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She swept her gaze through the room and for some reason, I followed, searching for the blue-eyed son of the Rossi family. But somehow, I knew he was gone…from this place and what he'd seen. He’d run from me now, and never look back.
“Come on,” I pulled her toward the elevator. ”Let’s get back.”
But fear filled her gaze. She swallowed hard. I could see her brain working overtime. If whoever killed Baldeon was still on the island, then they could be here. I glanced toward the others, catching the same thought sweep the room.
We had to get out of there. I jerked my gaze toward the hallway as Damon practically staggered out. He glanced at everyone frozen in place. “What’s going on?”
I didn’t wait for them to fill him in, just slipped my hand from around Anna’s arm. “I’m going.” I headed for the elevator.
Any moment they’d be leaving in droves. Any moment I’d be left alone…with Damon. I’d rather face a murderer.
“Wait.” Anna hurried after me as I stabbed the button.
I left, striding through the foyer after the elevator doors opened, and hurried out into the night. We held each other’s hand, scanning the darkness, our heels clacking on the pavement as we all but ran to our building.
Harsh breaths consumed me as I pressed my card to the sensor and waited for the doors to open. Then we were inside, hurrying through our own suite to watch the chaos of the night.
My phone let out abeep.I glanced down to find a message from an unknown number.
I heard you had a good time tonight.
My stomach clenched before I cast the phone onto the sofa.No…no fucking way.I didn’t need to reply to know who it as from. Hale. It had to be. There was no one else who’d know. No one else who’d revel in the depravity of what I’d done tonight. No one else who’d be bold enough to torment me that way.
I hurried to the bathroom, hit the faucet on the sink and, as the rush of the water smothered the sound, I heaved and retched over the toilet. My hands shook as I braced against the wall, my eyes closed. I’d come to this island as an escape. I'd come to this island for hope. But all I'd seemed to do was make myself a target for a brand new kind of hell.
I swiped my hand across my mouth then dropped it to my belly. But no one knew the real reason I was here. No one knew the secret I held. I rose from the toilet, flushed it, and brushed my teeth before I scrubbed my hands. I wanted to wash away everything from tonight. I wanted to scrub it all away.
When I was done, I changed into my pajamas, crawled into bed, and cradled my stomach.I needed to find a way out of this, however that came.I closed my eyes and tried to drift off to sleep, dozing until the faint sound of Anna’s voice found me later.
I roused enough to hear Finley’s voice, and closed my eyes once more. Whatever connection they shared was private, and I had enough of my own drama to deal with.
* * *
I avoidedDamon as much as I could the next day, skipping the classes I’d been so determined to attend. There was nowhere off limits to him now, that was clear when he'd forced his way into Xael and Evan’s apartment yesterday. I could still hear his threats whispered in my ear. Threats others took as seduction.
But there was nothing seductive about his grip on my arm.
Or the cruel glint in his eyes.
Anna thought he was gorgeous, smiling, her cheeks turning red as he played the part of the boy-next-door party boy. I felt sick…and it was more than the pregnancy. Ihadto find a way out of this. I had to find a way to get away from him. Only Xael saw my panic…and with a furrowed brow, she quietly sent me a text.
Xael: You okay?
What could I say?No…noI wasn’t okay.
Damon was sitting next to me on the sofa, I quickly typed out a…ttyl, okay?
She nodded, watching me and Damon with interest until I took the first opportunity to leave. But I still needed help and Xael was a badass bitch, so I was hoping like hell to talk to her in person.
But right then, I kept to myself, watching Anna hurry off to class while I stayed in the apartment, until I couldn’t stand being alone a second longer.
I dressed, applied mascara and a clear gloss on my lips, and went downstairs. There was a guard waiting to escort me, and another to watch the building. In the wake of Baldeon’s murder, the institute had gone into overdrive. There were guards everywhere and any other time, the sight of them might’ve filled me with exhaustion and disgust for my name. But here and now…with Damon after me, I felt relief.
“Ms. VanHalen,” the guard nodded in greeting as I strode toward him.
“I’d like to go to class.”
“Certainly,” he answered, and strode forward, scanning the outside of the building as we stepped out.
