When I got back to Pam’s, I parked the car out front and knocked on the door to hand her the keys.
She opened immediately. “Well?”
For some reason, I couldn’t admit what I’d discovered. I felt ashamed of the whole thing and didn’t want her sympathy. Plus, maybe there was something I still didn’t understand.
I frowned. “I lost him. A truck cut in front of me, and that was it.”
She smiled sadly. “I’m so sorry, honey. I hope you can get to the bottom of it.”
“I have to go. But thank you.”
“Please let me know if you need anything.”
I nodded. “Will do.”
When I returned to the house, both of my father’s guys were out front, looking frazzled. Eddie paced with aphone to his ear, and Tommy ran over as I walked toward them. I’d been so crazed over Wes, I hadn’t considered the repercussions of sneaking out unguarded. And I certainly hadn’t given a thought to how they’d react.
“Where the hell did you go?” Eddie bit out.
“Sorry. I had to take care of something.”
“You need to tell us if you leave,” Tommy insisted.
“I’m sorry. Something personal came up, and it couldn’t wait.”
“If anything happens to you, it’s our asses on the line.” Eddie got in my face a bit and shouted, “Have the decency to at least tell us where you’re going if you plan to disappear.”
“Chill out…” Tommy scolded his partner. He turned to me. “Just tell us next time you want to leave, okay? If you need space, we’ll follow but give you some distance.”
“Okay,” I muttered. “I’m sorry for the scare.”
As I entered the house, Tommy followed. “Everything all right, Juliette?”
I shook my head and burst into tears.
“Hey…” He placed a hand on my arm. “Don’t cry. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t,” I whispered. “I just need to be alone.”
“Does this have to do with Wes?”
My eyes widened in surprise. But as much as I wished I could unload everything on him, it was too dangerous to say anything. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Tommy seemed nice. I certainly liked him better than the other goon, Eddie. But the last thing I needed was one of these two going back to my father about Wes and me.
“Well, just holler if I can help,” Tommy said.
“Thank you.” I forced a smile. “I appreciate that.”
I retreated to my room and paced until I heard the front door open about twenty minutes later. Then I froze, completely unprepared for this confrontation and no closer to deciding what the hell to do.
Wes appeared in the doorway of my room.
“Hey…” He smiled, oblivious to the turmoil inside me.
The nerve of him to try to act like everything is normal.
His smile faded. He must’ve noticed the look on my face. “What’s going on, Juliette?”
