AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Twenty-six.” She lets that soak in while I continue, “Anders gave me your file,” she grimaces at the reminder, “and I opened it. When. I. Saw. Your. Face.” Her head jerks up at my emphasis, recalling that she pointed out how I’ve used that exact wording before, “I would’ve kicked anyone’s ass that tried to take my place. It was no longer my job to protect you, Willa. It was my honor. No way in hell would I allow another to do it. It would’ve been my first failure as your man.”
She’s quiet so long, my frantic heartbeat seemingly the only sound breaking the silence, that I’d almost rather she scream and hit me than sit there saying nothing. “Do you really love me?” Okay, give me back the silence. It was far more preferable to the vulnerability that question conveys.
“You are my world. I love you more than anything. I need you to survive. Fuck oxygen. I need Willa. Without you…” I can’t even bear to finish the sentence.
More silence. I don’t know how long we sit there, but I’ll give her all the time she needs as long as she’s here with me. “I want to go home now.” Turning my head, I discreetly wipe my tears, praying like I haven’t since begging for my mom to be able to stay with me, and nod.
“As hard as it is to believe right now, I am a man of my word. I will give you the space you need, but know this, I won’t be far. My promise was real,” then I look pointedly at her ring. “It’s you and me forever, which means I can afford to give you some time because I intend to spend eternity making it up to you.”
Chapter Seven
Willa
May 16th…
Austin brought me home last night just like he said he would, then sweetly kissed me, told me he loved me, and that he was only a phone call away. He then walked out, glancing back at the window he seemed to know I was watching him from until his view was blocked. I saw him drive down the road, the slow speed at which he was going a testament to his reluctance to keep his word.
But he did.
He’d texted to let me know he made it to his house and that there would never be another secret between us. My fingers itched to reply, the urge hitting me so hard I had to turn my cell off and stick it under my pillow. Why the last part? I don’t know, but in my defense, I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly.
I am now, though. I barely slept, snippets of my time with Austin keeping me awake, as did the drivel my classmate tried to sell me. The thing is, she wasn’t exactly wrong. And that’s what hurts more than anything. For once, I’d thought Austin was with me because he wanted to be, not that he had to be. And was getting paid to do so.
My mind vows to never forgive him, but to instead forgethim and try to move on. Metaphorically, speaking, of course. I already know there will never be any other man for me. Which is where my heart puts its two cents in, and I gotta say, I’m rooting for her to win. She makes sense, reminding me that he didn’t know anything about my parents. Someone had to tell him they’re rich. And even then, he still didn’t want to do it. Then he saw my picture…
But can I trust that? He’s already proven how adept he is at lying. I wish there was someone I could talk to. Normally, it would be my mom, or my dad depending on the situation, yet I can’t about this. Not because they wouldn’t understand. They’d be disappointed in Austin as they’ve grown to love him as a son. It didn’t take long, not that I can talk as it took me all of ten minutes to start to myself. And they’d hurt for me, my dad ready to draw blood because of it.
Anders has to know him better than anyone, right? If not him, then perhaps Torren or Clover. I’m supposed to let them know when I leave the house other than for school, but if I’m going to where they work, do I still have to? Except, they’re his friends. Of course, they’ll talk him up. An employer, though, not so much. Or at least not in the same manner. Either way, I need a ride there. I can drive as my mom’s car is here, but I haven’t gotten behind the wheel since I was rear-ended, through no fault of my own, a couple months ago. They still haven’t caught the man who did it, and the cops labeled it a hit and run.
Before I chicken out, I install the Uber app, fill out the required information for my profile – under the name Lila Ranks, removing the first letter of my real names and switching some letters in the first to come up with it – and schedule a pick up. After that task is completed, I perform a Google search for Anders’ company, my brain only partially remembering it. Thankfully, what I do is enough.
Bastion Defense.
Curious, and having time before my ride arrives, I look for the definition of Bastion and realize it suits Austin perfectly. To his own detriment, he was willing to defend me, a stranger, simply because he saw me.
I highly doubt that would make his employer happy. In fact, developing feelings for me might cost him his job. And if it’s true that he does love me, and I have to believe it is unless I want to slip into a despair I may not recover from, I have to accept every facet of him. Which includes his role being the only thing he kept from me.
Can I really get mad? I wasn’t exactly free with the details about the texts.
There is that.
An alert from the app lets me know my driver is approaching the gates, surprising me as I didn’t realize how long I’d been thinking, and I grab my purse, having already chosen to wear a pair of boots Austin loves seeing me in. I shove my phone into the little pocket tucked inside it, a gift from Austin.
It’s a way to keep things on me without worrying about losing them if I don’t want to haul a bag around. My cell fits perfectly in it, Austin double-checking that before purchasing a few of them for me and making me promise to use them wherever I could.
Setting my purse back on the table, I remove some cash from my wallet just in case. My ride will be paid via a transaction through the app. Plus, if I need anything else, I have a virtual wallet saved on my phone I can use almost anywhere. It doesn’t take me long to reach the gates, my parents and the majority of the neighbors having golf carts for just this purpose, and I park it off to the side in the reserved section for them.
In my rush, and having never done this before, I don’t think to verify the picture of my driver against the man sitting behind the wheel, instead getting in and wishing him a good morning. We exchange a few pleasantries, and while something seems off, I acquaint it with my lack of sleep and nervousness about what my meeting with Anders may reveal. I should’ve called and made an appointment. That would’ve been the smart thing to do, but it’s too late now.
I’m not familiar with the area where the building is located, but I do know that we’re passing too many residential neighborhoods, and the houses are getting further apart, to be right. Dad once told me that happens when you near the city limits, the next town being more common for open spaces between families, some even owning enough land to run farms.
“Excuse me, sir?” He ignores me, so I clear my throat and try again, speaking a bit louder in case he couldn’t hear me. He turns for a split second and that’s when my brain registers what I’d noticed before but was too preoccupied and naïve to listen to.
This is not the driver that was assigned to me. Why did I leave my purse at home? My knife and pepper spray would really come in handy right about now.
“I told you I’d see you soon, Willa. Your boyfriend isn’t here to save you now. Neither are your bodyguards. Like they could stop me,” he harrumphs. “This has been a long time coming.”
“Who are you?”
