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We’re near a major thoroughfare, with cars streaming by and I wonder if I should run for help. Then again, I don’t want to involve an innocent bystander. I’m not even sure what I’d be putting them in the middle of. My head is spinning from the crash, and I have to close my eyes and count to five to steady myself.
When I open my eyes, Bastien and another man stumble from the rear of the SUV. I make a slow approach.
“Stay back,” Bastien commands, but I don’t listen.
The would-be kidnapper has blood streaming down his forehead, and he’s fumbling for the gun holstered on his waist. Bastien is too concerned about me to notice. So I raise my gun and shoot the man in the chest. He’s wearing a bulletproof vest, so he staggers back and curses, again feeling around for his gun.
He won’t stop until he’s killed one or both of us.
I have no choice.
This time, I shoot him in the head. Instantly, he goes boneless and crumples to the ground in an awkward heap.
My heart stutters in my chest.
I just murdered two men.
Bastien’s stumbling drunkenly, the effects of that tranquilizer dart making him woozy. I grab him by the arm and steer him toward the busy street. It feels like forever, me clutching the gun in one hand and holding him upright. He’s heavy, and he keeps almost falling on me.
Cars continue to rush by, not one stopping to help. Not that I can blame them. The way this world is today, I’d be hesitant to stop too.
Finally, we reach the curb. My mind races. What to do? I don’t have my purse or a phone. If we go to a hospital, how would I explain all of this?
Bastien looks down at me, eyes bleary. “Why didn’t you let them kill me?”
I roll my eyes. “Why do you think?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know. Everything I did to you…,” he mumbles under his breath. “Now’s your chance. Kill me now, so I’ll stop hurting you. Save yourself, Camille.”
“I don’t want you dead. Idiot,” I bark in frustration. “I’ve never wanted you dead. I want you to stop hurting me, dammit! I want to go back to the way it was. I want you to love me again.”
He raises his head, and his eyes are dull with sorrow. “Never.”
My heart sinks.
“I’m poison, Camille. This only ends one way.” His voice slurs, and his head droops down again.
“Well then, fuck you, Bastien. Just fuck right off,” I shout at him. “I’m not going to live like this. And you can tell whoever is after you to leave me out of it, or I’m going to the cops.”
“Bastien!” A shout rings out in the night air. It’s Simon, leaning out the passenger side window of a car racing toward us. Bastien will be safe now. I shove the gun into Bastien’s hands and turn and run, feet flying. My heart is tearing itself in two.
I’m leaving him. I have to.
I’m going to take the money that he gave me, the money that I stashed in a safe deposit box and leave Pennsylvania. I’m going to hide out. Maybe I’ll even leave the country.
I’ll never see him again.
I’ll never love anybody again.
A car pulls up next to me. There’re two couples inside, and they look at me with alarm. “Lady? Are you all right?”
“Bad date,” I sob as one of them holds a door open for me. “Really, really, really bad date.”
CHAPTER24
Bastien
I’m in my office,fists clenched so tightly my hands are going numb. I force my hands open and flex my fingers. I’m trying to relax, but it’s no use. My eyes are glued to the screen in front of me.
