“I can’t do it. I can’t leave you,” he finally says.
“This will never end if you don’t.” I don’t wait for him to answer, just hug him quick and whisper, “Tell Ethan I love him.”
Before I can pull away, he shoves his phone in my hand. “At least take this with you. This is insane, Anna.”
And then I turn and lose myself in the crowd. I can hear Teeny scream my name, but I don’t stop running.
Tears stream down my face and I don’t care what I must look like. I am a hazard to everyone I come in contact with and I can’t let them get hurt just because they are near me. There’s a real chance I won’t survive this, but at least it will only be me—not Ethan and Teeny, too. And at least this entire nightmare that started with me will end with me.
I go two blocks and I’m back to the spot where Tyler let us out not long ago. And there he is, waiting for my return.
I power Will’s cell phone off then shove it in my back pocket, readjust the gun in my jacket pocket before jumping into the backseat of the car. Tyler pulls away before I get my door shut. “I thought you changed your mind,” he says.
“I almost did. Do you really think I will walk away from this?”
“Yes. I do. And I will do everything in my power to make sure of it.”
It’s not comforting to know my life is in the hands of a lunatic stalker but it’s better than being on my own.
He makes me duck down on the way back, which means he really doesn’t fully trust that I won’t tell where the house is. But it also means he thinks I’ll live to tell the tale.
I feel guilty for not telling Ethan everything. Really guilty. And I’m sure he will never trust me again. But I truly believe I’ve made the right choice. If Ethan was well, I would have never tried this without him, but he’s not. I know Catherine will take care of Teeny, and Will will make sure Ethan gets medical treatment.
It takes no time to get back to the house with the courtyard. Apparently we drove around in circles earlier.
Thomas is waiting in front of the double doors when we get back.
“Tyler,” I say just before he gets out of the car. “I’m trusting you. Don’t let me down.”
He smiles. “Anna, I’m on your side. I swear.”
He gets out of the car and I follow, crawling out of the backseat. Thomas is standing in front of us, arms crossed in front of him.
“I take it Ethan and your sister are on their way out of town.” He’s so calm and cold sounding. No trace of emotion.
“Yes,” I answer.
“Do you need a reminder of what’s at stake?”
Mom.
“No. We’re clear.”
As much as I hate them both, I need to play along right now, at least until this is over. “I was the original contract—not them. You don’t need anyone else. Just me.”
A flicker of something I don’t recognize, maybe smugness, crosses Thomas’s face before he hides it away.
Thomas takes a step in my direction and I fight the urge to take a step back. I refuse to look weak in front of him.
“I hope that brave front you’ve put up doesn’t crumble. Why don’t you go back upstairs for now.” It’s not a question.
I’m back in my room before I loosen the death grip on the gun hidden in my jacket. The bed is in the same shape it was when Ethan crawled out of it. I bury myself in the covers, pulling them up over my head, and make sure my head falls into the same indention on the pillow. I inhale the scent of him that’s left behind.
Being here, in this bed, by myself, I can’t fight the urge to call him and make sure they left New Orleans. I have to assure myself that we didn’t fall headfirst into a trap. Using the phone Will gave me, I call Catherine. She answers on the first ring.
“Anna! Is that you?”
“Yes. Did y’all get out of town?”
