I leave the parking lot and pull onto the road, refusing to look back because I know Shadow hasn’t moved. He’s still standing right where I left him, looking exactly how I feel, and it doesn’t make any sense.
My phone starts to ring, and I grab it on the first ring, before I even register the ringtone.
“You fucking cunt. Who the fuck is Shadow?”
I slam on the brakes. “Excuse me?” I put the phone on speaker and set it in my cupholder as I drive slowly toward the main road. I’m going to need my GPS to navigate my way away from the compound, but right now, I’m realizing that Shadow may have been right. The road is littered with debris, branches so large and sharp, I’m terrified I’ll shred a tire.
This is stupid.
I’m so, so stupid.
Clive clearly agrees.
“I’m gonna kill him, Violet. Did he fucking touch you? Why the hell did another man answer your phone?”
I slow my car to a stop and rest my head on the steering wheel. I listen to Clive rant and rant, spewing hatred at me, insults at Shadow. I slowly piece together that Clive must have called last night and Shadow must have answered my phone.
Shadow talked to Clive, and he threatened him. And now, Clive is threatening me.
My mood flip-flops from lost to furious. I’ve spent six terrifying and stressful months carefully planting the seeds of a new life. A life that Clive shouldn’t have been able to penetrate. He shouldn’t know where I am. He shouldn’t know anything about Shadow or the compound or where I spent the last few days. Shadow had no right to pick up my phone. He had no right to put himself between me and Clive. I was handling my ex. I was handling my own business. And now, all I hear is the rage, the threats, the shit-talking that I thought I had put behind me for good.
“I know where you are, Violet. And I’m going to make you pay.”
I don’t even have to end the call. Clive hangs up, and the sudden silence shocks me into action.
Clive knows where I live? He found my new address? Even if I could get there, now I can’t go there. Not now when I don’t know if there’s power.
Two days ago, I was scared, but I wasn’t helpless. Now, I’m powerless.
Vulnerable all over again.
And this time, it’s not my fault.
It’s Shadow’s.
9
Shadow
“Stella, give me a beer.”
I straddle a barstool and take a huge sip to wash the taste of sweet Violet James off my lips. I’ve fucking sunk for this woman. Never have I been so whipped that I practically begged her not to leave. But she didn’t want to stay, and that’s for the best. Not everybody’s cut out for this life; she should leave if she doesn’t want to be here.
My mind starts spinning.
I need to go to Malcolm’s to collect. We have business to do, shit that will all go back to normal now that the storm has passed, and yet, I don’t want to think about anything but Violet James.
I chug the entire beer and slam the bottle down on the bar when Stella points at me. “Looks like your nerd girl’s back.”
I jerk my head up but not before I feel the vicious poke of a slim finger against my back.
“How dare you.”
I turn on the stool and face the fuming woman whose ass I had in my hands just ten minutes ago. I cross my arms over my chest so I don’t grab her and kiss her. My heart beats faster, and for a minute, I’m so fucking relieved she’s here, I feel damn near happy. “How dare I what? Be right about the roads?” Worry takes over. “Are you all right? What happened?”
“What happened is you put your nose in my personal business.” Violet’s cheeks are flushed, and she’s continuing to point at me with that finger.
I feel dozens of sets of eyes watching the scene unfold. Stella has the class to turn her back to us, but bunnies and brothers alike are watching this woman point in my face and accuse me of God only knows what.
