Ren turns his icy glare on me, and I shiver at the darkness there. “I still hate your guts, but lucky for you, I hate this guy more.”
I move off the bed, not wanting to stay in this vulnerable position, but then I’m at a loss as to where to go? Matteo is on the ground in my room, and when he wakes up, he is going to come after me regardless.
“You look scared,” Ren states the obvious.
My lip trembles, and a response sits on the edge of my tongue.
Do I tell him how scared I am or keep pretending? Fuck it.
“Of course, I’m fucking scared. Everywhere I go, people have it out for me. I can’t even hide out in my own room without people coming in, trying to hurt me. What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go?”
“You’re gonna be okay,” His voice is almost soothing.
Frenzied, I shake my head. “No. I’m not okay. I’m… I have to get out of here. I can’t be here anymore. It’s not safe.”
I don’t know why I’m telling him any of this. It’s not like he cares, and I know he would never help me do something like that, not without there being a price.
“Look.” Ren runs a hand through his hair, and his eyebrows pinch together almost like he’s contemplating something. “Let me help you.”
I’m shocked. Confused. Everything is upside down, and I don’t know which way is up or down. How do you escape a box of torment when you can’t find the door?
“Help me?” I croak.
“Yes, let me help you get out of here.” He pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing. “I have a helicopter that I can get you on. It’ll fly you to the airport. After that, you’re on your own, but it’s better than nothing.”
He’s giving me a way out, an exit. I’d be stupid not to take it, but what if it’s a trap?
What if it isn’t, and you pass up the opportunity?
Knowing that Quinton won’t protect me any longer and that I’m nothing to him gives me the push I need.
I can’t stay here. Not anymore. Not without his protection.
“You would do that?”
“Don’t get any ideas. I’m not doing it for you, but yeah, I would do it.”
I nod. “Okay, take me to the helicopter.” I swallow around the knot of fear in my throat. I can’t believe I’m doing this.
“Are you sure?” Ren asks earnestly.
“Yes. Please, help me. I can’t stay here any longer. I’m not safe.”
With a nod, he takes a step back and walks around me. I quickly grab a bag from under my bed and stuff the essentials inside. While Ren is on the phone with someone telling them to get the helicopter ready, I put on my boots and jacket. When I’m finished, I stop and stand in front of Ren. I give him a nod, signaling that I’m ready.
He surprises me by reaching for my bag and offering to carry it without words. I hand it to him, grateful for his kindness.
Matteo groans on the floor as he starts to come back to, and the need to get out of here reaches a new peak.
“Follow me,” Ren orders, and like a mouse, I follow him. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep all my broken pieces together.
Ren doesn’t look at me, not when we step into the elevator or even when we reach the double doors that lead outside. The cold air pricks my lungs, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. I’m chilled to the bone, the cold air seeping into every pore on my body.
Ahead a helicopter sits, its propellers slicing through the air.It’s now or never, I tell myself. Ren hands me my bag and gestures toward the helicopter. I look back at the elevator doors, almost willing Quinton to appear, but he won’t. He doesn’t care about me.
“Thank you!” I yell, hoping he can hear me over the propellers as I climb into the helicopter, where a pilot is sitting in the seat. He doesn’t look back at me, and I don’t say anything. My hands shake as I buckle myself, and I blink back tears, trying to stop myself from crying. He doesn’t deserve my tears or pain, but they belong to him anyway.
Ren gives me a wave, a smirk on his lips, and then the helicopter is rising into the air, the engine roaring in my ears.
Why is he smirking, and why do I get the feeling that something bad is about to happen?