It was much colder here than in London, but I was sweating.
I glanced around, saw other people on the far side of the garage. A car went down the ramp behind me. It was early afternoon, so the space was well lit, well used, but still, they could harm me if they wanted. I took a step back. Then another. They were well out of reach, but with a line of cars at my back, they could easily grab me.
“You had to come home on Christmas, didn’t you? My mother’s going to kill me for being late for lunch.” The guy on the left glanced at his friend, who nodded his head in agreement.
“What do you want?”
“We don’t want anything.” The guy on the left added, narrowed his eyes. “We’re here to give you some advice.”
I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Just stare into their eyes. Eyes that seemed to have no soul.
“There are cameras,” I blurted out, pointing toward the stairwell I’d come out of.
“We’re just having a conversation,” the same guy said, his hands out in front of him as if he wanted me to come in for a hug. Since I knew that wasn’t the case, it was to show anyone who wanted to play back the security films that he wasn’t armed, that he’d done nothing more than chat with me.
“I can scream. People will come.”
Both just smiled. “Here’s the advice, sweetheart. Then we’ll let you get on with your life. Give Cam what he wants. Otherwise, the elevator? You won’t get away next time.” With that, they started to walk away, then the talker turned back. “Oh, your new place? The building looks nice.”
I remained where I was, watched them as they walked down the long line of cars and into the stairwell. My heart hammered, and my adrenaline made me shudder. Fuck.
Cam. This all came down to Cam. He was out of jail, and they still wanted something from him. They wanted money. And Cam’s money had gone to me. I had what they wanted. If I didn’t give them the money, Cam would probably be dead. So would I. And so would those in my building. They knew where I lived. They’d been there. Bile rose in my throat at the idea of them watching for me, seeing the others. God, they wouldn’t hesitate to hurt Reed or Gray or Emory.
A car drove by, startled me into motion. I picked up my suitcase, speed walked for the stairwell—the one on the far side of the garage opposite of where the men had gone—and went back out to the passenger pick-up area. I didn’t give a shit about my car. It was possible I’d have to sell it after this, not sure if I’d ever think the vehicle reliable or safe ever again.
&n
bsp; There were lots of people around, airport security just down toward the end of the terminal. I could scream and people would come running. But I couldn’t. No one would believe anything I said, and besides, it wasn’t like the police could do more than take a report. Slashed tires weren’t getting anyone arrested, and neither guy had done anything illegal. Scaring me wasn’t illegal. It wasn’t as if I could identify either of them. Even if there was security footage, it wouldn’t matter.
Slashed tires weren’t going to put Cam back in jail or keep those guys from getting to me somewhere else. They knew about my apartment, but from what they’d said, hadn’t gotten in. If the one guy’s mother had any sway, her son wouldn’t be out scaring women for the rest of the day; he’d be too busy drinking eggnog and eating turkey. I had to think I’d be safe in my apartment, or maybe I should just get the next flight back to Heathrow.
My heart rate hadn’t calmed. I looked around, frantic and eager travelers swirling around. Families with small children, businessmen heading home. Home. I barely had a home. I hadn’t unpacked, perhaps subconsciously waiting for something like this to happen, to remind myself I wasn’t staying, that I’d never be able to settle.
With fumbling fingers, I ordered a car, waited.
I was numb. I didn’t feel the cold wind. I felt nothing. I was good at that. I’d had plenty of time to perfect taking my emotions and sticking them in a locked box, tossing away the key.
I looked around. I was surrounded by people, but I was so fucking alone. I had no one. My parents chose Cam. I had my friends, but I couldn’t pull them into this. And I wouldn’t call them on Christmas. I had Reed. Did I? My heart beat faster at the thought of him but realized I couldn’t have him. No way.
Not with these men after me. If they knew I was into Reed, if they saw us together, they’d hurt him. Use him to get to me. And these were just the damn thugs. God, if Cam found out about Reed? He was desperate. What was he going to do now that he was free? If he knew about Reed, I felt nauseated at the thought. Cam would be ruthless and cruel, just like always.
The guys who’d assaulted me in the elevator had waited two years for payment from Cam, and he’d go to any lengths to stay alive. He’d given me to them once, and I knew he’d do it again.
I’d have to let Reed go. It wouldn’t be hard. We’d never really been together anyway. Just an emotional moment on my part. Sitting on his lap for an orgasm was what teenagers did. It was quick. Meaningless. And the phone calls, the texts? The sexting? A crush. Nothing more.
I wanted to believe all that, but it was all bullshit. Bullshit so my heart wouldn’t hurt as much as I realized I’d somehow fallen for him. I thought of Reed’s face, the intense blue eyes, the rarely given smile. The rough hands, yet gentle touch. I swallowed back the ball of tears lodged in my throat.
I’d take the job in London. They’d offered again while I was there. It would be easy. I was all packed. My suitcase, even my apartment. I just had to deal with HR at the university. I could be settled before the next term started. I’d be safe. No one could get to me with an ocean in the way. Even Reed. I just had to stay away from him until I moved again.
Easy.
I just had no idea how I was going to do that.
17
REED
I woke up at the usual time before dawn, even though I’d turned my alarm off just so I could sleep in. For once. Merry Christmas to me. Instead of rolling out of bed, I rolled over.