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The mere mention of Jonas had my heart aching. I swallowed hard and turned my head, though I felt Ian’s gaze on me as I stared at my hand on the window panel. The cold soaked in, cooling off my heated skin.
“Did you see Jonas in San Francisco?” I asked, just above a whisper.
“Yes, I did see him… and Melissa Finch. Do you know Melissa?”
My pulse sped up as my stomach turned over. The way he said “Melissa” had my Spidey senses firing off “danger ahead.” Do not ask, my head begged my heart. But I ignored it and asked anyway.
“No. I don’t. Should I know her?”
“Melissa Finch is an heiress to Arthur Finch Construction, which builds all over the world. She’s also a psychiatrist, but I suppose you haven’t run into her here. She lives in Dallas.”
We both knew Jonas was based in Texas, and from Ian’s facial expression, I gathered he wanted to say more. I didn’t want to think of Jonas with Melissa or anyone else, so I tried to steer our conversation sideways.
“So, how was the conference?”
Ian gave me a sympathetic look. “The conference was good. As for Melissa, she was there with Jonas. You mentioned you broke up, I assumed that was the reason?” he inquired.
Why is he pushing this?I didn’t want to know.
“No. Oh. I didn’t know.” I tried to stop the twitch in my face. “It’s fine. I’m happy for him,” I lied.
I took in a short breath and leaned my head against the window, soaking in the cold again to cool my hot skin, as I tried to piece myself back together after hearing Ian’s news. I’d broken off the companionship with Jonas and in just one week, he had replaced me.
What did I expect? He was gorgeous, rich, and an eligible bachelor. He could get anyone he wanted, just as Declan had said. Why would he waste his time with someone like me?
“I’m sorry, Lily. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Ian said, softening his tone in response to the crestfallen expression on my face. “For what it’s worth, I think Jonas is making a big mistake. If it was me, I wouldn’t let you go so easily.”
Easily.Easily replaced.The words stung, but from what I was coming to know about Ian, he wasn’t trying to hurt me. I supposed he was merely providing a dose of reality served up New York City style. Nevertheless, his words bit through the remains of my self-esteem.
Before the tears could begin flowing, the car stopped in front of the downtown police station, though I didn’t want to go there or be here at this moment. I wanted to be alone to lick my wounds and try to process the fact that Jonas had moved on from me. But I needed to settle what I had come for, which would require me to be brave. I needed to follow through on my quest to get rid of what was blocking my progress on becoming a new and improved Lily. I needed to press charges against Declan.
Standing in front of the building, an uneasiness settled over me. The dated architecture of the building, along with a swarm of blue uniforms amidst the less than desirable clientele had me thinkingcriminal. It was what my father would have classified as “a place best avoided.”
It wasn’t that my parents and I didn’t respect the police for their bravery and protection. It was just that we had our own prejudices against those needing their services, namely that they were categorically troubled or in trouble. My father would have been ashamed to see me here.
My mother, who went through the foster system in Dorchester, Massachusetts and was quite familiar with both the troubled and those in trouble, went to great lengths to ensure my world never brushed against either one. I surely hadn’t wanted to ruin her suburban utopia in Quincy by telling her that her daughter was being hurt by her then-boyfriend. I hadn’t ever wanted her to know that the world she had worked so hard to create, along with her only daughter, wasn’t perfect.
Sweat coated my body and my heart rate elevated as I placed my items on the security conveyor belt in the lobby. I couldn’t help but ponder the irony of the troubled and in trouble. It occurred to me that I was, then and now, both.
Going to the station with Ian had turned out to be a blessing, as he was able to guide me through the process and paperwork needed to file my initial criminal complaint against Declan. He handled most of the discussion. When a niggling of guilt gripped me, I only had to look at the photos of my injuries being placed in the file before me.
At the end, I was assigned a detective and a case number. The smug look of satisfaction on Declan’s face that I had witnessed earlier, when he sought to crush my spirit, also gave me the added strength to persevere in my pursuit of finally closing the door on this relationship.
I took in a deep breath of the chilled air as we stood on the sidewalk in front of the building. “Thank you, Ian. I truly appreciate all your help. We haven’t discussed legal fees….”
Ian smiled at me. “Dani would kill me. Besides, I barely did anything. I will also be connecting you to a friend, Diane Langston. She’s a criminal lawyer that will help you from here on out. She’s top of the line, but does pro-bono for… cases like yours.”
I curled my chin under. “For poor women in trouble.”
Ian folded his arms. “No. For brave women unfortunately linked to scumbags.”
I giggled. “Is that your professional opinion, Mr. Unger?”
“Yes, Ms. Salomé,” Ian said.
The car pulled up.
“I’m going to head home,” I said, pulling out my subway pass. “Thanks again.”
