I don’t care if the neighbors know. I don’t care about the money. And I certainly don’t care about Sean. “Let me go.”
“That’s not what I want to hear.”
I draw a long breath in my lungs and scream. “Let me go! Let me go, you bastard. Help!” I kick at his shins. “Let me go.”
He shifts, his eyes widening for a moment, and I knee him between the legs. He howls, and I rush back to the elevator. I press the button, and miracle of miracles, the elevator is still here. I step inside, my legs shaking so badly I fear they might fold at any moment, and punch the button for the underground parking lot.
As the doors begin to close, ever so slowly, I see Sean coming at me. I hit the button again and again and fumble in my purse for the pepper spray. When he puts his hand between the closing doors, I finally locate the can and lift it, turn the nozzle toward him and press, releasing the contents in his face.
He cries out and backs away, clawing at his eyes, and I jab viciously at the button again. My whole body is shaking, and when the doors finally close and the descent starts, I lean back and let out a strangled sound, somewhere between a sob and hysterical laughter. The can falls from my nerveless fingers, crashing to the floor, and I lean on the wall, fighting not to fold down.
I’m out of the maze. And I’m not coming back, not as long as Sean is out there. As long as I remember that my parents sold me out, that Sean wants to hurt me, that no matter how hard I try to please these people they don’t care about me, the maze becomes an illusion, and I’m free.
***
Night has fallen. As I drive out of my building, I pull out my cell to call Audrey, but somehow when I look down, I find I’ve automatically dialed another number—one that has always been at the top of my list for years.
Shit. I slow down, squinting at my cell, trying to see the disconnect button, but before I do, the call goes through.
I bring the cell to my ear as I turn out of the avenue, my eyes on the rearview mirror, still sick with fear. Would Sean follow me?
“Tess?” Dylan rumbles in my ear. “Is everything okay?”
“No,” I blurt out, “it’s not.”
And that encompasses everything in my life right now.
“Where are you?” His voice sharpens, and he sounds like he’s walking. “What happened?”
“Sean...” My voice is choked, and I swallow hard to clear it. “Sean was there.”
“There? Where the fuck is there?”
“At my apartment. He was waiting for me.” I swerve to avoid a parked car. My hand is shaking so bad I think I may drop the phone. “My dad gave him the card to enter the building.” My voice is growing thick again. Tears burn my eyes, but I won’t let them fall. Won’t break down now.
“Tess, listen to me. Are you driving? Go someplace safe, with lots of people, and I’ll come get you.”
It sounds good. It sounds wonderful, in fact, too good, and I know it’s a bad idea.
“Tess? Are you still there?”
His deep voice is like a warm blanket settling over me, and I draw a long breath.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine. I didn’t mean to call you.” God, my teeth are chattering. “It was a mistake.”
“A mistake?” He pauses, and I hear the sound of a car honk. “Tess, listen… I said I’ll come get you. Just tell me where you are.”
I’m shaking hard now. My heart is booming in my chest. “I don’t want you to come get me. I was going to call Audrey. I’ll be okay. No need to worry about me now.”
Not now. Not after all this time.
“Tess, please find a place with lots of people. A café. Go inside, stay safe and wait for me.”
Wait for me.
“I can’t, Dylan. I’m sorry.”
I disconnect, cutting off his cursing, and keep on driving as I call Audrey. I tell her about Sean. She sounds remarkably calm, but her voice is strained. I tell her I’m close to the Starbucks on Main Street, and she tells me to stop there, that she and Asher will come pick me up.
Wait for me.
I swallow hysterical laughter as I maneuver the car into a parking space right outside the cafe. I put the cell away as I hurry inside and order a hot chocolate, choose a table close to the bar and try not to think. Not to think of Dylan and how relieved I was to hear his voice, to hear he’d drop everything and come get me.
Can’t wait any longer.
***
“Do you need anything?” Asher is standing awkwardly at the door of the living room, his pale wolf-eyes concerned. “Some water? A tea?”
He’s sweet, but I shake my head where I’m sitting rigidly on their sofa. “I’m fine, really. Thank you.”