Rachel’s eyes widened at his ice-cold tone, and Keyonna chose that moment to compose herself and speak before Rachel could think up another word.
She looked squarely up at the other woman. “Now you look here. What I do is none of your business. I certainly don’t care what you think of me either. If you think you can judge me then go ahead. I can see you still haven’t forgiven me for taking Nick away from you. But please, try to control your lack of manners and spare yourself any more embarrassment.”#p#分页标题#e#
Rachel dragged in an infuriated gasp, her mouth working soundlessly. It was obvious she was struggling with her temper, but then suddenly her green eyes narrowed suspiciously as she stared at Keyonna. “Something’s not right here,” she said slowly, still looking as furious as ever. “And I’m going to get to the bottom of it!”
After that she whirled round and with a swish of her full skirts returned to her table where her escort was looking up at her in amazement.
Keyonna turned to Sergio, her smile stiff yet apologetic as she saw him retake his seat. “I’m really sorry about that. I never dreamed I’d run into anyone from back home.”
Sergio’s eyes were worried. “Want to tell me about what happened? I mean between you and him?”
Keyonna shook her head sadly, glad that Sergio hadn’t mentioned Nick’s name. Talking to anyone about what she’d seen and heard that day, in the hidden corner of the garden – at her own wedding, was unbearable even if it was to Sergio. She had no doubt he’d be on her side if he heard the details, and he wouldn’t blame her for running off and jumping on a plane across the world just to get away from it all.
But now the whole night was ruined and the calm of the past few weeks was now totally shattered. It seemed like fate was reminding her that she couldn’t run away from her problems. She was only delaying the inevitable and she’d be worse off thinking she could hide away from making a decision and soon.
“Can we leave now, please?” she asked Sergio and he readily assented. He was trying to suggest they go out to a night club or something but Keyonna declined with a rueful smile.
“I’d just rather call it a night. I’m really tired,” she said.
Lying in her bed an hour later, Keyonna thought of how disappointed yet understanding Sergio had been when she’d chosen to go up to her room – alone. Then he’d planted a light kiss on her forehead and she’d smiled, touched by the soothing gesture.
Yet now that she was alone and huddled beneath the covers, she felt her eyes swim with tears. Why hadn’t she stayed as far away from Nick as she could from the start? There’d always been a sense of danger surrounding him and she’d kept him at a distance as much as she could. But then somehow their paths crossed in ways that made it impossible to simply back away. He’d approached her at Mark’s party and she’d been dumb enough to try to put him in his place to prove a point.
And now she was trapped in a hell she’d brought on herself with her foolishness. Who had ever said a kiss was just a kiss?
Chapter Twelve
Keyonna flicked her sunglasses off her face as she stepped out of the taxi which had stopped in front of her hotel. She preferred doing her shopping in the morning and now she was back for some brunch and maybe a nap in her room. She found herself pausing by a stall near the hotel where a man was selling fresh flowers. Buying an attractive bunch, she buried her nose in the colorful bloom as she turned to walk up the steps into the hotel.
But then she was startled by the sound of screeching tires and turned sharply to see a tall, familiar man spring from out of the driver’s seat, her name spilling from his lips.
“Keyonna!”
Nick. Here.
Those were the only two things she could process in her mind as she was struck with a sudden, inexplicable bolt of fear.
He’s found me! Damn! Wild thoughts flew through her head as she realized it must have been Rachel who told him. She should have known.
In a sudden spurt of panic, she dumped her shopping and the flowers and turned the other way to run. Running, always running. Her one aim always to evade that sharp feeling of dread that enveloped her senses from knowing Nick had come to get her back. She couldn’t let him catch her.
“Keyonna, stop!” Nick called out to her in a harsh, tortured voice. But Keyonna didn’t look back, hurtling forward on her choppy heels and quickly turning the corner. Then she tried to cross the road without looking both ways first and missed a moving motorcycle making straight for her.
The rider gave a shout but couldn’t stop in time. Keyonna couldn’t get back out of the way fast enough, and she was only able to let out a tiny scream as the motorcycle made impact and threw her to the ground. The last thing she was aware of was of Nick’s voice yelling, “No!” before she sank into a dark, painful nothingness.