Veiled Obsession(42)

There was a short pause on the other end. “Is everything okay?”

“It will be.” The car picked up speed.

“Where are you going? Just in case I need to reach you …”

“I’ll give you a call soon. Take care of everything else for me, Jason. See you in a few days. In case of an emergency, a real emergency, Jason, send me an email.”

“You got it, Sir. See you soon.” A click and then the car filled with silence.

I forced my eyes open an inch and turned my head to him. “You don’t have to put your business on hold for me.”

“I would do anything for you, Haley. It’s best you get used to it.”

I sighed and closed my eyes again. This time, sleep welcomed me into its depths.





CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Dustin held me firmly to his side as he led me down the tarmac to a white private jet with a TMT logo on its side. The logo was well-known, belonging to a magazine publishing empire with big name magazines under its belt. Could he be the owner? Dustin had always said he was going to make it big one day. I had never doubted him. He’d had the brains and the determination and he also had a heart.

“Looks like you made it,” I said and then coughed. “Good for you.”

“I guess I have,” he said, helping me up the steps as wind blew my hair from face and swirled it around my head. “I’m in the magazine business, just like I swore to you I would be one day. But we can talk about it later.” We got to the last step. He didn’t let me go until he had walked me into a room with Italian furnishing and a comfy bed that invited me to fall into it. “I’m going to fly you somewhere safe. I want you to get some rest. Then you can tell me everything.”

“Thank you, Dustin.” I still couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me, far from Jude’s mansion. Before he left, I had to ask him one burning question. “Why did you meet with Jude? You told Jason that you were not interested in doing business with him.”

He turned me to face him. “It’s not Jude I went to meet. I was hoping to see you. When I saw you last, I got the feeling something was off. You looked frightened. And then, before I left, you blinked at me three times in succession.” His lips curled into a heart-stopping smile. “Remember our little secret language back in high school? Three blinks meant I need you.”

I lifted a hand to my lips and smiled completely for the first time in a while.” I didn’t even realize I did that.” I had actually been blinking away tears, not trying to communicate with Dustin.

He paused. “I did a little research on your husband and found out he’s a ruthless businessman who doesn’t care who gets crushed in the process of acquiring his fortune. I just didn’t like the sound of the guy. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“I was far from alright,” I said, my sadness returning. “But now I am.” For how long, I had no idea.





CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

The gentle sound of the wheels hitting the tarmac woke me. I didn’t even remember falling asleep. My last memory was of myself sitting on the edge of the bed, wondering how and when Jude would eventually find me.

Dustin came to me five minutes later. Knowing that he cared enough about me to bring his life to a screeching halt in order to be there for me, wrapped me in a thick, warm cocoon. His eyes were more intense with faint wrinkles fanning out at the corners, but the way he looked at me made me feel the same way I had when he had looked at me the very first time in the school cafeteria.

“How’re you feeling?” He sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Truth is, I don’t know. Lost?” I looked around the room for my purse and almost laughed when I realized that I didn’t have it. I’d left Jude with only the clothes on my back. He took my left hand and traced the burn scar gently with his thumb.

“Tell me what happened.”

I swallowed the lump inside my throat. “It’s complicated. But I promise, I will tell you everything later.” I bit my lip. “The only thing I can tell you now is, I married a stranger and paid dearly for it.”

“Why didn’t you say something when we met? I would have taken you away from that bastard a long time ago.” He raked a hand through his hair.

“I didn’t have the chance to tell you. He watches my every move … or his people do.”

Dustin kissed the scar on my hand. “You never have to suffer alone again.”

“Dustin,” I said, “if you’re going to help me, there’s something else you should know.”

“Okay.” He turned his body toward me so our knees touched. I ignored the electricity that sparked between us. I was still a married woman, even if I was married to the wrong man.