Page 75 of Next Level Love


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“Would you like me to take you home?” His voice was controlled and careful, but his chest rose and fell like mine.

I shook my head. “I’m fine, thank you.”

“If you’re concerned about him coming back or following you, I could—”

“I’m fine, Mr. Carden. I won’t be alone.”

A blatant lie. But I didn’t want to explain all of this. My messy life. Lincoln Carden, myboss, didn’t need to hear any of it. And more importantly, he didn’t need to be involved. It wasn’t lost on me that Alistair knew his name. Alistair had been watching him too.

“Okay” was all he said, but still he waited until I was in my car before he got into his.

And I was grateful. Even though I wasn’t in danger. Alistair, that awful weasel, had been doing Douglas’s dirty work for years.

While driving, I checked my rearview mirror every other second. It seemed Lincoln Carden’s threat had worked, for now. As soon as I was inside my apartment, I locked the doors. Then, without showering off the day, I climbed under the covers and pulled them over my head.

I couldn’t go on like this anymore. It made no sense. Running away hadn’t worked. And no matter how hard I tried to forget everything and create a new life that was my own, it was all pretend. Douglas would always find a way to be there, haunting, hunting, hurting whenever he could, however he could.

It was nice having someone there to defend me. Lincoln Carden was my boss, and he didn’t have to. He had plans. He had friends. He…

He was going to play games with his friends.

On a Wednesday night.

That was something my Link did too.

24

LINCOLN

[61 weeks ago]

@theanswerisno:

BRB mom is calling

@theanswerisno:

Don’t go into the mines without me

@pancakesareelite:

I won’t. I’ll die. Instantly

@pancakesareelite:

Mommy’s boy?

@theanswerisno:

Yeah, kinda

@pancakesareelite:

That’s nice

My adrenaline was high as I pulled up to Shaun and Neema’s apartment. What just happened? Why the heck did I defend Elizabeth? I don’t even know the whole story.

I should not be getting involved. But she was scared.