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Oh my God. He was fucking delusional. I needed to get away from him. For the first time since he started following me everywhere, fear gripped my chest. His arm around my shoulders grew tighter as I tried to tug away. If he got me alone, I couldn't imagine what he'd do to keep me with him. I looked around us, but the people on the sidewalk had thinned out. It was just us.
My hope was nearly dashed when a car careened to a stop next to us. I didn't care who it was as long as they took me away from Eric. I was about to speak when a familiar figure climbed out of the car.
"Shawn!" Tears spilled out of my eyes, but I was too happy to notice. Eric had gone still beside me, but I couldn't care less. Shawn was here. It'd all be okay.
Shawn gazed at me, and I saw the relief on his face. His eyes fell on the arm holding me, then to Eric. I froze. Shawn's face morphed from happiness to anger so twisted I wanted to step out of the way even though I knew it wasn't directed at me.
“Let her go,” Shawn growled, stepping forward.
Eric's hand shook slightly against my arm, but he managed to sound composed. "Says who?"
“The man who's going to leave your blood on the sidewalk if you don't.”
"You can't touch me. That'd be assault."
I saw the slight smile on Shawn's face before he took a step forward, pulled back his fist, and slammed it into Eric's face. My ex shrieked and fell back. I ran to hide behind Shawn.
“You bastard!” Eric spat through his bleeding mouth. He fisted his hand and threw it forward, but Shawn caught his hand like it was nothing.
“That the best you've got?” he growled, then returned a punch of his own. Then another and another.
“Shawn, stop!” I grabbed onto his arm. He turned narrowed blue eyes to me. “Please.”
Slowly, he let Eric go and dropped his fist. Eric fell onto the pavement, holding onto his nose and groaning.
“Let's go.” Shawn pulled me away and opened the car door.
I watched Eric, oddly detached from his pain. It was only when Shawn drove us away that I could look ahead into traffic.
“How did you find me?” I asked.
“I had Tony track your phone,” Shawn said, eyes glued to the road.
He cared. He really cared. Yet, I couldn't tell by the set of his jaw or the hand gripping the steering wheel so firmly his knuckles were white. What was he thinking behind that dark look? I gulped, too afraid to ask.
Heart pounding, I settled against the seat. It didn't matter. As long as I was free of Eric.
Chapter20
Violet
The elevator whirred to a stop on Shawn's floor. Nerves twisted in me for a different reason than the first day I showed up here. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Today, Shawn was right beside me, but his movements were stiff. Something was bothering him.
I looked away from his face and kept my eyes on the hallway floor. Shawn was the least of my problems right now. Even if he wasn't excited to see me, and must feel like I put him in a difficult position today, at least he didn't drive me right back to Kate's and ask me never to show up at his house again.
He tracked you, remember?
I looked into his face, hoping to find a hint of softness that told me his heart was still warm toward me. Nothing.
“Violet,” he barked.
My heart jumped. He hadn't said anything to me on the ride over.
“Stop being so anxious. The kids will be happy to see you.”
I looked down at my twisting fingers and released them. The kids... Kids believed everything had a simple solution. I didn’t want to reveal my entire backstory, and they might not understand my need to leave abruptly.
I took a deep breath as Shawn opened the front door. Hopefully, the boys would forgive me for leaving.
