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That wasn’t who I was. My mother had died when I was just a girl, but she hadn’t raised me to be promiscuous. My father had not either.
I closed my eyes, imagining the face of our Priest, Father Tulmmeccio, staring down at me with a look of disapproval. When I opened my eyes again, it was Michael staring down at me, with a confident, smug look on his face.
“Take me home, please,” I said quietly.
Neither of us spoke on the long ride home.
“Terri,” he finally said when we walked into the door. “Come here.”
“I’m sorry. I need to go to bed.”
“That’s the idea,” he said, giving me a wolfish look. I wanted to sink into the floor with humiliation at that.
“Goodnight,” I said, turning and quickly running up the stairs. I could sense his confusion. But he didn’t follow.
I walked woodenly into my room and closed the door, leaning against it. The tears came as I slid to the floor. I could not do this. I could not live like this.
He knew now that I could not resist him. That I didn’t want to. But giving into his temporary attraction to me would only leave me with a broken heart.
Worse than broken. Demolished.
I wiped my tears away and stood, my fate decided. I had no choice. I had to leave.
I looked for my ancient leather suitcase but it was nowhere to be found. Another memory, stolen from me, I thought bitterly. I pulled out the shiny new set, realizing I had no idea where to go. I could not give up my dream of going to school. But he would find me. If I could take my classes remotely… but no. I would lose my teachers assistant position if I did that.
I paused. I didn’t want to lose everything. I just wanted to keep my heart.
I would leave. I would find a cheap room. I would let the Margarelli girls know. I would let Auntie know.
I would not let Michael know.
He couldn’t force me to stay here. He couldn’t. I wasn’t a prisoner.
My mind made up, I packed enough clothes for a week, then I packed my books and laptop, a few toiletries. I left the jewelry I was wearing on the bathroom counter.
I called a hotel near my school and booked a room for a couple of days with my card. Then I sat, listened, and waited. There was a good chance Michael had retreated to his office. Or his bedroom. But he sometimes sat downstairs near the front door at night, lingering in the dining room or living room after dinner.
Not tonight, I prayed silently. Not tonight.
If he saw me, if he caught me, I would be lost. I would let him take me to bed. Take my virginity. ‘Let’ was the wrong word. I would insist on it.
So I waited. When I finally opened the door, the hall was empty. The house was quiet. I closed my door softly behind e and carried my luggage down the stairs.
So far so good.
I saw the door. I walked forward, my head held high. Outside a guard was waiting.
“Need a car?” He said.
I almost hugged him. I nodded.
I would take the car to one hotel and then take a cab to another. I knew Michael would find me eventually if he wanted to. But at least this would buy me some time.
Time to start erecting a fortress around my heart.
Chapter Twenty-One
Michael
“Boss?”
Go away, I thought, awareness coming to me like an unwanted guest. I had drank myself to sleep in my office once again. I was really doing well in the mental health department.
Because of her. Because I’d nearly had her, and then lost her. I’d spooked the horse and now I was going to have to start all over again.
But I didn’t want to think about that yet. I needed to sink back into unconsciousness. I wasn’t ready to face my failure.
“Boss, it’s Theresa.”
I was instantly alert. I sat up, rubbing the back of my neck. I had to stop sleeping in the goddamned chair down here. It had been nearly two months since the last time I did it.
Since she came.
Because staying upstairs near her was preferable. Even if it was torturous. Until last night.
I’d been so confused, so damned hungry for her, so hurt by her sudden retreat, I had not known what to do with myself. So I’d hid. Drank myself to sleep. And now I was paying for it.
“Is she okay?”
Tiny frowned, then looked at his feet. Immediate alarm bells went off in my head. Tiny was never afraid to speak up. The big guy was family. He spoke up even when he shouldn’t.
“What about Terri,” I said, enunciating clearly. My tone left no room for further delay. “Tell me right fucking now,” I added unnecessarily.
“She’s gone, boss.”
