease slightly. I didn't feel so numb, and I'd finally stopped crying, which seemed like progress.

Marie and I had settled in her den, jazz playing quietly in the background as we curled up on her two large couches. I covered up with a blanket and held a big wine gla.s.s between my palms. A comfortable silence had settled between us.

”I'm sorry for just dropping in on you like this.”

”Don't be ridiculous. You can always come here. Day or night. This is your home too.”

”Thank you. That means a lot.” I didn't have many other places to run to, sadly.

”Do you want to talk about it?” She canted her head to the side.

The past couple days' events flashed through my mind. First Mark, and now this. As soon as one burden had been lifted, another replaced it. Despite my complete and utter breakdown since arriving, I'd avoided telling her anything. She a.s.sumed something had gone terribly wrong with Blake, and for now, that was enough.

”Not really,” I finally said.

”Maybe you should. I've never seen you like this, honey.”

I was a mess, true. I looked like h.e.l.l but I was grateful that I didn't have to put on a happy face, or makeup for that matter, when I was with Marie. I could just be, even if I wasn't planning to tell her the whole truth.

”We're taking a break. That's all. I don't expect it to be easy, but trust me when I say it's for the best.”

”What did he do?”

”It's not him, it's me. I... I really don't want to talk about it, Marie. Not right now, anyway.”

She didn't look entirely satisfied with my unwillingness to share, but she wouldn't push me. She never had. She was always good about giving me s.p.a.ce, not smothering me with concern and questions. Because she was, I typically ended up telling her more than I probably should. But this was different.

”I do want to talk about Daniel, though.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. ”Please, not this again. At this point you could probably tell me more than I could tell you about the man.”

”Have you seen the news?”

She nodded. ”Yes, I saw that his son died. Tragic. Have you spoken to him about it?”

”Yes, he's taking it pretty well.”

That sounded more sarcastic than I'd wanted it to. The wine was making me too loose. I set down my gla.s.s. I couldn't afford truth serum slip-ups. I had too much at stake to risk getting sloppy.

”I want you to tell me everything you know about him, Marie. Don't worry about sugar coating the past. Trust me when I say I have no illusions about him.”

She sat quietly, tracing the rim of her gla.s.s. Our eyes met, and I could see there was more that she hadn't told me. No doubt for my own sake.

”Why do you want to know so badly? Don't you ever think that Patty didn't tell you for a reason?”

”I think about that every day.”

What if I hadn't been so d.a.m.n curious? I'd never have found Mark. I'd still have my anonymity and he'd still be alive. Blake wouldn't be half responsible for his death and at risk of losing his own life. Jesus, everything would look so different right now. So very different.

”I want to know because I don't entirely trust him. He wants me in his life. Not publicly as his daughter, of course, but I need to know what I'm getting into. He's not extremely forthcoming, and his wife wants me at a distance. It's complicated. I figured if you could tell me something about his past, that would be a start. At the very least, I'd like to know who he was.”

She stared into her gla.s.s, her mouth in a grim line. ”I had no idea you'd find him, but the minute you did, I had this terrible feeling that it would come to this.”

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