“Never,” she scoffs. “But we both know you don’t give a shit about what he thinks, and if he doesn’t see how much you love him,fuck him, Evie.”
My gaze returns to the floor, quietly letting her words sink in. I know she is right. Abouteverything. But it’s too late, either way.
Either hereallylet me go. In which case, he’s already out ofmy reach, or my fears were right, and he meant what he said. That I will never have a choice. That his obsession knows no boundaries, not even ifIdraw them. I saw firsthand what toxic obsession like that does.
“You should go check on Jonathan. I’ll be fine,” I mutter.
She stares at me for a long moment, then rises and walks away, only to pause at the door. “You should know, Caden is gambling again.” I let out a long exhale and shake my head.
Once alone, I take out my phone and look at the time.
20:59
My eyes lock on the numbers as I count the seconds in my head.Hehas called me every night at 9 p.m., without fail. The phone rings in my shaking hands as I sit here, on the bathroom floor with a bleeding heart. His face flashes on my screen for twenty seconds before it turns dark.
I have been using it as a detox strategy. Not that it works.
21:00
I suck in a sharp breath, my teeth digging into the insides of my cheeks. Seconds tick by.
21:01
42
MASON
“So,this is it? You are just going to vanish?” Hugo raises a suspicious brow.
I’m leaving.
Fort, my home where she left her prints everywhere, doesn’t feel mine anymore. How can it? She isn’t here. So, I’m going to the one place that’ll accept me with open arms and no judgment. Sicily.
Ever since I made the call to my grandfather, then never showed up, he has been hounding me to visit. I thought I would do one better. Putting a few countries between her and me suddenly feels like the smartest decision I’ve made in a long time.
“I’m not moving to Antarctica, arsehole.” I toss my packed bag on the floor. “Besides, don’t tell me you fuckers won’t infiltrate the minute I settle in. This one is always looking for an excuse to get out of Fort.”
“Well, yeah.” Hugo snorts. “Of course I’ll be there. Have you seen your cousins? And then there’s the beach and the ports, and your cousins in bikinis.”
“Yeah, great location for disposing bodies, too,” James chortles.
“Right, get the fuck out of here. Or you’ll make me late. Again. Nannu only loves me enough to be disappointed once.”
“Don’t put that on us, fucker,” Hugo grunts. “You have your wildcat girlfriend to blame for that.”
Hugo didn’t touch me, butgirlfriendfeels like a punch to the gut. James catches my expression, as he always does, and leads Hugo out with a pat on my back, leaving me alone with none other than the God of misery.
“I guess the day we were all dreading is here.” Kane half-smiles. “You’re going full red.”
“At least I’ll be in my element.” I grin, lifting a shoulder.
“Try not to die,” Kane says, laying it on thick before he heads out after James and Hugo.
Once they leave, I slide open the balcony door at the Ritz and step out. The city glows beneath, car lights smearing into streaks. The night air washes my face, cold enough to sting. There is something about the buzzing hum of the city that fucks with my head. It’s too much fucking noise. Too much clutter. But also, too easy to fall into the chaos.
The lingering nicotine-laced air pulls at me like an old bruise, begging for one final taste. But that’s how it begins. One. Just one more fucking time.
Thud, thud.
