"Come and sit down. You're freaking me out." Trisha called out from the couch, patting the cushion beside her.
"No, I'm good." I didn't think I could sit down. My nerves were too tightly strung and if I sat still...I was sure they would snap.
"I'm sure he's fine. He's probably just working."
I glanced at her, trying to hold back the glare that wanted to surface. "It's late."
Her eyes narrowed. "Maybe he went home tonight."
"He told me he would be here." I snapped. I was growing more and more irritable by the second, but I was afraid for him. I came home to another letter today, but I didn't open it. I was afraid I would find the words more threatening than the last two letters. I was afraid that whoever the writer was had Jace. What if they did? I had no idea who the person was.
Trisha sighed, breaking through my thoughts. She stood and walked to past me to the kitchen, picking up the letter I had placed on the counter. "Well, maybe you should open his letter." I felt my face grow pale and her eyes narrowed. "The letters have been from him, right?"
I shook the fear from my head and snatched the letter. "Of course." I huffed. "Who else would they be from?" I downed the glass of wine. It was my fourth glass and I was just a little tipsy. But, I was certain I was going to need to be intoxicated to read this particular letter. The weight of it in my hand was different. It felt...heavier somehow. Like the weight of the words would undoubtedly weigh down on my heart. And, break it.
I reached for the bottle of wine I'd left on the counter and tipped it over my glass. Not even a drop fell from the bottle. I pouted, staring at it as though I could set it to flames.
Trisha scoffed. "You drank the entire bottle by yourself."
I frowned. "Apparently." I glared at the bottle for another minute before setting it on the counter. The glass chimed against the granite and I flinched. "Do we have any more?" I peeked up at Trisha who was staring down at me with wide, worried eyes.
"No." She shook her head. "I think you've had enough."
My mouth drooped. "We do have more. You liar!"
Her brows rose. "I think you should go to bed, Liv. You're going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow."
"I have to wait for Jace." I argued. "I want more wine." A giggle erupted from my lips and once I started, I simply could not stop. What the hell was wrong with me and why was this so fun? "Drink with me, Trisha!"
"I don't think so, Liv." She reached for my glass, but I clutched it to my chest protectively. She sighed. "How about you go to bed and I will wait up for Jace?"
I pouted, but finally nodded. "Fine. Since you aren't going to be any fun tonight, I guess I will just go to bed by myself."
"Yes, you do that sweetie." Trisha smiled as I set my glass on the counter.
Glaring at Trisha, I made my way to the hall. When I opened the door to my bedroom, Moo-moo stretched on the corner of my bed, but didn't bother to open his eyes. I held the unopened letter to my chest, and sighed shakily, as I walked to my desk, dropping it in the drawer with the others. I didn't want to read the words until I knew Jace was all right. I needed to know he was okay before I tore open the daunting envelope.
On shaky knees, I moved to my bed. I didn't bother to pull back the covers or change from my clothing. I just flopped on the bed, pulled Moo-moo into my chest and fell asleep to the sound of his purr.
Chapter 19
I pressed the buzzer to Olivia's apartment and tried to ignore the worry plaguing at the fringes of my mind that she might not answer. It was late. Probably too late.
"Hello?" A voice sounded through the intercom. It was not Olivia's.
"It's Jace. Is Olivia there?"
There was no answer, just a buzz allowing me access to the building. I really couldn't wait for her lease to be up so I could get her into something...safer. This brick building housed some shady people. I had done my research and I wanted her in something approved by both me and my security team. She needed to live in a place that had a doorman. Not this little buzzer that let anyone in. I ran a hand though my hair as I pulled the handle of the barred door open and stepped into the building.
I climbed the stairs until I came to her floor and walked to her door. I knocked gently before trying the knob. It was unlocked. Instant anger sizzled in my throat and I swung open the door to find Trisha leaning against the wall with her arms over her chest. She looked madder than a bat out of hell.
What the fuck?
"Where is Olivia?"
"She is asleep. Finally."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Trisha rolled her eyes. "She was waiting for you for hours. Where were you?"