Noah puts the suitcase in his trunk.
I get into the car.
"Blakely," Riggs tries again, in a desperate tone that kills me.
Noah slides next to me, slamming the door. Riggs pounds on the window. "Blakely!"
The car pulls away.
We get several blocks before I ask, "Can you find me a place to stay tonight?"
He shakes his head. "No. I'm taking you to my place. You can stay as long as you need."
I don't argue. I'm too distraught to even come up with any other plan. I always knew Riggs had a dark side, but I never believed he would use it to hurt me.
He used me to get at my father. I should have put two and two together about why he wanted me in his life.
The truth flares, breaking my heart into millions of pieces.
Riggs isn't capable of love. He's only capable of pain and revenge.
30
Riggs
The sun comes into full view. Its blazing rays begin to blind me. I grunt, pick up the empty tequila bottle, and step inside the house.
I check my phone again, but there's no response from Blakely or Noah.
I'm going to kill him for getting involved in our dispute.
This isn't a dispute.
She left me.
She'll come back.
She has to come back.
I can't shake the fear that clings to me. It grown more intense as the night went on, morphing into the morning.
I call Blakely's number, but she still has her phone turned off. I call the burner phone I used to text Hugh, but it's off too.
I toss the empty bottle into the trash and stare out the kitchen window. Calm chaos sparkles across the sea, and everything inside me tears further apart.
What have I done?
I never expected Blakely to see her parents again. They weren't on the guest list, but I shouldn't have been so careless.
I text her again.
Me: I love you. I married you because I love you. Call me so I can bring you home.
I finally get a response.
Blakely: I'm never coming back, Riggs. It's over. Don't contact me anymore.
Me: Don't say that. We need to talk.