Protect Me(76)

“Hello?” I whisper from a crouching position on the floor.

“Amelia, love. I’ve been looking for you,” the voice on the other end of the line says. My blood runs cold and my heart rate spikes. My hands start to tremble and I almost lose grip on my phone.

“Garrett,” I whisper.

“Amelia, Amelia, Amelia. You’ve been a very naughty girl, love,” he says.

“What do you want?” I whisper, trying to keep the fear out of my voice and failing miserably.

“Oh, Amelia. You know what I want. I want you,” he says coldly.

“You can’t have me. I’m not a possession, Garrett.”

“See, that’s where you’re wrong, love. You belong to me. Not that piece of trash fireman you’re shacked up with right now,” Garrett bites out.

My eyes widen then instantly land on Nate’s calm, sleeping face. Garrett knows exactly where I am. Garrett has found me.

Run.

“What do you want?” I whisper.

“You, Amelia. Even though you left me in the middle of the night when I wasn’t looking, then ran off to whore yourself around with half this town, I still want you. See, you’ve always belonged to me.” My breathing is labored and my body is raked with chills. It’s not so much the words he’s saying as the way he says it; calm, yet so disturbing and completely unsettling. “I’ve been watching you whore around with that man for weeks now, Amelia. He has a very nice family, doesn’t he?” The threat is obvious. “You have thirty minutes to gather your things, get out of that house, and come to my hotel room. You will return with me to Daytona, where you will take the punishment you deserve. Do not run off again, Amelia, or the punishment will only be that much more severe when I finally get my hands on you. Thirty minutes, Amelia. Thirty minutes or I come to get you,” Garrett threatens sternly into the phone.

“The hotel on Main Street. Room 325. Do not run, love. I will find you again.” The phone in my hand disconnects and my vision blurs from the tears I didn’t realize I was shedding. I glance at Nate as he sleeps peacefully in bed, completely oblivious.

I have to go.

Now.

I quickly reach for the bag of clothes I brought with me. I dig out a pair of shorts and a tank top, and slip them on. I’m in such a hurry that I don’t even bother with undergarments. I check the bag to make sure I have everything else I packed. When I made this bag yesterday after discovering the gift that Garrett left me, I stuffed as much clothing as I could fit in it. I grabbed all of the cash I had, which is quite a bit since I never opened accounts. Accounts can be tracked.

I stand at the foot of the bed, staring down at the only man I have ever truly loved, and who has ever loved me unconditionally in return. Scars and all, he loves me. But, I have to leave in order to protect him and his family.

And I have to go now.

If I disappear again, Garrett will follow. He won’t stay around and hurt Nate and the Stevens family. He will hunt me. Always.

My biggest fear is that Nate will follow, too. As much as it kills me, I have to do the one thing I never wanted to do. I have to hurt Nate. I have to do it in a way that will ensure he won’t come after me.

I head out to his small office and grab a sheet of paper from the desk. My hands tremble and the tears stream down my face as I write:

Nate,

I know this is going to hurt you, but I can’t stay. I lied to you last night. I don’t love you. I can’t stay here and pretend to be OK with everything that is going on in your life. Your job is too much for me. I thought I could handle it, but I just can’t. I don’t want to be a widow before I’m 30. Your family is great, but it’s all too suffocating. I’m used to being alone. That’s the way I like it and that’s the way I want it. Please know that I’ll always remember our time together, but it’s over. I hope you have a wonderful life and finally get your dream.

Lia

Writing that stupid lie of a letter was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And not just one lie, but multiple. The only part that is true besides our names is that I hope he gets his dream. I want that for Nate more than anything; even if I’m not in it. I leave it on the counter, next to the coffee pot, and head back to retrieve my bag. It’s in the hallway right where I left it. As I pick it up, I steal another long look at Nate one last time.

“I will always love you and remember our time together. You are my other half,” I whisper from the doorway. I want to go in and touch him one final time, but I can’t. I don’t want to wake him up or risk running behind schedule. I need to go. Now.

I blow a final kiss and gaze at his sleeping body through tear-filled eyes. My heart cracks wide open and bleeds everything I have all over the floor. I suck in one final, shaky breath as I turn around and head towards the back of Nate’s house. With each step I take, I slowly die a little on the inside.