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“You thought you were protecting me by sending me away from my home, my life?” My voice pitched, and I failed to get it back under control. “From you?” Calm eluded me. “I needed you, Callum. You were theonlyone I needed and thought I could rely on to be there for me, but instead, you backed down from fighting for me and took the coward’s way out.”
I could no longer sit still. I needed to move, create some distance between the storm brewing for so long, from the distance that had existed between us, and the reality of what that night had been ten years ago.
“Your life, Alina? It was bullshit. They were relentless with their spitefulness and crude remarks. The things they said, you should never have needed to hear. You were perfect, and they would’ve tainted you. I couldn’t have lived with that on my conscience. Don’t you understand that it would’ve killed me?”
“You pushed me away because you didn’t think I could handle hearing their gossip? Fuck you, Callum.”
A crackle of thunder shook the house, mirroring how I already felt while my entire body trembled from anger and sadness. The loss I’d endured all those years ago was never as heavy as it felt right now.
“Ineededyou.”
I paced across the floor and back again, thankful he stood rooted to the same spot. Immobile.
“You didn’t even ask me what I wanted. Not once before you pushed me away. Instead, you thought it would be better for us to shatter our relationship and lie to me. Let me leave still believing in those lies. How could you think that was for the best? How could you do that tome?” My nails dug into my palms, the pain welcoming and focused.
“Alina, stop.”
I ignored his request as my pace quickened. If I stopped, I would have to look at him, and I couldn’t, not while the floodgates were opening. I quickly blinked back the pain and tears.
“I had heard what they’d said. They called her crazy. They called her a murderer. I’d heard it so many times before.”
“Alina! Stop, for fuck’s sake.”
He was no longer immobile. The wall I hit was Callum, all male and toned muscle, standing in front of me. One hand fell on my shoulder while, with the fingers of his other, he nudged up my chin, bringing my eyes up to meet his.
“They were saying you did it, darlin’. They said you killed that monster. They were plotting to ruin your life.” His words echoed through the house, deafening, louder than the downpour drenching the outside world.
ChapterTwenty-One
Callum
“No.” Her lips quivered.
She was falling apart all over again right in front of me. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her there. Protect her like I should have all along.
“I’m sorry.” I knew the words sounded hollow and, at that point, had about as much meaning as a shopping list.
The chance to show her how sorry I truly was evaporated when Alina twisted away from me and rushed toward the door. She was out of the house before the shock wore off, and I could chase after her. Only getting to the driveway in time to watch as her car hurtled down the road.
Sprinting to my car, the puddles weren’t an obstacle, but the muddy water seeped its way into my boots. I jumped in and turned the key before forcing the gear and racing after her.
The seat belt was wrapped over my shoulder, and that was as far as it got to securing me. My heart raced like the wipers across the windshield. I couldn’t let her get away again, not like this.
Suddenly, her brake lights glowed bright red, and her car skidded to a stop. My still-racing heart almost stopped before a kick of adrenaline took over, coursing its way through my body.
Pushing the door wide, I scrambled out of my car with urgency to get to hers. Only as I drew closer did I see the tree that lay mercilessly across the track.
Her door creaked as I pulled it open. Alina was slumped over with her head buried in her arms which lay over the steering wheel.
Fear gripped me at the possibility she’d hit the tree.
“Alina?” I didn’t think she’d heard me until she turned to face me ever so slowly, her face stained with tears. “Come on, darlin’.” I reached for her, keeping my voice soft.
She didn’t move but stared as my hand reached for her.
“Let me take you home.” My hair clung to my forehead as the icy rain ran down my neck, sending chills down my spine. “Alina, sweetheart, we aren’t done talking. You can’t just run off like that. Let me take you home and get you warm.”
“Callum?” she asked as if surprised I was standing there. “Please, just let me leave.”
