Veiled Obsession(41)

“No.” The man’s voice was low and I almost cried listening to it. In fact I was now weeping uncontrollably.

“Jason, hang on a minute. No, I’ll call you back.”

The car slowed down and then stopped. He had heard me. I heard shuffling as he probably turned to look into the back of the car.

“Hello?” he said.

Still weeping, I lifted his suit jacket and looked up at him.

His eyes widened. “Haley?”

“Dustin.” My throat was dry and sore. I wanted to smile because of the joy and relief brought on by the sight of him, but I was just too weak and exhausted to do anything but blink.

Dustin flung his door open and a few seconds later, he yanked mine open as well. He gently pulled me out, and I winced at the pins and needles in my legs.

“What happened?” He studied my face for a long while, his expression strained. “Come here.” He pulled me close and hugged me so hard it hurt. But I didn’t want him to ever let me go. So I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face into his neck.

“Haley, sweetheart, you’re shaking. Are you okay?” He pulled me away from him but only to gaze into my face again.

I shook my head and he pulled me to him again, pressing his lips to my ear, smoothing my hair. “Jesus, what has he done to you?”

I didn’t respond. I could do nothing but break apart. He held me until I was all cried out, until I was completely empty. Then he gathered me up into his arms and settled me into the passenger’s seat. I sat there still trembling, my hands pressed between my knees. So many emotions swept through me—joy, pain, and shame that he was seeing me this way.

Dustin got back behind the wheel, but his hands were so tight around it that his knuckles whitened.

He reached a hand toward me and I flinched. My common sense had returned with a bang. I had known Dustin years ago; he had been my first love. But I had no idea exactly what kind of man he was now. What if, in spite of what he’d told that man Jason, he was also one of Jude’s puppets? What if he decided to return me back there? Could I really trust him? Could I trust anyone?

Fear coursed through my veins as I reached for the door handle. I couldn’t stay long enough to find out.

He reached out and held my arm. “Where are you going?”

I gave him a bittersweet smile. “I can’t go back to him. I need to go, Dustin.”

His jaw tensed and he let go of my arm. “After seeing you like this, so devastated, you really think I’ll let you go back there. You think I would take you back to him?” He removed his hands from the wheel and turned to face me. “You have to have been so frightened of him to hide inside a stranger’s car.”

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. “I didn’t see any other way. He’s … Jude is a monster.”

“I’m just happy it was my car you crawled into.” He turned his gaze ahead again and gunned the engine. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying with me. I’ll make sure he never comes near you again. You’re safe.”

I recalled Jude saying something similar to me, back when I thought he was my knight in shining armor. But this was Dustin, the man I used to love, the man I felt safe with. I had to trust someone. To be honest, I needed someone. I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own.

“Whatever that man did to break your heart will never happen again.” His words were edged with steel.

“He will stop at nothing to find me.” No use hiding from the truth when it stared me straight in the face. “It’s only a matter of time, but he will find me and he will—”

“I won’t let that happen. You hear me, Haley? You have to trust me on that.”

I leaned my head against the headrest and closed my sore eyes. After a day of cleaning and so much emotion, all I wanted to do was sleep. Just for a bit.

Dustin touched my cheek lightly, but I didn’t open my eyes. I wanted to hold on to that little piece of comfort.

“Dial Jason,” Dustin said again and the car filled with the sound of ringing.

“Dustin.”

“Change of plans, Jason. Cancel all my meeting for the rest of the week. I won’t be coming to Serendipity for a few days. I’m going away for a while.”

“Wrong timing, I’m afraid, Mr. Brannon. Lordan Gales is coming in tomorrow. He’s looking to spend big for advertising in the next issue of Spear. We have to snatch him before someone else does.”

“Jason, I have pressing personal matters to attend to. Postpone the meeting.”

“Yes, sir. Should I call off the jet?”

“No,” Dustin said. “Make sure it’s waiting at the airport in ten minutes. I’m on my way there now. No pilot. I’m flying myself.”