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He needed his space at the moment.
“I know. I, of all people, know. Just as you respected my space when I needed it, I’ll do the same. I wanted to remind you that I’m here.”
He swiveled his gaze toward her. “That means the world to me.”
Juliet exited the car, and he went back to Mark’s. For the first time in two weeks when he arrived home, he didn’t feel as much pressure weighing him down. They still had to crack the passcode, but it wouldn’t be long. He had faith in that.
On the Eve front, his worries still burned a hole in his gut. Every day, he lost a little more hope that she’d return.
He took a shower, wiping off the grime from the day. Being in Mark’s house had made him feel disgusting. He wiped the steam off the mirror, throwing the towel to the ground. The longer he stared at the man before him, the more he couldn’t recognize who it was.
It took a long time to shave. One, because it felt so foreign to him after such a long time. He’d never tried growing a beard, so it was a new feeling. Two, because his hand trembled at times, so many conflicting emotions bombarding him.
When it was all over and he stared at himself again, clean and fresh, he felt a part of his old self return.
Right before he flicked off the lights to go to bed, he held his phone a moment longer than the other nights. Staring hard at the screen.
For the first time, he lost the will to remain strong.
Eve curled under the covers,gazing out the window at the moonlight filtering in. Middle of August and the heat suffocated a person when you stepped outside. She hadn’t left the house today, but she’d stolen a few moments outside to get away from the stifling oppression she felt in the house. That had felt a hundred times worse than the heat outside. She ached to step out on the veranda and feel it again. Because the way she felt now couldn’t be any worse.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, lighting up the tiny space.
She picked it up, gasping at the name and the simple words attached below it.
I just wanted you to know I understand. And nothing has changed for me. I love you. I always will.
Oh, Griffin. How she loved him in return. His words meant everything. The despair that had been building slowly over the past week splintered, part of it breaking off and away. She had needed this. Though not his sweet voice whispering it to her, she heard it just the same as if he had.
Darrian could play this game forever. She could live in this hell until the day she died. Playing it safe wasn’t working. She had miscalculated Darrian’s strength to remain in check. She’d even felt Ivan wavering on Darrian’s intentions. Though he continued to monitor and follow her around. Something she deeply appreciated. She didn’t feel as alone and afraid because of it.
Her fingers hovered to reply when she heard a soft knock on her door. Twisting around, she saw a shadow as the door opened. She clutched the phone as it opened farther.
“Evelyn?”
She shivered at Darrian’s low tone. It didn’t sound menacing, but he never came to her room. Why now? Why so late?
She sat up, turning on her lamp on the nightstand, then pasted on the smile she’d been wearing since she returned home.
“Is something wrong?”
He shook his head. “I was hoping we could talk.”
“Sure.”
To her horror, he came inside, closing the door. She would’ve preferred he kept it open, but it was too late to protest. To be on an even keel with him, she slid out of bed and put on her robe. She wore a T-shirt and loose pants, but she still felt naked in front of him. With the robe, at least, she felt she wore some sort of armor.
Her gaze darted around the room, wondering where she’d put the bracelet. She’d taken a shower before coming to bed. A quick glance didn’t help her, and she couldn’t remember if she mistakenly left it in the bathroom. The bathroom wasn’t far, the door open, so if she had she could only hope the bracelet would pick up anything he said from that far away.
“It’s been nice having you back, having you at the office.”
“I’ve enjoyed being there.” She missed baking though. It was her true passion.
She missed the cafe. The dumb Christmas music blaring out of the speakers. The people not minding their own business, asking about personal things she had no idea they knew. That small town had been more than her refuge from danger, it had become her home.
She wanted to go back home.
“How long are we going to play this game?”
