AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Here, take this, go to—wait, you probably have money. Do you have money?”
I nodded, still bewildered. “I have my aunt’s card. Ian, wait, I—”
He ignored me, tossing his wallet onto the stool, then grabbing my shoulders with both hands and squeezing. “Look, here’s what you’re going to do. Turn around, head straight back to the airport. Straight back, do you understand? Go home. Stay there. Don’t come back here.”
“What? But my flight isn’t until Sunday,” I protested.
“Change it,” he instructed, his voice cold and hard. “Get one now. If it’s too late, stay in the airport and fly back in the morning. But get out of here.”
“Why?” I demanded, a little spark of fire beginning to reignite in my chest. I straightened my spine. “What are you talking about? I came all this way to see you. I want to apprentice for you. I want—”
My words cut off as his fingers tightened, digging into my shoulders, and the laugh that came out of his throat was cold and cruel. “Are you insane? You can’t apprentice for me.”
“Why not?” I dug in my heels. It wasn’t like this was new information. It had always been assumed that I’d work here someday. “I don’t mean now. I’ll come back again when I’ve finished school, and—”
“No!” he roared, and I actually took a step back.
“Why not?” I said again, though my voice wasn’t quite as steady.
He stared at me for a long moment, and I watched as emotions flickered in his gaze, some kind of inner turmoil I couldn’t identify. Then it was almost as if a wall dropped into place, and any trace of the man I’d known my entire life vanished, leaving behind only this cold, empty shell I didn’t recognize at all.
“I’ll tell you why,” he said in a harsh, quiet voice. “Because you could never take her place. You’ll never be as good as your mom, and I have no use for you here. There’s nothing left for you in California. Go home to Chicago, Camilla.” He made a harsh slashing motion with his hand, and I took another step away. His voice was a low growl. “And don’t come back.”
My heart shattered into a million pieces, and I turned and ran, determined to get out of there before the tears came. I made it, but barely. The chime on the door rattled loudly as I slammed it behind me, taking off at a run. When I was past the row of shops—all closed and silent for the holiday—and around the corner I stopped, sliding down the side of the building as tears clouded my vision, and I buried my head in my knees and sobbed.
How had he changed so much? Was it just the loss of my mom? They’d been as close as family my entire life—had her loss wrecked him as thoroughly as it had wrecked me? Did he blame me for what had happened to my parents? Because I’d survived, maybe, or because I hadn’t been able to save them? I’d tried, dammit, I’d tried to save them.
I cried until my eyes hurt, until my face was swollen and my nose raw, until I had nothing left. By the time I managed to pull myself together it was well after dark, the only illumination coming from the streetlights in the parking lot. I felt hollow inside, still shocked and confused, but empty, like my emotions were still there but I was somehow removed from them.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I still had three days until my flight home, three days that I’d assumed would be spent with Ian, catching up, laughing and reminiscing. Clearly that wouldn’t be happening. I could return to my cheap motel and stay another night, figure out what to do in the morning. Or I could follow Ian’s instructions, head to the airport, and try to find a flight home. I couldn’t imagine why he wanted to get rid of me so badly, but at the same time, he was right. It seemed there really was nothing left for me here.
I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and pushed against the wall, staggering to my feet. My legs were shaky from being held in the same position for so long and I stood for a moment, regaining my balance, before pulling my backpack up onto one shoulder.
I was in a narrow alley formed between the side of the strip mall and the adjacent building—some kind of restaurant, I thought—and I turned and began trudging back toward the lights of the parking lot.
I hadn’t made it more than a dozen steps when a hand came out of the darkness and wrapped around my arm, yanking me sideways as another hand clapped over my mouth, muffling my scream.
34
I stumbled as the arms pulled me into the shadowed alcove of a door inset into the side of the building. I felt a broad chest behind me and I jerked, adrenaline surging through me and forcing my heart into a stuttering gallop. The hand on my arm dropped to wrap around my wrist and twisted, hard, wrenching my arm up behind my back at a painful angle. I gasped, coming up on my toes to relieve the strain on my shoulder, and the grip loosened just a fraction. Enough for me to drop back down onto my feet, the pain in my shoulder receding, but still tight enough that the threat was clear.
“Camilla Kaplan,” the voice hissed right by my ear.
It was low, masculine, but unfamiliar, though whoever it was knew my name. Was that a good sign or not? It meant this wasn’t just a random mugging, but what could he possibly want from me?
“Took you long enough to come back,” he said, sounding strangely pleased and a little smug.
I struggled again, jerking my weight to the side in an attempt to knock him off balance, but he pulled my arm up once more and I let out a strangled gasp as my shoulder wrenched in its socket. My backpack slipped off my other shoulder, and I caught it with my free hand, clutching tight to the strap. My heart pounded so hard the sound seemed to echo all around us.
“Ah ah,” the stranger admonished. “Just hold still and tell me what I need to know, and I won’t have to hurt you.”
Won’t have to? Or won’t? Suddenly the distinction seemed very important. And what information could I possibly have that anyone would want to know?
He didn’t leave me wondering for long. The voice lost any trace of amusement, hardening to a growl. “Where is Max Fiorenza?”
What?
“Who?” I choked out, my question muffled by the hand still clasped over my mouth. It must have been clear enough though, because the stranger yanked my arm further behind my back, forcing me up on my toes again.
