I'd hoped to get in the car and drive off before they arrived, but I spent too long after somewhat recovering fromthe news about Alex's identity, too long standing here, trying to get my numb mind into the game.
I could have jumped in the car and taken off after Lyndall. But what would that have accomplished? We'd both be taken. And maybe that's what got her killed? Myself?
Or I could have driven off, put distance between me and Enzo before he turned up like I knew he would.
Except I'd been expecting a good man to show up...not the man with the gun, and certainly not my sick stalker.
I clamp down on a sob.
It's my fault. That's clear.
My fault someone took Lyndall. After all, I convinced Lyndall to come with me. But how could I leave the girl with a stalker, even if that man was her brother?
I don't think he'd do anything untoward, but...what if he hurt her, used her as leverage?
No, I had to get her to come with me.
I just didn't know Alex didn't exist.
Like I didn't know a stranger with a gun would show up.
But what was I meant to do? I had no one to turn to.
Apart from Alex.
Who was also Enzo...
My head pounds, and my stomach heaves.
Pretending to be someone else makes him even more unhinged than I ever thought.
It was bad enough to discover Enzo was stalking me. And now this discovery...that he's Alex, makes it all so much worse.
Who does that?
Who pretends to be someone else to infiltrate another person's life? My life?
God, all the things I told Alex, the way I bared myself to him figuratively and literally makes me hate him with a passion that tightens my guts and makes my blood sing.
I trusted Alex.
Trusted him.
And he betrayed me by being fucking Enzo.
Finally, the car doors slam, and they drive off.
One car. Then the other.
I breathe out something like relief and give in to the shaking, going from crouch to sag on the ground in seconds.
For a few minutes, I draw my legs up and bury my face against them, wrapping my arms around my knees.
"Shit," I whisper. "Shit. What do I do?"
A bird calls out, and cars go by on the road.
There isn't as much traffic as I thought there would be, but then again, that's why I chose this place.
