“Har dee har har. I’ll have you know, I can force it out of you. I have ways.”
“Oh, I’m sure you do,Rose.” He gave me a pointed look, and I stopped, frozen. Swallowing, I narrowed my eyes at him.
“How do you know that name?”
“Easy, I’m Dark Angel. I’m one of your biggest fans.” The name made my insides freeze. He was a client that I’d talked to a lot, but had started to distance myself from when he’d gotten pushy. Something always felt off about it, and I guess now I knew why making fear spike even more.
“I’m still bummed you hadn’t given me a private session, though. We could’ve finally had our moment.”
Ice ran through my veins, and I hardened myself as I watched something in him flip. This was the Chase who’d assaulted me by the pool, not the one who’d seen the evidence of his father’s rape running down my legs, giving me mercy. I had to tread carefully. This wasn’t the Chase I’d been corresponding with for years.
“What do you want?” I asked, cutting to the chase.
“Always the smart one.” He sat up, still clutching his side. “Your boy’s in jail and is poised to get a deal soon. I want you to tell him not to.”
“And why would I do that?” I asked, trying to hide the fact it was news to me that Maddox was in jail. It had been over a year since I’d seen or heard from him, so now I at least knew why.
“Because, if you don’t, then I’ll tell my father where you are.”
“After all this time, why now? I thought we were friends, or at least had a kinship.” Inside I was quivering, my whole body rattling with nerves. I didn’t want to be on the run from Agonizer. Not now. I was finally settled, free of my past. I wouldn’t let him take my healing from me. I was tired of men deciding my future for me.
He scoffed, rolling his eyes. His pretty face made me want to punch it and ugly it up a little more. He’d lured me into a false sense of security with his handsomeness. All along, he’d been the vile one, slithering in the grass, waiting until the right time to strike. He was worse than his father. Chase made you believe he was on your side and then pulled the rug out from under you when you were least expecting it. If he wasn’t doing it to me, I’d be marveling at his genius.
“Because you’ve outgrown your purpose. I thought if I waited long enough, you’d come back to me. Even after tipping off that asshole back in Memphis that you were an easy lay, so you’d have to reach out to me, you didn’t. I’ve been waiting all these years. When you started prostituting yourself out to the entire world, it was the last straw. I tried to make a connection with you, but even online, you were a cold, withholding bitch. So, it’s time you were useful to me. I’ve outgrown this game, and I no longer want you since you’ve given yourself over to any man who pays you a compliment.”
The air felt thin, and I stumbled back, grasping hold of the counter. “Get out.”
“Oh, I’m staying, Princess. I came for a reason. Thanks for patching me up, by the way. That was really kind of you.”
“I told you not to call me that. If you don’t get out, I’ll call 911.”
“Go ahead. I’ll tell them your real name and that you’re the daughter of one of Mississippi’s notorious gang members and wanted in questioning for the murder of Bill Henshaw in Memphis. I’m sure they’d be really thankful to me for bringing them you.”
I saw red, unable to think, the air around me constricting my lungs in a panic. I wouldn’t go back to how I was. I wouldn’t. Reaching down into the sink, my hand clasped down over the knife I’d used to cut the plastic over the pizza. Chase stared at me, his smug expression mocking.
He thought he’d won, but I was done with men telling me how I got to live my life. I was done with men trying to dictate it should be a certain way. Years of repressed trauma, along with all the healing and growth I’d done, surged forward, and I didn’t even have to think as I plunged the knife into his chest, opening up the wound I’d just closed. Chase’s eyes went wide as he stared at me in shock.
“The answer is fucking no.” I pulled the knife out and took off running for the door, grabbing the go bag I always had ready. I clutched the knife in my hand, not caring how I looked as I bolted down the back stairs, my bare feet echoing off the concrete as I ran.
I had to go. I didn’t want to, but I had to. For now, at least.
With shaking hands, I unlocked the car I’d never used and started it up. I'd taken my father's advice to heart this time and had my contingency plan ready.
I still wasn’t great at driving four wheels, but nothing like the present to practice.
The further I got from the apartment, the better I felt. There was no way he could track me in this car. So, for now, I was safe. I avoided the cameras, and this car wasn’t even registered in my name. I guess in some ways, I’d always known I’d have to run again. Thankfully, everything that meant something had been packed into the trunk in a secret compartment. My mom’s belongings and the contents of the safe deposit box. If Maddox was in jail, his mission to save his sister must’ve failed. It was up to me now.
Gripping the steering wheel, I thought through my head where I could go, where it would be safe, and only one place came to mind.
Lennox. I had to get to Lennox.