“She’s married,” Damon says with a soft smile.
Tears well up in my eyes as I think of Sara walking down the aisle and marrying the love of her life. If anyone deserves happiness, it’s her. “Have you talked to her yet?”
He nods and takes a sip of his red wine. I watch his full lips wrap around the glass, and I can’t help but remember what they felt like pressed up against mine. Training with him hasn’t been easy. Feeling his hands all over me but not letting things go any further has been driving me up the wall, and the sexual tension has been growing day by day.
Tonight, Damon is dressed in a black suit with a green tie that brings out his eyes. He looks handsome, as always, but I can’t even allow my mind to go there. After everything that we’ve been through…after everything that happened, I don’t know if my broken heart will ever heal enough to give him another chance.
“She wants me to come visit her this weekend,” Damon says, bringing me out of my inner turmoil.
“That’s…that’s wonderful,” I tell him.
My heartbeat picks up pace as I think of being alone in this place without Damon here to protect me. Even though he thinks I hate him and want to leave, he couldn’t be more wrong. At first, I just needed my space from him. But now, knowing that Damon is here and available anytime I need him makes me feel…safe. And the thought of him not being here or having his protection makes me feel anxious and vulnerable.
“Victoria,” he says, reaching across the table and laying out his hand, palm up. I stare at his hand, but don’t move a muscle. When I reject his gesture, he grimaces and says, “I think I already know the answer to this question, but would you want to come with me to see Sara?”
He’s giving me a choice? And clearly he thinks I’m going to say no. “Yes,” I tell him, watching as his eyebrows shoot upwards in surprise.
“You really want to go?”
“I’d love to see Sara,” I clarify. I also don’t want to be left alone, but I don’t tell him that part.
“Of course,” he says with a nod. “I’m sure she’d love to see you too.” He draws his hand back and picks up his fork, spearing a piece of steak before bringing it up to his mouth.
I watch him chew for a moment before I return my attention back to my own plate. We eat in companionable silence then, but I can feel the anxious energy between us.
We’re both excited to see Sara again. And knowing that she’s found happiness in this cruel, cruel world makes me hopeful that maybe someday I will too.
And when I look over at Damon and he flashes me a sexy grin, I allow myself to wonder if I’ll find happiness with him someday.
Deep down I hope the answer is…yes.
CHAPTER 27
DAMON
THE TRIP TO the small town in Pennsylvania is long and silent. Victoria is brooding in the passenger’s seat, and I would pay anything to know what she’s thinking. The way she keeps fiddling with her purse, I know she’s anxious. Probably as anxious as I am about seeing Sara again.
A million questions swim through my head on the way there.
When was she rescued? When did she get married? Or better yet…whodid she marry? And is she truly happy?
I won’t be able to rest my world-weary soul until I know the answer to the last question. If she is not truly happy, I will do everything in my power to make sure she is.
The GPS signals that we have one more turn to make before our destination. And as I see the large gated entrance with a guard shack outside of it, I can’t help but wonder who Sara did marry that he needs so much security.
Victoria’s eyes narrow as she watches the guard approach the car. “Name?” the man asks after I roll down my window.
“Arlo Rossi,” I say, giving him the name I haven’t used since I was a kid. “I’m here to see Sara.”
The guard nods and hits a button to open the gate. “She is expecting you. Drive on through, Mr. Rossi.”
After the gate swings open, I press my foot to the gas pedal and drive through. The driveway is long and paved with neatly pruned trees lining it on both sides.
As we approach the house, I can hear Victoria gasp with delight. “Oh my god, it’s gorgeous!” she remarks.
The house, or should I saymansion, is bigger than the home Victoria grew up in, the place we reside in now. The front of it is lined with tall windows, and there is a giant fountain with mermaids in the center of the circular drive.
I park in front of a long garage that sits off to the left, and I can’t help but wonder how many cars it actually holds. Ten, fifteen, twenty?
