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I should feel elated that he isn’t lying somewhere with broken bones and bruises, but I feel nothing but anger. He had no right to get involved and make such a demand. If I wanted Elliot out of my life, I would have made it happen.
I storm up to him, but before I can slap him again, he grabs my arm to stop me. I snatch my arm out of his hold.
“Who do you think you are? You had no right!” I shout.
The baffled look on his face is almost comical. “He’s been a nuisance since I met you! You should be thanking me.”
“For what, Xavier? For making decisions for me? Or should I thank you for using me? Or should I thank you for turning my life upside down?”
He steps towards me. “I’m tired of you blaming all this on me. You knew I was married!”
“And you promised me you were leaving her!”
“I am!” he screams louder than me. He runs his hand through his hair. “I told you I am handling it.”
I scoff at him. “The same way you told me you were handling my father’s case? It’s been weeks, and the great Xavier Rivers has done fuck all.”
He pulls a folded letter from his pocket and throws it at me. “I got rid ofthisproblem. I paid off his debts and sent him on his way to live out his dream of Bali in a fucking hut! I gave him enough money to do whatever he wants, but from what you’ve told me, he’ll probably blow it on gambling. The agreement was so he never brings trouble to your door again!”
Time slows down. The world stops moving. All my brain can focus on is that Elliot is in a different country. Elliot’s words about Caitlyn moving abroad blares in my head. This can’t be a coincidence; it’s apattern.
My throat tightens, and tears well in my eyes. “What did you do?” I accuse. “Where is Elliot?”
His lip curls into a snarl. “Are you serious?”
“People around you always end up abroad. Why is that? Did you send Caitlyn packing the way you promised Emery you’d do to me? Or did they see through your bullshit and run to another country to escape you?” I back away from him. “Oh my God! Elliot was right. Youarecrazy.”
I don’t know where I’m going – I’ll knock at Huxley’s door if I have to. I’ll tell him everything if it means I can get away from Xavier. I grab the first bag I find and shove everything around me into it.
Xavier snatches the bag and tosses it behind him. “Stop running!”
“You think I’ll wait here for you tohandleme? No! Move out of my way before I call the cops.”
“Savannah!” He pushes me against the wall and pins me there. Grabbing my jaw, he forces me to look at him. “You are overreacting. He has happily gone off to an island to live his dream. He didn’t hesitate to choose money over you. He didn’t even fight for you. He grabbed the money with both hands andran.”
I push him off me and walk to the other side of the room. I stare out the window and try to think logically. Anyone in Elliot’s position would take free money to get them out of a life-threatening situation. He has always spoken about Bali, so maybe it is true.
I turn around. “Show me proof.”
He gathers the papers he tossed at me and calmly hands them over.
I grab it and inspect the contents. It’s a contract signed by Elliot stating that in exchange for taking the money, he won’t contact me or anyone associated with me – including mutual friends. Contact includes phone calls, emails, texts, letters, or social media. His bold signature at the bottom serves as a reminder he willingly signed.
Next, he hands over his phone. It’s unlocked and displays an email confirming a plane ticket for Elliot Hunter to Bali.
“Consider this proof of life,” he grumbles.
He shows a series of pictures of Elliot entering the airport with a smile and luggage in tow. “Is that enough proof he isn’t dead in a basement somewhere?”
I stand my ground. “I want to talk to him.”
He shakes his head. “That breaks the contract.”
I shove him back. “I don’t care. I want to talk to him the second he lands.”
Xavier removes his jacket and places it on my bed. He takes a seat next to it. “I have no way to contact him. He destroyed his sim card and reset his phone.”
I wipe under my eyes, getting rid of the tears that brim there. I laugh at his foolproof plan. “You did a good job of ensuring no one can make sure he’s alive.”
